US M2 .30 inch self-loading carbine, 1944 (c)

One of the great success stories of World War Two (1939-1945), the M1 carbine was used widely by the British Army because of its short range firepower. Produced as a stop-gap weapon for second-line troops it became a very popular weapon because of its lightness and semi-automatic action.

The M2 variant provided full automatic fire when needed, controlled by a single switch. It was often used with a larger, 30 round, magazine. As the Malayan Emergency developed it became a sought after weapon to give high firepower in jungle fire-fights. Although its cartridge had no great stopping power it was adequate for short range actions. Its reliability in humid conditions made it a successful jungle weapon.