Infantry Weapons on Bougainville

Marines rate the arms in their arsenal

Marines walk through the mud on Bougainville (US National Archives)

On 31 January 1944, the commanding officer of the Twenty-First Marines submitted a report on ‘tactics and technique’ that, among many other things, provided concise evaluations of the weapons used by his regiment.

Carbine, caliber .30, M1

The similarity between carbine and Japanese .25 caliber fire was confusing to inexperienced troops. The carbine, with present sights, is not considered a very accurate weapon. It tends to rust more rapidly than other weapons and requires greater care. In the case of the gunner and assistant gunner of the machine gun squads, the carbine hindered them in carrying the gun and tripod and, in some instances, resulted in the carbine being abandoned. It is believed that they should be armed with smaller weapons.

Rifle, caliber .30, M1

This weapon performed in a highly satisfactory manner and was preferred, by the using troops, to the carbine.

A Marine at Camp Pendleton, California, poses with a Browning Automatic Rifle (1942) (USMC)

BAR [Browning Automatic Rifle], caliber .30, M1918A2

The automatic rifle is considered the most effective weapon in jungle warfare. It is light enough to keep up with advancing troops, can be placed in action instantly, and is considered by some officers to be superior to the LMG [light machine gun] in the attack. The BAR was used extensively in defensive situations to deliver fixed fire in areas not covered by machine gun fire. by means of the stock rest and bipod the gun is capable of delivering automatic fire along a predetermined line under any condition of visibility. Very few stoppages occurred that could not be reduced by Immediate Action.