Conte Omaha Beach figure trivia game (1 Viewer)

[binder001]

I spotted at least one trivial error that appears on several of Conte's GIs in the test shots for the Omaha Beach set, I just thought I's see if anybody else caught it. My answer later.

Gary

 

[binder001]

Re:the answer

All the M1 carbines have bayonet lugs on the figures in the photos. I told you it was trivia, but it does show a failure of basic research on the firearms. No carbine at Omaha Beach could have a bayonet lug because that feature did not enter production until very late 1944. In fact I've never seen a photo of a carbine with a bayonet lug in WW2, although some late M2s (the selective fire carbines) may have been sent to Europe or Okinawa in time to see action.

 

[Chuck Harris]

Re: the answer about M1 Carbine

All the M1 carbines have bayonet lugs on the figures in the photos. I told you it was trivia, but it does show a failure of basic research on the firearms. No carbine at Omaha Beach could have a bayonet lug because that feature did not enter production until very late 1944. In fact I've never seen a photo of a carbine with a bayonet lug in WW2, although some late M2s (the selective fire carbines) may have been sent to Europe or Okinawa in time to see action.

My like new never fired M1 Carbine made by Inland Corp.(General Motors) in Nov. 1943 has no bayonet lug.
I got this one off a NVR who was napping when he should have been awake. The original grease was still in the barrel. It must have come from our lend lease to the French in the 50's.

 

[Njja]

Nice going Chuck, have you ever used an HK weapon? They are my favorite,
I also like the Benelli Shotguns. I have one that fires 5 rounds in one second, fifth shot is off before the first cartridge hits the ground.

Njja

 

[OzDigger]

I've just had a look at the Omaha pics on the Conte site and the rifles look more like M1 Garands rather than the lighter carbines, but it is hard to tell as the pics are rather dark and don't show much detail.

 

[binder001]

The Conte figures have a mix of M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, Thompson SMG and .45 auto pistol. Sorry, I'm a bit of a "gun nut" so the quality in the reproduction of the firearms is right up there with the quality of the figure in my evaluations.

Gary

 

[OzDigger]

Ok, I found those carbines - on the Conte preview link, which shows the weapons in much better detail than the other link I was looking at which were of plastic soldiers I guess. Anyway, yes you are correct about the bayonet lugs. Btw I think there is also a BAR - on the wounded kneeling guy?

 

[Mr Man]

Your carbine might also have come to VN via China from weapons provided to the Nationalists by the U.S.

 

[Fubar]

Okay since you are experts I have a question.
I have an old WW2 vintage M1 bayonet that is approx 18" long.Usually in newsreels and stills if you see a bayonet on the end of an M1 it's about 12".

Is this one I have an earlier version?It was my Dads, He gave it and his webgear to me years ago.I bought an M1 about 5 years ago to go with the bayonet!
Maybe I got lucky as I bought it at a gun show, slung it over my shoulder and as I was walking around I bet I had 10 different people want to buy it from me.It's a real beauty. Often I saw rather beat up, rattly looking and feeling actions ect and guys wanted a fortune for them. This one was about as perfect as you could get.

Anyone bothered to email Conte and tell them of their flaw ???The troops look amazing other than this detail you have noted.

FUBAR

 

[binder001]

The original M1905 bayonet for the M1903 rifle had a blade of about 16", this was the bayonet used in WW1 and up to almost WW2. As originally produced they had wood hand grips. Shortly before WW2 the wood had grips were replaced with black plastic (like Bakelite), and the original metal/leather sheath was replaced by an OD plastic one.. These M1905 bayonets were common in the early days of WW2, and in units in training. Reportedly some Engineer units liked the long bayonets to use as mine probes. As W2 approached and it was apparent that the coming war would involve more trucks, airplanes and other mechanization. The US Army (and others) found that the long bayonets would be unweildly, so the blade length was reduced to about 10". These bayonets were designated as M1 bayonets. The Army had a huge stockpile of M1905 bayonets, so many were ground down to the new length. I have seen these referred to as M1905E1 or "M1943" bayonets. Some units used the long bayonet in combat, particularly early in the Pacific campaigns. There is an often-reproduced photo that shows infantry supporting a Sherman with a rifleman in the standing position with that great long bayonet fixed.

Anyway, on its blade, just near the hilt, your bayonet shound have an Ordnance "flaming bomb" insignia, plus a date and two to four letters to designate the maker.

A really GREAT reference is Bruce Canfield's book "US Infantry Weapons of World War 2". Note cheap, but it covers every type of small arm, machine gun, grenade, flamethrower adopted for use by the US Army in WW2, It covers history, makers, collector notes, etc.

 

[Chuck Harris]

Your carbine might also have come to VN via China from weapons provided to the Nationalists by the U.S.

China was not on very good terms with the NVR in the 50's 60's or any other time Russia had to make them be nice. They were very helpful to us (me)on the "QT" from 1965-71. They would not have given the VN the time of day, much less a gun. After we pulled out the NVR and China had one hell of border war. China got their butt kicked bad by the NVR.

 

[TLP]

So you notice that these guys have a bayonet lug? Thats a pretty good eye. I was wondering if all these guys are just hitting the beach where is their life preservers and or masks?

obviously if I were conte I wouldnt put life preserves on any of my guys so they cold be used elsewhere. Heck even the M1C guys could be used as say Korean war figs?

 

[binder001]

Yes, that's a VERY good point. THe initial waves on Day had all kinds of paraphenalia, including, as you mentioned, life belts and various issues of gas mask. There was a huge concern that the Germans would deploy chemical weapons against the assault troops so the GIs had their clothes impregnated with a chemical resistant compound and had gas mask issued. The only figures I've seen with that gear are some GI figures produced by DML and some of the K&C Rangers.

Very good observation!

 

[Chuck Harris]

Yes, that's a VERY good point. THe initial waves on Day had all kinds of paraphenalia, including, as you mentioned, life belts and various issues of gas mask. There was a huge concern that the Germans would deploy chemical weapons against the assault troops so the GIs had their clothes impregnated with a chemical resistant compound and had gas mask issued. The only figures I've seen with that gear are some GI figures produced by DML and some of the K&C Rangers.

Very good observation!

Allied troops also had some kind of gas indicator that was worn I believe the upper shirt sleeve around the shoulder area. I don't know if all Allied Troops were supplied with these devices.

I know somebody is going to give us the full story on this. I'm waiting.

 

[binder001]

The gas indicator brassard was reported to be a material like heavy paper, a light olive color and the color was to change in the presence of certain chemical agents. Obviously you wouldn't see your own change, but you should see your buddies'.

Lots of GREAT info on life belts, landing teams, special equipment, uniforms, etc is in the book "Spearheading D-Day" by Jonathan Gawne. Lots of detailed info that I hadn't seen elsewhere.

Among many other books, there is a good description of the landings in the book "Beyond the Beachhead, the 29th Division in Normandy", which is now available in softcover. Easy reading and lots of interesting stuff on that division up to the capture of St.Lo.

Gary

 

[Hockoy]

The Conte figures have a mix of M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, Thompson SMG and .45 auto pistol. Sorry, I'm a bit of a "gun nut" so the quality in the reproduction of the firearms is right up there with the quality of the figure in my evaluations.

Gary

I thought Thompson's were only issued to paratroopers during Operation Overlord.

 

[Chuck Harris]

I thought Thompson's were only issued to paratroopers during Operation Overlord.

Due to high cost of the Thompson's you may be correct as to who they were issued to. If you do any research on this subject keep us posted. Which you should do. You were the first to bring this up on the forum. Then everybody will jump in and correct your research I'm going to do some checking and see what info I come up with.

I don't think many Toy Soldier Companies paid to much attention to who they were issued to. They looked cool but as far as I'm concerned thats where it stopped, they were heavy. Burp gun was much lighter and did the same job.

 

[Hockoy]

Due to high cost of the Thompson's you may be correct as to who they were issued to. If you do any research on this subject keep us posted. Which you should do. You were the first to bring this up on the forum. Then everybody will jump in and correct your research I'm going to do some checking and see what info I come up with.

I don't think many Toy Soldier Companies paid to much attention to who they were issued to. They looked cool but as far as I'm concerned thats where it stopped, they were heavy. Burp gun was much lighter and did the same job.

Yeah, ur probably right about the looks. Who doesn't look cool when they have a tommy gun in their hands? About the closest I got to an answer was on wilkipedia.com. It didn't say anything about thompsons being issued to GI's in 1944. Who know's, I may be wrong.

 

[OzDigger]

Thommy guns were more than ten times the cost of the standard grease gun. In addition to being costly they took a long time to manufacture because the design was over complicated. They were also heavy and no more accurate than the standard issue sub machine gun. This all made the Thommy a less suitable prototype for being a standard issue. Therefore it was the British Commandos, US Paratroops and Rangers that got the bulk of these weapons as the Thommy's main claim to fame was that it was reliable - provided it was kept in good order. I guess it was a similar situation to the Stoner weapons systems only being issued to the elite US troops in Vietnam.

 

[Chuck Harris]

Thommy guns were more than ten times the cost of the standard grease gun. In addition to being costly they took a long time to manufacture because the design was over complicated. They were also heavy and no more accurate than the standard issue sub machine gun. This all made the Thommy a less suitable prototype for being a standard issue. Therefore it was the British Commandos, US Paratroops and Rangers that got the bulk of these weapons as the Thommy's main claim to fame was that it was reliable - provided it was kept in good order. I guess it was a similar situation to the Stoner weapons systems only being issued to the elite US troops in Vietnam.

The best weapon I ever used in Southeast Asia in the Vietnam Area was the AK47. It three main advantages for me. When used it sounded like their's, it did not jam and cut down on the amount of ammo you had to carry. It was easy to pick up on you mission. There were a lot of good weapons, but one needs to pick the one that give him an edge and help him get back.