Category: War

MEDIEVAL WWI TRENCH WEAPONS By Tom Laemlein

Post author By Grumpy
Post date November 2, 2026
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From trench maces to knuckle dusters, the truly medieval weapons employed by trench raiders in World War I were employed in some of the most brutal combat seen in the 20th century. In today’s article, Tom Laemlein looks at these trench weapons.

Bats, batons and maces: A British collection of trench maces and clubs made in field workshops, circa 1917. Image: NARA

Almost any time World War I is mentioned, the term “trench warfare” inevitably comes up. Most of those trench warfare references are about the overall condition of the Western Front, particularly the massive battles of 1916-1917, when thousands of men lost their lives in pointless assaults that achieved little more than mass slaughter.

With its powerful blade (10.25″ blade, 15″ long overall), the U.S. M1910 Bolo Knife was useful for clearing away brush and foliage. It was also a fearsome weapon for trench raiders. Image: NARA

By the spring of 1918, American troops were arriving in France at a rate of more than 5,000 per day. The Doughboys had to learn the difficult and very specific lessons of trench fighting. Even though the French and British provided experienced instructors and training manuals to the newest Allied nation, American troops still brought their own special weapons and unique fighting spirit to the brutal business of trench raids.

“Boys, I’m Dying”

Private Dyer J. Bird of the US 42^nd Division, 166^th Infantry Regiment, was recently deployed to France in 1918 and was stationed at a listening post. He saw a large German raiding party emerge from nearby shell holes and rush toward the American trenches with weapons in hand. The young Doughboy hurled two hand grenades into their midst and when he turned to call out and warn his comrades he was shot through the chest.

This Austrian mace-club was captured in 1918. Nothing fancy, just a cruel instrument of WWI hand-to-hand fighting. Image: NARA

“The Germans are coming in the form of a wedge. Boys, I’m dying.” Dyer’s warning gave his unit enough time to turn back the German raiders. It was part of the hellish introduction to trench warfare that fresh American troops received in early 1918.

Originally intended as a tool for engineers and pioneer troops, the German “Butcher Blade” drew so much ire from Allied troops that it was withdrawn from service in 1917. Image: NARA

In “The Doughboys” (Harper & Row, 1963), Laurence Stallings described the style of training that the young Americans received from their French allies, the Poilus worn down physically and emotionally from 3½ years of bitter fighting.

A Doughboy had to learn the formal trench warfare of the French, with emphasis upon Chauchat and Hotchkiss guns, bayonet and grenade, barbed wire, and the shovel—and little attention to the rifle. Frenchmen pursued Germans in a clash of patrols by throwing grenades at them, as if the Lebel rifle possessed no trigger assembly.

If Intelligence desired a raid, with a prisoner brought back for interrogation, it was understandable but deplorable. Some friend might be killed by grenade or bayonet, and a wounded enemy dragged back through the gaps in the barbed wire.

The Doughboys (Harper & Row, 1963)

What the Doughboys lacked in experience in the conduct of trench warfare, they made up for in aggressiveness. The British and French commanders craved the American zeal for combat, while the Germans massed on the other side of the lines, first mocked it, and later feared it.

An American trench raider, smiling with a blackened face, standing next to some of the previous night’s haul of German prisoners. He holds a simple trench club. France, March 1918 Image: NARA

Some of the first prisoners taken by the Americans said things like: “If only we could have met you in 1915 when we too were young!” Stallings recounts the Doughboys’ eagerness to fight: “Each man in the 1^st Division wanted to go on a patrol, and then a raid, each wanted to kill a German, to capture one, to be the first.”

A tough-looking Doughboy in the Ardennes during October 1918. In addition to an M1911 pistol, he also carries a captured Mauser C96 “Broom Handle”. Image: NARA

The trench raid was a nasty, brutal business, conducted almost exclusively at night. Raiders reduced their equipment to the essentials of rapid movement and close-quarter killing power, often with specialized trench weapons. Trench raids were tactical reconnaissance in their most aggressive form — quick strikes designed to assess enemy strengths and activity, to cause as much mayhem as possible within enemy lines, and to grab a handful of prisoners and drag them back for interrogation.

Men of the 166th Regiment returning from a trench raid pause for a photo in May 1918. In addition to wire cutters, these Doughboys are carrying the M1911 pistol. Image: NARA

The following description of an American trench raid is from a cable sent by General Pershing’s AEF headquarters to the War Office in Washington DC on June 13, 1918.

Our raiding party consisted of five groups, each under the command of an officer. The raid was executed in the Bois Allonge, the raiding party entering from the west and penetrating to the eastern edge. The first party moving in a northwesterly direction located a lighted and occupied dugout.

On the occupants’ refusal to come out, it was destroyed by the use of phosphorus and other grenades. The second party encountered fire from an automatic rifle as they entered the woods. The gun was rushed, three of the gun crew killed, and the gun captured.

The party then moved to the eastern edge of the wood where three men were found in a light shelter. One was killed and the others taken prisoner. The third party was also fired on by a machine gun. This gun was rushed and its crew killed but as the gun was chained to a tree it could not be brought back. The fourth party encountered a group of the enemy and opened fire with rifles. Four of the enemy were seen to fall.

The fifth party reached the eastern edge of the woods and then moved along the edge in a southerly direction. Several shelters and dugouts were located and destroyed by incendiary bombs. It withdrew on the signal of the raid commander who ordered the retirement as soon as he assured himself that prisoners had been captured.

As a result of the raid much information was gained concerning the enemy’s defensive works, which include quarries and connected shell holes in addition to the trenches.

Cable from Gen. Pershing to the U.S. War Department, June 13 1918

This American 1st sergeant wears a handmade sweater, balaclava, scarf, and gloves to go along with his rifle and bayonet. Image: NARA

An earlier cable from Pershing’s HQ gave a description of a typical German raiding party: “Their objective was to capture prisoners and gain information concerning our forces. Arrangements for the raid were shown in orders found on the body of a German officer in command of the raiding party. The attacking party consisted of the commissioned officer, three noncommissioned officers, and five squads taken from troops specially trained for such work. They moved in three sections. Support was furnished by artillery fire, four light trench mortars, four heavy machine guns, and three light machine guns. Of the latter, one MG furnished special protection for each section of the attacking party. Equipment of the attacking troops included eight stick grenades and four egg grenades on average per man. Double rations were carried.”

Laurence Stallings describes the preparations of a German raiding party in “The Doughboys”: “The Assault Company, swaggering among the holding troops, awaited its hour. Some among them took out pocket whetstones and sharpened trench knives, others looked to their Bangalore torpedoes for blasting barbed wire or blew sand from the stringed triggers of potato-masher grenades. Luger pistols were repeatedly cleaned and oiled, bayonet studs looked to.”

This Austrian mace and a companion war-pick were captured in 1918. These could just as easily have come from the 14th century. Image: Author’s collection

The Doughboys quickly learned the deadly game on the Western Front. From the city slickers to the country boys, Uncle Sam’s troops proved themselves to be fearsome fighters. American daytime patrols grew more frequent through the summer of 1918, and the nighttime trench raids more effective. By September, the great Allied offensive was ready to begin.

Weapons of the Trench Raiders

World War I saw the introduction of most of the modern weapons of war we have now become accustomed to, or horrified by — the armored vehicle, the submarine, the aircraft, the machine gun, the flamethrower and poison gas all saw their first significant use in World War I.

Hand-to-hand combat training with Mike Gibbons (right), the middleweight boxing champ. His opponent uses the M1917 trench knife. Gibbons wears an experimental helmet, issued in small numbers during 1918. Image: NARA

But just as war seemed at its most futuristic, the battles fought by the night patrols and the trench raiders reduced combat to its most primitive. Men hacked and slashed at each other with trench maces, clubs and sharpened entrenching shovels, deadly tools that seemed better suited for a medieval battlefield. Melee weapons included bayonets, fighting knives and daggers that were lightweight and silent killers. American forces had two specialized trench knives available to them.

M1917 Trench Knife

Designed to pierce heavy coats and jackets, the M1917 trench knife is less a blade and more of a nasty pick with a knuckle duster handguard. Image: NARA

The M1917 was more of a pick than a true knife — using a triangular stiletto blade with a knuckleduster hand grip. The M1917 was designed to penetrate thick woolen uniforms and while the Doughboys often put it to good use, its stabbing-only blade was a bit of a liability.

Mark I Trench Knife

The American “knuckleduster knife” is a formidable-looking weapon that is a somewhat misunderstood design. The brass knuckle hand guard was meant more to help the soldier keep his grip on the knife in furious close combat. Even so, the opportunity to deliver a devastating punch to the face could make all the difference in a knife fight. The metal stub at the base of the pommel was called a “skull crusher”, adding yet another level of primeval violence to the weapon.

The ominous M1918 trench knife with a 6.75″ double-edged dagger blade, a knuckle duster grip, and a “skull crusher” on the pommel. Image: NARA

Few of the Mark I knives were finished in time to see action in WWI, but many were provided to American troops (particularly paratroops) during WWII.

Small Arms

In addition to the bladed weapons and impact weapons, U.S. troops also had access to some fearsomely capable small arms designed for close-range combat.

M1911 Pistol

The M1911 was the American trench raider’s ace in the hole. The incredible stopping power of the .45 ACP round made the M1911 indispensable equipment for raiders and patrols. Image: NARA

As most pistol shooters know, the .45 ACP M1911 is a handful of handgun. The .45 automatic was greatly favored by American trench raiders for its man-stopping firepower. (Read more about the M1911 in World War I here.)

The .45 caliber M1917 revolver was introduced as a stopgap measure for the lack of M1911 pistols. It soon became a favorite among Doughboy trench raiders. Image: NARA

Alongside the M1911, the .45 ACP M1917 revolver was also popular, and it packed just as deadly a punch. As cops carrying backup guns know, one pistol is good, two is better, and many Doughboys carried a second pistol during a trench raid — often using a captured German Luger, Mauser pistol, or one of the many smaller caliber German semi-auto handguns.

Trench Gun

There has been a fair amount of controversy surrounding the Doughboys’ use of the M1897 12-gauge shotgun, or trench gun. The Germans complained it was a violation of the law of war (specifically Article 23 of the 1907 Hague Convention) and claimed that it showed that American troops were not only inept marksmen but also barbarous.

The Germans further claimed that any American captured with a shotgun (or shotgun ammunition) could be subject to summary execution. The U.S. government responded quickly: “Inasmuch as the weapon is lawful and may be rightfully used, its use will not be abandoned by the American Army…”

The famous M1897 12-gauge trench shotgun, equipped with the M1917 bayonet (17″ blade). Image: NARA

U.S. officials also responded that they knew exactly what to do in the way of reprisals should any American soldier taken prisoner be harmed, stating, “If the German Government shall carry out its threat in a single instance, it will be the right and duty of the United States to make such reprisals as will best protect the American forces, and notice is hereby given of the intention of the United States to make such reprisals.” Uncle Sam wasn’t messing around, and the Germans quickly backed down. Given the fact that the Germans introduced poison gas and flamethrowers to the battlefield in WWI, shotguns seemed a curious objection for the Kaiser’s men to have.

Doughboys armed with M1903 rifles learn trench assaulting skills at the French training center at Gondrecourt in the spring of 1918. Image: NARA

For its part, the trench gun was a fearsome close-range weapon. Fitted with a perforated heat shield above the barrel, and a lug to accept the M1917 bayonet, the trench gun has an intimidating profile. Hold the M1897’s trigger back, and you can slam-fire five rounds of 00-buckshot (with nine .32 caliber pellets in each shell) in an exceptionally short time — perfect for clearing a trench or providing suppressing fire to cover a withdrawal. Most of the 00 buckshot shells issued during World War I used a paper casing, and these could cause jamming issues if the shells were allowed to get wet. Some all-brass shotgun shells were issued but ordnance officers generally burst into tears over the cost of all-brass shotgun shells.

This German trench, taken by U.S. troops in 1918, was the battleground of trench raiders carrying medieval melee weapons. Image: NARA

Laurence Stallings recounts in “The Doughboys”, that the trench shotgun was the weapon of choice for some: “One of the 33^rd’s Medal of Honor performers was First Sergeant Johannes S. Anderson. First Sergeants were armed with the Army’s brutal .45 automatic, which left an exit hole in a man’s back the size of a derby hat; but the Chicago sergeant, undergoing much hostile fire to reach a concrete pillbox, made his entrance through the stage door of the pestiferous machine gun nest bearing a sawed-off shotgun.

Two buckshot blasts and the twenty-three performers left on their feet surrendered. Like Sergeant Gregory, a mile to his right, Anderson was scornful of conventional weapons, and there were others who felt the same.”

Conclusion

Combat in the trenches of World War was simultaneously modern and medieval, but always brutal. And these capable — yet terrifying — close-range weapons made it even more so.

U.S. Navy’s WWII Radar-Guided Bat Glide Bomb By Tom Laemlein

Post author By Grumpy
Post date November 2, 2026
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Striking enemy ships with airborne munitions became a priority after World War I. While the challenges were monumental at the time, the rewards for success were too great to pass up. However, bombs and torpedoes dropped by early naval strike aircraft stood little chance against armored warships bristling with AA guns. Faced with this, the United States Navy sought a solution based in some of the most advanced technology of the era.

ASM-N-2 Bat glide bomb carried by Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer — ASM-N-2 Bat glide bombs are carried on the wings of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer — one on each wing. Image: U.S. Navy

At the beginning of World War II, radar was coming into service with British armed forces. England shared that technology with the United States, and in 1940 the US Navy coined the term “radar” as an acronym for “radio detection and ranging”. At the same time, television technology was being refined and incorporated into military applications.

The desperate arms race drove technology farther and faster than ever before, and by April 1945, the US Navy deployed the ASM-N-2 Bat radar-guided glide bomb, the first automated anti-ship weapon to be used in combat.

Enter the Dragon

The concept of a TV-guided weapon arrived even before America was at war, as the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) proposed an anti-ship weapon in January 1941 that leveraged RCA’s television technology. Nicknamed the Dragon, the weapon used a nose-mounted TV camera to allow its operator to guide the glide-bomb to its target. The system worked well from a mechanical standpoint, but the early TV guidance technology was wonky, and the Dragon proved inaccurate.

ASM-N-2 Bat air to surface guided missile — Shown here is an ASM-N-2 Bat air-to-surface guided missile during development and testing. Image: U.S. Navy

In 1942, the US Navy struggled to counter the U-boats operating off the Atlantic seaboard, and a radar-guided bomb seemed a good solution for America’s thinly stretched defenses. In June 1942, the Navy began testing the Pelican, which used new “semi-active” radar homing technology. A year later, Western Electric upgraded the Pelican design with its “active radar” homing system.

Coupled with a 2,000-pound warhead, the upgraded Pelican achieved a 50% hit rate during tests at NAS New York. Additional tests and modifications followed, and the warhead was reduced to 1,000 pounds as the smaller explosive was shown to be sufficient for the expected types of targets. For a time, it seemed the Pelican would be the Navy’s production missile, but as the target types changed to surface vessels, the Pelican gave way to the Bat.

ASM-N-2 Bat undergoes pre-flight checks — U.S. Navy technicians perform pre-flight checks on a ASM-N-2 Bat. Image: U.S. Navy

The ASM-N-2 Batwas a self-contained weapon system. While the Pelican required its mothership to continuously paint the target with a radar beam, the Bat’s onboard homing allowed much more flexibility with the launch aircraft. This early “fire and forget” system was considered a significant advantage in the face of enemy interceptors and AA fire.

Becoming the Bat

The Bat was a product of many fathers, with contributions by the National Bureau of Standards, assisted by the Navy’s Bureau of Ordnance, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Bell Telephone Laboratories. While the Bureau of Standards developed the Bat’s aerodynamic and gyroscopic stabilizing systems, Bell Labs worked with MIT on the guidance mechanism.

close up of Bat glide bomb attached to the wing of a PB4Y-2 Privateer — A close up photograph of a Bat glide bomb attached to the wing of a PB4Y-2 Privateer. Image: U.S. Navy

The Navy’s Bureau of Ordnance said in its final review of the system:

“Bat was the product of many hands and minds. Of the groups working, Division 5 sponsored the Bureau of Standards organization, which built and tested the airframes and servomechanisms, the MIT Servomechanisms Laboratory, and the MIT Field Experimental Station. The results obtained can amply sustain credit for all concerned.”

Throughout the development process, radar systems were continually upgraded, and this demanded ongoing modifications to the Bat’s operating system. Advancing technology “moved the goal posts” several times, and the necessary modifications needed to make the Bat a workable weapon system, often seemed more of a setback than an enhancement. Plans were established to produce nearly 500 Bat bombs per month in the late summer of 1945—but at the end of 1944, the development team feared the war would be over before their brainchild could see service.

Consequently, development was refined enough to build 72 Bat glide bombs by the end of March 1945. Along with a cadre of experts, these were sent to the Naval Air Station at Kaneohe, Hawaii for training. The ASM-N-2 Bat (or SWOD, “Special Weapons Ordnance Device”,Mark 9 Modification 0) using an NBS airframe carrying a 1,000-pound AN-M65 GP bomb was readied for combat.

comparison of Bat tail types — There were two different tail types used during the Bat program. Both are shown here. Image: NARA

The Navy designated Number Two Wing, comprising squadrons VPB-109, VPB-123 and VPB-124, flying Consolidated PB4Y Privateer patrol bombers (the naval version of the B-24 bomber) as the initial Bat carriers. Other Navy aircraft were modified to carry the Bat, including the including the Vought F4U Corsair, the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, and the Grumman TBF Avenger, but the PB4Y-2B Privateer was considered the best launch platform. The Privateer could carry one Bat under each wing in combat.

VPB-109 was sent to Hawaii to train with the new bombs, but only 10 days were provided to train the radar operators and ordnance teams. A few of the development team’s scientists accompanied the Privateer squadron to the PTO, helping to train the Bat operators and consult with the ordnance teams on assembly and maintenance.

The Bat Defined

The US Navy defined its radar-guided Bat in the following terms in its “Explosive Ordnance Manual”:

S.W.O.D. (Special Weapons Ordnance Device) Mk 9, or “Bat”, is a glide bomb. equipped with a radar homing set mounted in the nose. It is designed primarily for attacking. marine targets and is effective for night or day attacks upon shipping in any weather in which the parent plane can fly. The launching planes need not stay in the vicinity of the target and may release as many as four of these missiles in salvo.

The airframe consists of plywood sections which are fitted around the Bomb AN-M65. Control surfaces consist of an elevon on each wing which can be moved to control pitch or bank. There are no control surfaces on the tail.

engineering drawing of Bat glide bomb — Shown here is an engineering drawing of a later variant of the Bat glide bomb. Image: NARA

In order to ensure destruction of the intelligence system the Demolition System Mk 122 is used.

Installation of the Fuses Mk 235 and Mk 236, with their outside windmills and flexible arming stems, is standard.

Control: This missile has its own radar transmitter and receiver. When the target is located on the scope of the monitor unit in the plane, it is put into the range step of the missile’s scope and is automatically kept there. At the correct instant, determined by a glide ratio scale, the missile is released and is guided to its target by the radar signal in its own scope. The guiding. radar supplies corrections to the servo system, which is also controlled by a gyro pilot, the device which maintains flight attitude

1,600-pound “Bat” S.W.O.D. Mk 9 (Air-to-Surface Missile)

Overall length 11.9 feet.

Wing span 10 feet

Total weight, 1,600 pounds.

Warhead: 1,000-pound GP bomb AN-M65

Fusing: Nose: Mk 235 Mod 0 Тail: Мk 236 Mod 0

Notes from the Bat Manual

I am certainly not a rocket scientist, so found portions of the wartime Bat operator’s manual to be helpful in describing some of the more technical aspects of weapon system.

TBM Avenger carries Bat glide bomb in flight — A TBM Avenger, which was a TBF Avenger manufactured by General Motors, carries Bat glide bomb in flight. Image: U.S. Navy

Theory of Operation:

In SWOD Mk 9 Mod 0 the basic flight control of the air stabilizer is accomplished by two rate gyros (a pitch gyro and a turn gyro) which close and open contacts, operating the clutches of the servo. These air-driven gyros are powered by a Venturi tube projecting into the air stream.

A third gyro, designated “bias gyro”, sensitive to yaw motion only, is included in the gyro panel for the purpose of effecting a damping of yaw oscillations or hunting. A self-contained S-band radar transmitter and receiver is used to illuminate the selected target and to receive the returning echoes from it. The transmitter radar pulses from the antenna are directed by the rotating parabolic reflector so that the beam scans a cone-shaped area directly ahead of the missile. The returning target echoes are received by the same antenna, and the amplitude of the returning echoes varies with the directional pointing of the antenna beam. The returning target echoes are distributed by a commutator, mechanically coupled to the parabolic reflector, to four channels so that as the antenna beam is pointed down, right, up, or left, the returning echoes are segregated by quadrants. The echoes in each quadrant are converted by the directional control circuit of the radar into a direct current voltage which is proportional to the amplitude of the echoes of that quadrant.

The complete missile is suspended from the parent plane by means of a special bomb frame equipped with a standard bomb release unit such as Bomb Rack Mk 51 Mod 7. Sway braces are provided to keep the missile in a fixed position on the plane until release. The bomb fuses are mechanically armed after release by air vanes attached to the fuselage of the air stabilizer. Arming wires attached to the bomb rack release the air vanes at the time of drop-away in the conventional manner.

BAT operators position on Privateer — The Bat operator’s position in the PB4Y-2B Privateer bomber. Image: NARA

The Bat was considered breakthrough technology at the time, but even so it was fragile, sensitive, and sometimes downright wonky. The operator’s manual offers several “easier-said-than-done” tips for successful use:

“The parent plane should be straight and level for the last five seconds of the time that the SWOD Mk 9 is being readied for release. This permits the BAT to drop away normally on its glide path. The dropping aircraft should also be heading directly toward the target. Preferable air speed at the time of release is between 180 and 200 knots, with 140 knots as the minimum and 210 knots maximum.”

Land attacks were particularly tricky, given that ground clutter easily confused the radar guidance system:

“Isolated target which gives a strong signal from 10 miles distance and is at least 2 miles from any equal or stronger signal.”

Meanwhile, overwater attacks were little easier, enemy ships rarely cooperated with adequate spacing.

“Target over water must be isolated by ½ mile from targets of equal or greater strength.”

Finally, the care and maintenance of the Bat demanded gentle handling and preferably a clean, dry, and temperate environment.

“It cannot be too strongly stressed that the SWOD Mk 6 Mod 1 (Gyroscopic assembly) contains gyro units which must be handled with as much care as normally would be given to a precision electrical meter. While units can withstand the mild shocks they will receive in transportation and normal use, they cannot be dropped or otherwise mistreated.”

The Bat in Action

As VPB-109 began operations on Palawan atoll during April 1945, the squadron soon found their greatest enemy wasn’t the Japanese, but rather the extreme environment of their Pacific island base. The sensitive mechanics of the new technology did not operate well within the extreme heat and high humidity.

Loaded onto the Privateers on the hot and sweaty Palawan runway, condensation soon formed inside the Bat’s radar brain when carried to their operational altitude (15,000 to 25,000 feet). Mechanical problems were common, and several Bats simply failed completely. Ground crews worked tirelessly to learn, adapt, and correct the problems.

TBM Avenger launches a Bat glide bomb Image: U.S. Navy

The Bat’s first combat launch came on April 23, 1945, during VPB-109’s attack on Balikpapan harbor. Eight of the missiles were launched at a large Japanese freighter—and immediately half fell out as inoperable. The remaining four did not strike the designated target, their radar confused by the land mass clutter behind the target.

Even so, a small freighter was struck at the pier, a picket boat was hit while patrolling the harbor, and two Bats slammed into a nearby oil refinery. The first Bat strike was not a resounding success, but the crews and their new weapon had drawn blood, and the radar-guided missile concept was being proven.

The Navy Bureau of Ordnance commented on the early Bat missions:

“It was evident, even to the Japanese, that something was brewing when the squadron arrived on Palawan. The Bats had to be slung outside the carrying plane, one hung under each wing, and that was a tip-off. What was afoot turned out to be the first use of a completely automatic homing aerial bomb in combat.

At intervals from May until August 1945, a number of Bats were released experimentally against the enemy. As Japanese shipping was disorganized by that time, the only available targets were small ships, usually in or near harbors. In spite of the increased difficulty this situation presented to the operators, good hits were obtained. From distances of several miles, well beyond effective anti-aircraft fire, the Bats followed moving targets relentlessly until destruction was accomplished. The most spectacular of the hits occurred when an ammunition-laden picket boat vanished in one terrific blast and when a hapless destroyer had its bow blown off.”

Bat air to surface glide bomb strikes a target ship — An ASM-N-2 Bat air-to-surface glide bomb caught in this photo just a moment before it struck a target ship. Image: U.S. Navy

By mid-May, VPB-109 moved to Okinawa. The conditions on Yontan Field were particularly soggy, and heavy rain greatly interrupted Bat operations. Also, the special tools, test instruments, and spare parts were lost when the squadron transport aircraft ditched in bad weather on the flight to Okinawa. Meanwhile, Japanese shipping was moving almost exclusively by night, and Privateers were forbidden to fly after dark to prevent being mistaken for Japanese night raiders.

Even so, VPB-109 made 13 Bat launches during its month on Okinawa—and three of these were hits. Privateer squadrons VPB 123 and VPB 124 joined the fight in July, and conducted several strikes on Japanese destroyers—with one direct hit recorded on a destroyer escort. VPB-109 launched the last Bat in combat on August 10, 1945, a near miss on a tanker off the coast of Korea.

All About Guns This great Nation & Its People War

In the Trenches: the Legendary Winchester Model 1897 — Full Review by Will Dabbs MD

Post author By Grumpy
Post date November 1, 2026
No Comments on In the Trenches: the Legendary Winchester Model 1897 — Full Review by Will Dabbs MD

There are few manufacturers that have a long-storied history in the defense industry as Winchester. Undoubtedly, few things are more formidable or reliable in battle than a 12-gauge pump action shotgun. Winchester’s Model 1897 has proven over time to be a reliable firearm for protection of America’s finest.

In the Trenches: the Legendary Winchester Model 1897 — Full Review

The Winchester 1897 shotgun is seminal Americana. Produced up until 1957, around a million copies entered circulation.

Eddie Mangione had grown up with literally nothing on a rural farm in Tennessee. Now he was a world away squatting in the fetid trenches of war-torn France. For Eddie the summer of 1918 had become surreal and otherworldly.

Eddie had joined the U.S. Marines for all the timeless reasons young men join the Marines. He wanted out of his drab familiar world, and military service overseas promised adventure, exotic locales, and camaraderie. Like so many others before and since Eddie found that reality differed from the lies the recruiters peddled. The adventure was horrifying, the exotic locale was dank, rotten, and miserable, and the camaraderie involved watching his friends get torn to pieces by artillery. He had only been in the trenches a month.

His fellow Marines clutched their 03 Springfield rifles. These instruments turned the Marine rifleman into a deadly agent of chaos. Their French Chauchaut light machineguns were utter rubbish, but these beautiful Springfields were perfected tools of the riflemen’s art. Eddie’s backwoods Southern upbringing had ultimately put a different weapon in his hands. Eddie’s stiff terrified fingers curled around the walnut stocks of a Winchester 1897 Trench Gun 12-gauge.

Eddie’s mission was to knock incoming German hand grenades aside before they could land in the trenches. Pushing nine OO buckshot pellets per round and carrying five rounds on board, Eddie’s shotgun had successfully accomplished this feat twice already. Eddie’s reputation as a backwoods wing shooter had been well founded.

The enemy artillery barrage finally lifted after what seemed an eternity. Several ears were bleeding from the overpressure, but the Hun artillery had not adequately ranged the thin linear targets that were the Allied trenches. Everyone in Eddie’s platoon still drew breath.

From 1897 to 1957 over 1 million of these shotguns were produced and notably during World War 1 and trench warfare. Eddie’s story is not unique. It’s a small glimpse into the reputation that makes a Winchester shotgun a legendary trench warfare tool.

Hunting Arm, Combat Tool, Gangster Gun

John Moses Browning holding the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) at the Winchester plant.

The influence of John Moses Browning on the world of firearms cannot be overstated. He designed several familiar lever-action Winchester rifles, some of the most influential handguns ever built, and all of the successful repeating shotguns available in the first part of the 20th century. At the time of his death, the man held 128 patents for various firearm-related inventions. His repertoire spanned the spectrum from .25-caliber pocket pistols to 37mm aircraft cannons. His 1897 shotgun ushered in a new era in scattergun technology.

The 1897 was itself an evolutionary development of the previous model 1893. The 1893 slide action gun bears an esoteric similarity to its later sibling but came up in the era of low-pressure blackpowder shotgun shells. The Model 1897 incorporated a stronger steel receiver that better surrounded the gun’s bolt. The resulting weapon was proofed for higher-pressure smokeless rounds. The 1897 was available in both fixed and takedown variants.

Despite being born in 1907, my high-mileage 1897 Winchester runs low brass birdshot as fast as you can cycle the action. I’d be slow to feed it large quantities of buckshot or slugs, however.

Once broken down the 1897 Winchester takes up very little space. This feature allowed for easy storage or concealment, depending on which side of the law you might find yourself.

As a sporting arm, the 1897 was fabulously successful. The gun cost $25 new when originally introduced and could be had with barrels reaching out to 36 inches. The external hammer served as a manual safety, and the American walnut stocks exuded a lithe almost effeminate vibe. However, the lack of a manual disconnector meant that the gunner could hold down the trigger and empty a five-round magazine as fast as he could cycle the forearm. Extending a tab on the far end of the magazine tube and rotating the assembly allowed the gun to break in half at the front of the receiver via interrupted threads. As a result, the 97 could be tucked into compact spaces for storage or concealment.

The militarized version of the weapon was universally referred to as the Trench Gun. This variant started as a 20-inch barreled 1897 to which was affixed a sheet steel heat shield-cum-bayonet lug and sling swivels. In this configuration, the Trench Gun saw action in both World Wars as well as a variety of brushfire conflicts in between. Though the guts of the gun resemble a sewing machine for their complexity, the 1897 Winchester rendered reliable service and was well-received by the troops who wielded it.

An original Winchester Model 1897 Trench shotgun. Photo Courtesy: Winchester Repeating Arms

Resurrecting the Dead

If your gun collecting proclivities wander toward rarefied stuff like period Western guns or, Lord help you, transferable automatic weapons then you’d best be shaved and prepped to hock a kidney to pay for your habit. However, in the case of cool old shooters like the 1897 Winchester, getting into a facsimile of the guns used by J. Edgar Hoover’s G-Men to bring down Dillinger and Capone need not be spendy. A million of these old scatterguns rolled off the lines before production ceased in 1957. That means high mileage used versions are plentiful and cheap.

I found a shopworn 1897 that sported an absurdly long 34-inch barrel, little remaining finish, and an ugly home-built stock extension for a cool $250. While that was indeed a good deal, these old guns float around auction websites for a bit more than that all the time. Given the gun’s advanced age I could transfer it straight to my doorstep via my personal Curio and Relic FFL. Where others might see dingy, tired, and ugly, I sensed a diamond in the rough.

To break the gun down one simply presses this rod to the other side and uses it to unscrew the magazine tube about a quarter turn. John Browning had a gift for such as this.

So long as care is exercised anyone with access to a table saw and drill press can do a professional job shortening a shotgun barrel. I touched up the cut end with my Dremel tool and fabricated a new front sight from a machine screw.

The gun was mechanically intact, and the takedown feature works as well today as it did when the gun first rolled off the Winchester line in 1907. The freckled brown patina lends the gun a pleasant been-there done-that ambiance. The inimitable American Walnut furniture ages better than Christie Brinkley.

Chopping the Tube

I have shortened a lot of shotgun barrels in my day and have found that all you really need to do it well is a table saw, a drill press, and a little patience. Run a cleaning rod down the barrel and mark the point where it meets the muzzle. This is the initial barrel length. If you want a fixed point like 18 inches for legality or, in this case, 20 inches for historical cred, just subtract that from your measured barrel length and make a mark with a Sharpie marker that far back from the muzzle. Wrap that spot in masking tape for a precise cut.

Mount up a fiber-reinforced cutoff wheel on your table saw and cut the barrel a time or two near the muzzle to get a feel for things. Tape an old towel over the top of your saw to protect the finish on the barrel. When you are comfortable with your technique, make your final cut in a single smooth motion. You can then dress the cut end with a Dremel tool and a sanding drum. If you are careful the pruned tube will look factory perfect.

The exposed hammer on the 1897 Winchester shotgun serves as a manual safety.

Brass front sight beads are available online, but I’m cheap. I typically chuck a machine screw into my drill press and grind the head down into a ball with a file. Carefully spot the hole for your new front sight with a spring-loaded center punch, drill it meticulously with your drill press, and thread the hole with a hand tap. Seat the new sight with red thread locker. Then go back with the Dremel tool sanding drum to polish the stubby end of the new sight flat from inside the bore. If you want real performance from your new shortened barrel you can have the bore threaded internally for a choke tube.

Cogitations

The end result looks like something Elliot Ness might wield on his late-night raids against Al Capone’s Speakeasies yet set me back a whopping $250. Should you be in the market for a really inexpensive hunting arm, these old shotguns really never wear out. My resurrected 1897 runs birdshot like a champ as fast as you can cycle the action even at 110 years old.

Care must be exercised while working the action to avoid scuffing your hand with the bolt.

The 1897 Winchester armed generations of American hunters, Law Enforcement Officers, criminals, and soldiers on their enterprises of sustenance, peacekeeping, crime, and combat. The gun’s takedown feature brings a capacity for

Originally only chambered in 12 gauge and 16 gauge, the Model 1897 cost $25 and barrel lengths ranged from 20 to 30 inches.

stowage or concealment not rivaled today. The restoration project also represents an inexpensive and fun way to kill an otherwise lazy Saturday afternoon.

For more information about Winchester shotguns, click here.

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M40 Sniper Rifle – A Vietnam War Icon By Cory Ross

Post author By Grumpy
Post date October 31, 2026
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The M40 rifle might be the most recognizable of all American sniper rifles. Its birth coincided with a need for a precision instrument in the steamy jungles of Vietnam, and its legacy was built by those who relied on its performance. Its accuracy, reliability, and endurance have given rise to a generation of precision rifles that ultimately pay homage to its design.

US Marine aims M40 sniper rifle during Operation Auburn in the Vietnam War — Lance Cpl. George Wilhite aims an M40 sniper rifle during Operation Auburn south of Da Nang during the Vietnam War. The operation was to clear out a Viet Cong (VC) stronghold on Go Noi Island. Image: U.S.M.C.

While a whole book could be dedicated to studying the rifle’s impact and history, this article seeks to provide context and understanding of the M40 rifle’s origin in Vietnam.

Cold War Heats Up

The United States entered Vietnam to preserve democracy and fend off a growing communist threat — a common theme of the Cold War-era. However, this was a new kind of war for the United States, fought against an unconventional enemy.

Unlike the Korean War, which was largely fought against a conventional force, the war in Vietnam was unconventional. New military stratagems, including a rapidly growing intelligence and special operations apparatus, were emerging. Among these were expanded use of specially trained hunters: snipers.

Marine sniper team engages enemy during Operation Dewey Canyon in Vietnam War — A Marine sniper team engages the enemy during Operation Dewey Canyon in the Vietnam War. Dewey Canyon’s goal was to disrupt enemy supply lines and destroy associated bases. Image: U.S.M.C.

This certainly wasn’t the first time in United States history that snipers were used. Marksmen of various kinds have been used since the Revolutionary War. However, they were never a permanent peacetime unit like those we see today. They were temporary, which meant that a consistent curriculum and armaments were not properly maintained. But as warfare changed, so did the role of the sniper, or rather, the need for one.

That brings us to the M40 sniper rifle and its place in history. Early in the Vietnam War, military leaders and strategists quickly realized the need for snipers. The dense jungles and the unconventional opponent proved difficult for a standard military. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) knew this and, early in the war, exploited it. The NVA benefited from using the Soviet Union’s WWII sniper training doctrine and rifles to engage American troops from a distance.

M40 rifle with Redfield 3-9x40 scope — A M40 sniper rifle with the Redfield 3x9x40 scope used by Sgt. Charles “Chuck” Mawhinney while serving in the Vietnam War. Image: DVIDS

American military brass soon realized they needed a counter to the NVA threat with specially trained soldiers to carry out very specific missions. These missions involved gathering intelligence, disrupting supply chains, protecting military units, and, in some cases, eliminating high-value targets.

While sniper-specific training at this time was rudimentary and ad hoc, the rifle situation was worse. Early sniper units relied on rifles and training developed during World War II. A new rifle and training regime were needed.

The training came first — largely due to the efforts of Maj. Jim Land. If that name is familiar, you’ve probably read Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills by Charles Henderson. This book depicts the life and actions of Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock.

US Marine sniper team engages enemy troops with M40 rifle during the Vietnam War — Cpl. Tommy Romo aims in on a distant target while Pvt. McConnell watches to spot the results. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines during the Vietnam War. Image: Dave Martinez/U.S.M.C.

Maj. Land was responsible for shifting the Marine Corps’ emphasis on sniping. He established the first organized sniper training school in 1961 in Hawaii. This laid the groundwork for additional in-country sniper schools used by the 1^st and 3^rd Marine Divisions. Ultimately, this was the predecessor to modern-day sniper instruction.

What About a Sniper Rifle?

Leftover rifles from World War II and the Korean War, including the M1C/M1D Garand and modified 1903A4 Springfield rifles, no longer met the United States Marine Corps’ grueling demands. By then, these rifles were practically historic artifacts.

Early in the war, sniper units drew on the inventories of marksmanship units for Model 70 target rifles. While the M70 was an excellent rifle, its .30-06 chambering and inherent engineering changes made it a logistical nightmare. There were three different Model 70 variants were in use, and parts interchangeability was a major issue. However, the rifle had its supporters including the aforementioned Gunnery Sgt. Hathcock.

US Marine sniper takes aim at VC communist at 1000 yards — During the Vietnam War, a U.S. Marine sniper takes aim at a communist militant. Image: NARA

In 1965, Marine Headquarters instructed the Quantico Marine Schools Weapons Training Battalion to issue verbal orders to the Marksmanship Training Unit to procure a rifle, telescopic sight, and mount suitable for use by snipers.

Soon after the initial order, the officer in charge of the Marksmanship Training Unit responded on February 9, 1966, to the Marine Corps Commandant, stating, “The indicated urgency for an early recommendation dictated that evaluation be limited to presently available commercial items.” A military rifle hadn’t yet been developed in the United States for use as a sniper rifle. Thankfully, the United States has a rich tradition of rifle building.

In the same response, a subsection titled “Self-Imposed Assumptions” listed several rifle requirements. “…the selected sniper system to use the standard 7.62mm NATO ammunition and be simple, sturdy, and explainable with a minimum amount of instruction.” Five rifles were tested, including the Winchester Model 70, the Harrington and Richardson Ultra-Rifle, and three Remington models. In addition, seven telescopic sights were tested.

US Marine sniper team calls in an air strike during the Vietnam War — A Marine sniper team calls in air support during the Vietnam War. The sniper’s rifle is visible in the lower left corner of the photograph. Image: U.S.M.C.

The Model 70 was quickly disqualified because it was chambered in .30-06. The Ultra-Rifle was also discarded because its construction used components from several manufacturers. Likewise, the Remington Model 600 and 700 ADL were deemed “too light” for military sniping operations. Only the 40X passed all requirements and testing.

Along with rifle and optic requirements, the MTU letter’s final paragraph added, “Thus, along with the M40 sniper rifles, came special ammunition manufactured for the marksmen’s use on the range and the battlefield.” This line presents a form of unification within a specific weapons system.

For the Marines and the rest of the U.S. Military, this was the first time a precision rifle was viewed as a system. Rifle, optic, case, ammunition, sling, and all ancillary gear and components were streamlined into one system. (As for the ammo, this was the birth of the famed M118 7.62X51mm Match ammo.)

The Marines contracted for an initial batch of 700 M40 rifles (though over 900 were delivered). They were shipped in plastic cases designed to hold the entire system.

An important part of that early sniper system was the Redfield Accu-Range scope. Its 3-9X magnification range and compact size were state-of-the-art in 1966. A distinctive feature was its ranging reticle, which could range targets out to 600 yards. The package was held together by mounts that were near facsimiles of those used on the 1903A4 Springfield rifle.

One important distinction between the prototype and the production M40 rifle was the inclusion of a clip-slotted bridge on the 40-X receiver. The slot allowed quick loading of ammunition via stripper clips. All production model M40 rifles were built on the standard 700 short-action, with no slot for stripper clips.

M40 Rifle Evolves in Vietnam

The M40 proved to be an accurate rifle. It was quickly deployed in the harsh combat in Vietnam, and Marine Snipers were able to confidently engage the NVA and VC (Viet Cong). However, Vietnam was a bit different than Quantico, VA.

US Marine aims M40A1 rifle at Beirut International Airport — A U.S. Marine aims his M40A1 rifle at the Beirut International Airport while deployed. Note the camouflage pattern on the McMillan stock. Image: NARA

Early rifles shot well but weren’t necessarily ideal for humid jungles. The wooden stock was the culprit behind questionable serviceability. Vietnam is tropical; it rains a lot. Wood, such as the stock of an M40 rifle, reacts to moisture. High humidity causes the wooden stock to expand and contract. Conversely, swollen wood creates pressure points along the barrel, affecting accuracy.

The only solution is to remove the barreled action from the stock and sand down the high spots. An annoyance, to say the least. Harsh conditions further sidelined many of the original contracted rifles. Rust, cracked optics, broken triggers, and a lack of parts led to the rifle’s evolution into the M40A1 in 1973.

US Marine sniper team trains with M40A1 rifle in Hawaii — A U.S. Marine sniper team trains with an M40A1 rifle in the Poahakuloa Training Area, Hawaii during 1985. Image: Cpl. M. Mendez/U.S.M.C.

Modifications to the M40 included welding the recoil lug and internal magazine box to create a solid one-piece body. Next, the original aluminum trigger guard and magazine floorplate were replaced with a modified steel version borrowed from Model 70 rifles.

The chrome-moly barrels, which were prone to rust, were replaced with Atkinson stainless-steel tubes finished in black oxide. Finally, the dated wood stock was replaced with a fiberglass one from McMillan and had an integral camouflage finish.

While these modifications were significant upgrades over its predecessor, the gun weighed 12 lbs., 3 lbs. heavier than the M40. Fielded from the 1970s into the 2000s, the M40A1 is the Marine Corps’ longest-serving sniper rifle.

The Legacy of the M40 Sniper Rifle

The Vietnam War marked a change in warfare, or rather, how warfare was conducted. Unconventional combat and the soldiers skilled in this action, such as snipers, rebalanced the playing field. Their surgical use laid the groundwork for future warfighters. As a result, the famed M40 they used is often the sniper rifle to which all others are compared.