Inland M1 Carbin - 6/44 D-Day

[painter777]

Be nice to have a few friends in Italy.
The wife and I may end up over in Naples in 2013, if my Navy daughter decides to transfer.

Cheers,
CH-P777

[Bizio]

If you plan to visit Milan please let me know, I will be glad to meet you and your wife.

[Bizio]

I think spare parts for M1 Carbine come cheaper in Italy than in USA.

I bought today :
a complete Inland trigger housing group all pieces included Inland marked for $88
an assembled bolt Type I "flat" for $62
a spare firing pin for $12
two Type III Push Safety (botton) for $37

[firstflabn]

I don't think we could rule out that this carbine was used at Normandy. Can't say for sure either.

Well, we can come pretty close. A few factors make it way tougher than a triple bank shot:

In awarding campaign credit, the Normandy Campaign ended on July 24, 1944 (in the lull before the breakout) - that's 53 days from June 1. Barrel production stayed well ahead of final assembly for most of production. Even if not, parkerizing, assembling, proofing, targeting, inspecting, and packing didn't happen in a day.

An Army ammo supply study (ammo was Priority I for shipping space, while other ordnance was Priority II) showed an average of 40 days from leaving a depot or factory until arrival in ETO in the fall of '44 - probably took longer earlier in the year. This doesn't count unloading, sorting, or distribution. At this point, replacements were not provided arms until landing in the ETO, so that is a non-factor. Followup units that got Normandy Campaign credit were already in Britain by June 6 - their resupply for weapons damaged in training (likely a very small quantity), came out of the distribution chain (which had reserves), not right off the cargo ship.

With the ETO as the largest theater, there's always a decent chance any surviving small arm served there, but if this one did, it was a bit later. There was a carbine shortage in the ETO in the spring of '44, but the shortage was in reserve stocks. It is likely then that in filling up the deficiencies in reserve stocks, carbines of this vintage perhaps had an even better chance of going to the ETO.

[emmagee1917]

Many , if not most all , USGI units ( can't speak about others ) recieved brand new small arms in the week or two before departure . During the time they were moved into thier staging area and under lock down , they degreased , tested , sighted in , cleaned and oiled and made ready for the jump off. They were given as much ammo as they wanted during this time . Busy hands , don't you know .
Chris

[Bizio]

When I defined my M1 Carbine "D-Day" I only ment to say that my M1 Carbine came out of factory in 6/44, regardless it might be used or not in Normandy on those days.

I also own a SA M1 Garand 6/44 and I call it "D-Day Garand" as well ...

[firstflabn]

Many , if not most all , USGI units ( can't speak about others ) recieved brand new small arms in the week or two before departure .

Evidence?

The actual circumstances were way too complex for a generalization. The policy from the beginning was for fully equipping units while still in training camps. The reality fell well short of that goal, especially early, but as production caught up with inductions, the batting average improved until reaching an acceptable level. Further, different unit types had different priorities, so what was true for a tank destroyer battalion might not be true for a QM truck company during the same month.

For those interested in facts, the Army Green Books provide a great overview of the complexities of supply. Read up on POM (Preparation for Overseas Movement) - a directive published by the War Department in early 1943. POM showdown inspections were done in embarkation camps and shortages were filled, again depending on unit priority, but with the exception of some units deploying early, it was not the general case to fully arm units just before shipping out, especially for AGF units.

If the garbled point is to say the majority or a significant minority of units had equipment deficiencies corrected in embarkation camp, it would be hard to disagree, but that point is virtually self-evident. Everyone already has a sense of the chaos.

[Bruce McAskill]

Some units were issued weapons as soon as they got off the boat in France depending on what type of unit they were. I know of one medical unit where the orderlies were issued brand new Winchester carbines right out of the shipping crate, a sling and oiler, a pouch ,three magazines and a box of ammo.

[ABPOS]

So the medics didn't have weapons in Europe but the orderlies did?

[Bruce McAskill]

Yes they did as they were not medical personnel per say. He was told it was for guard duty. He was in a normal hospital with a room he shared with another orderly. He put the carbine in his locker and it stayed there untouched. When they were told they were going home that they had one hour to pack and get all of their equipment out to the trucks to take them to the ship heading home. He forgot all about the carbine being in the bottom of his foot locker and packed all his gear in it and it went home with him. When he got to his home he found it and was afraid he would get charged with stealing it so he hid it under his cellar stairs where it stayed for 38 years. When my brother in-law bought it from his widow he got the carbine, the pouch with two magazines in it, the box of PC 43 head stamped ammo with 35 rounds in it and a baby food jar with the missing 15 rounds in that all for $25. That was all he had with him and all she wanted as she did not want it around. Of course I had to pay a lot more for it then that. But that was one exceptional carbine. As new unfired other then at Winchester and a five digit serial number.