The U.S. rifle, cal. 30, M1
The phrase "every Marine a rifleman" is more than just empty words. Marines have always taken pride in their proficiency with the service rifle. For most of World War II, the M1 rifle was the basic weapon of the infantry Marine. This rifle was adopted as standard by the Marine Corps on 5 November 1941, although the M1903 Springfield rifle continued in use in various roles throughout the war.
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(above) The M1 rifle was a gas-operated,
clip fed, aircooled, semi-automatic
shoulder weapon
Weight of the M1 rifle–9.5 pounds
Length w/o bayonet–43.6 inches
Average rate of fire–30 rounds per minute
Maximum effective range–500 yards
Method of loading–8 round clip
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In November 1940 the Marine Corps conducted a competitive trial of the M1, M1903, the Johnson and Winchester rifles. This test was carried out at Marine Corps Base, San Diego by 40 experienced Marines who had recently qualified as expert riflemen or sharpshooters. LtCol "Red Mike" Edson, among the best shooters in the Corps, was one of the senior officers assigned to the test board.
Over 12,000 rounds were fired during four weeks of shooting. At various phases, the test rifles were submerged in salt water, packed with mud, sprayed with fresh water to simulate rain, sprinkled with sand and exposed to heavy dust. They were also evaluated for ease of maintenance, infantry drill, and firing with fixed bayonets.
The test board concluded with the following evaluation: "It became increasingly evident as the tests progressed that the M1 rifle was superior to the other semi-automatic rifles. Although it failed on some of the abuse tests, it was in general much more reliable in mechanical operation, in ruggedness, and in freedom from repairs than either the Johnson or Winchester rifles… The Marine Corps feels that its tests conclusively proved that the M1 rifle is the most satisfactory semi-automatic rifle available."
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Early in the war when Marines landed on Guadalcanal, they were equipped with the Springfield rifle. Army units with the M1 also took part in this campaign. The M1 quickly earned a reputation as an easy to maintain, reliable, and
hard-hitting rifle.
Marines quickly became adept at scrounging M1s from
their Army brethren. The picture at left shows a Marine of HQ Co, 3/8 on Guadalcanal in late 1942. He is holding an M1 rifle that was very likely acquired from an Army unit
on the island by "moonlight requisitioning."
Photo courtesy Les Groshong |
In November 1941, the Marine Corps classified the M1 as the standard service rifle. Marines resisted the M1 at first because they had used the Springfield rifle for almost 30 years. The Springfield was held in high regard because of its long range accuracy and reliable functioning under the harshest battlefield conditions.
Throughout World War II the Army Ordnance Department was responsible for acquiring small arms for both the Army and Marine Corps. It was not until after the end of the campaign for Gauadalcanal that sufficient M1s became available to equip all front line Marine units with this rifle.
The M1 gave the Marine rifleman superior firepower against his Japanese opponent. It was dependable and easy to maintain in the field. An M1-equipped Marine rifle platoon could sustain the same volume of fire as a company armed with bolt-action rifles.
Operation of the M1 was simple. Ammunition was loaded via an eight round clip into the top of the receiver. When the rifleman fired his last round, the bolt locked to the rear and the empty clip ejected with a distinctive ping sound. To reload, the rifleman simply pushed a loaded clip into the top of the receiver. Once the clip was fully inserted, it would unlock the bolt, which stripped off the first round to load in the chamber.
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(left) The empty enbloc clip ejects from the receiver of an M1 rifle. At the same moment, the bolt locks back, enabling the Marine to quickly reload.
Still image from a USMC combat camera film
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A common problem experienced by new shooters was "M1 thumb." This occurred when the rifleman failed to quickly remove his thumb off the clip as he was loading. When the bolt unlocked, it could smash his thumb against the front of the ejection port. This only happened once for most new shooters.
Although the M1 had some minor deficiencies, it was without question the finest service rifle of World War II. Marines who carried it in combat swore by its reliability, simplicty and hard-hitting firepower. It went on the serve the Marine Corps in the Korean War, and through many years of the Cold War until it was retired from service in the early 1960s.
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(Left) Guam-August 3rd, 1944. Sgt Carrol Williford, 3rd MarDiv, in a ruined chapel with his M1 rifle near the Asan beachhead. The M1 was the standard service rifle from 1941 through the end of the war.
USMC Photo |
"On record day we fired sixty-six shots, all but ten of them rapid fire, at targets two hundred, three hundred, and five hundred yards away. Each shot was worth a maximum of five points, for a bull's-eye. Riflemen could qualify in three categories: marksman, sharpshooter, and–very rare, requiring 305 points out of a possible 330–expert rifleman... My M1 was zeroed in to perfection. I had steady hands; I could hold my breath indefinitely, steadying the muzzle; I could fold my right ankle under my buttocks for kneeling shots; and I had 20/10 vision... I was also clever in adjusting my sling... [I]t can be extended and looped around the left arm, locking the butt to the right shoulder. Record day was clear and windless. I hardly missed anything. My score was 317."
Goodbye Darkness–A Memoir of the Pacific War
William Manchester
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(Left) Pfc Paul Ison of the 1st MarDiv moving under fire at Death Valley, Okinawa–Spring 1945. He is equipped with the M1 rifle. USMC Photo |
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Riflemen of the 24th Marines at Camp Pendleton in late-1943 carrying M1 rifles and wearing the field marching pack on a field problem. USMC Photo |
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A rifleman takes aim with his M1 during one of the campaigns in the central Pacific in 1944. Still image from USMC combat camera film |
THE MARINE RIFLEMAN'S CREED
This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...
My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit...
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...
Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but peace!
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