Royal Marine Ross and others Part I

This is an attachment sent to me this morning by the Royal Marine Museum in Great Britain. What is interesting is the numbers of Ross Rifles obtained, and also the various other types and calibres of rifles issued. The Quartermaster must have had some sleepless nights just thinking of the variety of ammunition that needed to be stocked.

Some suppositions as to rifle types has to be made here. My ideas may not be the correct ones, but knowing the time period (WWI) I would suggest the following types for the "unknowns". The rest of the types are well known.

Winchester .44 Carbine.-----the 1892 lever action (was in production at the time)
7 mm. Rifle single shot -------the Remington 1902 rolling block (was in production for Mexico, and South America)
Remington .44.------------------the Remington Model 14 1/2 pump action .44 was in production at the time.
Mauser 9 mm Carbine--------- ? ? ? ? ? ?

While this started out with a Ross rifle inquiry a week ago, we now have some valuable OFFICIAL information as to Royal Marine small arms, and armaments of other types issued to smaller craft of the Royal Navy. Also, an accurate inventory of the Home Guard in 1942.

Unfortunately serial numbers or blocks of serial numbers are not available at this time.

A special thanks to Ian Maine of the Royal Marine Museum in Great Britain, for his time, effort, and assistance in answering my e-mails and questions.




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Extracts from
History of Technical Problems dealt with by Admiralty Departments
Volume 4 Small Arms and Machine Guns

On the outbreak of war, the War Office made urgent demands on the Admiralty for rifles to meet the need of the rapidly expanding army. Seaman's rifles carried in ships were consequently turned over, the number retained being 40 in capital ships and half the original proportion in smaller ships. The full establishment of Marines rifles were retained by the Admiralty. As soon as the exchange could be effected all service rifles in ships in home waters were replaced by Japanese rifles, the later again being withdrawn if favor of Ross rifles. In addition to War Office demands, a large number of rifles were needed for the equipment of the R.M. Division and the RM Corps as the later expanded for service ashore, as well as service on board the ships. Also the armed merchant ,ruisers and auxillary craft of many descriptions.

Japanese Arisaka .256-inch. 20,000 were issued to the Fleet throughout 1915 to replace the service weapons. These in turn were replaced in 1917 by the Ross .303-inch. 45,000 which the military considered were too delicate for service in the field were supplied to service ships commencing in 1917.

Mauser 9mm carbine. 850 were obtained in September 1914, originally been intended for Brazilian and Chilean warships.

Winchester .44 carbine. 20,000 obtained from the USA, 1,000 from Lord Nunburnholme in February 1915. Supplied to TBSs and miscellaneous craft, later replaced by Ross.

7 mm. Rifle single shot. 4,000 of this type were obtained in May 1915 from the USA, issued for minesweeping purposes, but subsequently withdrawn on account of defects.

Remington .44. 4,000 obtained from the USA in April 1915 issued to miscellaneous craft.

.303-inch Martini-Enfield rifles. 2,000 were obtained from the trade in February 1915 and issued to trawlers.

.303-inch Martini-Enfield carbines. 500 bought from the trade in April 1915, issued to trawlers and miscellaneous craft.

.45-inch Martini-Henry. 500 obtained from the trade in April 1915, issued to trawlers.

.303-inch L. E. Sporting Rifles. 970 bought from the trade in March 1915, issued to miscellaneous craft. [Commercial BSA and LSA patterns]


Home Guard Holdings - April 1942

.300 (Patt. 17) 810,035
.300 EY 29,217
.303 No.1 (SMLE) 4,233
.303 No.3 (Patt. 14) 2,410
.303 Ross 19,756
.22 all types 17,334
'other' 748

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