The Number of Weapons and Ammo For The Normandy Invasion

[walnutred]

I had a gun shop acquaintance who was a combat engineer in Europe during WW2. He mentioned two things that I especially remember. He said that when they would send parts to build a bridge half the parts always got lost. Fortunately they always dropped two complete bridges so you could get one across. He also said that when you were assembling the bridges you knew you were going to get shot, you just hoped it was minor. By 1944 we were very much in production to deliver twice as much as the plans say we need mode.

 

[dmar]

The information below was the caption from a picture as the Allied forces prepared to invade Normandy. The number of weapons and ammunition are mind boggling.

The Deadliest Table
©Photo Credit: Frank Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
An American soldier eats his lunch on an ammunition stockpile while taking a break from loading the ships in the days leading up to the assault. Running out of ammunition was not an option once on the beaches, so the Allies came prepared. Altogether, there were around 11.6 million carbines and rifles, 2.8 million pistols and revolvers, 2.3 million submachine guns, 1.5 million crew-served machine guns, and 188,000 automatic rifles.

There were also around 19 million small arms, along with 57 billion rounds of small arms ammunition. These were mostly just for the infantry storming the beaches and for backup since there was no telling how long it would take.

Another little known fact is that any of the guns and ammo that didn’t get used up, destroyed, or lost is now in my basement.

 

[Stevens]

Seems like a good area to set up brass and lead mines!
Steve W

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

My dad held no group in higher esteem than the Merchant Marines.

my father in law graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy and served during WWII. Finished, he attended Las School at Loyola of the South (New Orleans) and practiced law living an unremarkably ordinary life. He raised four children, including my wife, introduced me to sailing, welcomed me as a son into his family and outside my dad was perhaps the finest man I ever met in my life. Unfortunately he died in 1986 and never got to enjoy his grandchildren.

 

[Rustyt1953]

my father in law graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy and served during WWII. Finished, he attended Las School at Loyola of the South (New Orleans) and practiced law living an unremarkably ordinary life. He raised four children, including my wife, introduced me to sailing, welcomed me as a son into his family and outside my dad was perhaps the finest man I ever met in my life. Unfortunately he died in 1986 and never got to enjoy his grandchildren.

Dad said they were the bravest of the brave. Sailors that crossed the ocean in slow, ungainly, unarmored, unarmed vessels knowing what awaited them.

Balls of steel.

 

[Buford57]

The other thing to consider is that almost none of that stuff, or the capacity to make it, existed prior to 1941. I bet it was hard to find large rifle primers on the shelf back then too.

Years ago I read an article about some of the reloading expedients used on the home front, including making powder from old movie film. Referred to finding a good load of Mary Pickford. Reusing primers was also discussed.