401st Glider Infatry Weapons

WEAPONS

Weapons issued to the Troopers during WWII include the M-1 Garand rifle, M-1 Carbine, M-1 Thompson sub machine gun, and the favorite of all troops, the M-1911 Colt .45 automatic pistol. Another rifle seen in limited numbers and generaly as a sniper rifle were the Springfield 1903 variations. Also in the Troopers arsenal were Crew served weapons, taking two or more men to operate, the M-1919 series of Light machine guns, 60mm and 81mm Mortars, Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher, and the Browning automatic rifle. And lastly Explosive Ordinance types, Hand Grenades, Rifle grenades, Hawkins mines, land mines, anti-tank mines, and various types and weights of explosives including TNT, and plastic explosives.

Glidermen carried a variety weapons depending on the jobs they had to do. The standard issue weapon being the M-1 Garand rifle with M-1911 pistols and M-1 Carbine rifles being issued to Troopers that operated crew served weapons, radios, and special task personnal. Non-commissioned officers (NCO's) carried, as a rule, the Thompson SMG and a Colt .45 pistol. Officers carried either a Thompson SMG or M-1 Carbine as well as a Colt .45 pistol. But, when in combat a Trooper used any weapon available. Most liked and respected the M-1 Garand for it's reliability and accuracy making it the weapon of choice.

The M-1 Garand is the weapon of choice for the 506th PIR and 401st GIR impression. But, any weapon of U.S. WWII issue will be welcomed in the unit. An MkII grenade or two ( De-activated of course) hung from the cartridge belt suspenders will help to round out the impression. Make sure to secure the grenades with black cloth type electrical tape so as not to loose them when running through the woods towards the enemy. Or bend the safety handle (Spoon). This is done by placing the safety handle through the metal "D" ring or cross strap on the suspenders and bending the "spoon" upwards once. Both of these types of securing methods were common practice but, using cloth tape was the safest way so as not to get the safety pin pulled out on a tree branch. BOOM!!

In the works!
A bazooka being built by the 506th PIR!

Weapons and Ordinance

M-1 Garand .30-06 Cal. rifle
M-1 Carbine .30 Cal. rifle
M1A1 Thompson .45 Cal. SMG
M1911A1 Colt .45 Cal. pistol
M-1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle .30-06 Cal. AR
Browning M-1919 LMG .30-06 Cal. LMG
M2 60mm or M1 81mm motar
M-9A1 Rocket launcher, Bazooka, 2.36"

Explosive Ordinance

MkII Fragmentation grenade
Thermite grenade
Smoke grenade
Rifle grenade
Hawkins mine
Blocks of TNT or C-3 plastic explosive
Blasting caps
Detonation cord

Thanks to "The Korean War" Site by Bert Kortegaard for the links.

No. 75 Hawkins Mine

This is a reproduction of a No. 75 Hawkins Mine carried by paratroopers. The British manufactured these for use as a personal carried anti-personnal mine. These were widly distibuted among Airborne and other US fighting forces.
For more information and additional pictures, click on one of the two No. 75 Hawkins mines to the left or right.

Pictures and reproduction mine courtesy of Paul Reijnders.

Ammunition allotment

Ammunition allotment is the minimum needed to bring to a Tactical event.

M-1 Garand               200 rounds           8- 8 round e bloc clips
M-1 Carbine              200 rounds           5- 15 round magazines
Thompson SMG        300 rounds           6- 30 round magazines
M1911 Colt Pistol        50 rounds           3- 8 round magazines

Other items to have around the encampment area are wooden ammo crates and metal ammo cans. These items really dress up your display and also come in handy as a place to sit!

Weapons cleaning in any military unit is #1 and will be no different in this unit. Keeping your weapon clean and inspected is not only the proper thing to do but, it also insures safety to yourself and to others around you! A dirty weapon in the 506th or 401st will not be tolerated! You bought the weapon..... it's yours and it's probably been around for 50 + years. Let's try and make them last another 50 + years!