The M1 Carbine is the standard by which all PDWs are measured.

[stanc]

https://www.americanrifleman.org/article...l-carbine/ great story btw

It is a good story, but the statement that the M1 carbine was designed for "use by 'secondary' troops, including vehicle crews, medical personnel, rear echelon soldiers and other support personnel not normally found on the front lines" is inaccurate. Actually, the M1 carbine was also intended for issue to front line infantrymen for whom the heavy M1 Garand would have been a hindrance to their primary duties.


Above: 1st Lt. Bryan Bell at Normandy in 1944;
rifle platoon leader, G company, 313th infantry.

Below: Airborne infantryman with M1A1 carbine.