Well you read the title so without any delays lets jump to the suggestion
Squad
Brief history
The 96th Infantry Division, also known as the “Deadeye Division,” was activated on August 15, 1942, at Camp Adair, Oregon, the division underwent extensive training in the United States and later in Hawaii before being deployed to combat in July 1944. Although a relatively new unit, the 96th quickly proved its mettle in some of the most challenging campaigns of the war.
The division’s first major engagement came during the Leyte Campaign in the Philippines, a crucial operation in the Allied strategy to liberate the archipelago and cut off Japanese supply lines. Landing on October 20, 1944, the 96th faced fierce resistance from Japanese forces entrenched in the dense jungles and rugged terrain of Leyte. Despite the harsh conditions and determined enemy, the division succeeded in securing key areas in the island’s eastern and central regions. Their efforts were instrumental in isolating Japanese forces, paving the way for the Allied advance and the eventual liberation of the Philippines.
Following their success in Leyte, the 96th Infantry Division was assigned to one of the most grueling battles of the Pacific War—the Battle of Okinawa. On April 1, 1945, the division landed on Okinawa as part of the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific. Initially encountering little resistance, the division advanced inland, only to face heavily fortified Japanese defensive positions in the southern part of the island. The 96th was heavily engaged in intense fighting at the Shuri Line and the infamous Conical Hill, where Japanese forces utilized well-prepared cave systems and strongholds to delay the Allied advance. For weeks, the division endured relentless combat, often in grueling and close-quarters conditions.
The victory at Okinawa was a turning point in the Pacific Theater, as it provided a strategic base for a potential invasion of mainland Japan. However, the human cost was staggering. The 96th Infantry Division alone suffered over 9,000 casualties (killed and wounded) during the campaign, underscoring the ferocity of the fighting. Their perseverance and courage in the face of such adversity earned the division multiple Presidential Unit Citations, and several individual soldiers received the Medal of Honor for acts of extraordinary valor.
After the victory at Okinawa, the 96th Infantry Division began preparations for the anticipated invasion of Japan. However, with Japan’s surrender in August 1945 following the use of atomic bombs, the invasion was no longer necessary. The division was deactivated on December 3, 1945, marking the end of its wartime service.
Weapon(Colt R75A)
With the idea that the BAR might eventually function more as a
light machine gun than a squad automatic rifle, Colt came up with another
design. While the Model 1925, also known as the R 75, came with all of
the new and improved features of the previous commercial model, it also
included a heavy finned barrel to allow for better cooling and a spiked
bipod mounted near the forward end of the gas-cylinder tube. The new
model, with an empty magazine, weighed over 20lb (9.1kg).
One of the design features that prevented the military BAR from
adequately serving as a light machine gun was the lack of a quick-change
barrel that could be easily demounted and replaced with a fresh barrel by
the gunner or crew in the field. Colt addressed this problem with their last
commercial BAR, the R 75 A, which went into production in late 1942.
Resembling the earlier R 75 in most respects, the R 75 A also included a
receiver retooled to accommodate the new barrel, as well as a changing
handle attached directly to the barrel. The R 75 A weighed 21lb (9.5kg)
with an empty magazine.
Little fun fact another variation of Colt model 1925(R75) was Colt R80 which is also commonly known as Colt monitor
Uniform of the squad
Soldiers wearing M1943 pattern Jacket and pants and nylon fabric for rain coat
Serge trousers in a browner shade
(Olive drab No 33) to match the newly-issued
M-1944 ‘Ike’ jacket at the end
of the war in Europe
and that nylon fabric
Rain garment developed late in
1942, originally to replace the
raincoat in tropical regions. It
could also be used as a sleeping
bag and shelter half. The earlier
‘Poncho, Lightweight, od’ made
of nylon was briefly manufactured
in 1944.
Though both pants and Jacket will be covered with nylon fabric here is a picture
Thank you for reading the topic hope you enjoyed it
