U.S. Army Field Manuals--World War II

Thank you Greg! at least half of my u.s stuff is from her family, both of her gandfathers and two great uncles were in ww2 sadly I never got to meet them!

 

Greg,

I completely agree with the value of the FMs. It is interesting to think of the 1,000s of Lieutenants and Captains learning their trade with these manuals. The best of course improvised on the spot but they all had these tactical basics to build upon. I think the evolution of US tactics and doctrine during the war are a great example of a "learning organization" at work - throwing out the bad ideas and standardizing on best practices. Few would say the US military was prepared for modern war in 1941 but its doctrine adapted quickly. Brings a tear to my eye.....

 

Mr Jason, Thank you for your Contribution to the Thread. The Pictures of the Manuals you posted are quite interesting.

 

Spaniard and OpanaPointer thank you! OpanaPointer is going to scan them and put them online for research!

 

Yes, I agree. My father passed away when I was quite young. As the years went by, I learned he was a reconaissance sergeant in a battalion heavy weapons company (and a darn good one too according to several men who knew him, I am proud to say). I learned much of his duties from FM 7-15 Heavy Weapons Company, Rifle Regiment May 19, 1942. This FM made many of the tid-bits I had heard over the years come together nicely for me.

Another thing I would like to point out: There is a generalization that during the Standardized Testing process, the cream of the crop recuits were skimmed off for more technical skills such as pilot training etc, while the less intelligent recuits went to the infantry. There may be SOME truth to this, however, anyone who has read a WWII infantry FM, or TM, will note that the infantryman's trade was quite complicated at times. Try reading the FM on map reading, as only one example.

Greg C.

 

Oh I agree! But even the West Point system in history that the smart graduates were commissioned into the Engineers, then Artillery, Cavalry, and then the rest ... well, they went into the infantry. I always admire "The Queen of Battle."

Greg C.

 

But in the West Point example, wasn't it mostly the highest class rating were commissioned in the Engineers etc, while the lowest class standings went to the infantry?

Greg C.

 

LOL gotcha. I watched a video at Gettysburg once on all the steps of firing a 12-pounder Napoleon cannon. I thought, wholly crap...I didn't realize there was so much involved! Guess it would have been the infantry for me!

Greg C.

 

Are there any Naval Manuals online from that era? That would be interesting reading.

 

Several,

see here:
HyperWar: U.S. Navy in World War II--Reference Works
Navy Documents

 

Wow those a great links! Thank you.

 

Thanks for the link I found some cavalry manuals I have been looking for!!!!

 

Just got a new US Army one today at a yard sale: Tactics and Technique of Infantry: Basic published in May 1942. Very detailed manual for training US infantry.