Does anyone please have any figures for the number of M1917 Enfelds and M1903 Springfields in .30-06 supplied to Brtain under lend-lease? Thanks.
(angie999 @ Nov 12 2005, 11:33 AM) [post=41491]Does anyone please have any figures for the number of M1917 Enfelds and M1903 Springfields in .30-06 supplied to Brtain under lend-lease? Thanks. [/b] My understanding is that the vast majority (if not all ) of these weapons were purchased before lend-lease came into effect. A total of 785,000 .30 cal. Lee-Enfield rifles, with 130 million rounds of .30 ammo, were supplied in the June -September 1940 period. At first they were used to replace weapons lost by the regular army at Dunkirk, but when .303 Lee Enfields became available, they were issued to the Home Guard.
Excellent photographs, specifications, data & general information is at ..... http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl19-e.htm
Most of these first rifles imported prior to lend lease were to arm the Home Guard. The importance of supplying the regular troops was foremost and they got supplies of SMLE's and Lee Enfields and any of those that the Home Guard had were mostly turned back in to the army. The P14 and P17 rifles were what came from the US. The P14 was a copy of the 1st WW Enfield and was a .303, made by Winchester and Remington. The P17 was the M1917 rifle of 30-06 calibre. Regards MG
(Lt. Winters @ Dec 4 2005, 01:45 AM) [post=42588]You mean le-enfield not lee-enfield sorry I couldnt resist [/b] Of course, the correct nomenclature in this instance is Lee Enfield.
(angie999 @ Nov 12 2005, 11:33 AM) [post=41491]Does anyone please have any figures for the number of M1917 Enfelds and M1903 Springfields in .30-06 supplied to Brtain under lend-lease? Thanks. [/b] Angie: In addition to providing a great amount of information relating to US arms production during WW2, the following link offers a tabulation of Documented U.S. Small Arms Shipments After Passage of Lend Lease: The Great Arsenal of Democracy
