Hey Guys,
I've just put an order in for one of the MGW Springfields. Namely the M1903A4 (sniper version). To my knowledge ive not seen any images of an Airborne solider carrying a sniper rifle.
So i was wondering if anyone has any information on airborne snipers. They must have existed, so im curious to find out.
IIRC, the Americans made more use of "sharpshooters", rather than true snipers. It was just a bloke who was a decent marksman, in a squad, equipped with a Springfield, rather than a sneaking about, proper sniper like the Germans, Russians and British used. I am, of course, referring to the ETO, not the pacific war, where more use was made of snipers, although still not a lot compared to later wars like Vietnam.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Yeah thats what i thought...They were'nt trained as a sniper as such, just given the rifle as they had the highest accuracy score in there squad.
Just haven't seen any images of an Airborne soldier carrying a Springfield.
Just like Shifty Powers.....
Who died last week I believe...
Who died last week I believe...
Yes, he did. What a shame, I hear he was a top bloke. I think it was Dick Winters who said that Shifty Powers, Ronald Spiers and Bill Guarnere were natural warriors and absolute natural born killers as well.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Yes, Shifty was the one who got all the way through the war unscathed then didn't get enough points to go home. He won a lottery to get him home; then on the way home he was involved in a terrible car accident and spent months convalescing in hospital, meaning his comrades got home before he did!!
Yeah thats crushing 
I'm sure that the airborne didnt have snipers based on the fact that it's not really an airborne style of battle.... it was all about speed and flanking, and putting enough fire down to cover. I guess having a springfield in a rifle section wouldn't be out of place for the purpose of airsoft matt, it's whatever takes your fancy. On a re-enactment perspective, it would be more accurate to have your Garand on yah. Although who really cares!
As far as I'm aware you'd be using your M1 Garand rig for a Springfield loadout anyway, so no need to buy new stuff.
Didn't the springfields mostly get used for Grenade launching in a section anyway since the garand couldn't be used in that role? (Or am I completely wrong?)
I'm sure the garand could be used with the rifle grenade.
http://www.inert-ord.net/usa03a/usarg/index.html
Would seem it could be used (although not very good) but the Springfield was the preferred option
Didn't the springfields mostly get used for Grenade launching in a section anyway since the garand couldn't be used in that role? (Or am I completely wrong?)
I do believe that the rifle grenade could be fired from the Garand. The weapons training vids on You tube and the military vids site, shows a soldiers firing a rifle grenade from a garand at a bunker.
From Webby's link it looks like it disabled the semi-auto feature of the garand until after the war and was introduced in 1943.
So pre 1943 it was impossible.
Pre 1944 it was probably rare and disabled semi-auto on the rifle.
For the rest of the war it probably was more common but still disabled semi-auto.
All conjecture of course...
Still I definitely read somewhere about the Springfield in a US squad being primarily uses for grenades. I'm just not sure where!
Still I definitely read somewhere about the Springfield in a US squad being primarily uses for grenades. I'm just not sure where!
Stamper's pdf in US infantry. The Springfield was issued to the squad second to be pringh.cipally used as an anti tank grenade launcher.
Not sure about airborne though.
Haven't seen any pictures of Airborne using Springfields anywhere although I think I opened a thread a little while ago where someone stated that they were used occasionally in small numbers, not primarily as a sniper but as squad lead marksman as already mentioned. Airborne marksmen mostly armed with Garands, I also imagine a lot easier to break down for when they're jumping...
Garands could be used to fire rifle grenades, although they required a special adaptor for the barrel end, I imagine like most guns would. I'm not sure about whether or not it would mess with the action or disable the guns mech in anyway.
On another note, thanks for the word on Shifty Powers...God Bless his soul and may he rest in peace.
Show me a man who will jump out of an airplane, and I'll show you a man who will fight!
General James M. Gavin
CRY HAVOC AND LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR
Ah yes, although obviously posed and he's wearing an unreinforced jumpsuit so an early picture he is most certainly handling a Springfield rather menacingly.
Show me a man who will jump out of an airplane, and I'll show you a man who will fight!
General James M. Gavin
CRY HAVOC AND LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR
Just got the M73B1 Scope, so the airborne sniper/marksman will be reality!!
He's 82nd, so this is probably taken in Tunisa (Pre Husky jump)
He's 82nd
And a total poser as well! When I was a sniper, I used to get grunts wanting to hold my L42 (and later my L96) for photos, some even wanted to pose with my spotting scope as well, like some sort of low price pirate. It didn't make them snipers, just as I suspect, that 82nd bloke isn't one either.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
I think you're right, it says on the bottom line "note the m1a1 carbine ....under his right arm"
Why is he in a North African desert with a life jacket?
