March 2017-E
More on the 1st Infantry Division: Sniperscope and Snooperscope available, March 1945
Carbine Club newsletter 368 contained a feature article on Sniperscopes and Snooperscopes during the last major battle of WWII, the campaign to take the island of Okinawa, April - June 1945. Researched and written by Don Hillhouse, this article stands as the most thoroughly detailed and documented discussion of this subject known. At the time it was written, virtually no documentation had been discovered concerning use of the infrared light devices in other theaters of the war. The only such report that Don found was written by the “New Developments Division,” dated 18 September 1944. It stated:
“General Borden reported that he had inspected the Engineer teams at Fort Belvoir that will introduce the snooperscopes and sniperscopes to various theaters of operation. These night viewing devices are completely interchangeable, differing only in that the snooperscope is hand-held, while the sniperscope is attached to a carbine. Both have a range of approximately 125 feet. The Corps of Engineers has taken special steps to insure that proper quantities of spare parts and maintenance equipment are supplied concurrently.
The teams will train units overseas in the employment and maintenance of these devices.
Shipments are scheduled as follows:
Southwest Pacific Area | 50 each | 30 September 1944 |
Pacific Ocean Areas | 25 each | 23 September 1944 |
European Theater | 25 each | 23 September 1944 |
China-Burma-India | 25 each | 30 September 1944 |
Complete theater requirements are under production as a result of the requisitions submitted through the Jungle Warfare Mission and New Weapons Board. All will be completed by the end of 1944, except the ETO requirements, which run into January 1945.” As discussed in newsletter 368, IR training was conducted as early as November 1944 with Army and Marine troops scheduled to participate in the Okinawa invasion (Pacific Ocean Areas). Also, video footage has been found that shows familiarization training with the Sniperscope being conducted in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations in late 1944 or early 1945. These IR devices were likely used in the battles to retake the various Philippine Islands (Southwest Pacific Area), but documentation is lacking. Nothing had been found to indicate any use of the IR devices in Europe.
However, Don recently found a G-4 (Division Logistics Officer) Journal that documents the availability of at least one Sniperscope and Snooperscope with the 1st Infantry Division at Grove, Germany on 1 March 1945. See item #15 on the second page of the below report (DOO in the text indicates Division Ordnance Officer). Whether any IR devices were actually used in combat in the ETO remains a mystery.
Research continues.
Marty Black
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