Comments on: Some US Troops Still Have Grease Guns?

By: Red Green

Red Green — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:21:40 +0000

My former Army National Guard battalion in New England still had M3A1’s until recently. We still had them in the armory and on the Table of Organization and Equipment(TO&E) for the M88 armored recovery vehicle crews in 2006 when the battalion was deactivated. At that time the National Guard was turning in the remaining M3A1’s and M1911A1’s for most all TO&E units still retaining them. When I served in the Army Reserve the early 90’s, the local Army Reserve Judge Advocate General (JAG) unit still had a dozen M1911’s in original configuration. Some dated from 1914! The national guard still has M1911A1NM’s and they are still retained on Table of Distrabution and Allowance (TDA) in state headquarters for marksmanship activities. Most national guard state HQ’s have let their marksmanship competition programs languish however. I retired last year after over 20 years in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, Thank God. I am sure our beloved “Nobel Peace Prize” winning President Obama has the crushers and smelters working overtime to distroy all those evil M3A1’s, M1911A1’s and the like to keep us all safe from surplus ordinace. Your guns will be next…

By: Joe Garrett

Joe Garrett — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:30:58 +0000

I flew NAVY C-9s during Desert Shield / Storm. One mission was transporting 50 Army personnel from Germany to the desert. On the ramp shortly after the troops had unloaded and as they were mustering up, I noticed a young troop with a M3 Grease Gun slung over his shoulder. I walked up to him and was admiring it, when his SGT came up to me and asked if there was anything he could help me with.

I said ” Sarg, what would happen if this troop was to lose this M3 ? ” and he replied that “He would have to kill me” We had a good laugh.
All of the parkerization was warn off. It looked silver.

By: Reid

Reid — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:59:42 +0000

I served from ‘04-’08, including in Iraq and I never saw a grease gun. For that matter, the only troops I saw with 1911’s were Marine Recon. Most troops are either issued an M16 or an M4, and may additionally carry an M9. The ground-pounders have some SAW’S and 203’s mixed in (I’ve even seen a female soldier carrying a SAW–kinda odd). That’s about it.

Then again, you can still find deuce-and-a-half trucks (also 1940’s vintage) rumbling around many bases. So it’s feasible.

By: jaymaster

jaymaster — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:18:26 +0000

That’s still an F’n awesome close range weapon. Anyone who has ever used one (or even just heard one) will certainly agree. It’s like 80% of a MAC10 for 10% of the cost. Or maybe 1000% of a 1911 for twice the cost.

As long as they can get them the ammo (you know I’m a logistics freak) I don’t see a problem with equipping certain troops with grease guns.

Pineapple grenades still work great too.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:51:18 +0000

The M-4 is fine for amateur shooters and rear echelon types with plenty of time to clean them. They suck if you’re in combat trying to shoot insurgents in a sandy environment through windows, car doors and other barriers. They should be replacing the M-3’s with a good gas piston rifle instead.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:01:20 +0000

Oh yeah, they were still chambered in .45ACP. At that point in time we’d just swapped out the last of our 1911’s but the M3A1’s were still .45ACP as originally manufactured.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:51:36 +0000

We got a batch of brand new in box General Motors Guide Lamp Division M3A1’s in at my reserve unit in the early 90’s for our M88 Recovery Vehicle crews. They were Korean War vintage manufacture but still brand spanking new in sealed boxes.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:33:43 +0000

M3s are a Basic Issue Item (BII) for the M-88 armored recovery vehicle. If 2ID has those, then they would be the ones being replaced.

By: Roninspoon

Roninspoon — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:33:26 +0000

When I was stationed with the 4th ID from 90-94, we still used them. They were issued to some tank crews as well as support mechanics. We had several that I had to maintain in the arms room.

By: M3 Grease Gun possibly still in service | The Firearm Blog

M3 Grease Gun possibly still in service | The Firearm Blog — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:48:35 +0000

[...] uncovered a story which mentions that the US Army still has the WWII era M3 “grease gun” [...]