Questions about USMC/US Army in 1920s.

[Ben2]

I know this is a bit of a random question, but I have a good reason for it. I'm asking here asking here because I know a fair few people here have an interest in military history and/or have been in the military.

In the 1920s who are the Americans fighting (I'm guessing South American countries on behalf of American fruit companies). If so is it just the marine corps or the army as well, and what equipment are they using. I'm guessing the Springfield rifle, but I'm wondering if the Thompson gun is also used, and what support machine gun was used.
I'm also curious as to whether the USMC were equipped with tanks in this period, ie FT-17s, M1917 (American Renaults) or Mk VIII Liberty tanks. Was there another American tank design in the 1920s (or just a series of Christie prototypes)?
Does anyone know what armoured cars were in use? Particularly if any were used by the marine corps.

 

[Soulmage]

Tommy gun wasn't adopted by the U.S. Army/MC until WWII even though it had been around quite a while. A shame. . . there's nothing quite like it:

 

[Hiromoon]

In 1920 you're seeing the Army Reorganization Act passing, creating the Army Air Corps (which would split off after WW2 into the Air Force).

And then theres this little bit:
This aide-memoire of July 17, 1918 states the terms upon which the United States would participate with the Allied Powers in the Russian 'Interventions'. Three battalions of infantry and three companies of engineers were sent to Archangel to protect supplies and to support British and Imperial troops already on the scene, and a small American force was also sent to Vladivostok, where, under command of the Canadian General Elmsley, along with Japanese, British, and Canadian troops, they formed part of the Vladivostok phase of the Interventions of 1918-1920.

http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/1918/archangl.html
The Archangel Expedition
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/doc32.htm

 

[Captain_Nemo]

The US Marines used the Thompson Submachine Gun on a limited basis in Nicaragua in the mid to late 1920's so about 1-3 per company. they liked them for breaking up ambushes by the point man.They also used Browning Automatic Rifles, M1911 Pistols, Winchester M1912 Shotgun in 12 Gauge, but, their primary Weapon was the M1903 "Springfield" Rifle in .30-06 caliber.

They also had a few Lewis Light Machine Guns and M1917 Machine Guns. Also some artillery but I don't know off the top of my head what exactly.
Probably US built French 75's.

For some good figures in 28mm scale check this guy's stuff out.

http://www.pulpfigures.com/cat.php?range=Americans&catalog=PYS&custID=718208781164037193

[/url]

 

[Ben2]

I didn't know the BAR was available in the 20s, though I know by the 30s it was the standard squad MG for the Polish army.

I knew about the two expeditions into Russia, and that they didn suffer from mission creep pretty much straight away, sent to guard materials sent to the Provisional government to fight the germans but by the time they got there the Red army had nicked them, and the interventionist forces comprising at least the British and Americans fought the Reds in northern Russia for a while, until it became clear the Whites were in the process of collapsing and the Reds deployed serious numbers of artillery against them.

I'm generally interested in 20s forces at the moment, so any places to get info would be great.

 

[Mr Evil]

I didn't know the BAR was available in the 20s, though I know by the 30s it was the standard squad MG for the Polish army.

I knew about the two expeditions into Russia, and that they didn suffer from mission creep pretty much straight away, sent to guard materials sent to the Provisional government to fight the germans but by the time they got there the Red army had nicked them, and the interventionist forces comprising at least the British and Americans fought the Reds in northern Russia for a while, until it became clear the Whites were in the process of collapsing and the Reds deployed serious numbers of artillery against them.

I'm generally interested in 20s forces at the moment, so any places to get info would be great.

try the flames of war forum, www.flamesofwar.com they have some total history buffs there.

 

[Captain_Nemo]

Ben2 Wrote:

I didn't know the BAR was available in the 20s, though I know by the 30s it was the standard squad MG for the Polish army.

It was first used by the US Army in September 1918 against the German forces in EUrope. They didn't want to use it much because they were afraid that it would fall into enemy hands so the story goes but, the Marines had it in the by the 1920's and used it throughout the next 30 or so years.

The best that I can do for you is the USMC Small Wars Manual published in 1940. It is a written compilation of whay the Marines were using as tactics and field stuff for the preceding 20 years. It is a good Manual and should help you out. If you find anything else, I am interested I'll kepp looking though.

BTW The manual can be downloaded for free from this link.

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/swm/index.htm

OORAH

 

[Bernard]

The forums on TMP (the miniatures page) are also a good place to ask, as there is a lot of knowledge about most military things.

 

[byram]

johg859 has got it all right, at least according to the Battel History of the US Marines Corps

 

[EvilGinger]

The BAR was in service with the US expeditionary forces in Europe in 1917-1918 from what I recall. The late period of trench fighting saw the introduction by all sides of light machine guns and submachine guns as well. Some like the British Lewis gun had been around from much earlier.

I fired a Lewis gun once at a range, nasty weapon 28 round drum which has a horrible habit of jamming if you try sustained fire so is best fired in short bursts 3-5 rounds. It also jams if the drum is not on perfectly which is not that easy to do in combat I should imagine. As it fires 303 rifle ammunition it also kicks like a mule

 

[Captain_Nemo]

EvilGinger, You've fired a Lewis?

I am SOooooo Jealous!!

That nis ^%&^%(* Coool!

 

[EvilGinger]

Went to a range with my father and he talked the armourer into it reminiscing about the old days when he was in the army. We also got to play with several marks of Lee Enfield and a Sten and Bren gun.

Dad showed me up with the Lee Enfield as he managed to put five rounds rapid into a standard pistol target at 500 yards. I managed to clip the target once and I had a hell of a job with the bolt so my five rounds where any thing but rapid. The Sten Jammed twice in three magazines and jolted the selector off when we tried single shot. Needless to say dear dad loved that as he can still strip and clear one of those things faster than I could an SA80 or SLR. I liked the Bren but we had had those in active service when I did my basic so I was not shown up that much there.

It was Fun and I am sorry if I made you jealous

 

[weasel_fierce]

An excellent book on the US intervention in Russia at Archangelsk, is "when hell froze over". The older version with the maps is titled "the ignorant armies"


US gear in Russia was Nagant rifles and Lewis guns.

Otherwise, "native" US weaponry, as mentioned, Springfields, BAR's (not sure when they chucked the Chauchat's), .30 cal water cooled brownings (M1917?)

To my knowledge, the .50 cal M2 machine gun would be available, htough in what quantity is unknown.

Dont forget that the US army also had a fair share of "trench guns", 12 gauge pump action shotguns, used for trench fighting.

I have no honest idea about artillery, but I'd figure it'd be very similar to French WW1 guns (the french supplied an awful lot of US weaponry in WW1)