U.S. Small Arms of World War II
Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS CASE 37 During the Civil War both the Union and, especially, the Confederate Armies were confronted with almost insurmountable logistical problems created by the dozens, even hundreds, of different sizes of ammunition used by each side. By World War II, the United States had reduced this number to merely three calibers for small arms. Even so, the logistics of supplying the right ammunition to the right place remained a serious problem. Complicating the matter was the fact that the United States was also the manufactory for the Allies and had to supply allied forces with ammunition for their weapons. Such confusion led, after the war, to attempts to standardize not only American ammunition but to agree upon a standard ammunition for all allies. 
Springfield Armory NHS archives, US NPS A WWII-period photo showing a US soldier sourrounded by an assortment of weapons systems available to him. "CLICK" on the gold-highlighted text on this page to learn more about the specific weapon in CASE 37.
U.S. Rifle caliber .30 M1 SPAR7218 
Springfield Armory NHS archives, US NPS In this combat image, a US soldier may be seen firing his M1 Rifle, with the final empty cartridge case and empty clip seen ejected from the weapon.
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Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS The US M1 Carbine was never made at Springfield Armory, but by a number of private contractors. U.S. Carbine caliber .30 M1 SPAR1721 
Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS Johnson Semi-Automatic Rifle M1941 SPAR4454 The Johnson rifle, named for its inventor Captain Melvin M. Johnson, USMC, was developed before World War II. The recoil-operated semi-automatic weapon is not as familiar as the other weapons in this exhibit. Because Garand's rifle was already in full production, the Johnson Rifle saw only limited service in World War II, principally by the Marine Corps in the Pacific. |
Did You Know?
Springfield Arsenal, a military supply depot, was sited by General Henry Knox, and approved by General George Washington in 1777. The arsenal became known as Springfield Armory in 1794 when on-site small arms manufacturing was approved by President Washington. More...