New guy here, greetings to all.
Is anyone aware of Lee Enfield rifle usage by the U.S. armed forces in either WWl or WWll?
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New guy here, greetings to all.
Is anyone aware of Lee Enfield rifle usage by the U.S. armed forces in either WWl or WWll?
IIRC two US divisions used the SMLE in WWI. This has been posted about before and there is a famous photo of US soldiers examining their newly-issued SMLEs, (perhaps staged, perhaps not.)
It was also used stateside for training purposes to free up standard weapons for overseas service; they also saw use by the various State militias along with Mosin-Nagants. State forces may have continued some use in the interwar years and possibly during WWII as well. During WWI they were used by State forces for certain.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigstick61
The proof of that would be interesting to see. The SMLE was definitely issued to US troops serving in conjunction with British forces on the Western Front during WW1 but I have never seen any evidence of their use on the homefront then (there were none here) and the Savage made No.4 rifles were shipped out rather quickly during WW2.
Are there any LEs marked with the US ordinance flaming bomb?
None that I've ever seen....none that I've ever been able to read about other than (maybe), those rifles used in 1917...the US used a lot more Moisin-Nagants (for training) than Enfields in the Great War....and none of them were Ordnance marked.Quote:
Originally Posted by ireload2
Do you know if the Moisin-Nagants were ever fired in training?
I suspect they were used only as marching props.
Actually ireload, yes there were Mosins with the flaming bomb US Ordnance mark. When seen it is on the left rear diagonal flat beside the slot where the cocking piece rides. There is an article (somewhere, can't remember where) that illustrates a M91 with the bomb mark and I at one time owned a Finn M27 with the US mark. How that receiver got to Finland I'll never know but it was what it was. Sorry to not have the info handy, I'll see if I can locate the article.Quote:
Originally Posted by ireload2
Edit:
Forgot to mention that the M91 was used by US troops in combat with the Red forces in Russia in 1919. The M91 in US service had an official designation, the “Russian Three-line Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm. (.3 inch)” See the article:
http://mosinnagant.net/USSR/US-Mosin-Nagants.asp
Sorry to take this off topic, if it is inappropriate, moderators please delete.
They were fired, we made ammo for them (Western Cartridge), surplus ammo for the M-N was available from the DCM between the Wars, as were the rifles....the M-N was even an "alternate standard" for DCM "E-I-C Matches" until the Post WW II era.Quote:
Originally Posted by ireload2
His Majesty the King reviewing US troops with Gen. Pershing, armed with Short Lee-Enfields, and .45s too, apparently.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-2.jpg
"Are there any LEs marked with the US ordinance flaming bomb?" --Ireload2
The Savage produced No.4s are.
Brad
PS dachshund, The most common usage of an Enfield design (modified for .30-06) by US troops would be a M1917 during WWI.
Great photo! Notice the U.S. style slings in lieu of the British carrying straps.
I wonder if the troops perferred them to the M1917 or the springfield!!;):DQuote:
Originally Posted by Mk VII
I can only give one opinion....my WW I vet Grandfather's! He disliked the Lee-Enfield (lousy sights, "Couldn't hit a bull-in-a-corncrib!" accuracy...his opinion, not mine!), felt much better about the M1903 (good rifle, but the magazine cut-off was about as useful as "...t!ts on a boar-hog" and it needed a different rear sight...a problem corrected in the A3 to Grandpa's delight!)....LOVED the M1917, but wished it had a windage adjust...preferred the M1917 to the M1903 in combat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gibbs505
Never used any in the military (70 years too late) but I've always preferred the '17 Enfield to the Springfield and the SMLE and No.4 to the '17 Enfield.
Carried demil'd Springfield 03A3s as a cadet and they shoulder well, but for combat use......Springfield sights up till the A3 weren't the best.
I have two Savage #4 Mk1*, One went through Ishapore. Both have "Flaming Bomb" stamps.
That's OK....I have a Long Branch with a "Flaming Bomb" on the receiver! Probably from some of the many train-loads of parts shipped there from Savage in late 1943.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzzard
Here's the photo I was thinking of.Quote:
Originally Posted by Surpmil
Hello, new member here too. I have a flaming bomb-marked #4mk1 dated on the wrist 1942. It's also stamped U.S. Property on the receiver. Mine is also marked with an squared "S" inside a box. They were made in the U.S. by Stevens-Savage, and were originally intended for lend-lease.
Years ago I was firing it at a range and an older gentleman walked up during a break. He told me he'd trained with a number 4 Enfield in the U.S. army. They were promised that they'd be issued Garrands before they shipped out. Instead, he was sent ashore in Italy with his .303. When ammunition started running low and the British were unable to spare any, they were sent back to - in his words - the beach. He told me they goofed off for a few weeks until they got word they were being issued new American weapons. When they lined up behind the truck, they were disappointed to see that instead of Garrands, they were handed M1 Carbines. At first they thought they were issued girly rifles, until they realized that they weighed about half what their Lee Enfields did, and complained no more after their first long march. mw