An American semi-automatic rifle, it is the spiritual ancestor to more modern personal defense weapons such as the MP7 and the P90. Chambered in the potent .30 Carbine, it was design as a sidearm for people like artillery gunners and logistics personnel that cannot be practically armed with rifles or submachine guns but could use more firepower than pistols. The M1 Carbine was designed to fill this gap, and did so very well. The M2 Carbine would later add an option for full-auto and a 30-round magazine. A variant of the M2, known as the M3, was fitted with night-fighting active IR sight, and saw active service at the closing stages of WWII. The weapon saw extensive frontline use in World War II, and would see further use in Korea and Vietnam. The M1/M2 is very popular in the Philippines with civilians, soldiers, and insurgents.