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The M1 Garand (more formally the United States Rifle, .30 Caliber, M1) was the first semi-automatic rifle to be put in active military service. It replaced the Springfield 1903 rifle.

1 Notable Features

It weighs 9 pounds 8 ounces (4.3 kg) unloaded, and is 43.5 inches (1.1 m) long. The rifle is fed by a standard clip which holds eight rounds. Originally chambered for the 0.276 in (7 mm) Pedersen cartridge using a 10 round clip, it was later standardized to use the then official U.S. military rifle round: "Ball Cartridge, 0.30 in (7.62 mm), Model of 1906," commonly known as the .30-'06 ("thirty-ought-six").

2 History & Design

Developed by weapons designer John Garand in the 1930s, it eventually became the standard long arm of the US Army, being adopted in 1932 and entering service in 1936. It served through World War II and the Korean War where it proved to be an excellent weapon to the point where the Axis Powers used as many as they could capture. Some were still being used in the Vietnam War in 1963, although it was officially superseded by the M14 rifle in 1957. U.S. military drill teams still use the M1, including the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill team.

Perhaps the distinct edge it gave the Allied forces over their enemy in battle is why General George S. Patton called it "the greatest implement of battle ever devised." The rifle remains popular with civilian weapons collectors and enthusiasts all over the world.

2.1 Variations & Accessories

Most variations of the Garand never saw duty, with the exception of the sniper variants. The sniper versions were Garands modified to accept scope mounts and from this came two systems. These are M1C (also called the M1E7 ) and M1D (also called the M1E8 ). However, neither were produced in significant quantities during the second World War. The only difference between the two versions is the mounting system for the telescopic sight. In June of 1944 the M1C was adapted as the standard sniper rifle by the US Army to replace the venerable M1903A4. The M1C and M1D first began being widely used during the Korean war. The US Marine Corps adopted the M1C as their official sniper rifle in 1951Events January events January 9 United Nations headquarters officially opens ( New York City). January 15 Ilse Koch, The "Witch of Buchenwald," wife of the commandant of the Buchenwald concentration camp, is sentenced to life imprisonment in a court in We.

One good example of a variant that never saw duty is the T26 (or M1E5), or the "Tanker Garand." The T26 has a shorter barrelThe barrel of a firearm is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion is released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at great speed. The first guns were made in a time where metallurgy was not quite what it is today, so the at 18 inches and comes with a folding stock. The tanker name was actually added after the war when it was used as a marketing gimmick to sell the rifles. Another example of a variant that never saw duty is the T20E2. This variant is, at its simplest, a Garand modified to accept Browning Automatic RifleThe Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was designed in 1917 by the weapons designer John Browning as a replacement for the French-made Chauchat Light Machine Gun, which was plagued by design flaws that made the weapon ineffective. The M1918A2 model is picture magazines and has selective fire capability in semi- and automatic modes.

Similar to most modern rifles, the M1 had many accessories available. Several different styles of BayonetA bayonet is a knife- or dagger-shaped weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle or similar weapon. It is a close combat weapon. Its evolution can be traced to a certain extent to a fortuitous accident. In the mid- 17th century irregular cons fit the rifle: the Model 1905 (16" blade), Model 1905E1 (10" blade), M1 (10" blade), and M5 (6" blade). Also available was a Grenade launcherA grenade launcher is a weapon that fires, or "launches" a grenade. List of grenade launchers Federal grenade launcher, fires 37mm tear gas grenades. M203 grenade launcher accessory for assault rifles. M79 a dedicated single-shot grenade launcher. M19 aut that fit onto the barrel using the M7 Spigot. It was sighted using the M15 sight which fit just forward of the trigger. A buttstock cleaning kit was also available for use in the field.

The M1 Carbine is often thought of as a variant of the Garand, but this is actually a misnomer. The carbine, while it shares subtle similarities in appearance, uses an action different to that of the Garand.



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