American rifles....

[phylo_roadking]

All, just saw a few seconds of interesting film on tv - can anyone confirm if ANY American troops in the Torch landings or the subsequent clearing of Tunisia were still equiped with Springfields???

regards, Phylo

[bradhunter]

All, just saw a few seconds of interesting film on tv - can anyone confirm if ANY American troops in the Torch landings or the subsequent clearing of Tunisia were still equiped with Springfields???

regards, Phylo

Only snipers. The USMC was still using the Springfield in the Pacific, though....

[phylo_roadking]

Knew about snipers, Was wondering cos there was a brief shot of two GIs behind a garden wall on the outskirts of Tunis with Springfields. Not snipers tho....

[Spinechicken]

Knew about snipers, Was wondering cos there was a brief shot of two GIs behind a garden wall on the outskirts of Tunis with Springfields. Not snipers tho....

Yeah, I've seen a similar shot, supposedly in Normandy, of a GI taking cover behind some rubble. It's definitely Northern European by the look of the building shells behind him.

Rear-echelon troops posing perhaps? Or snipers in a combat situation where they don't need a scope, assuming you could or would want to remove it?

-SC

[phylo_roadking]

Ideally you wouldnt, takes a lot of work in the butts to calibrate a scope with a particular rifle, the more times it come off and on the screw mounts wear a fraction, and the adjustment screws could get moved, and.....

thats why I wondered about the film, AND that it showed TWO GIs.....

phylo

[Reb]

In that early part of the war Garands were occassionally in short supply and there were soldiers who had grown up with the '03 and would get one by hook or by crook. (still lots of regulars at that early date)

Typically though, it was used as a sniper rifle or for launching rifle grenades.

interesting tidbat - my father worked in military R&D at Aberdeen Proving ground and was once scheduled to go to Vietnam for some tests of an anti-tank missle (TOW? not sure). I asked him what weapon he'd take for his own protection - he never hesitated: "The Springfield '03 - I like to hit what I shoot at!"

cheers
Reb

[phylo_roadking]

I know that a certain County Sheriff, one A. York, carried his old issue Springfield during the rest of his active life. A LOT of WWI veterans procured them, the longer barrel and stable bolt action giving FAR greater accuracy over any of the more common 30.06's in civilian hands. Many were kept and used till the lands simply wore out of the barrels.

phylo

[maschinengewehr42]

All, just saw a few seconds of interesting film on tv - can anyone confirm if ANY American troops in the Torch landings or the subsequent clearing of Tunisia were still equiped with Springfields???

regards, Phylo

Yes, they were, although most had Garands by this time. I have two photos in books which would seem to confirm this. One shows US infantry coming ashore during Operation Torch, and the other shows US troops holding back welcoming crowds after the fall of Tunis. In both cases Springfields can be clearly seen intermixed with Garands in the same units, with Springfields being in a distinct minority.

[phylo_roadking]

Ta muchly, MG! heres a question - did they both fire the same cartridge???

[Rodger Herbst]

There seems a lot of talk about the accuracy of the '03 Springfield and how it would affect the scores. Those scores were rifle range scores and you shot for extra pay if you qualified, it had nothing to do with combat shooting were you wanted fire power,RPM, I was glad to see that old blunderbus go, i liked the M1 Garrand, it's nice recoil,8 round clip, etc.

[Reb]

Now Rodger - you know how passionate men are about our guns.

The Glock .45 for instance - is a work of art - all the felt recoil goes straight back, double tap is simple, large mag etc.

But try to talk a Colt .45 afficianado into swapping Colt for Glock!

cheers
Reb

[Rodger Herbst]

I know Reb, when we turned our '03 in for Garrands you could almost see the tears and forbodings of gloom that came over a lot of old timers,but us youngsters showed no pity, now i know how they felt because i've became a M1 Garrand booster.
Lot like we laughed at the cavalry when they had to give up thier horses.

[John W. Howard]

Hello Phylo:
Alvin York actually carried a .30-06 Enfield during his Medal of Honor exploits. Some US troops were equipped with these instead of Springfields. Best wishes.

[phylo_roadking]

Yep, and a Luger for half of the event lol but returned to the Springfield for his next thirty years!

[John W. Howard]

Hi Phylo:
That was something I did not know!! The town where I went to college had numerous old Enfields for sale; unfortunately eating was more important than buying rifles. Take care.