[dragoon500ly]

Sources are Omaha A Flawed Victory by Adrian Lewis, D-Day by Steven Ambrose and D-Day by Tute, Costello and Hughes, Spearheading D-Day by Jonathan Gawne and the 6juin1944.com web site.

ASSAULT BOAT TEAM

Boat Team Leader: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; M1911A1 Pistol w/3mags; 6 colored smoke grenades; 1 smoke grenade, 1 frag grenade, 1 SCR-536 radio.

Assistant Boat Team Leader: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 2 smoke grenades; 8 frag grenades.

Rifle Team #1 and 2: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 1 smoke grenade; 2 frag grenades; wirecutters.

Rifle Team #3: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 1 smoke grenade; 1 frag grenade; 1 grenade launcher M7; 10 rifle grenades.

Rifle Team #4 and 5: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 1 smoke grenade, 2 frag grenades, 1 Bangalore Torpedo section.

Wire Cutting Team (4 men): each with M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 1 smoke grenade; 2 Bangalore Torpedo sections; and either one pair wire cutters or 1 large search nose wirecutters.

BAR Team #1 and 3: M1918A2 BAR w/13 mags; BAR spare parts kit

BAR Team #2 and 4: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; BAR belt w/12 mags

60mm Mortar Team #1: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; mortar sight; cleaning staff; binoculars; compass; flashlight; 12 mortar rounds

60mm Mortar Team #2: M1911A1 Pistol w/3 mags; mortar; 5 mortar rounds.

60mm Mortar Team #3: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; 12 mortar rounds.

60mm Mortar Team #4: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; 12 mortar rounds.

Bazooka Team #1 and 3: each with: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; M-1A1 Bazooka w/8 rockets

Bazooka Team #2 and 4: each with: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 12 rockets

Flamethrower Team # 1: M-1911A1 Pistol w/3 mags, 1 flamethrower

Flamethrower Team #2: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 4 smoke grenades; 6 frag grenades; 5 gallon fuel refill; spare nitrogen tank and wrenches.

Demolitions Team (5 men): each with: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 1 smoke grenade; 2 frag grenades; 50’ Primercord; 4 detonators; 6 blocks of TNT; 2 fuse lighters; demo kit w/crimpers, knife, tape and cord. Team also carried 7 satchel charges and 3 pole charges.

SUPPORT BOAT TEAM
Boat Team Leader: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; M1911A1 Pistol w/3mags; 6 colored smoke grenades; 1 smoke grenade, 1 frag grenade, 1 SCR-536 radio.

Assistant Boat Team Leader: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 2 smoke grenades; 8 frag grenades.

Rifle Team # 1, 2 and 3: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; grenade launcher M7; 1 smoke grenade; 2 frag grenades; 12 rifle grenades.

Rifle Team #4 and 5: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 2 smoke grenades, 5 frag grenades, wirecutters.

HMG Team #1: M1911A1 Pistol w/3 mags; tripod

HMG Team #2: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; M1917A1 .30-caliber HMG.

HMG Team #3: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; water chest; spare parts kit; ammo box.

HMG Team #4 and 5: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; 2 ammo boxes.

HMG Team #6: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; binoculars; 2 ammo boxes.

Wire Cutting Team (4 men): each with M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 1 smoke grenade; 2 Bangalore Torpedo sections; and either one pair wire cutters or 1 large search nose wirecutters.

81mm Mortar Team #1: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; mortar sight; binoculars; compass; flashlight; sound powered phone; 5 mortar rounds.

81mm Mortar Team #2: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; bipod; sound powered phone.

81mm Mortar Team #3: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; mortar tube w/aiming stakes in it.

81mm Mortar Team #4: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; baseplate.

81mm Mortar Team #5: M-1 Carbine w/5 mags; 7 mortar ounds; 400 yards communication wire on reel.

81mm Mortar Team #6, 7 and 8: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 7 mortar rounds.

Demolitions Team (5 men): each with: M-1 Garand w/176 rounds; 1 smoke grenade; 2 frag grenades; 50’ Primercord; 4 detonators; 6 blocks of TNT; 2 fuse lighters; demo kit w/crimpers, knife, tape and cord. Team also carried 7 satchel charges and 3 pole charges.

On board each LCVP were:
12 bandoleers of clipped ammunition (48 rounds per)
6 frag grenades
2 smoke grenades
6 ammo boxes each with 250 rounds of belted .30-caliber.
72 rounds 60mm mortar or 24 rounds of 81mm mortar bombs
10 Bazooka rockets
2 pole charges
3 satchel charges
2 ammo boxes of 250 loose rounds of .30-caliber (BAR)
12 rifle grenades

As can be seen, a lot of weapons and ammunition…but in addition:

INDIVIDUAL CLOTHING
Web waist belt
Wool drawers
Helmet with liner
2 handkerchiefs
M1941 Field Jacket or Winter Combat Jacket
Service shoes & leggings
Impregnated socks, wool, protective
Flannel shirt, protective
Wool trousers, protective
Undershirt, wool

INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT
M1928 Haversack and carrier or Musette Bag and M1936 suspenders for officers and containing raincoat, blanket, toiletries, 4 1.5-oz heating units; water purification tablets, 3 pairs of wool socks, 1 pair of protective socks; 2oz can of insect powder; 3 K-Rations, 3 D-Rations, 7 packs of cigarettes; 7 sticks of gum, and 7 boxes of matches.

Canteen, cup, and cover
Spoon
First Aid Pouch w/bandage; envelope of sulfanilamide powder and 12 sulfadiazine tablets
Parachutist’s First Aid Packet w/bandage; envelope of sulfanilamide powder; 12 sulfadiazine tablets; tourniquet and morphine syrette.

M-5 Assault Gas Mask w/mask, 1 tube protective ointment; 1 set anti-dim agent; 2 sleeve gas detectors; 1 8oz can show impregnite; 1 individual cover; 1 tube BAL eye ointment; 2 eye shields.

Identification Tags
Entrenching tool and cover
PLUS, for riflemen; Cartridge belt and M-1 bayonet
OR for automatic riflemen: BAR Magazine Belt and M-3 knife
OR for men issued the carbine or pistol: pistol belt, carbine or pistol ammo pouch; M-3 knife, if armed with a pistol, the M1916 pistol holster was issued.

In addition to the above, each man was issued 200 francs in invasion currency; 6 anti-seasickness pills; 2 bags, vomit, 1 lifebelt, 1 Pilofilm cover for weapon and a copy of Eisenhower’s Order of the Day.

The clothing issued to the assault troops for Overlord was heavily impregnated for protection from mustard gas, this treatment resulted in a foul-smelling oily coating that added to the discomfort of the soldiers who were forced to wear their foul-smelling, stiff uniforms for weeks after the invasion.

The last item issued to the troops was an inflatable life belt that contained compressed CO2 cartridges that would inflate the belt when they were squeezed. Orders were issued to the troops to wear these belts up high under the arms so that when inflated, these belts would not slip down the body and flip the soldier upside down. In spite of these orders, many men were drowned when their life belts did fall too low.

The 1st Infantry Division, drawing on its previous amphibious experience, issued two life belts to each man and insured that they were tied in place up high under the arms with twine. The units also tied life belts to ammo boxes, heavy weapons, radios and other bulky equipment so that they would float to shore if dropped in the water.