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Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by Ken Blaisdell on June 30, 2012, 9:30 am

I am doing research for a story I'm writing about the merchant marines, and I am trying to find out if members of the Navy Armed Guard were ever issued rifles for shipboard duty. This seems unlikely, but perhaps they would be used for guard duty while in port.

Thank you for your help.

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by Ron Carlson on July 5, 2012, 1:50 pm, in reply to "Navy Armed Guard Weapons"
161.80.22.203

Armed Guard personnel were never used for guard duty or ship security while in port, at least not officially.

I assume officers were issued side arms (pistols) but so far as I know Armed Guard enlisted men were not issued rifles, which would be of minimal use on a ship.

Armed Guard veterans, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website
www.armed-guard.com

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by Larry LaFontaine on July 16, 2012, 11:44 am, in reply to "Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons"

I sailed on 8 ships.When we were in port one of the Armed Guard crew was assigned to Gangway watch. He was issued a 38special or Colt 45. Depending what the Navy issued- Also some ships had a couple of Springfield 30-06 rifles To shoot at mines, as the other guns would not depress that low for a shot.

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by mike on July 7, 2012, 12:16 am, in reply to "Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons"
173.49.163.27

Ron, not a correction but an addition.

After WWII Dad transferred from the Armed Guard into regular Navy and stationed at Fort Schuyler the Bronx NY. The soon to be New York State Merchant Marine Academy (now SUNY Maritime College). I can tell you Dad had a Navy issue Tommy Gun as part of his inventory. It is my understanding that just the presence got Dad out of a jam in Brooklyn one night in the late 1940's.

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by KenB on July 5, 2012, 2:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons"

Thanks! That's pretty much what I thought. And although it doesn't fit as nicely with the book I'm writing, I'd rather be accurate than just make stuff up and hope nobody notices. WAY too many of those out there!

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by Al Burnham on July 8, 2012, 12:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons"
69.12.238.168

Ron and Ken, Note corrections under Sidearms.
----Al

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by Ken on July 8, 2012, 12:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons"

Al - Where is the "corrections under Sidearms" you mention?

Thanks for they replies, by the way!

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by Al Burnham on July 8, 2012, 10:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons"
69.12.238.168

Ken, It's all right there and more Armed Guard have added their experience with these weapons.
This was all part of protecting the ship and its cargo. The correction is mostly pertaining to Ron's reply and his asking to be corrected if wrong. If you need more details we should be able to come up with it. ----Al

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by Larry on July 15, 2012, 11:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons"

About Navy Armed Guard Weapons---I was assigned to the Navy Armed Guard in Jan.1942-- I sailed on 8 different ships Tankers--Freighters-Transports---My first ship - we had a 4-50 2-Lewis- 2 Marlin - 2 Colt 30cal. Machine guns
Later ships Browning 30.Cal. 20mm. Orklins-- 3in.50---4in.50 --and 5in.38.
Later in the war most ships had 20.mm- 3-50 --and 5in.38----Being a Gunner I operated all of these Guns--- Hope this clears up some questions

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by Larry LaFontaine on July 16, 2012, 12:02 am, in reply to "Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons"

One of my ships S.S.FitzJohn Porter--Liberty Ship was Torpedoed March 1 -1943 at 3am We were in a convoy of 30 ships--500miles off the Coast of Brazil-- We were the only ship sunk--- Would like to hear from anyone who was in the convoy

Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons

Posted by Ron Carlson on July 9, 2012, 7:02 am, in reply to "Re: Navy Armed Guard Weapons"
161.80.22.203

Ken,

Farther up the page at the top (as of today) is another thread titled "Sidearms."

Thanks all for the added information.

Ron Carlson

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