Closing in on an M1903 inventory list for the USS North Carolina

[Shooter5]

An inquiry to the staff aboard the Showboat has yielded some initial findings: unfortunately no inventory list by serial number for the M1903s has turned up as of yet but they remain hopeful. Some other small arms by serial number is posted. However, some of the archive is available online so if anyone has some time, feel free to peruse the collection and maybe someone can find the M1903 inventory. (An inventory for the M1911A1s is posted in the pistol section; Archive link immediately below)

http://battleshipnc.pastperfect-online.com/31022cgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=DC662F14-F70C-4FE1-BF3C-986200832513;type=301

Research thus far:
"Custody Record Cards –
30 cal. Model 1903 rifles, received 350 on 5/16/1941 – no serial numbers in this booklet
45 cal. Model 1911 Colt automatic pistols, received 200 on 5/16/1941

Also
Dotters rifle, .30 caliber M-1903 (35) but no serial numbers
.45 cal. Thompson submachine guns (6) w/serial numbers
.22 cal. Colt pistols (6) w/serial numbers
Browning Automatic model 1919 A4 machine guns (2) w/serial numbers & tripod mounts
Very, Mk III, RA Co., Pistols (6) w/serial numbers
.30 Browning automatic rifles model 1918 (30) w/serial numbers
.45 cal. Line throwing rifles (6) w/serial numbers
.22 cal. Model 1922 target rifles (9) w/serial numbers
Shotguns, 14 720 gauge 26” barrel (5 shot) w/serial numbers (12)
Shotgun, 12 gauge, Stevens, M-620, 28” BB1, sporting type (1)
Shotgun, 12 gauge (3) w/serial numbers

Will have to investigate other files for references to the serial numbers for the .30 caliber rifles but this is a start!"

Much thanks to the staff of the battleship for their efforts to research this request. Please cite this information as “Courtesy Battleship NORTH CAROLINA."

Mary Ames Booker
Curator
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
curator@battleshipnc.com
mary.booker@ncdcr.gov
910-251-5797 ext. 3026
E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law "NCGS.Ch.132" and may be disclosed to third parties by an authorized state official.

http://www.battleshipnc.com/

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

The battleship North Carolina is just down the road from my house. Cool place to spend the day.

Your link doesn't work.

jt

[Shooter5]

(Link fixed) Been aboard many times whenever the chance presents, its a great day all around! Try out some of the specialty tours: the ship is currently being renovated to allow for overnight stays such as Scouts. Some ships such as the USS Alabama already have a program for it
(http://www.ussalabama.com/overnt_adv.php)

http://www.battleshipnc.com/Programs/BehindtheHatch

http://www.battleshipnc.com/Programs/FirepowerProgram

http://www.battleshipnc.com/Programs/HiddenBattleship

http://www.battleshipnc.com/Programs/PowerPlantProgram

http://www.battleshipnc.com/Programs/ShowboatSystemsDesign

http://www.battleshipnc.com/Programs/Education

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Do they allow one to peruse the archives in person?

jt

[Shooter5]

Do they allow one to peruse the archives in person?

jt

Good question; call Ms Booker!

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Good question; call Ms Booker!

I will do exactly that. I have lots of free time, and I did research for a living. I can look at old boring records all day long. The boat is a 30 minute drive from my home.

jt

[TW56]

Thanks for posting the documents.

[Mike D]

I'm on board the USS Yorktown right now. I'm in a middle bunk with barely enough room to type this on my phone. Oh yeah, 50 rambunctious Boy Scouts that were supposed to be asleep ten minutes ago. I'll have to ask about any armory records tomorrow.

Mike

[Shooter5]

I'm on board the USS Yorktown right now. I'm in a middle bunk with barely enough room to type this on my phone. Oh yeah, 50 rambunctious Boy Scouts that were supposed to be asleep ten minutes ago. I'll have to ask about any armory records tomorrow.

Mike

Ha! Sounds like lotsa fun! Was there a few months ago but forgot to ask. IIRC, they do have an armory display belowdecks with M1 Garands and some 1911s. Look for a Marine guard mannequin. See if you can get those serial numbers.

http://www.patriotspoint.org/overnight_camping/

USS Midway has similar programs.

http://www.midway.org/overnight

Other ships with overnight programs:

http://www.hnsa.org/edprog.htm

[Rick the Librarian]

Now, if you ever find a small arms list for the USS Washington, BB56 ...

One interesting thing - their Marine detachment (on the Washington) used M1s. There are pictures of King George VI inspecting the Washington's Marines and they are clearly using M1s.

[Shooter5]

Now, if you ever find a small arms list for the USS Washington, BB56 ...

One interesting thing - their Marine detachment (on the Washington) used M1s. There are pictures of King George VI inspecting the Washington's Marines and they are clearly using M1s.

That possibility/likelihood was mentioned to the curator; at some point the USMC detachment aboard the USS NC probably was issued M1s - the Navy probably just kept using the M1903. The staff may not have the time to track down all the records pertaining to the small arms but...Marine A5 Sniper is apparently volunteering to go aboard soon: here's the plan - wait till he gets permission to research the archives and then lock the door behind him until he comes out with all the inventory lists. Sliced bread is thin enough to slide under the the door plus a small water hose could be snaked underneath. On second thought; It might be better to just make a cutout for a pet door so he can slide the bucket in & out...

[rebound]

that's what he should get for calling it a boat......

[Rick the Librarian]

That possibility/likelihood was mentioned to the curator; at some point the USMC detachment aboard the USS NC probably was issued M1s - the Navy probably just kept using the M1903. The staff may not have the time to track down all the records pertaining to the small arms but...Marine A5 Sniper is apparently volunteering to go aboard soon: here's the plan - wait till he gets permission to research the archives and then lock the door behind him until he comes out with all the inventory lists. Sliced bread is thin enough to slide under the the door plus a small water hose could be snaked underneath. On second thought; It might be better to just make a cutout for a pet door so he can slide the bucket in & out...

Makes sense to me! Someone suggested on one of the other sites that the Marine detachments may have used M1s (which is interesting, given the fact that the Marines on Guadalcanal were still using M1903s during this same period) and those small arms for use by the ship's naval landing parties (had they been needed) would have been M1903s.

[Shooter5]

There is a USMC section display belowdecks fore and IIRC it has some pictures of occupation detachment that briefly went ashore in September 1945. Perhaps Marine A5 can look next time he visits to check if there are any Marines with M1s in the display pictures? Page 43 in the book "Battleship North Carolina" by CPT Ben Blee, 2cd Edition, ISBN 0-9608538-2-0, shows USMC burial detail and their rifles could be M1s - someone with better skills could distinguish.
This section has a low-resolution pic of the landing force.

http://seastories.battleshipnc.com/marines/

Search "Japan Landing Party"

http://battleshipnc.pastperfect-online.com/31022cgi/mweb.exe?request=keyword;keyword=japan%20landing%20party;dtype=i

[Rick the Librarian]

This picture definitely has crewmen carrying M1903s.