The M1 Carbine became a victim of its own popularity when it started being used as a main battle rifle instead of as an auxiliary weapon. In 1942 when it was introduced it quickly became the most popular small arm U.S. Army Ordnance had ever fielded because it was light, handy, and had a 15-round magazine capacity. Even though it was not a main battle rifle it started being used that way, and that's when its limitations in range and stopping power became apparent. In Pork Chop Hill by SLA Marshall most of the G.I.s are said to have been carrying M2 Carbines for conducting and repelling short-range trench raids.
One of the unsung successes of the carbine was its evolutionary development. The World War II model lacked the automatic capability, 30-round magazine, windage-adjustable rear sight, and bayonet lug. The rotary safety wasn't preplanned -- it corrected the human factors problem inherent in the push-button safety thay was easily confused with the magazine release. Evolutionary development with preplanned improvements always beats 20-year development programs.
With all that being said, the carbine would have been a better weapon had it been chambered for a more robust cartridge, had a barrel about two inches longer, and been about a pound heavier.
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