Why did the USA go semi-auto when others did not?

[arado]

The Germans issued the K/G43 . Efficient semi auto used as battle rifle and sniper. They issued the select fire MP44 in large numbers and it was so good it could be issued today.

[11th Armoured]

OK, I've spent a good deal of time reading up on the history of the development of the Garand and...here is my question.

Why was the United States the only country involved in WWII that embraced the use of a semi-automatic rifle as its main battle rifle when every other nation in WW II used a bolt-action five-round rifle?

Hi, nothing really to add about the reasons behind the decisions, but if I might offer a slight correction - the British (and Commonwealth) Lee Enfield magazine actually holds ten-rounds & was capable of putting down quite a reasonable rate of fire without the added complexity of the semi-auto mechanism - anywhere between 20 and 30 rounds a minute was common, I believe.

Kevin

[us019255]

They issued the select fire MP44 in large numbers and it was so good it could be issued today.

But not until it was to late. The name "MP" gives it away. It was claimed to be a Machine Pistol (sub-machine gun) to hide its development from the fearless leader.

[Amsdorf]

Thankfully, Hitler, fundamentally, was an idiot.

[gastrapsforme]

Robert, yes and no to your question. Ive now had to restart the process of putting together the ealiest rifle I can. I had to sell off most of my old resto including an original barrel that I had found due to a messy devorce. But alas those early rifles have brought me back again. So im at it again mind you at a snails pace, prices are high even compaired to just ten years ago when I first started. Kevin

[Bob Seijas]

EVERYBODY was trying to develop one, but it was extremely difficult and expensive. In addition, everybody thought you could not build one in a full-size caliber unless it weighed more than 10 1/2 pounds, too heavy for the average soldier. The French fielded the St. Etienne in 1917 and it weighed about 11 pounds. Even the vaunted Germans couldn't do it before the war. Some efforts bogged down because the traditionalists worried that the soldier would "waste ammunition" and couldn't be supplied fast enough.

That world-wide search demonstrates the genius of JCG, who did what nobody else could do. Roger Bannister ran the first four-minute mile, the equivalent of breaking the sound barrier... an amazing feat that made world headlines. Sure, now it's routine, so everybody thinks it's easy, no big deal. But it wasn't until Bannister proved it could be done.

[onlycrimson]

I would say the svt-40 was probably the only real contender as far as semis go. The Russians just couldn't put the time and money into producing them after the start of the war.

[emmagee1917]

It really gets down to ....none of the others were smart enough.....simple as that.
Garand spent some twelve years to develop this . He also designed much of the tooling to fit his rifle so that it could be easily mass produced. Not easily mass produced in a small machine shop like a sten or such , but easily mass produced by a shop with his machinery . And of course there was the constant changing military mind. Build it for the 30-06 M1906 , no , wait , the M1 ball , no , wait , the .276 Peterson , no , wait , the M2 ball . Give it a detachable mag , no , wait , don't , use strippers , no , wait , enbloc clip. Redesign the gas system to fit a Springfield bayonet , don't worry about the bend in the gas tube , on and on.
Chris

[Lee Enfield]

EVERYBODY was trying to develop one, but it was extremely difficult and expensive. In addition, everybody thought you could not build one in a full-size caliber unless it weighed more than 10 1/2 pounds, too heavy for the average soldier. The French fielded the St. Etienne in 1917 and it weighed about 11 pounds. Even the vaunted Germans couldn't do it before the war. Some efforts bogged down because the traditionalists worried that the soldier would "waste ammunition" and couldn't be supplied fast enough.

That world-wide search demonstrates the genius of JCG, who did what nobody else could do. Roger Bannister ran the first four-minute mile, the equivalent of breaking the sound barrier... an amazing feat that made world headlines. Sure, now it's routine, so everybody thinks it's easy, no big deal. But it wasn't until Bannister proved it could be done.

Yes and we can't forget that the Garand while "adopted" @1936 functionally did not exist until 1941, and was not a truelu viable weapon until almost 1943.

In England the No4 rifle was "perfected" during trials from @1930-34 and then the design was allowed to languish while various self loader systems were explored. The first production no4 enfields were manufactured in 1941.

Really a major reason for the M1 making the grade was the significant lag time between the rest of the world and the US entering the war. Everyone pretty much knew it was coming, but the longer it could be delayed the better.

[browningautorifle]

I have a 1941 M1 that's not only viable but functions perfectly. Not only that, but it was good enough to be sent to serve England during the emergency...1943? Where did you get that opinionated timeline?