M1 Carbine Vs Armor

The M1 carbine's .30 round cartridge does 4d+1 pi.  That's 5-25 points of raw damage with an average of 15.

According to High Tech p. 64, winter clothing can provide DR 1 at the GM's option.

That will mean that .30 Carbine M1 ball will easily punch it, doing 4-24 points of damage (average 14).

That's certainly enough to knock someone down.

But let's say that a Chinese winter coat is heavier stuff than mere winter gear.

Reinforced padded cloth armor gets DR 2.  3-23 points penetrate (avg. 13).

What about the theory that ice on the outside of the coat somehow provided more protection?

Ice is DR 3 per inch.  So, maybe DR 1 for a good coating of the stuff?  Still getting 2-22 through (avg. 12).

Still enough to get them unconscious if they blow their HT roll on a body hit.

So, I think we can say that all those troops were missing their shots rather than doing damage.

Even the rare hit on the web gear or ammo pouch doesn't account for enough DR to completely protect them with the persistence of the myth.

Shots past 330 yards get half damage.  2-12 (avg. 7) raw.

Even through the heaviest theoretical coat and ice, 0-9 (avg. 4) will penetrate; but 1-11 (avg. 6) is most realistic.  It'd take a couple of hits at that range to drop them, but with the low recoil of the carbine, it's doable.

The M2 carbine will do the same.

Assuming that the damages GURPS, I think we can dismiss the myth that the winter gear of a Chinese soldier in Korea was stopping rounds.