The Reising M65, the Rat RifleDuring the opening days of the Pacific Theater of World War II, US Mar

The Reising M65, the Rat RifleDuring the opening days of the Pacific Theater of World War II, US Marines were often issued the Reising Submachine Gun.  A .45acp closed bolt SMG, the Reising proved to be one of the biggest SNAFU’s in military firearms history equal to that of the French Chauchat Light Machine gun.  By early 1943 production of Reising SMG’s had ended and all were recalled from combat.However, one Reising was still welcomed in the Corps.  The Reising M65 was a .22lr carbine version of the Reising SMG used for the training of new recruits.  Marines demanded the issue of these little plinker rifles for one purpose, rats. Rats are everywhere throughout the Pacific.  Decedents of stowaways from 18th and 19th century European ships, rats inhabit almost every Pacific island and with no natural predators.  Thus populations thrive.  Marine supply personnel found the rats to be a plague as they infested food rations, chewed apart nylon equipment, and defecated/urinated everywhere.  Killing the rats with say a Colt 1911 or M1 Garand was impractical, not to mention noisy for soldiers who were there for a hot meal and rest.  Marine Corps Quartermasters demanded .22 rifles to solve the problem.  Old stocks of the old M65 training rifles were pressed into service.  There are even a few with threadings indicating the use of a silencer for a more quieter war with the rats. -- source link

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