What exactly determined what firearm you were issued back then?

A squad must have various types of weapons. If I had a squad of 10 men in WW2 I would arm my men with 5 M1s, 1 Springfield with Scope, 1 Machinegun, 2 SMG (me and my staff sergeant ) and 1 BAR. Unfortunately war is not a video game and machinegun needs more than one man to operate.

 

Wow! This has been extremely informative! Thank you all very much!

Of course, any more info would be gladly accepted, but the gist of my question has been answered, I think!

So, from what I gather:

squads/company's need a variety of weapons (ie: not all the guys have the same thing!)

Most units carry rifles, for longer range combat (obviously)

the captain or commanding officer generally used a Thompson or any other SMG, because usually they are required more to give orders then to actually combat, and when they do combat, it is generally closer range, so the SMG is ideal. Also, it would be hard to shout out orders (I'd imagine) while you are lugging around a BAR or a rifle! A heavy gun would make things inconvenient, right?

Hey, what about anti-tank/bazooka sort of guys? How often was a squad or company equipped with a bazooka? And also what about Engineer sort of units, with mines and explosives and such? We've covered the commanding officers, the riflemen, and the snipers.

Also, what about medics, too? Were they just issued a pistol or maybe a Thompson or a carbine because they would be more close-range?

And while I'm at it: Who desided if you got a pistol? That is to say, maybe, did only people like Captains and medics get them, or were they more plentiful and any soldier who had enough room to carry one could? How did that all work?

On a side note, generally when I ask about these questions, I'm talking about the Americans, not the German or Russian or Japanese forces! It's still interesting to hear about their policies, for sure! But I am more into learning about the USA's stuff! But don't let that stop you from talking about the Brits or the Krauts, any information you can give me about these weapon designations is very appreciated!

Peace, Love,
-Peter

 

Most troops got rifles simply because of cost versus benefit. Compared to a machinegun a rifle was portable (allowing offensive movement), reasonably frugal on ammo, and provided an individual man with sufficent firepower to carry out his role in the greater scheme of things.
The true man-killers in an infantry unit are crew served weapons like machineguns and mortars. In the US company the weapons platoon was where the real firepower was. This platoon had 2 .30 cal machineguns and a .50 machinegun (and yes, veteran units usually lugged that 75 lb SOB .50 forward for its firepower). They also had 3 60mm mortars. With several jeeps available ammo was rarely an issue. There are historical accounts of a single company firing upwards of 1000 60mm rounds in a single day!
While the Germans had lots of very portable and dangerous machineguns they lacked a real reply for the volumous number of mortars the US had. Thus, a good US infantry unit used its mortars to counter German machineguns.

On pistols: gun crews and officers were usually issued a side arm. This was simply for self-defense. Medics might or might not carry a weapon depending on their values. In US units there are generally one medic per platoon with a couple of designated "stretcher bearers." The exact attachment varies a bit but typically a full US infantry company had about 5 to 7 medics in it.

On anti-tank weapons, US units relied more on mines, grenades (thermite and the Hawkins bomb..British in orgin), and particularly the M9A1 rifle grenade as their first line of defense. Bazookas were usually held at platoon or company level for issue as necessary. One reason the bazooka was relied on less was simply its bulk and weight.

US engineers were not expected to fight except in self-defense. German Pioneere on the other hand were assault troops. US engineers were there to build bridges, make roads, and repair stuff. They had a few machineguns and had rifles but they were not heavily armed.

The most vicious thing in a US infantry unit is the radio. Most squads had a Handi-talkie with them. Platoons had a Walkie-talkie radio (yea, I am not listing the SCR numbers....so....) as did the company that had several. Field telephones poliferated too. Basically, since a good infantry unit had this sort of level of communications it could usually call in massive artillery support and oblitherate defending German positions at will.
Of course, you could be an FO in a church steeple in Germany in early 1945 told to not call in more than one round from your 155 battery per half hour unless something major occurs and having found a case of Coginac and gotten a bit "loosened up" you start calling for more and more fire until Army is letting loose with salvos from a 240mm battery (among over a dozen now firing on fictious targets) just so you can watch the fireworks......(recounted to me by someone who best remains nameless).
Basically, a US unit with radios is devastating.

As for firepower, I have an account of a Cavalry Squadron in the Ardennes in mid December that had 99 machineguns (.30 and .50) covering their frontage which was wired and mined as well. They had little trouble repulsing with these and their 60mm mortars and little else an entire Volksgrenadier divison (no, this was not the 14th Cavalry Group in the Loshiem Gap)...I think it was the 38th Cavalry Group further north on Eisenborn ridge). They cut down several battalions that hung themselves up in the wire and mines.
US infantry battalions have in their headquarters two very vicious units. One is a machinegun platoon with 8 heavy (water cooled) .30 machineguns. These were often employed en-battery. That is all eight were used togeather. This is an incredible amount of manchinegun firepower as the water cooled models could keep up as much as 500 rounds per minute indefinitely subject to ammo limitations.
The other unit was the mine and pioneer platoon. This unit was specifically tasked with laying mines, creating road blocks and such. They had axes, chain saws, shovels and other hand pioneering tools to do this. Occasionally, you see these guys in photos of US units in the war.

Enough illegal rambling for now......

 

Few officers were assigned SMGs, probably more platoon and 1SGs would carry them. With crew served weapons, the gunner would carry the MG, but the assistant(s) would carry rifles. One of their jobs was to keep the gunner protected.

Officers would carry M1911A1s pistols by TO&E, but leaders are a target and I know of some that carried a rifle to be less obvious. In areas where both sides were signees to the Geneva Convention, medics did not carry arms. Anything wearing a red cross was off limits to combatants. This was abused and ignored, but medics were not supposed to wear arms and rarely did.

 

Hey Peter Mc.,

A Rifle Company in the U.S. Army, ca. 1942 consisted of roughly, four to six Officers and 186 Enlistedmen personnel...

Heres what the TO&E for a Rifle Company, ca. 1942 would look like....

Able Company

(Company Commander) Captain: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Company First Sergeant) Master Sergeant: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(First Rifle Platoon)

(Platoon Leader) First Lieutenant: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(Platoon Sergeant) First Sergeant: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Radioman) Tech. Corporal 5th Grade: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1

(First Squad):

(Squad Leader) Sergeant: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Assistant Squad Leader) Corporal: M-1903 Springfield
(Automatic Rifleman) Private First Class: Browning Automatic Rifle
(Assistant Automatic Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(Second Squad):

(Squad Leader) Sergeant: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Assistant Squad Leader) Corporal: M-1903 Springfield
(Automatic Rifleman) Private First Class: Browning Automatic Rifle
(Assistant Automatic Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(Third Squad):

(Squad Leader) Sergeant: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Assistant Squad Leader) Corporal: M-1903 Springfield
(Automatic Rifleman) Private First Class: Browning Automatic Rifle
(Assistant Automatic Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(Second Rifle Platoon)

(Platoon Leader) First Lieutenant: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(Platoon Sergeant) First Sergeant: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Radioman) Tech. Corporal 5th Grade: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1

(First Squad):

(Squad Leader) Sergeant: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Assistant Squad Leader) Corporal: M-1903 Springfield
(Automatic Rifleman) Private First Class: Browning Automatic Rifle
(Assistant Automatic Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(Second Squad):

(Squad Leader) Sergeant: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Assistant Squad Leader) Corporal: M-1903 Springfield
(Automatic Rifleman) Private First Class: Browning Automatic Rifle
(Assistant Automatic Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(Third Squad):

(Squad Leader) Sergeant: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Assistant Squad Leader) Corporal: M-1903 Springfield
(Automatic Rifleman) Private First Class: Browning Automatic Rifle
(Assistant Automatic Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(Third Rifle Platoon)

(Platoon Leader) First Lieutenant: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(Platoon Sergeant) First Sergeant: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Radioman) Tech. Corporal 5th Grade: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1

(First Squad):

(Squad Leader) Sergeant: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Assistant Squad Leader) Corporal: M-1903 Springfield
(Automatic Rifleman) Private First Class: Browning Automatic Rifle
(Assistant Automatic Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(Second Squad):

(Squad Leader) Sergeant: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Assistant Squad Leader) Corporal: M-1903 Springfield
(Automatic Rifleman) Private First Class: Browning Automatic Rifle
(Assistant Automatic Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(Third Squad):

(Squad Leader) Sergeant: Thompson Sub Machine Gun
(Assistant Squad Leader) Corporal: M-1903 Springfield
(Automatic Rifleman) Private First Class: Browning Automatic Rifle
(Assistant Automatic Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Rifleman) Private: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1

(Heavy Weapons Platoon)

(Platoon Leader) First Lieutenant: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(Platoon Sergeant) First Sergeant: U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
(Radioman) Tech. Corporal 5th Grade: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1

(First Squad):

(50 Cal. Gunner) Sergeant: Browning 50 Cal. M2HB Machine Gun
(Assistant 50. Cal. Gunner) Private First Class: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(30 Cal. Gunner) Private First Class: Browning M-1919A4 Machine Gun
(Assistant 30 Cal. Gunner) Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(30 Cal. Gunner) Private First Class: Browning M-1919A4 30 Cal. Machine Gun
(Assistant 30 Cal. Gunner) Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(Bazooka Man) Private First Class: M1A1 Bazooka
(Loader) Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(60mm Mortar Man): Corporal: 60mm Mortar
(Loader): Private First Class: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(60mm Mortar Man): Private First Class: 60mm Mortar
(Loader): Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1

(Second Squad):

(50 Cal. Gunner) Sergeant: Browning 50 Cal. M2HB Machine Gun
(Assistant 50. Cal. Gunner) Private First Class: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(30 Cal. Gunner) Private First Class: Browning M-1919A4 Machine Gun
(Assistant 30 Cal. Gunner) Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(30 Cal. Gunner) Private First Class: Browning M-1919A4 30 Cal. Machine Gun
(Assistant 30 Cal. Gunner) Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(Bazooka Man) Private First Class: M1A1 Bazooka
(Loader) Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(60mm Mortar Man): Corporal: 60mm Mortar
(Loader): Private First Class: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(60mm Mortar Man): Private First Class: 60mm Mortar
(Loader): Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1

(Third Squad):

(50 Cal. Gunner) Sergeant: Browning 50 Cal. M2HB Machine Gun
(Assistant 50. Cal. Gunner) Private First Class: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(30 Cal. Gunner) Private First Class: Browning M-1919A4 Machine Gun
(Assistant 30 Cal. Gunner) Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(30 Cal. Gunner) Private First Class: Browning M-1919A4 30 Cal. Machine Gun
(Assistant 30 Cal. Gunner) Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(Bazooka Man) Private First Class: M1A1 Bazooka
(Loader) Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(60mm Mortar Man): Corporal: 60mm Mortar
(Loader): Private First Class: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1
(60mm Mortar Man): Private First Class: 60mm Mortar
(Loader): Private: U.S. Carbine Cal. 30 M1

This is how the U.S. Army Infantry of WWII was organized. Your rank and job is what dictated, what weapon you were issued.

Company and Platoon leaders are set in more of an administrative role rather than a fighting role though they do see their share of fighting in combat situations. Overall the U.S. Army is like a family, so to speak the Officers are the "fathers" and the Non-Commissioned Officers are the "mothers." "Father" tells the "mother" what needs to be done and the "mother" makes sure its done.

The Squad and Assistant Squad Leaders are the leading and support element of the squad. They see to the security of the squad and ensures its integrity will remain intact.

The Rifleman and Gunners are the "Bulk" of the Company. Under wrong and poor administrative leadership by the Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers they are pretty much useless. However, under the exact opposite situation they are and can be extrodinary soldiers, their morale is what make that particular company of men, versatile and dependable.

Regards,
MARNE

[ 03. December 2006, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: MARNE ]

 

Wow, Marne, thank you so much for such a detailed look at how a company is made up! That was remarkable!