Sub-Machine Guns of the US Marine Corps
Battalion: An Organizational Study of United States Infantry
The estate of the late John Sayen has graciously allowed the Tactical Notebook to serialize his study of the organizational evolution of American infantry battalions. Previously posted parts of this book may be found below, in the section marked “For Further Reading.”
In January of 1942, the second edition of the D-series table of organization called for the issue of M-1 carbines to most of the Marines who had previously been authorized to carry pistols. (The new establishments exempted field grade officers, whether majors, lieutenant colonels, or colonels, from this change.)
By July of 1942, it became clear to the relevant authorities at Headquarters, US Marine Corps, that a sufficient number of M-1 carbines to arm all of the Marines who rated them would not become available until well into the following year. Thus, the third edition of the D-series tables of organization, which went to the press that month, called for the issue of .45 caliber sub-machine guns to Marines who would otherwise have rated M-1 carbines.
Most of the Marines provided with sub-machine guns in lieu of the tardy carbines received Reising sub-machine guns. A few, however, got Thompson guns. Unfortunately, Marines fighting on Guadalcanal discovered that each of these weapons suffered from a serious defect. While the Reising proved prone to jamming, the Thompson produced a sound that resembled the report of the standard Japanese light machine gun to a degree that often resulted in the attraction of friendly fire.
Source:
Lieutenant Colonel R. E. Hogaboom, HQMC Plans and Training Officer “Memorandum to Staff Officers” 20 May 1942 (John Sayen found this unpublished memo in the records of the Marine Corps Historical Center before that organization moved to Quantico.)
For Further Reading:
