World War II Manual on Weapons for Jungle Warfare (1944)

Description

Jungle Warfare Weapons Manual (1944)

June 21, 1944:

• The “World War II Manual on Weapons for Jungle Warfare” is published. This 155-page document, containing text, illustrations, and photographs, is created by the War Department, specifically the War Department General Staff, Organization and Training Division G-3. Its stated purpose is to address the urgent need for methods to destroy or disperse Japanese infantry in jungle environments, a need demonstrated by operations in the Pacific Theaters.
• At the time of its publication, the manual includes the latest available illustrations, often depicting items still under development, which may differ from final production models. It focuses on equipment suitable for jungle warfare, acknowledging the importance of standard artillery and small arms while highlighting efforts to adapt commercial tractors into military prime movers and develop mortars with increased firepower for initial landings and overcoming Japanese positions.

Cast of Characters

War Department:

• Role: The overarching governmental department responsible for the administration of the United States Army and the conduct of military affairs during World War II. It is credited with creating and publishing the “World War II Manual on Weapons for Jungle Warfare.”

War Department General Staff, Organization and Training Division G-3:

• Role: A specific division within the War Department General Staff directly responsible for the creation and publication of the “World War II Manual on Weapons for Jungle Warfare.” This division focuses on organizational and training aspects of the military.

Japanese (Infantry):

• Role: The opposing force in the Pacific Theaters during World War II, whose combat tactics and presence in jungle environments necessitated the development of specialized warfare methods detailed in the manual. The manual aims to provide means for “destroying or dispersing their infantry.”

World War II: Manual on Weapons for Jungle Warfare (1944)

This 155-page manual contains text, illustrations and photographs. The publication was created by the War Department, War Department General Staff, Organization and Training Division G-3, and published on June 21, 1944.

The forward of this document says, “Operations against the Japanese in the Pacific Theaters have demonstrated the urgent need for methods of destroying or dispersing their infantry employed in the jungle without the delays and difficulties now encountered.”

Abstract: In this book are listed only a few of the many standard items of equipment now being used or considered suitable for jungle warfare. It is assumed that such items as standard artillery and small arms, rifle and chemical grenades, standard smoke signals, demolition kits, bombs and communications equipment are known to the theaters. It is realized that there is no substitute for artillery in providing fire power and considerable effort is being devoted to the development of satisfactory track laying prime movers to tow these pieces through the jungle. Basically, the commercial type slow speed tractor has been utilized, and is being provided with wider tracks, special grousers, pintles and lunettes, front mounted winches and special stowage arrangements to convert them into a military prime mover. Extensive development has been undertaken to provide mortars with increased fire power. These mortars should provide necessary fire power during initial landings when conventional artillery is not available and should offer considerably more effectiveness in overcoming prepared Japanese positions than the existing mortars of smaller calibers. The illustrations reproduced in this volume are the latest available at the time of going to press. In most instances they are photographs of items under development which may differ considerably from the models finally accepted for production.