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During my time with the Cavalry, and as a paratrooper I qualified with each of these weapons. |
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The 45 caliber M1911 pistol - Qualified Expert on target range. |
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The 45 caliber M3A1 Sub MG "grease gun" - Qualified Expert on target range. |
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The M1 Garand, is
thought by many to be the best weapon ever delivered to the army. My
basic infantry training included use of the bayonet. I'm told The army stopped doing bayonet
drill some time in 57. We fired at 500 yards with open sights. I
could hit the target but I did not do well enough to be a sniper. -
Qualified Expert on target range. |
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I also carried the M1 Carbine for some little while. But I only fired it for familiarization. About 20-40 rounds. It operates very much like a baby Garand. |
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The M14 in weight and feel was as good
with bayonet as was the M1. It did not have quite the long range
punch but where in WWII and Korea an infantry squad had only one auto
weapons man (BAR), with the M14 everyone in the squad could select full
auto. - Qualified expert on target range -
Carried in Nam. |
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I have never liked the M-16. Having cut my teeth on 12 gage shot guns, 30-40 Kreg US and Japanese army rifles, before joining the Army, then going straight to the M1. The M-16 is a fine spray and prey rifle, but is useless in punching a hole thru a barrier wall, or heavy jungle foliage. Qualified on the pop up range - carried in Nam. |
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As a paratrooper my buddy and I carried the
30 cal m1919 Light MG (a 2 man crew served gun). The gun with tripod
and ammo definitely got heavy during a 10 or 15 K march - Qualified proficient
on MG range. When doing regular cavalry
reconnaissance these guns were mounted by post mount on the scout jeeps.
On the Recovery Vehicle it is mounted in the machine gunners position
(right front), a 50 mg was at the TC position. |
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The 50 Caliber M2 Heavy MG. This
mounting arrangement was used on our tracks, all of which mounted the 50 in
some form or other. Our duce-and-a-half and 5 ton wheels used a ring
mount over the cab. Tracks later came with cupola which mounted the
gun internally and kept the TC safe from sniper fire. Our jeeps
did not mount the 50.
Qualified proficient on MG range. To be
proficient we fired at a scraped truck or tank at 1000 meters, if you
hit it, you qualified, it was hard to miss. |
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I have also fired
for familiarization the Bazooka anti tank gun.
I did not get a chance to fire the jeep mounted 105 recoilless, (dang).
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