TRENCH DEVICES
Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS Case 29 The protracted trench warfare on the Western Front of World War I forced experimentation in ways to aim and shoot a rifle without exposing any part of the body to enemy fire. A number of versions of these trench rifles were made, none of which, however, had much success. ~~~~~ U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1903 SPAR4040 TELESCOPE SIGHT SPAR7482 U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1903 SPAR1139 PERISCOPE SIGHT SPAR8214 PERISCOPE SIGHT SPAR4039 *****
Hidden from sight, this American "infantryman", actually a reenactor demonstrating the use of this weapon system for the NPS, can observe enemy activities, aim and fire his weapon, while protected from enemy rifle fire.
Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS
Here is seen a US M1903 Rifle modified in very much the same way was that held by the infantryman in the previous photograph.
Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS
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Did You Know?
After visting Springfield Armory during his honeymoon, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published a poem in 1845 entitled "The Arsenal at Springfield," which used the racks of muskets stored there as an anti-war metaphor. More...