[Charles Martel]

The M1 Carbine is a wonderful toy, but not a serious combat weapon.

It was intended as a weapon for support troops (in a WWII infantry battalion, it was mostly ammunition bearers, senior NCOs and vehicle crews that were issued the M1 carbine. Everybody else got an M1 Garand). It was an early example of a "personal defense weapon"; more accurate and easier to shoot than a 1911 or Thompson.

Of course, the close-in jungle warfare of the Pacific theater was nothing like Europe, and the M1 Carbine was very popular with the Marines who island-hopped towards Japan.

[FirstFlaBn]

It was intended as a weapon for support troops (in a WWII infantry battalion, it was mostly ammunition bearers, senior NCOs and vehicle crews that were issued the M1 carbine. Everybody else got an M1 Garand). It was an early example of a "personal defense weapon"; more accurate and easier to shoot than a 1911 or Thompson.

Nice job, mostly. I have in my lap the last army infantry battalion T/O prior to adoption of the carbine (Oct 40) and the first one after (Apr 42). Pistols went from 313 to 60.

Would any sane person argue a WWII infantry battalion would be more effective with the Oct 40 T/O with one third of members carrying a pistol?

You only earned a 'mostly' by leaving out LMGs and BARs.

[AppyPappy]

One of my former bosses drove trucks in Vietnam. He carried an M1 and an M3 grease gun in the cab.