M1 GARAND RIFLE
Development:
The US Army first began its interest in semi-automatic rifles in 1901. This
was furthered in 1911, when testing was held using the Bang and Murphy-Manning.
Experiments continued during World War I and trials were held in 1916-1918.
Development of a semi-automatic rifle began in earnest in 1919, when the US Army
concluded that the cartridge for its current service rifle, the Springfield
M1903, was far more powerful than needed for typical combat ranges. That same
year, the gifted designer John C. Garand was hired at the Springfield Armory.
Serving as the chief civilian engineer, Garand began work on a new
rifle.
His first design, the M1922, was ready for testing in 1924. This possessed a
caliber of .30-06 and featured a primer-operated breech. After inconclusive
testing against other semi-automatic rifles, Garand improved the design,
producing the M1924. Further trials in 1927, produced an indifferent outcome,
though Garand did design a .276 caliber, gas-operated model based on the
results. In the spring of 1928, the Infantry and Cavalry boards ran trials
which resulted in the .30-06 M1924 Garand being dropped in favor of the .276
model.
One of two finalists, Garand's rifle competed with the T1 Pedersen in the
spring of 1931. In addition, a single .30-06 Garand was tested but was
withdrawn when its bolt cracked. Easily defeating the Pedersen, the .276 Garand
was recommended for production on January 4, 1932. Shortly thereafter, Garand
successfully retested the .30-06 model. Upon hearing the results, the Secretary
of War and Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur, who did not favor
reducing calibers, ordered work to stop on the .276 and that all resources be
directed to improving the .30-06 model.
On August 3, 1933, Garand's rifle was re-designated Semi-Automatic Rifle,
Caliber 30, M1. In May of the following year, 75 of the new rifles were issued
for testing. Though numerous problems were reported with new weapon, Garand was
able to correct them and the rifle was able to be standardized on January 9,
1936, with the first production model cleared on July 21, 1937.
Magazine & Action:
While Garand was designing the M1, Army Ordnance demanded that the new rifle
possess a fixed, non-protruding magazine. It was their fear that a detachable
magazine would be quickly lost by US soldiers in the field and would make the
weapon more susceptible to jamming due to dirt and debris. With this
requirement in mind, John Pedersen created an "en bloc" clip system that
permitted the ammunition to be loaded into the rifle's fixed magazine.
Originally the magazine was meant to hold ten .276 rounds, however when the
change was made to .30-06, the capacity was reduced to eight.
The M1 utilized a gas-operated action that used expanding gases from a fired
cartridge to chamber the next round. When the rifle was fired, the gases acted
upon a piston which in turn pushed the operating rod. The rod engaged a
rotating bolt which turned and moved the next round into place. When the
magazine was emptied, the clip would be expelled with a distinctive "ping" sound
and the bolt locked open ready to receive the next clip. Contrary to popular
belief, the M1 could be reloaded before a clip was fully expended. It was also
possible to load single cartridges into a partially loaded clip.
Operational History:
When first introduced, the M1 was plagued by production problems which
delayed initial deliveries until September 1937. Though Springfield was able to
build 100 per day two years later, production was slow due to changes in the
rifle's barrel and gas cylinder. By January 1941, many of the problems were
resolved and production increased to 600 per day. This increase led to the US
Army being fully equipped with the M1 by the end of the year. The weapon was
also adopted by the US Marine Corps, but with some initial reservations. It was
not until midway through World War II that USMC was completely changed
over.
In the field, the M1 gave American infantry a tremendous firepower advantage
over Axis troops who still carried bolt-action rifles such as the Karabiner 98k. With its semi-automatic
operation, the M1 allowed US forces to maintain substantially higher rates of
fire. In addition, the M1's heavy .30-06 cartridge offered superior penetrating
power. The rifle proved so effective that leaders, such as General George S. Patton, praised it as "the
greatest implement of battle ever devised." Following the war, M1s in the US
arsenal were refurbished and later saw action in the Korean War.
Replacement:
The M1 Garand remained the principal service rifle of the US Army until the
introduction of the M-14 in 1957. Despite this, it was not until 1965, that the
changeover from the M1 was completed. Outside of the US Army, the M1 remained
in service with reserve forces into the 1970s. Overseas, surplus M1s were given
to nations such as Germany, Italy, and Japan to aid in rebuilding their
militaries after World War II. Though retired from combat use, the M1 is still
popular with drill teams and civilian collectors.
Specifications:
SOURCE: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/smallarms/p/m1garand.htm
The US Army first began its interest in semi-automatic rifles in 1901. This
was furthered in 1911, when testing was held using the Bang and Murphy-Manning.
Experiments continued during World War I and trials were held in 1916-1918.
Development of a semi-automatic rifle began in earnest in 1919, when the US Army
concluded that the cartridge for its current service rifle, the Springfield
M1903, was far more powerful than needed for typical combat ranges. That same
year, the gifted designer John C. Garand was hired at the Springfield Armory.
Serving as the chief civilian engineer, Garand began work on a new
rifle.
His first design, the M1922, was ready for testing in 1924. This possessed a
caliber of .30-06 and featured a primer-operated breech. After inconclusive
testing against other semi-automatic rifles, Garand improved the design,
producing the M1924. Further trials in 1927, produced an indifferent outcome,
though Garand did design a .276 caliber, gas-operated model based on the
results. In the spring of 1928, the Infantry and Cavalry boards ran trials
which resulted in the .30-06 M1924 Garand being dropped in favor of the .276
model.
One of two finalists, Garand's rifle competed with the T1 Pedersen in the
spring of 1931. In addition, a single .30-06 Garand was tested but was
withdrawn when its bolt cracked. Easily defeating the Pedersen, the .276 Garand
was recommended for production on January 4, 1932. Shortly thereafter, Garand
successfully retested the .30-06 model. Upon hearing the results, the Secretary
of War and Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur, who did not favor
reducing calibers, ordered work to stop on the .276 and that all resources be
directed to improving the .30-06 model.
On August 3, 1933, Garand's rifle was re-designated Semi-Automatic Rifle,
Caliber 30, M1. In May of the following year, 75 of the new rifles were issued
for testing. Though numerous problems were reported with new weapon, Garand was
able to correct them and the rifle was able to be standardized on January 9,
1936, with the first production model cleared on July 21, 1937.
Magazine & Action:
While Garand was designing the M1, Army Ordnance demanded that the new rifle
possess a fixed, non-protruding magazine. It was their fear that a detachable
magazine would be quickly lost by US soldiers in the field and would make the
weapon more susceptible to jamming due to dirt and debris. With this
requirement in mind, John Pedersen created an "en bloc" clip system that
permitted the ammunition to be loaded into the rifle's fixed magazine.
Originally the magazine was meant to hold ten .276 rounds, however when the
change was made to .30-06, the capacity was reduced to eight.
The M1 utilized a gas-operated action that used expanding gases from a fired
cartridge to chamber the next round. When the rifle was fired, the gases acted
upon a piston which in turn pushed the operating rod. The rod engaged a
rotating bolt which turned and moved the next round into place. When the
magazine was emptied, the clip would be expelled with a distinctive "ping" sound
and the bolt locked open ready to receive the next clip. Contrary to popular
belief, the M1 could be reloaded before a clip was fully expended. It was also
possible to load single cartridges into a partially loaded clip.
Operational History:
When first introduced, the M1 was plagued by production problems which
delayed initial deliveries until September 1937. Though Springfield was able to
build 100 per day two years later, production was slow due to changes in the
rifle's barrel and gas cylinder. By January 1941, many of the problems were
resolved and production increased to 600 per day. This increase led to the US
Army being fully equipped with the M1 by the end of the year. The weapon was
also adopted by the US Marine Corps, but with some initial reservations. It was
not until midway through World War II that USMC was completely changed
over.
In the field, the M1 gave American infantry a tremendous firepower advantage
over Axis troops who still carried bolt-action rifles such as the Karabiner 98k. With its semi-automatic
operation, the M1 allowed US forces to maintain substantially higher rates of
fire. In addition, the M1's heavy .30-06 cartridge offered superior penetrating
power. The rifle proved so effective that leaders, such as General George S. Patton, praised it as "the
greatest implement of battle ever devised." Following the war, M1s in the US
arsenal were refurbished and later saw action in the Korean War.
Replacement:
The M1 Garand remained the principal service rifle of the US Army until the
introduction of the M-14 in 1957. Despite this, it was not until 1965, that the
changeover from the M1 was completed. Outside of the US Army, the M1 remained
in service with reserve forces into the 1970s. Overseas, surplus M1s were given
to nations such as Germany, Italy, and Japan to aid in rebuilding their
militaries after World War II. Though retired from combat use, the M1 is still
popular with drill teams and civilian collectors.
Specifications:
- Cartridge: .30-06 Springfield (7.62 x 63mm), 7.62 x 51mm NATO
- Capacity: 8-round en bloc clip inserted into an internal magazine
- Muzzle Velocity: 2750-2800 ft./sec.
- Effective Range: 500 yds.
- Rate of Fire: 16-24 rounds/minute
- Weight: 9.5 lbs.
- Length: 43.6 in.
- Barrel Length: 24 in.
- Sights: Aperture rear sight, barleycorn-type front sight
- Action: Gas-operated w/ rotating bolt
- Number Built: approx. 5.4 million
- Accessories: M1905 or M1942 bayonet, grenade launcher
SOURCE: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/smallarms/p/m1garand.htm