TommyGunner
Staff Sgt.
Hackjob Mauro
1st Marine Division, 1942
Posts: 2,265
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Post by TommyGunner on Feb 28, 2007 12:51:55 GMT -5
I was talking to my friend Joe Leveato, a Marine with the 4th Marine Div during WW2 and he told me a story about how when they were in Hawaii, the Army was going around to all the outfits taking away there guns (Thompsons Specifically) and the MArines were not givena reason as to why this was.
Well from what he remembers weeks latter after Operation overloard the Army came back to give an explanation, it turns out that the weapons accomodated from the Marines were redistributed to US Airborn and Army Troops for operation Overloard, hence the reason we see so many M1928s in with Airborn Troops.
Ill go into more detail about what he said tonight, but I wanted to wet your wistles
TommyGunner
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Cpl. Hicks
Sergeant
Unofficial Flaggrantly Wrong Weapons Policeman
Posts: 1,425
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Post by Cpl. Hicks on Feb 28, 2007 13:09:50 GMT -5
Wow that's interesting! I am sure some Marines were not happy to part with their thompsons.
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TommyGunner
Staff Sgt.
Hackjob Mauro
1st Marine Division, 1942
Posts: 2,265
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Post by TommyGunner on Feb 28, 2007 15:27:55 GMT -5
Infact everyone was really mad that it happened, but the good news was that they were equiped with new guns like the M1A1.
TommyGunner
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TommyGunner
Staff Sgt.
Hackjob Mauro
1st Marine Division, 1942
Posts: 2,265
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Post by TommyGunner on Feb 28, 2007 16:17:16 GMT -5
The M1A1 had simplifyed internals, that not only cut cost but was easier to clean and disasemble.
TommyGunner
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YankeeDiv26
Staff Sgt.
Frustrated Mac Owner
BDM<33
Posts: 2,462
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Post by YankeeDiv26 on Feb 28, 2007 16:22:05 GMT -5
sorry to stray off topic but was the m1a1 a superoir weapon besides production costs and a few other detials. personally the sights on the m1a1 are better imo but i wouild not liek to part with features such as the ribbed barrel ( wont overheat as quickly) and cutz compensator (supposodly reduces muzzle climb), and the capacity to use a 50rnd drum on beach landings ect. was the m1a1 easier to clean than the m1928 or were there any other aspects that made it a superoir weapon than the older m192's? mods if this is too much of a stray off topic then i'll make another thread on this.
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Nimlas
Master sergeant
grumpy
Posts: 1,594
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Post by Nimlas on Feb 28, 2007 17:02:59 GMT -5
Well from what he remembers weeks latter after Operation overloard the Army came back to give an explanation, it turns out that the weapons accomodated from the Marines were redistributed to US Airborn and Army Troops for operation Overloard, hence the reason we see so many M1928s in with Airborn Troops A lot of 82nd Abn. had them from early on. Look at North Africa, Sicily, and Italy photos. No M1a1's there. While at the the same time, I have only seen 1 101st trooper with an M1928. So I think it had more to do with how long the unit had been deployed. I willing to bet that their M1928's where taken away because they were being refitted with the M1A1's.
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TommyGunner
Staff Sgt.
Hackjob Mauro
1st Marine Division, 1942
Posts: 2,265
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Post by TommyGunner on Feb 28, 2007 21:08:55 GMT -5
Thats always a possibility (unlikely with the Marines bcause they were short decent weapons anway), but Joe dose distinctly remebered being informed that the weapons that they took away were being given to units in Europe.
Unfortunetly he has yet to be able to find out what units the weapons were givin too, he had surmised (becuase he remebers being told also) that they were being given to troops for operation overlord becuase the weapons were taken away around that time period.
I see him this Friday and Ill ask him about the story again and write it down so I can give all the details.
I though that this was some interesting information and would really like to find some evidence to back it up but I dont know where to even look for something like that nor does Joe.
TommyGunner
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 1, 2007 1:42:49 GMT -5
Sounds like rumor central and the usual war time scuttlebutt but it's certainly possible.
The M1A1 was a cheaper produced weapon. The tolerances were less precise and while that sounds like a bad thing, often times stamped, non-machined parts are more forgiving when subjected to dirt and the effects of weather. The Russian AK is a great example of a sloppily made weapon that just plain works no matter what.
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Post by Capt. Zak on Mar 1, 2007 8:41:47 GMT -5
I don't boubt anything but it does seem a little silly. Just like the reason guys say that the ETO camo was taken out of service. The popular rumor is that there were friendly fire uncidents casue US soldiers wearing camo were mistaken as SS because only SS wears camo.
I have spoke to a numbr of Vets that served in the 30th ID (that were issued the camo) and they said the camo turned white in about 2 weeks. The result of bad dyes used in the manufacturing of the uniforms. This is also the US Army's official reason for removing the uniforms from service. My friends Grandfather (who served in the 30th) also told me a lot of guys ditched them cause they though they were ugly. LOL But not a single one mentioned "friendly fire". Nw I am not doubting that "friendly fire" ocurred, but it was not as rampant as the rumor mill has made it out to be.
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Post by Tough Ombre on Mar 1, 2007 13:28:35 GMT -5
Me and a friend got into an argument, i said that the Cammo would turn white he argued it was causing too much friendly fire. That got settled lol. This story seems like it could be true though till i can see some evidence im thinking it could possibly be latrine rumors. Though i want to think it could be true lol. -Cary
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Post by Gordak on Mar 1, 2007 13:44:22 GMT -5
Dont forget guys, TONS of m1928s went to russia as lend lease, I dont think any m1a1s went there, I am willing to bet that that stuff went to russia and not the airborne.
-Gordak
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Post by Capt. Zak on Mar 1, 2007 18:19:13 GMT -5
Dont forget guys, TONS of m1928s went to russia as lend lease, I dont think any m1a1s went there, I am willing to bet that that stuff went to russia and not the airborne. -Gordak Now I have not thought of that. Send the M1928's to those Bulshavic sons-a-bitches and equip our guys with the new improved model. ;D
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Cpl. Hicks
Sergeant
Unofficial Flaggrantly Wrong Weapons Policeman
Posts: 1,425
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Post by Cpl. Hicks on Mar 1, 2007 18:41:36 GMT -5
Though without the 50 rd drum. I guess it didn't work well in the mud anyway. I have heard from a vet that he liked the m1a1 much better than the m1928 because of the new 30 rd mag.
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Russian
Corporal
Magician
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Post by Russian on Mar 1, 2007 19:54:56 GMT -5
When I was in Russia, I basicaly demanded to go to every WWII museum in the cities we visited. In every display of the US Army (usualy only one room in the entire museum) there were m1928's being called M1A1's, and hundreds of other inaccuracies. However, I was stunned by the abundance of M1928's, which I had thought rare, due to their lack of "face time" in US Army photos.
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YankeeDiv26
Staff Sgt.
Frustrated Mac Owner
BDM<33
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Post by YankeeDiv26 on Mar 1, 2007 19:58:23 GMT -5
....you cant use 30rnd mags in the m1928? were the 30rd magazines gennerally issued along wiht the m1a1 or did the army just have you keep your 20rd'ers
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Post by binarypunisher on Mar 1, 2007 20:19:47 GMT -5
From what I remember reading, M1928s were shipped to Russia inside of Sherman tanks (they were packaged together) as part of the Lend-Lease act. The Russians didnt have any .45 ammunition, so the guns basically went into storage for years or were given out to sattelite states post war.
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TommyGunner
Staff Sgt.
Hackjob Mauro
1st Marine Division, 1942
Posts: 2,265
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Post by TommyGunner on Mar 1, 2007 20:52:27 GMT -5
The only type of mag not usable with the M1928 or M1A1 is the M1921 type mag, the Mag release on the M1921 Thompson was circular instead of oval like on the M1928 and M1A1, hence the fact the M1921 20rnd mags could not be used with the M1928 or M1A1.
The M1928 could take 30, 20, 50rnd mags, the M1A1 could take 30rnd mags and 20rnd mags, no Drum Mags.
The M1928 was issued in vast quantities, the reason you never see them in Army Photos is becuase they were issued primaraly the M1A1 and the Marines were using them all the way up to the end of the war most M1A1s were shipped to the ETO leaving the Marines with the M1928. The British also used the M1928 in all theaters of operation, in the CBI I have yet to see and M1A1 used by a Brisitsh soldier, they all had M1928s.
So to to wrap things up the M1928 was quite common, more so than people think, infact for almost any time period WW2 US impression you could get away with using an M1928, but this does not apply to the M1A1.
TommyGunner
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