The M2 was the selective-fire
variant of the M1 carbine, and a 30-round
magazine was adapted for standard use. Developed
in 1944, Inland designated it as U.S. Carbine
Caliber .30 M2 (T4).
In Korea, the Marines made
considerable use of the M2 in the early
campaigns, particularly at Inchon and Seoul.
However, the weapon became very unreliable in the
artic temperatures of the Chosin Reservoir
battle. The frigid conditions seemed to weaken
its smaller and lighter components and cause them
to fail to function. The M1 Garand rifle worked
reasonably well, however, particularly with the
alcohol-based hair-tonic some Marines found
effective as a lubricant at that time.
The US Carbine, Caliber .30in,
M3, or T3, was
simply an M2 with suitable mountings prepared on
the receiver to take various models of infra-red
night-sighting devices. No open or conventional
sights were provided. The M3, (its development
title was T3), was produced in limited numbers as
a semi-prototype. Only about 2100 were
manufactured compared to 5,510,000 M1 carbines, 150,000 M1A1
carbines and 570,000 M2 carbines.