Nov. 13 Canadian Garand Picture of the Day

[Sapper740]

Here is a picture from Operation Cottage which was the 15 August 1943 Allied landing on Kiska Island in the Aleutians. The Canadian Infantry soldiers were issued American gear, uniforms, helmets and weapons in order to avoid any friendly fire incidents which unfortunately failed as there was a Blue on Blue firefight that left 32 soldiers dead and 50 wounded after landing. This picture shows members of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade disembarking from their transport.

[Mark in Rochester]

Guy no. 1 on the right has a bolt gun

[RCS]

I believe that I have the same type of green and dark brown helmet net

[browningautorifle]

Guy no. 1 on the right has a bolt gun

As pointed out Canadian, so he has his issue #4 rifle. Apparently they carried their own rifles. Seems the whole concept didn't matter after the blue on blue happened anyway. If you expand the pic or look at other versions of the same photog shots, you see all those guys with #4 rifles.

[Sapper740]

I should have looked closer at the rifles in the background, I was sure they were Garands. I've seen a picture of a Private from Le Regiment de Hull wearing a M1923 Dismounted belt which led me to believe they would have been issued American weapons also. I presumed too much.

[RCS]

To issue M1 rifles to Canadian troops would have required training plus range shooting before being used in service

[Surpmil]

To issue M1 rifles to Canadian troops would have required training plus range shooting before being used in service

That's it exactly. They're wearing inflatable life vests above their waists so hard to tell if they're using US ammo pouches, but presumably .303 clips went in OK.

Seems they were issued some sort of waterproof over-pants(?) for the disembarkation? (1st and 4th men for example).

You'd wonder why they didn't make the ramps longer: absolutely no point in making everyone's legs and feet soaking wet at the outset. Running onto a beach as opposed to wading ashore saves lives as well. A shallow ramp you can run down, a steep ramp you can't. Sitting ducks.