The mix of smaller caliber rounds and larger caliber MG rounds is a common situation in the Western and Eastern Bloc armies. (5.56 and 7.62 used in Vietnam as an example).
With each Squaddies having a 300M FA carbine, likely things won't get as desperate in the first place for the need to keep the LMG fed in those examples.
And reloading link belts in the field is pure desperation.
But they were already doing it. Each section in a British platoon had a Sten gunner in addition to the .303s
3× Platoons (1 Officer and 36 Enlisted each)
→ Platoon Headquarters (1 Officer and 6 Enlisted)
→ 3× Sections (10 Enlisted each)
- 1× Platoon Commander, Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant (OF-1), armed with 1 Enfield or Webley revolver and 1 signal pistol
- 1× Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant (OR-6), armed with 1 No. 4 Mk. I rifle
- 1× Signaller/Batman, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 No. 4 Mk. I rifle, mounted on a bicycle
- 1× Orderly/Runner, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 No. 4 Mk. I rifle
- 1× Mortar Detachment
- 1× Mortar Commander, Lance Corporal (OR-3), armed with 1 No. 4 Mk. I rifle
- 1× Mortar No. 1, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 Sten submachine gun and 1 2-inch mortar
- 1× Mortar No. 2, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 No. 4 Mk. I rifle
- Rifle Group
- 1× Section Commander, Corporal (OR-4), armed with 1 Sten submachine gun
- 6× Riflemen, Privates (OR-1), armed with 1 No. 4 Mk. I rifle each
- Gun Group
https://www.battleorder.org/uk-rifle-co-1944
- 1× Section Second-in-Command, a Lance Corporal (OR-3), armed with 1 No. 4 Mk. I rifle
- 1× Bren No. 1, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 Bren light machine gun
- 1× Bren No. 2, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 No. 4 Mk. I rifle
From LINKSo our M1 platoon would look like this!
3× Platoons (1 Officer and 36 Enlisted each)
→ Platoon Headquarters (1 Officer and 6 Enlisted)
→ 3× Sections (10 Enlisted each)
- 1× Platoon Commander, Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant (OF-1), armed with 1 x M1 Carbine + 1 signal pistol
- 1× Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant (OR-6), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine
- 1× Signaller/Batman, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine , mounted on a bicycle
- 1× Orderly/Runner, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine
- 1× Mortar Detachment
- 1× Mortar Commander, Lance Corporal (OR-3), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine
- 1× Mortar No. 1, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine and 1 x 2-inch mortar
- 1× Mortar No. 2, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine
- Rifle Group
- 1× Section Commander, Corporal (OR-4), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine
- 6× Riflemen, Privates (OR-1), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine
- Gun Group
- 1× Section Second-in-Command, a Lance Corporal (OR-3), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine
- 1× Bren No. 1, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 Bren light machine gun
- 1× Bren No. 2, Private (OR-1), armed with 1 x 1 M1 Carbine
They were even used in action in Somaliland after the Italians took over.
Better than spears or throwing rocks. Guerilla's take what they can get their hands on.
Undoubtedly. Wonder what the oldest issue "standard" firearms used in 1939-45 for an organized regular force - as opposed to irregulars like the Ethiopian or Somali guerillas.
Some Home Guard units were issued M1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolvers.I believe a number of Volkssturm units were using 1880s BP cartridge guns at the end
Some Home Guard units were issued M1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolvers.
I believe a number of Volkssturm units were using 1880s BP cartridge guns at the end
How much would the bolt and therefore the gun of an .30 Owen have to weight?(Sorry guys, now is probably the time for me to mention that I've started quietly assuming it's best to go with the Owen in .30 carbine/whatever instead of just going with the OP scenario of issuing M1s. A lot of weight, yes, necessitating the ammo bearers equipped with No 5 & 6 rifle.)
View attachment 490855
You don't even have to go that far forward to find British units likely using separate rifle calibre longarms, View attachment 490855
I find it hard to believe that unit gave up it's .303 Brens for M1918a2 BARs.
There are American gun enthusiast sites that have calculations for hypothetical blowback bolt weights for different calibres based on a formula written by the US Army's machine gun expert from the 1950s; it's a bit take-with-a-grain of salt IMO.How much would the bolt and therefore the gun of an .30 Owen have to weight?
1,311 J (967 ft⋅lbf) v 455 ft⋅lbf (617 J) in a simple blow back operating system.....?
41 Commando was used as a true raider / recon unit with the USMC Division as its parent unit so it made a lot of sense to use American Weapons
I did read that they pretty much mutinied (most British units do at least once every couple of years) later on when brought back under British admin and told to replace the M1s with the No4 and to be honest I cannot see any British or commonwealth soldier being happy in the same situation.
The No4 is a superb bolt action battle rifle and I cannot fault it for what it is but it is obsolete next to an M1 Garand
mounted on a bicycle
Why not a belt fed .30 Carbine like the Soviet LAD? Simple blowback in a heavier weapon so the felt recoil was limited and it was highly accurate and effective out to 400m due to the barrel length:(Sorry guys, now is probably the time for me to mention that I've started quietly assuming it's best to go with the Owen in .30 carbine/whatever instead of just going with the OP scenario of issuing M1s. A lot of weight, yes, necessitating the ammo bearers equipped with No 5 & 6 rifle.)
From LINK
The Sniper
The sniper was introduced into the War establishment of the infantry battalion in 1943. Originally there were two per rifle company but from November 1944 the battalion snipers were concentrated at Battalion Headquarters. This was probably as a result of the experience in Normandy. Snipers were not only skilled marksmen but were also trained in intelligence gathering.
sniper serjeant
corporal sniper
2 X lance corporal sniper
4 X sniper.
...
Snipers used two types of rifle in 21 Army Group. The most accurate was the older Rifle No1 MkIII SMLE. However in the interests of standardisation most rifles were the sniper version of the Rifle No4 (T). The rifle was fitted with a No32 MkI telescopic sight. Sniper rifles were carefully selected and provided with a breech cover and a felt valise to protect it from the elements and accidental damage. A special sling was also fitted to the rifle to enable it to be braced for aiming and firing.
Snipers used the standard ammunition pouches containing the following
50 X .303” SAA rounds of ammunition selected by the sniper.
5 X tracer bullets
5 X armour piercing bullets
2 X No36 grenades
Other equipment included
A pair of No2 MkII binoculars in a carrying case
A compass with carrying case
A watch
A camouflage net
The sniper could also have a camouflaged Denison smock as worn by paratroops.