Firearms / Assault rifles / M1 Carbine
M1 Carbine
General Facts
- TYPE
Self-loading rifle - ORIGIN
United States
- NICKNAMES
Selbstladekarabiner 455(a) (Nazi German designation for captured weapons) - DESIGNED
1938 - 1941 - DESIGNER
Winchester - PRODUCTION
1941 - ? - PRODUCERS
Japan - Howa
United States - General Motors
United States - Winchester
- QUANTITY
Over 6.25 million, including:
150.000 M1A1
600.000 M2
3.000 M3 - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Small size and limited weight
Large magazine capacity compared to conventional rifles
Limited recoil
Semi-automatic
Limited effective range
Limited lethality
Introduction
The M1 Carbine is a self-loading rifle of US origin. It was developed during the early stages of World War 2 to provide US forces with a weapon that filled the gap between a sub machine gun and a full size rifle. It was deemed that many frontline troops that are not riflemen, such as officers, engineers and drivers, could use weapon that was less cumbersome but yet adequate for combat.
Design
The M1 Carbine is based on the Winchester M2 rifle designed by John Browning. The Browning design was finished by David Williams who started to develop a short stroke gas piston design. The M1 Carbine is gas operated and uses a tapped-and-slide gas mechanism. Externally the M1 Carbine looks like a classic rifle with its wooden furniture and lack of a pistol grip. The .30 Carbine round used in the M1 Carbine was specifically designed for this weapon. Unlike most intermediate powered rounds developed in World War 2 it is not of a spitzer design.
Firepower
The M1 Carbine is a semi-automatic weapon that fires the intermediat power .30 Carbine round. At first only the 15 round magazine was available. With the introduction of the select-fire M2 Carbine the 30 round magazine was introduced. The M2 has a high cyclic rate of fire of about 900 rpm. The maximum effective range is 200 to 300 meters. Most M1 Carbines have an accuracy of 3 to 5 MOA, which is adequate at such ranges.
Users
The main user of the M1 Carbine was the US military. US forces used it as a standard issue weapon alongside the larger and more powerful M1 Garand. After the Korean war the M1 Carbine was replaced. The M1 Carbine was widely exported and equipped many European forces right after World War 2. The M1 Carbine was also widely used by gendarmerie and police forces of many nations. By today's standards the M1 Carbine is obsolete but remains in use in various nations, mostly in the reserve role.
M1 Carbine
The M1 Carbine is the original and most produced version. The M1 is semi-automatic and has a fixed wooden stock. The M1A1 was developed for airborne troops needing a more compact weapon. It is a M1 that is fitted with a metal skeleton folding stock.
- Specifications:
- M1 Carbine
- M1A1 Carbine
Type | Self-loading rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | .30 Carbine |
Magazine | 15, 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, tappet and slide |
Fire selector | 0-1 |
Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
Barrel length | 458 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 4 grooves, 508mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 607 m/s |
Stock | Fixed |
Length | 904 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 2.36 kg with empty magazine |
Sights | Iron sights, blade front and flip aperture rear, 0, 150, 300 m gradation, 546 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Type | Self-loading rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | .30 Carbine |
Magazine | 15, 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, tappet and slide |
Fire selector | 0-1 |
Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
Barrel length | 458 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 4 grooves, 508mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 607 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 905 mm / 648 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 2.53 kg with empty magazine |
Sights | Iron sights, blade front and flip aperture rear, 0, 150, 300 m gradation, 546 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
M2 Carbine
The M2 is a select-fire version of the M1 Carbine. The M2 also introduced 30 round magazines that are compatible with the M1 Carbine. The M1 could be converted into the M2 with the use of a parts kit. The M3 is an M2 fitted with an infrared searchlight and infrared scope. The M3 was produced in very limited numbers.
- Specifications:
- M2 Carbine
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | .30 Carbine |
Magazine | 15, 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, tappet and slide |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 850 - 900 rpm |
Barrel length | 458 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 4 grooves, 508mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 607 m/s |
Stock | Fixed |
Length | 904 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 2.36 kg with empty magazine |
Sights | Iron sights, blade front and leaf slide rear, 546 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |