Garands on Guadalcanal/USMC
Here's a question to think about.
On Aug. 7, 1942 the USMC 1st DIV, landed on Guadalcanal in the Pacific making it the First Land Attack against Japan. We all know that they were armed with the Model 1903 Springfield Rifle. The First USMC Div. was at first ordered to go to Australia for additional training. Those Orders were changed and they got the Orders for Guadalcanal.
Here's my question:
Could the 1st USMC DIV. been armed with the NEW M1 Garand Rifles before they left the US ? Here's just one point. In Dec of 1941 Ordnance at SA had built about 29,700 M1 Rifles and Winchester had added another 6800.
That means between Dec of 1941 until July of 1942 there would have been enough M1 Garands to arm the 1st Marine Div. A word about "they were not trained for the M1" ... then why did the USMC guys take the M1 Garands that landed with (I think) the USA 164th Inf. 'Order to Guadalcanal.'
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On Aug. 7, 1942 the USMC 1st DIV, landed on Guadalcanal in the Pacific making it the First Land Attack against Japan. We all know that they were armed with the Model 1903 Springfield Rifle. The First USMC Div. was at first ordered to go to Australia for additional training. Those Orders were changed and they got the Orders for Guadalcanal.
Here's my question:
Could the 1st USMC DIV. been armed with the NEW M1 Garand Rifles before they left the US ? Here's just one point. In Dec of 1941 Ordnance at SA had built about 29,700 M1 Rifles and Winchester had added another 6800.
That means between Dec of 1941 until July of 1942 there would have been enough M1 Garands to arm the 1st Marine Div. A word about "they were not trained for the M1" ... then why did the USMC guys take the M1 Garands that landed with (I think) the USA 164th Inf. 'Order to Guadalcanal.'
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Here is my Winchester that was used. Pre WWII Pearl Harbor 
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My guess is, like everything else, the Army had priority in receiving the new rifles 0 -
I'm pretty sure the Garand became the Army TO&E rifle in 1936.
Wasn't the Marine rifle at Guadalcanal a mix of '03s, BARs, and
Johnsons ??
Doug0 -
I think Doug Wilson is correct. That is my understanding as well. When the Army showed up to bolster/releive the Marines they had M1 Garands. It is my understanding that the Army always gets the "good stuff" before the Marines. 0 -
Read on this.. What about the T-27 on down the page.. A select-fire Garand...[:0][:0]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garand0 -
Uh-oh.
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Marines got the M1 Garand in 1941, and the first place they were used was on Guadalcanal. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
I'm pretty sure the Garand became the Army TO&E rifle in 1936.
Wasn't the Marine rifle at Guadalcanal a mix of '03s, BARs, and
Johnsons ??
Doug
Regarding the Marines: Yes, Doug, along wth the M1.0 -
I think that the T-27 was the prototype of the T-44, which eventually became a premier Battle Rifle in it's own right.
Doug0 -
Ask DWS, seems like he is the master of all knowledge tonight![}:)] 0 -
Where's Mark Christian when you need him..
Yep, ... Put down the Garand.. it was good enough to win the War0 -
I might be mistaken on my history about Marines and the use of the M1 folks. Perhaps, the M1 saw its first use in the Pacific at Guadalcanal. 0 -
You remember - the war where we saved the human race ??
With the US Rifle Caliber .30 M-1.
Doug0 -
Doug: I'm still of the opinion that some Marines used the M1 Garand on Guadalcanal, which would have been the first use of the M1 Garand by Marines in a combat environment. According to one google search, the first place that the M1 Garand was used in the Pacific was in the Phillipines. 0 -
According to my link, the Phillipino's still use the garand.. 0 -
I thought the Marines were reluctant to adopt such a newfangled thing as a semi-auto battle rifle, and that was why they used '03s so long 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
I thought the Marines were reluctant to adopt such a newfangled thing as a semi-auto battle rifle, and that was why they used '03s so long
You are right tsavo303. The Marines did not want to give up the 03, which is one big reason why they waited about six or seven years after the M1 Garand was developed before they began issuing it to the first units.0 -
quote:You remember - the war where we saved the human race ??
With the US Rifle Caliber .30 M-1.
Doug
A1
I still believe that - contrary to that sometimes local/opinionated (who will
remain unnamed) guy who suffers from perpetual megalomania. Although,
I always enjoy his rants - makes me feel better when we differ (always).
A2
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