12-046 Garand Picture of the Day - Guadalcanal

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...34_large-1.jpg

Guadalcanal
American infantrymen with equipment after a bloody battle for a 1,500-ft. peak euphemistically called the Grassy Knoll. Location: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Date taken: 1943
Photographer: Ralph Morse

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...02_large-1.jpg

Guadalcanal
Battle-stained Amer. infantrymen cleaning their weapons next to foxhole after a bloody battle for a 1,500-ft. peak euphemistically called the Grassy Knoll. Location: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Date taken: 1943
Photographer: Ralph Morse

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...46_large-1.jpg

Exhausted US Marines sprawl all over beaches waiting for the landing craft which will take them off the island following four months of fighting the Japanese. Location: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Date taken: December 1942
Photographer: Ralph Morse

Drum on the Thompson.
Thaine

Yes that drum must have been heavy to lug around 24/7, about the closest in weight to a BAR. The early M1's have shiny gas tubes, hadn't got the procedure down yet to keep em dark. Looks like they're loading up with bandoliers, (5) on the guy on the right, that's 240 spare rounds to go with the 80 in his cartridge belt; maybe they're picking up extra ammo for the squad?

"Wind to 9 or 11 clicks" -- I always wondered what was wrong with 10?

The 1921s had a much faster rate of fire than the 1928A1s did. If you had a '21 , 11 clicks were needed to feed the rounds fast enough ( more spring pressure ) . After the last round was fed , the remaining spring pressure would whirl the empty rotor around to it's stop. Winding to only 9 clicks would feed in a '28 and cut down on the battering at the end.
Also , the drums made a click...click...CLICK...click...click...CLICK... sound when winding. Count only the loud clicks.
Chris

Always liked that top pic. A bit of everything there. Just back the truck up and load it out.