A U.S. Navy serviceman fires a Thompson submachine gun from the deck of a small vessel somewhere in the Pacific during World War II. Automatic weapons such as the Thompson were issued to crews of small craft, landing vessels, and auxiliary ships for use in boarding actions, anti-sniper defense, and close-range engagements where larger naval guns were impractical. Informal target practice, whether at floating debris, drifting mines, or simply for weapons familiarization, was a routine but essential part of maintaining combat readiness far from major fleet units. Project: 218696