MWO W28-W3 adj rear sights in MTO

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   Researcher Don Hillhouse has found an interesting article in the March-April 1945 issue of Army Ordnance magazine. It contains interviews with two supervisors of the 603rd Ordnance Base Armament Maintenance Battalion, which was 1 of only 2 such units in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. The MTO encompassed N. Africa, Sicily, and Italy. (The European Theater of Operations - the ETO - had 13 of these units.)

Shop Foreman M/Sgt. Albert Degner stated “The Army supplies us with machines and tools, but we’re always running into jobs that call for something we haven’t got.” Their first combat-related tasks included hurriedly improving vehicle air filters and clearing clogged weapons in Tunisia due to the sand storms. “Most of our men were skilled mechanics in civilian life, so just about everybody contributed to the program.”

“Tech. Sgt. Clarence Krob has watched his small arms section grow into a large armament shop in 22 months overseas. He has installed mass-production methods for disassembling broken rifles and machine guns picked up on the battlefield, and simplified operations so that Italian labor could be employed on a large scale.”

T/Sgt. Krob stated “One of our biggest problems was completing the modification on the American carbine. A new sight had to be put on every carbine in the theater. We needed an automatic vise to cut down unnecessary handling, so we built one from a hydraulic truck jack that cut operating time in half. Now we do alterations on more than 1,000 carbines a day.”

He was referring to War Department Modification Work Order B28-W3, dated 11 September 1944, directing the replacement of the early rear sight with either the milled or stamped adjustable sight. This MWO was classified “red” as a “field operation,” with “work to be completed at the earliest practicable date.” (See CC Newsletter 118-2. Also, numerous ETO anecdotes of rear sight changes that were done at the using unit level, can be found in CC Newsletter 382.)
Also see
http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/89th-chemicalmortar-div-adjustable-rear-sights_topic3983.html

http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/1st-infantry-division-adjustable-rear-sights_topic2829.html

Thinking about this operation, guys, put on your thinking caps! An automatic vise for holding the carbine (perhaps operated by a foot pedal) would be efficient. Also, some kind of a hydraulic arm on both sides of the carbine would be desirable. The early sight needs to be pushed off left-to-right, and the adjustable sight needs to be pushed on right-to-left.

The awkward and cumbersome “Tool, Assembling Adjustable Rear Sight,” was illustrated and the detailed steps of changing the rear sight with this tool were published in MWO B28-W3, but this tool and these steps were totally impractical when dealing with mass-production line processes. (See top right photo on page 662 of Larry Ruth’s War Baby II.) or (TM 9-1276 January 1947 pg 62 as well as  February 1953 pg. 97)

Sure wish we had a photograph of the rig that these ordnance GIs used to efficiently change the rear sights on tens of thousands of carbines!

Marty Black and Don Hillhouse

Edited by Dan Pinto - May 14 2025 at 11:17pm

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Marty Black Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Editor in Chief Emeritus Joined: Dec 30 2015 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Status: Offline Points: 100542	Post Options Post Reply Quote Marty Black Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Topic: MWO W28-W3 adj rear sights in MTO Posted: May 14 2025 at 9:48pm
	Researcher Don Hillhouse has found an interesting article in the March-April 1945 issue of Army Ordnance magazine. It contains interviews with two supervisors of the 603rd Ordnance Base Armament Maintenance Battalion, which was 1 of only 2 such units in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. The MTO encompassed N. Africa, Sicily, and Italy. (The European Theater of Operations - the ETO - had 13 of these units.) Shop Foreman M/Sgt. Albert Degner stated “The Army supplies us with machines and tools, but we’re always running into jobs that call for something we haven’t got.” Their first combat-related tasks included hurriedly improving vehicle air filters and clearing clogged weapons in Tunisia due to the sand storms. “Most of our men were skilled mechanics in civilian life, so just about everybody contributed to the program.” “Tech. Sgt. Clarence Krob has watched his small arms section grow into a large armament shop in 22 months overseas. He has installed mass-production methods for disassembling broken rifles and machine guns picked up on the battlefield, and simplified operations so that Italian labor could be employed on a large scale.” T/Sgt. Krob stated “One of our biggest problems was completing the modification on the American carbine. A new sight had to be put on every carbine in the theater. We needed an automatic vise to cut down unnecessary handling, so we built one from a hydraulic truck jack that cut operating time in half. Now we do alterations on more than 1,000 carbines a day.” He was referring to War Department Modification Work Order B28-W3, dated 11 September 1944, directing the replacement of the early rear sight with either the milled or stamped adjustable sight. This MWO was classified “red” as a “field operation,” with “work to be completed at the earliest practicable date.” (See CC Newsletter 118-2. Also, numerous ETO anecdotes of rear sight changes that were done at the using unit level, can be found in CC Newsletter 382.) Also see http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/89th-chemicalmortar-div-adjustable-rear-sights_topic3983.html http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/1st-infantry-division-adjustable-rear-sights_topic2829.html Thinking about this operation, guys, put on your thinking caps! An automatic vise for holding the carbine (perhaps operated by a foot pedal) would be efficient. Also, some kind of a hydraulic arm on both sides of the carbine would be desirable. The early sight needs to be pushed off left-to-right, and the adjustable sight needs to be pushed on right-to-left. The awkward and cumbersome “Tool, Assembling Adjustable Rear Sight,” was illustrated and the detailed steps of changing the rear sight with this tool were published in MWO B28-W3, but this tool and these steps were totally impractical when dealing with mass-production line processes. (See top right photo on page 662 of Larry Ruth’s War Baby II.) or (TM 9-1276 January 1947 pg 62 as well as February 1953 pg. 97) Sure wish we had a photograph of the rig that these ordnance GIs used to efficiently change the rear sights on tens of thousands of carbines! Marty Black and Don Hillhouse Edited by Dan Pinto - May 14 2025 at 11:17pm