The paratrooper and the 92 Winchester (Sorry Long)

azlaw · 10-29-2008, 02:02 PM

The only thing was that airborne forces in Market-Garden were not coming out of combat, but rather directly from England after post D-Day rest, training, and refitting - they were (generally) fully equipped when they jumped. Seems unlikely (but not impossible) that someone would have such a non-standard weapon (for which no ammo would be available in combat) under those circumstances.

That said, we certainly know that GIs were quite willing to pick up (and buff and nickle) foreign weapons, eh?

A3 (as an aside) shotguns were really frowned on in the ETO in combat, and were not issued for that purpose. They were used to guard prisoners, however. The Germans claimed in 1918 they were illegal according to the Hague Convention, we thought (and still think) otherwise, but we stopped using them in combat (at least officially, in declared wars, except on the Japanese, a litttle bit, but they deserved it) ever since.

I know Vietnam vets who had weapons sent to them in country - it was pretty common - particularly handguns and shotguns, which were not issued to most enlisted folks, but which they strongly desired to have. Add to the that TO&Es (tables of organization and equipment) were much more strongly enforced in Vietnam than in WWII in regular combat units, and you have the reason. And no, they could not get them out. There was also a brisk mail order trade in a non-issued lubricant called "Dry-Slide", which supposedly helped to make the M-16 rifle actually work, which it did not when introduced.

H

10-29-2008, 02:02 PM	#4
azlaw User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 207 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	The only thing was that airborne forces in Market-Garden were not coming out of combat, but rather directly from England after post D-Day rest, training, and refitting - they were (generally) fully equipped when they jumped. Seems unlikely (but not impossible) that someone would have such a non-standard weapon (for which no ammo would be available in combat) under those circumstances. That said, we certainly know that GIs were quite willing to pick up (and buff and nickle) foreign weapons, eh? A3 (as an aside) shotguns were really frowned on in the ETO in combat, and were not issued for that purpose. They were used to guard prisoners, however. The Germans claimed in 1918 they were illegal according to the Hague Convention, we thought (and still think) otherwise, but we stopped using them in combat (at least officially, in declared wars, except on the Japanese, a litttle bit, but they deserved it) ever since. I know Vietnam vets who had weapons sent to them in country - it was pretty common - particularly handguns and shotguns, which were not issued to most enlisted folks, but which they strongly desired to have. Add to the that TO&Es (tables of organization and equipment) were much more strongly enforced in Vietnam than in WWII in regular combat units, and you have the reason. And no, they could not get them out. There was also a brisk mail order trade in a non-issued lubricant called "Dry-Slide", which supposedly helped to make the M-16 rifle actually work, which it did not when introduced. H