War is Hell!

John Sabato · 07-21-2005, 11:32 AM

I recently acquired approximately 300 pages of the operational reports for my father's unit (9th Infantry Division) during WW2. It has been some really fascinating history.

For those of us who have never experienced intense combat conditions, I offer this very small extract from one of these reports: This is the reported ammunition expenditure for the 9th Infantry Division for the period of 26th of March to the 8th of April 1943 during the campaign for the capture of Tunisia.

This was very intense combat with very little movement of troops. Mostly skirmishes with German forces.

Here are the casualty figures for the same period:

Somehow the expression War is Hell, doesn't seem to be adequate enough to cover what my Dad and his friends endured...

Edward Tinker · 07-21-2005, 11:37 AM

Very interesting, if you ever make a copy, make one for me, I'll reimburse you, fascinating info!

Ed

lugerholsterrepair · 07-21-2005, 09:09 PM

John, Very interesting data sheet. I just finished a book on the German MP-40, seems the average ammunition expenditure for this weapon climbed to 760 rounds per day. That's 15 boxes of 50 rounds! That's a lot a shootin! Jerry Burney

Roadkill · 07-22-2005, 09:03 AM

Surprised me how many rounds were still being used on 5 rd stripper clips for 03s. But then they could have been used for M1s or any 30.06 gun.

rk

John Sabato · 07-22-2005, 04:06 PM

RK,

Just a note to let you know that my Dad NEVER trusted those darn new fangled semi-auto M-1 Garands (my favorite WW2 rifle)... He carried an 03-A3 Springfield from North Africa to Sicily to Normandy and almost all the way to Berlin...

Rod WMG · 07-22-2005, 04:16 PM

I can never get over how much ammo is expended. 1489 tons is a bunch! Wonder how much the enemy used!?

Wonder how long it'd take me to shoot that much?

It's no wonder casualty rates were so high. Reading stuff like this reinforces the realization how much we owe those great men and what it cost to keep evil at bay.

pipeman45 · 07-23-2005, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Sabato
RK,

Just a note to let you know that my Dad NEVER trusted those darn new fangled semi-auto M-1 Garands (my favorite WW2 rifle)... He carried an 03-A3 Springfield from North Africa to Sicily to Normandy and almost all the way to Berlin...

My Dad didn't like the M-1 either. But it was for a different reason, the weight! BTW he was also in on the North Africa campaign as well as Sicily and Italy.

John Sabato · 07-25-2005, 10:31 AM

Pipeman, What unit did your Dad serve with during those campaigns?

Railsplitter · 07-26-2005, 01:51 PM

During basic training my father mouthed-off to his sergeant while they were on a hike. The sergeant took the M-1 off another soldier's back and handed it to my father. "You can carry this man's rifle" he said. I guess the sergeant thought an M-1 weighed enough to teach someone a lesson.

pipeman45 · 07-27-2005, 03:27 AM

I don't remember what unit he was with. I would have to search through the records. I do know he was in the Army Air Corp.

romer12 · 07-30-2005, 09:31 PM

I served with 187th Airborne RCT, Korea, 1951. And those chinks were very good with their mortars also..............

07-21-2005, 11:32 AM	#1
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	War is Hell! I recently acquired approximately 300 pages of the operational reports for my father's unit (9th Infantry Division) during WW2. It has been some really fascinating history. For those of us who have never experienced intense combat conditions, I offer this very small extract from one of these reports: This is the reported ammunition expenditure for the 9th Infantry Division for the period of 26th of March to the 8th of April 1943 during the campaign for the capture of Tunisia. This was very intense combat with very little movement of troops. Mostly skirmishes with German forces. Here are the casualty figures for the same period: Somehow the expression War is Hell, doesn't seem to be adequate enough to cover what my Dad and his friends endured... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

07-21-2005, 11:37 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	Very interesting, if you ever make a copy, make one for me, I'll reimburse you, fascinating info! Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

07-21-2005, 09:09 PM	#3
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,865 Thanked 3,104 Times in 1,429 Posts	John, Very interesting data sheet. I just finished a book on the German MP-40, seems the average ammunition expenditure for this weapon climbed to 760 rounds per day. That's 15 boxes of 50 rounds! That's a lot a shootin! Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

07-22-2005, 04:06 PM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	RK, Just a note to let you know that my Dad NEVER trusted those darn new fangled semi-auto M-1 Garands (my favorite WW2 rifle)... He carried an 03-A3 Springfield from North Africa to Sicily to Normandy and almost all the way to Berlin... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

07-25-2005, 10:31 AM	#8
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Pipeman, What unit did your Dad serve with during those campaigns? __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

07-22-2005, 09:03 AM	#4
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Surprised me how many rounds were still being used on 5 rd stripper clips for 03s. But then they could have been used for M1s or any 30.06 gun. rk

07-22-2005, 04:16 PM	#6
Rod WMG User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Edge of Texas Posts: 514 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I can never get over how much ammo is expended. 1489 tons is a bunch! Wonder how much the enemy used!? Wonder how long it'd take me to shoot that much? It's no wonder casualty rates were so high. Reading stuff like this reinforces the realization how much we owe those great men and what it cost to keep evil at bay.

07-26-2005, 01:51 PM	#9
Railsplitter User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 112 Thanks: 0 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	During basic training my father mouthed-off to his sergeant while they were on a hike. The sergeant took the M-1 off another soldier's back and handed it to my father. "You can carry this man's rifle" he said. I guess the sergeant thought an M-1 weighed enough to teach someone a lesson.

07-27-2005, 03:27 AM	#10
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I don't remember what unit he was with. I would have to search through the records. I do know he was in the Army Air Corp. __________________ Dave

07-30-2005, 09:31 PM	#11
romer12 User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: N.J. Posts: 85 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	war is also very noisey I served with 187th Airborne RCT, Korea, 1951. And those chinks were very good with their mortars also..............