1942 Indian Motorcycle
Production of the Indian 841 motorcycle did not begin until the waning days of World War II. This model closely resembled the Germany bike BMW R71, and was adept at both on and off-the-road travel. The Indian included new innovations such as a dual carburetor, automatic ignition, and a shaft transmission using a pedal-shift four-speed gearbox.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 744cc (73x90mm) air-cooled transverse V-twin four-stroke
Power Rating: 28 hp
Valves: side
Fuel System: two Linkert butterfly throttle carburetors
Transmission: 4-speed with selector pedal and shaft final drive
Suspension: pressed-steel girder forks (front); rigid (rear)
Brakes: drum (front & rear)
Wheels: 4.00x18 inch (front & rear)
Weight: 538 lb
Maximum speed: 65 mph
Courtesy of George Tinkham, Owner
The M1 Carbine, a .30 caliber semi-automatic weapon, did not have the punch nor range that the M1 Garand possessed, but its lighter weight made it ideal for paratroopers, infantry officers, NCOs, ammunition bearers, forward observers, radiomen, and rear echelon troops. The 12-gauge pump-action shotgun was used for close-in work and trench fighting.
M1 Carbine
Courtesy of the Illinois State Military Museum, Department of Military Affairs, Springfield, IL.
12-Guage Trench Gun
American artillerymen, tankers, and officers were often assigned one of these three .45 caliber weapons for close-in work: the M1911 pistol, M1917 revolver, or M3A1 submachine gun. The M1911 was standard issue throughout World War II, but both Smith & Wesson and Colt were called on to manufacture the M1917 revolver to meet the heavy demand. The M3 “Grease Gun” was designed to replace the Thompson submachine gun. Fielding of the M3A1 variant did not begin until December 1944.
M3A1 Submachine Gun (Grease Gun)
Courtesy of the Illinois State Military Museum, Department of Military Affairs, Springfield, IL.
M1911 Colt Semi-Automatic Pistol
Courtesy of the Illinois State Military Museum, Department of Military Affairs, Springfield, IL.
M1917 Colt Revolver
Courtesy of the Illinois State Military Museum, Department of Military Affairs, Springfield, IL.
The Workhorse
The M1919 A4 Browning .30 caliber machine-gun was the military’s workhorse medium machine-gun during World War II. It was a crew-served weapon, typically manned by a gunner, assistant gunner, and two ammunition carriers.
M1919 A4 Browning .30 cal. Machine-gun
Courtesy of the Illinois State Military Museum, Department of Military Affairs, Springfield, IL.
Rifles
The standard American infantry weapon at the dawn of World War II was the bolt-action M1903A3 Remington rifle—a weapon with a deadly punch that was familiar to the nation’s World War I veterans. The M1903s, however, were gradually replaced by the M-1 Garand —a semi-automatic weapon that used the same .30-06 ammunition with a faster rate of fire. Bayonets were for close-in fighting, but soldiers found plenty of other uses for them.
M1 Carbine (The image file is 1903 Remmington)
Courtesy of the Illinois State Military Museum, Department of Military Affairs, Springfield, IL.
M1 Garand Semi-Automatic Rifle
Courtesy of the Illinois State Military Museum, Department of Military Affairs, Springfield, IL.
Knives and Grenades
Knives, such as this Bowie style hunting knife, were popular items for G.I.s to include along with the military’s standard issue equipment they received. Knives came in handy for a wide variety of tasks, and could also be used in the rare occasion when hand-to-hand combat occurred. The M-2 grenade, commonly called either a frag (for fragmentation) or pineapple grenade due to its appearance, was an essential weapon used in the street fighting of Europe, and against the bunkers and caves of the Pacific Theater. It exploded only 4 to 5.5 seconds after being thrown, depending on the fuse.
Bowie-Style Hunting Knife
Courtesy of the Illinois State Military Museum, Department of Military Affairs, Springfield, IL.
M-2 Grenade
Courtesy of the Illinois State Military Museum, Department of Military Affairs, Springfield, IL.
Even before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt and the U.S. Congress recognized the importance of helping Great Britain, and later the Soviet Union, in their fight against the Axis powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan. By the end of the war, America had shipped $51 billion dollars worth of equipment, supplies, and food (in 1940s dollars) to beleaguered allies across the globe.
