Military Rifles & Carbines

The rifle has been the basic weapon of ground force infantry since the invention of the weapon. The carbine -- a lighter, shorter rifle -- is carried by specialized troops or officers. In modern military use, the selective fire automatic rifle has replaced earlier bolt action or semiautomatic weapons. This section of Olive-Drab.com covers all the important U.S. rifles and carbines as well as some from other countries.

September 1942 photo of an M1 Garand rifle, then-new M1 steel pot helmet, M-1905 bayonet and web gear
September 1942 photo of an M1 Garand rifle, then-new M1 "steel pot" helmet, M-1905 bayonet and web gear. The M1 seems to be leaning toward the camera, distorting the length of the bayonet and rifle.

Today in WW II: 11 Nov 1940 55 Polish intellectuals murdered in Dachau concentration camp [near Munich], the first of many mass executions there.  More ↓
11 Nov 1940 Operation SWORDFISH: Raid on Taranto, Italy, the British Royal Navy's first all-aircraft naval attack, launching obsolete canvas planes from an aircraft carrier [11-12 Nov].
11 Nov 1942 Triggered by Operation Torch in N. Africa, Germans take control of all of Vichy France north of the Riviera.
11 Nov 1942 Allies capture Casablanca, Morocco during Operation Torch.
11 Nov 1942 In the aftermath of Operation Torch, Germany and Vichy France begin negotiations on the fate of the French fleet at Touson.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Military Rifles and Carbines

World War II Special Forces Jedburgh has a .30 cal. M1-A1 folding-stock carbine across his chest
World War II Special Forces ("Jedburghs") were dropped into France behind German lines in three-man teams during 1944 to assist the Allies. This Jedburgh, Lt. Jack Singlaub, has a .30 cal. M1-A1 folding-stock carbine slung across his chest, a compact weapon favored for parachute operations. 11 August 1944.

See also: Grenade Launchers

What about Assault Rifles?

There is no category on Olive-Drab for so-called "assault rifles". This really is not a distinct weapon in military terms, so you will find various assault rifles (loosely defined by the media) under rifles or sub-machine guns. To read more about what an assault rifle is and how they came into use, go to Wikipedia.

Recommended Books about Military Rifles and Carbines

Find More Information on the Internet

There are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there.

For good results, try entering this: military rifle or carbine. Then click the Search button.

Especially recommended: