USMC combat shotguns in WW2

[rjmt]

Unfortunately, I don't have a Winchester Mod 12, only a Mossberg 590-A1 with bayonet
but I found this photo of a Marine in WW2 with a grenade vest holding his shotgun shells
just so happens I have one of those - it's a WW1 Mills Granade vest with 11 pockets
I tried tonight and I can get 6 rnds of 12 ga in each pouch - so 66 rnds of 12 ga
combine that with the two 12 rnds belt pouches and each Marine shot gunner is carrying 90 rnds of 12 ga

I read a report that on Siapan, a Japanese company took 80% casualties in 2 Min against a dug in Marine unit with shotguns

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[roseburger]

Did you walk up a big hill with it full?

 

[titsonritz]

Unfortunately, I don't have a Winchester Mod 12, only a Mossberg 590-A1 with bayonet
but I found this photo of a Marine in WW2 with a grenade vest holding his shotgun shells
just so happens I have one of those - it's a WW1 Mills Granade vest with 11 pockets
I tried tonight and I can get 6 rnds of 12 ga in each pouch - so 66 rnds of 12 ga
combine that with the two 12 rnds belt pouches and each Marine shot gunner is carrying 90 rnds of 12 ga

I read a report that on Siapan, a Japanese company took 80% casualties in 2 Min against a dug in Marine unit with shotguns

View attachment 2167871 View attachment 2167879

What makes you assume he is carrying shotgun shells and not grenades in his grenade vest?

 

[rjmt]

What makes you assume he is carrying shotgun shells and not grenades in his grenade vest?

if not, where is his supply of 12 ga? why would a shotgunner load himself down with grenades? he's not a grenadier
ammo is weight and another squad member could carry grenades, but a shotgunner needs 12 ga ammo
and I've seen photos of Marines with this vest carrying M1 Garand clips
Marines are adaptive

here's the original article

WWII Marine photo of Model 12 winchester and WWI grenade vest

Saw this photo in a recent gun book of the invasion of Okinawa April 1st 1945 of a Marine with his model 12 trench shot gun & WWI / USMC grenade vest used as a shotgun shell vest which the topic was addressed here before but questioned very neat!

www.usmilitariaforum.com

 

[rjmt]

the use of this vest for carrying shotgun ammo is covered in Canfield's book " A Collector's guide to United States Combat Shotguns"

A Collector's Guide to United States Combat Shotguns - Canfield, Bruce N.: 9780917218538 - AbeBooks

From the earliest examples up to the Gulf War and beyond. The most stress is given to the trench guns, riot guns and training guns of WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Winchester was naturally at the forefront of combat shotgun technology, and this book covers the famous Model 1897 and Model 12 in...

www.abebooks.com

 

[DirtyBird]

My friend, I commend your vigilance against the cabbage.

 

[rjmt]

My friend, I commend your vigilance against the cabbage.

 

[DirtyBird]

View attachment 2167916

My gosh, it's even better than I imagined!

 

[rjmt]

this is my Party Trick when people come over to visit
you should see the Red Mist when I do this with a small Watermellon

 

[Stomper]

Unfortunately, I don't have a Winchester Mod 12, only a Mossberg 590-A1 with bayonet
but I found this photo of a Marine in WW2 with a grenade vest holding his shotgun shells
just so happens I have one of those - it's a WW1 Mills Granade vest with 11 pockets
I tried tonight and I can get 6 rnds of 12 ga in each pouch - so 66 rnds of 12 ga
combine that with the two 12 rnds belt pouches and each Marine shot gunner is carrying 90 rnds of 12 ga

I read a report that on Siapan, a Japanese company took 80% casualties in 2 Min against a dug in Marine unit with shotguns

View attachment 2167871 View attachment 2167879

Funny timing, I just watched this video on the matter last Tuesday. Seems the paper hull shells weren't particularly suited to the 100% humidity and overall moist conditions in the Pacific Theater of war, and the brass cased shells weren't widespread until early '45 (I believe).

View: https://youtu.be/pA8mKoc6bW4?si=mvR3u_VOYqTAQDZX

 

[DirectDrive]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7FIEof_Ulw&t=14s