U.S. Snipers

Depends on how accurate you want the research to be.

To the best of my knowledge, US snipers were not used that much, compared to German and Russian snipers.
I dont recall anything about dedicated snipers, but have seen a few sites listing details about oppotunistic soldiers doing what they had too.

I guess you could improvise, this sort of topic requires a little 'artistic interpretation'.
Check Pacific conflict history, there may be alot more detail there you could use and backdate.
Hoped this helped a little

Thanks.

Knew snipers used Springfield Model 1903 rifle's with scopes as a weapon(has seen in the movie "Saving Pvt. Ryan"). Later some may have used Garand M-1 rifles with scopes. Rifles may have been accuratized. Uniforms and equipment would have been standard issue. This is from my memory of a HistoryChannel show.
John
helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission

the 1903A3 was the most common US sniper rifle of the second world war. the Garand was used but not widely used because the scope interfered with loading the enbloc clip and was often hit and knocked out of alingment by spent cases. the M1917, a off shoot of the british P-14 .303, was also used to some extent, but again not on a large scale.

Thanks a ton. At least now I know where to start.

Never researched the subject, but I was told by an old pro that US always played catch-up regarding snipers and sniper training. There was very little formal training in WW2, and the 1903 was the most common weapon, but my source mentioned something called (if I'm remembering right) an M1-C which I guess was a modified M1.
The same source told me that although the snipers on the Eastern Front were the best known, that there were some epic sniper-countersniper battles involving UK and German snipers in Italy in the winter of 44-45.

Al

Both the M1C AND the M1D were sniper versions, of the trusty old warhorse, M1 Garand.
The M1C was an interim rifle while the armorers worked on an improved version which would be known as the M1D.
The "D" had a 4 power scope, a flash suppressor and a leather tie on cheek piece on the butt stock.
Original "D"s are fetching a pretty penny now. The DCM (Department of Civilian Marksmanship) had a few "C"s and "D"s that they were selling. But, that was a couple of years ago.
I saw an M1 at a gun show in Tulsa a few years back that had a $10,000.00 price tag on it. The rifle also had documented proof that it had been checked out of the arsenal on the U.S.S. Arizona, for guard duty on the night of December 6, 1941!!!!!!!
Would have been something to own. But, alas, I am a shooter and I couldn't have owned it for fear that I would take it out, shoot it and ruin it's value. And besides......I didn't have an extra 10 grand laying around!!

Thanks, I'll have to look into those "epic sniper battles" you mentioned.

hey!! chopperfan, your a fellow shooter! was the M-1 carbine ever used as a sniper rifle in WW2? i've seen pics of modified carbines being used at night in Vietnam,but can't find much on there use in WW2

The little carbine was not a "Ma Bell" type of weapon, i.e. able to reach out and touch someone at long distance. It was designed mainly for tankers and officers. No offense all you officers currently serving. It was intended as a replacement for the 1928 Thompson, .45 cal. submachinegun. But, that never really happened.
It was light, short and, in the M-2 model, able to rock and roll!!
As far as their usage in Vietnam? They were perfect for the small statured South Vietnamese soldiers, when the American grunts and Jarheads were carrying a REAL weapon, the M-14, before the introduction of the M-16.
I, too, have seen pictures of the little M-1 with infrared and night scopes. But, I don't know a whole lot about their use.
Hmmmm, I may have to research that.

The M1 Carbine, used with the infrared scope, was largely a fixed position weapon, since the battery pack and the scope itself were both large, heavy and unwieldly. It wasn't intended for a sniper role. The M-! C and D Garands were used effectively, as they became available to the troops in the field. The scope mount was offset to the left side of the reciever to prevent the difficulties that Kevin303 alluded to. The issues of loading and shell ejection weren't the major problems as initially anticipated. The most widely issued sniper weapon in the US inventory in WWII was the M1903A4 rifle, which was designed as a sniper weapon. The US didn't develop a sniper program, as the Germans and British had, until the Vietnam War had begun. Usually, those soldiers/Marines that had superior marksmanship skills were chosen to carry a sniper rifle and were not attached to any special sniper squads, platoons, etc. They simply were attached to their regular organic unit as a sniper. If they were killed or wounded, or if the rifle were damaged or destroyed, the unit simply lost their sniper. Hope this is of some help to you.

That was tons of help, thanks. By the way, do you know of any kits that have a sniper or a soldier with an m1903? Preferably one in a shooting or action position. Thanks in advance.

One of Tamiya's old US weapons sets has an 03 with scope. Don't have the kit number handy, you could replace the weapon in any figure set with this weapon.
John
helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission

And a neat little kit it was. Had Springfields, 1911s, Garands, M1 Carbines, BARs, 50 cal. w/ tripod and a stripped down 50 cal..
I think I have the remains of one somewhere.

Thanks for the info, I'll have to try and hunt down that kit online somewhere.

Kit number is 35121
John
helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission

Thanks. I actually found it at my LHS. Their stock is so small that my mouth dropped when I saw the kit.

Glad you found it
John
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