16 inches Garand bayonets in the final stages of war ?

[nicolas75]

Hello

 

Does somone has evidence pics of the longd 16" blade Garand bayonet in use at the end of the war (end of 1943 to 1945) ?

 

I'm talking about frontline units

 

Thanks

[gunbarrel]

Normandy 1944

 

[gunbarrel]

Close-up

 

[knd643]

From my knowledge yes. They were mainly used by engineers.

[gunbarrel]

Some (most?) engineers preferred the control afforded by a shorter blade. This photo was also taken in France in 1944.

 

[gunbarrel]

[gunbarrel]

On the other hand, here is a photo taken in Iwo Jima where they were using a machete in the beach sand...

 

[Charlie Flick]

Nicholas:

 

Marines in the invasion fleet heading for Tarawa. November, 1943.

 

Regards,

Charlie

 

 

[Brian Dentino]

Nicholas:

 

Marines in the invasion fleet heading for Tarawa. November, 1943.

 

Regards,

Charlie

 

 

Now this is a GREAT picture Charlie! Can't say I remember seeing this anywhere?

[ThompsonSavage]

Normandy

[ThompsonSavage]

Tarawa

[ThompsonSavage]

Now this is a GREAT picture Charlie! Can't say I remember seeing this anywhere?

 

It is in the USMC book by Alberti and Pradier on page 115.

[bayonetman]

First production of the M1 (10 inch) bayonet was used in the US to arm new units being formed. It was not until late June that M1 bayonets began to ship overseas to units who turned in their M1905 bayonets for the new M1. Most units did not get 10 inch bayonets until late 1943. First cut downs were in September 1943 and did not reach quantity production until late October. From the VERY limited information I have found so far, the shortened bayonets (still called M1 by Ordnance) were commonly issued in the US to new units being formed at least until early 1944.

 

Infantry units overseas were the first to receive the M1 bayonets on exchange, with less combat oriented units being further down the list. Most Infantry seems to have been rearmed with M1s by summer 1944, while some rear area non-combat units were not reequipped by the end of the war.

 

As usual, the Marines were not issued M1 bayonets overseas until later than the Army. Some Marine combat units did not get the M1s until late 1944, and there is a little evidence that some Marines on Iwo Jima and Okinawa still carried the long M1905. The Navy did not replace their M1905s officially during the war and many of those found today are actually from Navy stocks.

 

Those that may be familiar with the recent CMP sales of bayonets will recall that there were a few thousand M1905s imported from Greece, and I have reason to believe that these came from stocks on hand in US bases in Europe which were turned in at the close of combat operations in Europe and never returned to the US for shortening, as that program was cut back in the late spring of 45.

[gunbarrel]

Sell job on "The Leatherneck" September 1943.

 

[gunbarrel]

[gunbarrel]

[gunbarrel]

[gunbarrel]

[BROBS]

cool info and pics!

love the article.

[ww2relichunter]

[ww2relichunter]

first picture is a late war marine poster ,,, second picture is from pearl harbor they all have 16 inchers !!

[gunbarrel]

cool info and pics!

love the article.

 

 

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

[jeremy69]

Well, what is even more curious is the run of M3 scabbards made in the 50's. Why would they make scabbards for a discontinued bayonet due to be cut down? This can be read about in Gary's Bayonet points.

[patches]

A well know photo, GIs of the 37th Inf Div Bouganville March 1944.

[patches]

We were looking for his old topic, so a BUMP for any new photos you might have to add for the long bayonet in use in the 43-45 period on all fronts.