Hello everyone. I've been wondering; were soldiers in World War 2 permitted to choose their own weapons or did the U.S. Army just randomly hand out weapons? I was also wondering if the type of weapon that men carried had something to do with their rank because I've seen a lot of photos from World War 2 and all the soldiers with rank are carrying an M1 Thompson sub-machinegun and usually the privates are equipped with BAR's or M1 Garands. Thankyou.
A vast majority got what they were issued. I've often heard stories of tommy guns and .45s being purchaced privately from vets I've interviewed. As time went on, more and more of these weapons could be found on the dead as well. From what I've been told by vets, GIs usually didn't have enough money or influence to buy tommy guns until they were NCOs. Tommy guns were issued as well, but were pretty expensive for an issue weapon.
I felt I should add a bit - carbines were often issued to artillery, officers, drivers, and those who didn't often use a bulky infantry weapon. I've also seen heavy use of the grease gun by tankers and jeep drivers in photos. I've seen lots of rear echelon units (and early pacific units) with the old Springfield 03. A majority of this is just from vet interviews, so I'll see if I can find something a bit more concrete.
Colin, In WW2 what you went into combat with was usually what you were issued in training, where a record would be kept of the serial number of the rifle you were issued. Of course, this only held until something happened to either the rifle or you. For instance, if you were wounded you couldn't take your gun with you to hospital so it went into your units' "pool" of weapons. So there was never any guarantee that when you returned you would get the same rifle. Usually senior NCO's and officers got issued with an smg. But of course, in combat, with the opportunity of picking up other peoples weapons, this could change. Given the opportunity to change your Garand for a Thompson, most people would take it (if allowed). The Thompson was a much easier weapon to use in house to house fighting, than a bulky rifle. Of course, tank crews, transport drivers, or anyone performing a duty where a bulky rifle couldn't be used effectively, were often issued smg's. Mp38/40's for German tank crews were common, M3 "Grease Guns" for US crews, Stens for British Crews. It was quite common for German infantry to swap their K98's for Russian Ppsh smg's if they could. They needed the better rate of fire and ammo capacity to even up the fight against the Russian infantry. Even GI's are reported to have swapped their US weapons for German on occasion, although only if the ammo supply could be guaranteed. I have read of an incident where, a group of GI's had swapped their Garands etc. for MP38/40's. When they were attacked, they called for assistance from a neighbouring unit. Unfortunately, with the MP38/40 having a different sound to the normal Garand, Thompson and M3 "Grease Gun", the re-inforcements, hearing the sound of numerous German smg's, attacked the US unit instead, inflicting heavy casualties before it all got sorted out. And yes, it is possible to tell the difference between the noise of rifles and smg's when they fire. Actually easier than you think once you become accustomed to it. A bit like telling the difference between an Allison engine and a Merlin, or say a Porsche from a Ferrari. ___________________ "Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." Dave Barry
Colin; I'm not sure if you got the answer you were looking for, but generally all armies have a standard weapons issue depending on the kind of unit they are trying to form. For instance the US Army would dictate the weapons that would constitute the makeup of an infantry squad. This was/could be different depending on the discipline or year, it evolved. I don't know the exact makeup of an American Infantry squad in WWII, and know it changed during the war, but doctrine and standards would dictate, X-M1's, X- Bars etc per squad, of course who got what weapon could be random, the Platoon Cmder may walk down the line and hand out bar's to every tenth soldier? But rest assured Uncle Sam told him how many of what he could hand out. Of course once in the front lines, this could change. Commanders generally were given a little more leeway, as there weapons were not considered offensive or intrigal to the firepower of a unit, but as a weapon for personal self-defense, they didn't want him on the line shooting, but giveing orders. If you saw Band of Brothers, Winters himself said he only shot his weapon once in the whole war.
In the more 'specialised' units of the British Army, particularly toward the end of the war, men seem to have been given some 'leeway' in choice of personal sidearm. I'm thinking of, for instance, Arnhem , where Paratroopers are known to have carried the US .45 Auto ; also the M1 Carbine was deeply coveted and used in action. Another revolver which was sought-after throughout the war by Paratroopers and Commandos as well as RAF aircrew was the Smith & Wesson .38, which although not as durable as the issue Enfield .38 had a far 'sexier' image. [ 09. February 2003, 02:17 AM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ]
G'day Also the Browning GP-35 of the Inglis factory was given to the British paratroopers, I think more than the .45 1911 pistol.
You're right Popski. The Inglis Browning was issued ( mainly to Officers ; Urquhart certainly used one ) whereas the Colt was more of a 'personal acquisition'.
G'day Lucky me I got an Inglis Browning of the batch of 25.000 destined for China but given to paratroopers/ commando's. With the crossed flag's on the gun. It's my masterpiece for now. Powwwski
