Pacific Mini-Series

[jimmyj]

Good Morning:
Viewed the HBO "Pacific" part one last evening. Enjoyed it greatly. I was surprised that it was only a hour long.
I took particular attention to the weapons.
Question: when were the 1903A3 Springfields and M1 Carbines issued?
I really enjoyed the Browning Water-Cooled .30cal Machine Gun (M1917??).
Jimmy

 

[Texas Star]

Good Morning:
Viewed the HBO "Pacific" part one last evening. Enjoyed it greatly. I was surprised that it was only a hour long.
I took particular attention to the weapons.
Question: when were the 1903A3 Springfields and M1 Carbines issued?
I really enjoyed the Browning Water-Cooled .30cal Machine Gun (M1917??).
Jimmy

Pretty sure the '03-A3 Springfield dates from 1942, the M-1 carbine was adopted in 1940, if memory serves, and the water-cooled .30 machinegun is indeed the M-1917. The air-cooled one is the M-1919.

As you probably know, many '03's were issued, most dating from the 1920's-on. When the war broke out for the US, far more troops had Springfields than had Garands.

T-Star

 

[walnutred]

Interesting period article on the Marines and Garands: ARMY: Report on the Garand - TIME

My understanding from period accounts is that among Marines in the Pacific Springfields were still very common in 1942, very rare in 1943.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Very interesting article. The rifles tested: Springfield, Garand, Johnson, and Winchester. What type rifle was the Winchester?
Jimmy

 

[Onomea]

That Time article is interesting. Does make a fellow hanker for an '03...

 

[Tam 3]

The '03A3 was authorized in May of 1942.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[CDMead]

Owning both the M1903-A3 and M1 Garand, as well as an M1917, I can say the 03-A3 is the slickest bolt action I've ever had the pleasure of shooting.

If, however, the proverbial excrement hit the oscillating air movement device, I'd take a Garand in a heart beat.

There is a story in Hatcher's book of the Garand about a Jarhead (said with affection) almost walking on the heels of an Army guy on Guadalcanal. When asked, the Marine said when the Army guy got it, the Marine would toss his rifle and get the Army guy's Garand. Apocryphal? Maybe. But the Mud Marines swiped every Garand that wasn't nailed down once they knew they existed.

 

[walnutred]

Hi:
Very interesting article. The rifles tested: Springfield, Garand, Johnson, and Winchester. What type rifle was the Winchester?
Jimmy

I THINK the article is actually referring to the M1 carbine when referring to the Winchester rifle.

 

[cmort666]

Owning both the M1903-A3 and M1 Garand, as well as an M1917, I can say the 03-A3 is the slickest bolt action I've ever had the pleasure of shooting.

Try a Commission '88 or a Krag.

 

[jimmyj]

The Krag is the "Slickest" bolt action rifle to me.
Jimmy

 

[Tam 3]

Or a SMLE Enfield of any Model.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[Cyrano]

Two types of Winchesters were tested, both were in 30-06. One had a short, drop down bolt that actually went back part way into the stock. The receiver was very short. The other had a rotating bolt. I think both used Marshall Williams' tappet action. The rotating bolt version, suitably reduced and modified later became the M1 Carbine. Some of this story is in Larry Ruth's "War Baby", the best thing by far ever written on the M1 carbine.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Some Marines had Springfields as late as Korea, and not just as sniper rifles. There was - and is - a gravel belly sentiment in the Marines that stresses marksmanship above all else. The old timers felt that a Garand would just waste ammo and make someone sloppy. This same sentiment eventually led to the M16A2 years later.

My grandfather was with the Army troops sent to assist the Marines on Guadalcanal (a large forgotten part of that battle). He claimed the Marines would trade most anything for an M1 rifle in most cases.

Some Army and Marine jobs, such as scout, as well as rear area positions saw 1903s issued right through the end of the war.

 

[Peter J.]

This series made a big goof using 1903A3's for the USMC. They were absolutly still using the older WW1 stlye bolt actions in 1942.

 

[Faulkner]

This series made a big goof using 1903A3's for the USMC. They were absolutly still using the older WW1 stlye bolt actions in 1942.

I would agree. In 1942 Remington was still making standard M1903's.

Also, the first M1 carbines were delivered in mid-1942, with initial priority given to troops in the European Theater of Operations.

All this may seem like a bunch of nit-picking, but Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers set a pretty high technical standard for a WWII movie.