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[RaymondCarver]

I recently found out that the M1 Garand had a special high-powered shell and an attachment to turn the rifle into a grenade launcher. I don't think it was quite effective, but still the feature was there to use. What interesting things like this might you know about the handheld arms of the war? Did certain officers get certain types of weapons? Are there any out right flaws or reasons that caused soldiers not to use certain weapons?

I hear that on D-Day the average life of an American machine gunner was only three minutes...three minutes! I know a man that said he traded his BAR for an M1 as soon as he could because the enemy targeted rapid fire support weapons

 

[SlickWilly223]

I don't have any fun facts, but let me let you in on a little secret I learned while at the shooting range on saturday...


...The butt-stock of the M1 Garand was designed for cracking open skulls, not for obsorbing the mule-like kick. There isn't anything to absorb the shot, just a 2 inch piece of metal. Goddamn. My shoulder was pretty soar that day...

Also, I know that German Tank Commanders got "Broom-Handle" Lugers, which look really cool because they have a big "box" in the front of the trigger for clubbing people (or something). My gramps took one off of a dead German Tank Commander, and it's still in his closet. Probably the coolest Luger I've ever seen, and they make a lot of Lugers...

Looks close to this...