Customer Reviews

U.S. Infantry Weapons of World War II

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This book contained a lot of good information concerning ALL of the infantry weapons used by US forces in WWII. The book also contains useful information about modern day collecting of many of these weapons. Where the book lacks is in comparing the US weapons to those of our allies and enemies. I would have loved to see stats comparing the US .30 Cal machine gun and the German MG42, but the book is US only. All in all, a good read and a must for anyone who hopes to buy or shoot one of these weapons one day.

I have found U.S. Infantry Weapons of World War II to be an invaluable guide to my collecting of weapons. I found out about various weapons that I might never have known exsisted. With production dates by serial number Any U.S. military weapon can be traced to its' date of manufactor. It is full of notes for the collector, as what to look for in a particular piece. This book is an interesting read. A must have for the collector or the enthusiast.

Mr. Canfield has written and contributed to a number of books and volumes throughout his career and this is one of the best. It has become one of the pivital references of those new and old alike in the historical military equipment hobby. The photos are numerous and highly detailed and the text is descriptive and concise, providing interesting history of the weapon along with facts and numbers where available. This is an excellent addition to any military library and I highly recommend it.

U.S. INFANTRY WEAPONS OF WORLD WAR II
BRUCE N. CANFIELD
ANDREW MOWBRAY PUBLICATIONS, 2ND EDITION-1996
HARDCOVER, $39.95, 303 PAGES, TABLES, PHOTOGRAPHS, BIBLIOGRAPHY, INDEX


When the U.S. entered World War II, it had a very ill-equipped army but by the war's end, it was still not the best equipped, but it had one of the most powerful land organizations in the world. One factor in this transformation was the stunning success of a few small arms designs. By the end of the war, a U.S. armored infantry regiment could throw more bullets at a target in one minute than a 19th Century regiment could in an hour. This tremendous increase in infantry power was eclipsed, however, by the even greater increases in the destructive power of the artillery and airpower. Handguns were carried by officers, vehicle crews, and specialists such as engineers and artillerymen. The most prevalent was the M-1911A1, caliber .45 semiautomatic pistol but also used was a large number of M-1917 Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers purchased during World War I. The most common rifle used was the M-1 Caliber .30 which used a very accurate rear peep and front leaf sighting system. There were three main versions of the M-1 Garand. The U.S. Army decided that the infantry squad needed a fully automatic weapon and the M-1918 Browning Automatic Rifle or BAR was selected. Two submachine guns were used by the U.S. Army infantry in World War II-the M-1928A1 Thompson and the M-1. The other submachine gun was the M-3 or "Grease Gun." The machine guns used were the M-1917 .30 Browning, the M-2HB, the M-1919A4, M-1919A6, and the M-1921 .50 Browning. Grenades used were the Mk-2 "Pineapple", M-7 Series Rifle Grenade, and the antitank rifle grenade. Mortars utilized were the 60mm, 81mm, and the 4.2-inch and the anti-tank weapons were the M-1 and M-9 Bazooka. In U.S. INFANTRY WEAPONS OF WORLD WAR II, author Bruce N. Canfield has exhibited great skill in writing and knowledge in regard to the varied infantry weapons used by the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II. This outstanding book includes the following: Edged Weapons, Handguns, Rifles, the .30 Caliber Carbine, Combat Shotguns, Submachine Guns, Automatic Rifles, Machine Guns, the Bazooka, Grenades and Grenade Launchers, Mortars, Recoilless Rifles, and Flame Throwers. U.S. INFANTRY WEAPONS OF WORLD WAR II contains photographs from the author's own extensive collection. The detail and clarity of the photographs provide the definitive source of information for students of World War II. There is no doubt that this book will serve for many years to come as the guide to U.S. infantry weapons of World War II.


Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn, Florida Guard
Orlando, Florida

Canfield provides an excellent overview of U.S. Infantry weapons used in World War 2. His use of contemporary photos and supporting documentation gives the reader a concise yet informative description of the weapons and the opinions of their users. I highly recommend this book for those who want a survey of the subject. Canfield has published an entire series of books that provide more detailed descriptions of many of the weapons for those who desire more information.

Bruce N. Canfield's guide to U.S. infantry weapons of the Second World War is a thorough and engaging work whose appeal is not limited to arms collectors or enthusiasts. The text is lively, and very often draws on primary sources, giving the weapons covered a context of use and period that make the era come alive on the page. In profiling each arm, its acquisition and development are discussed, with ample citing of the original specifications leading to their design and adoption. Tables detailing the various manufacturers and numbers produced are included, along with information regarding the various production contracts issued during the war. This facet of the book, dealing with the industry of producing weapons, speaks volumes in regard to how the U.S. became "The Arsenal Of Democracy". The photos Canfield chose for the book are another highlight. They provide an excellent visual reference for the text, but they also bring into sharp focus the changing nature of the U.S. military throughout WWII. An example of this is two plates on the same page showing a machine gun team in the early days of the conflict above a group of airborne troops prior to a combat jump in 1945. The soldiers from early on harken back to the First World War, and seem to be from another age. The men at the end of the war are instantly recognizable as modern soldiers whose equipment and uniforms are echoed in today's equipment. The careful selection of photographs adds immensely to the work. The serious student of small arms will find this book to be an excellent, perhaps unequaled single volume reference. Having said that, it would be a disservice not to mention Canfield's companion piece to this work, covering U.S. infantry weapons of WWI. Anyone with an interest in the Second World War and the involvement of the United States in it will also find "U.S. Infantry Weapons of World War II" to be interesting, informative, and a pleasure to read. It's undoubtedly a fine addition to, if not the cornerstone of, any good collection of books on this subject.

Excellent book, lots of good information for the collector or history buff. Many great pictures and a lot of good details for all the weapons listed in the book.