To be carried by infantry troops, the Winchester carbine adopted by the United States Army can be used both defensively and offensively. It will largely replace the .45 caliber pistol, which is essentially a defensive weapon. The new rifle weighs almost 4 1/2 pounds less than the Garand, basic rifle of the Army, and is 7 1/2 inches shorter. After exhaustive tests of five different lightweight rifles, the Winchester carbine was found best suited to the rugged handling it will have in military service.