Editing M1 carbine (section)

===Limitations of weapons in the U.S. arsenal===

[[File:Garandcar.jpg|thumb|The [[M1 Garand|M1 rifle]] and M1 carbine share only a buttplate screw and use different-sized .30 caliber ammunition.]]
[[File:Jedburghs get instructions from Briefing Officer in London flat. England, circa 1944. - NARA - 540064.tif|thumb|Briefing for staff personnel. Folding stock M1A1 carbine on the table]]
[[File:81 m-m Mortar crew in action at Camp Carson, Colorado - NARA - 197171.jpg|thumb|81&nbsp;mm [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] crew in action at [[Camp Carson]], [[Colorado]], April 24, 1943. The soldier on the left has a slung M1 carbine.]]
[[File:Infantry anti-tank crew fires on Nazis.jpg|thumb|right|A U.S. [[anti-tank]] crew in combat in the Netherlands, November 4, 1944. The soldier on the far right is holding an M1 carbine]]

Prior to World War II, the U.S. Army Ordnance Department received reports that the full-size [[M1 Garand|M1 rifle]] was too heavy and cumbersome for most support troops (staff, artillerymen, radiomen, etc.) to carry. During pre-war and early war field exercises, it was found that the M1 Garand impeded these soldiers' mobility, as a slung rifle would frequently catch on brush or hit the back of the helmet and tilt it over the eyes. Many soldiers found the rifle slid off the shoulder unless slung diagonally across the back, where it prevented the wearing of standard field packs and haversacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swatmag.com/article/the-carbine-conundrum-two-steps-forward-one-step-back/|title=THE CARBINE CONUNDRUM: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back|last=Dabbs|first=Will|date=21 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208224640/https://www.swatmag.com/article/the-carbine-conundrum-two-steps-forward-one-step-back/|archive-date= 8 February 2023}}</ref>

Additionally, Germany's use of [[Glider infantry|glider-borne]] and [[paratrooper]] forces to launch surprise ''[[blitzkrieg]]'' attacks behind the front lines generated a request for a new compact infantry weapon to equip support troops.<ref name="George, John 1981 p. 394"/><ref name="Weeks">{{cite book|author1=Weeks, John S.|title=World War II Small Arms|url=https://archive.org/details/worldwariismalla0000week|url-access=registration|publisher=Chartwell House|isbn=978-0-88365-403-3|date=1 May 1989|page=[https://archive.org/details/worldwariismalla0000week/page/130 130]}}</ref> This request called for a compact, lightweight defensive weapon with greater range, accuracy and firepower than a handgun, while weighing half as much as the [[Thompson submachine gun]] or the [[M1 rifle]].<ref name="George, John 1981 p. 394">{{cite book |author1=George, John|title=Shots Fired In Anger |edition=2nd Revised & Enlarged |location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=National Rifle Association of America|isbn=978-0-935998-42-9 |date=1981|page=394}}</ref> The U.S. Army decided that a carbine-type weapon would adequately fulfill all of these requirements, and specified that the new arm should weigh no more than {{convert|5|lb|kg}} and have an effective range of {{convert|300|yd|m}}.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/2ozvYaxr6iQ Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170503094206/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ozvYaxr6iQ Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ozvYaxr6iQ|title=M1 Carbine at 300 Yards|date=2 October 2012|website=YouTube|format=Video}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Ruth">{{cite book |author1=Ruth, Larry L.|title=M1 Carbine: Design, Development & Production|publisher=The Gun Room Press|url=https://www.abebooks.com/M1-CARBINE-DESIGN-DEVELOPMENT-PRODUCTION-Ruth/22379562692/bd |date=1988 |isbn=0-88227-020-6|quote=contains many Ordnance documents related to the "Light Rifle" specification that led to the M1 carbine}}</ref> Paratroopers were also added to the list of intended users and a folding-stock version would also be developed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guns.com/news/review/gun-review-inland-m1a1-paratrooper-carbine-in-30-carbine|title=Gun Review: Inland M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine in .30 Carbine|last= Herbert|first= Terril|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201025631/https://www.guns.com/news/review/gun-review-inland-m1a1-paratrooper-carbine-in-30-carbine|archive-date= 1 December 2022}}</ref>