The best weapons of the Second World War. Weapons of the Second World War (Germans)
The Second World War is a significant and difficult period in human history. Countries merged in a mad fight, throwing millions human lives on the altar of victory. At that time, weapons manufacturing became the main type of production, which received great importance and attention. However, as they say, victory is forged by man, and weapons only help him in this. We decided to show off our weapons Soviet troops and the Wehrmacht, collecting the most common and famous views small arms two countries.
Small arms of the USSR army:
The armament of the USSR before the start of the Great Patriotic War met the needs of that time. The Mosin repeating rifle of the 1891 model with a caliber of 7.62 millimeters was the only example of a non-automatic weapon. This rifle performed well in the Second World War and was in service with the Soviet army until the early 60s.
Mosin rifle different years release.
In parallel with the Mosin rifle soviet infantry was equipped with Tokarev self-loading rifles: SVT-38 and SVT-40, improved in 1940, as well as Self-loading carbines Simonova (SKS).
Tokarev self-loading rifle (SVT).
Simonov self-loading carbine (SKS)
Also present in the troops were Simonov automatic rifles (ABC-36) - at the beginning of the war there were almost 1.5 million units.
Simonov automatic rifle (AVS)
The presence of such a huge number of automatic and self-loading rifles covered the lack of submachine guns. Only at the beginning of 1941 did the production of the Shpagin PP (PPSh-41) begin, which for a long time became the standard of reliability and simplicity.
Shpagin submachine gun (PPSh-41).
Degtyarev submachine gun.
In addition, the Soviet troops were armed with Degtyarev machine guns: Degtyarev infantry (DP); Degtyarev heavy machine gun (DS); Degtyarev tank (DT); heavy machine gun Degtyareva - Shpagina (DShK); SG-43 heavy machine gun.
Degtyarev infantry machine gun (DP).
Degtyarev-Shpagin heavy machine gun (DShK).
SG-43 heavy machine gun
The Sudaev PPS-43 submachine gun was recognized as the best example of submachine guns during the Second World War.
Sudaev submachine gun (PPS-43).
One of the main features of the infantry armament of the Soviet Army at the beginning of the Second World War was the complete absence of anti-tank rifles. And this was reflected already in the first days of hostilities. In July 1941, Simonov and Degtyarev, by order of the high command, designed a five-shot PTRS shotgun (Simonov) and a single-shot PTRD (Degtyarev).
Simonov anti-tank rifle (PTRS).
Degtyarev anti-tank rifle (PTRD).
The TT pistol (Tula, Tokarev) was developed at Tula Arms factory by the legendary Russian gunsmith Fedor Tokarev. Development of new self-loading pistol, intended to replace the standard outdated Nagan revolver of the 1895 model, was started in the second half of the 1920s.
TT pistol.
Also in service with Soviet soldiers There were pistols: a Nagan system revolver and a Korovin pistol.
Nagan system revolver.
Korovin pistol.
During the entire Great Patriotic War, the USSR military industry produced more than 12 million carbines and rifles, more than 1.5 million all types of machine guns, and more than 6 million submachine guns. Since 1942, almost 450 thousand heavy and light machine guns, 2 million submachine guns and more than 3 million self-loading and repeating rifles have been produced every year.
Small arms of the Wehrmacht army:
In service with fascist infantry divisions, as the main tactical troops, stood repeating rifles with 98 and 98k Mauser bayonets.
Mauser 98k.
Also in service German troops the following rifles were available: FG-2; Gewehr 41; Gewehr 43; StG 44; StG 45(M); Volkssturmgewehr 1-5.
FG-2 rifle
Gewehr 41 rifle
Gewehr 43 rifle
Although Treaty of Versailles for Germany provided for a ban on the production of submachine guns, German gunsmiths still continued to produce this type weapons. Shortly after the beginning of the formation of the Wehrmacht, the MP.38 submachine gun appeared in its appearance, which, due to the fact that it was different small in size, with an open barrel without a fore-end and a folding butt, quickly proved itself and was put into service back in 1938.
MP.38 submachine gun.
The experience gained in combat required the subsequent modernization of the MP.38. This is how the MP.40 submachine gun appeared, which featured a more simplified and cheaper design (in parallel, some changes were made to the MP.38, which later received the designation MP.38/40). Compactness, reliability, and an almost optimal rate of fire were justified advantages of this weapon. German soldiers called it the “bullet pump.”
MP.40 submachine gun.
The battles on the Eastern Front showed that the submachine gun still needed to improve its accuracy. This problem was addressed by the German designer Hugo Schmeisser, who equipped the MP.40 design with a wooden stock and a device for switching to a single fire. True, the production of such MP.41s was insignificant.
World War II was the greatest and bloodiest conflict in human history. Millions died, empires rose and fell, and it is difficult to find a corner of the planet that was not affected by that war in one way or another. And in many ways it was a war of technology, a war of weapons.
Our article today is a kind of “Top 11” about the best soldiers’ weapons on the battlefields of World War II. Millions of ordinary men relied on it in battle, cared for it, and carried it with them in the cities of Europe, the deserts, and in the stuffy jungles of the southern part. A weapon that often gave them a slice of advantage over their enemies. The weapon that saved their lives and killed their enemies.
German assault rifle, automatic In fact, the first representative of the entire modern generation of machine guns and assault rifles. Also known as MP 43 and MP 44. It could not fire in long bursts, but it had much higher accuracy and firing range compared to other machine guns of that time, equipped with conventional pistol cartridges. Additionally, the StG 44 could be equipped with telescopic sights, grenade launchers, as well as special devices for firing from cover. Mass-produced in Germany in 1944. In total, more than 400 thousand copies were produced during the war.
10. Mauser 98k
World War II was the swan song for repeating rifles. They have dominated armed conflicts since the late 19th century. And some armies used them for a long time after the war. Based on the then military doctrine- armies, first of all, fought with each other over long distances and over open area. The Mauser 98k was designed to do just that.
Mauser 98k was the basis infantry weapons German army and remained in production until Germany's surrender in 1945. Among all the rifles that served during the war, the Mauser is considered one of the best. At least by the Germans themselves. Even after the introduction of semi-automatic and automatic weapons, the Germans remained with the Mauser 98k, partly for tactical reasons (they based their infantry tactics on light machine guns rather than riflemen). Germany developed the world's first assault rifle, albeit at the end of the war. But it has never seen widespread use. The Mauser 98k remained the primary weapon with which most German soldiers fought and died.
9. The M1 carbine
The M1 Garand and the Thompson submachine gun were certainly great, but they each had their own serious shortcomings. They were extremely uncomfortable for support soldiers in daily use.
For ammunition carriers, mortar crews, artillerymen and other similar troops, they were not particularly convenient and did not provide adequate effectiveness in close combat. We needed a weapon that could be easily stowed and quickly used. It became The M1 Carbine. It wasn't the most powerful firearms in that war, but it was light, small, accurate, and in capable hands, just as deadly as more powerful weapon. The rifle had a mass of only 2.6 - 2.8 kg. American paratroopers also appreciated the M1 carbine for its ease of use, and often jumped into battle armed with the folding stock variant. The United States produced more than six million M1 carbines during the war. Some variations based on the M1 are still produced and used today by military and civilians.
8.MP40
Although this machine gun was never seen in large numbers as the main weapon for infantrymen, the German MP40 became a ubiquitous icon. German soldier in World War II, and indeed, the Nazis in general. It seems like every war movie has a German with this machine gun. But in reality, the MP4 was never a standard infantry weapon. Typically used by paratroopers, squad leaders, tank crews and special forces.
It was especially indispensable against the Russians, where the accuracy and power of long-barreled rifles was largely lost in street fighting. However, the MP40 submachine guns were so effective that they forced the German command to reconsider their views on the semi- automatic weapon, which led to the creation of the first assault rifle. Regardless, the MP40 was undoubtedly one of the great submachine guns of the war, and became a symbol of the efficiency and power of the German soldier.
7. Hand grenades
Of course, rifles and machine guns can be considered the main infantry weapons. But how can we not mention the huge role of the use of various infantry grenades. Powerful, lightweight, perfect size thrown, grenades were an invaluable tool for close-in attacks on enemy combat positions. In addition to the effect of direct and fragmentation damage, grenades always had a huge shock and demoralizing effect. Starting from the famous “limonkas” in the Russian and American armies and ending German grenade“on a stick” (nicknamed “potato masher” due to its long handle). A rifle can cause a lot of damage to a fighter's body, but the wounds inflicted fragmentation grenades, this is something else.
6. Lee Enfield
The famous British rifle has received many modifications and has a glorious history dating back to the end of the 19th century. Used in many historical and military conflicts. Including, of course, in the First and Second World Wars. During World War II, the rifle was actively modified and equipped with various sights for sniper shooting. I managed to “work” in Korea, Vietnam and Malaya. Until the 70s it was often used for sniper training. different countries.
5. Luger PO8
One of the most coveted battle mementos for any Allied soldier is the Luger PO8. This may seem a little strange to describe a deadly weapon, but the Luger PO8 was truly a work of art and many gun collectors have it in their collections. Chicly designed, extremely comfortable in the hand and manufactured to the highest standards. In addition, the pistol had very high shooting accuracy and became a kind of symbol of Nazi weapons.
Designed as an automatic pistol to replace revolvers, the Luger was highly regarded not only for its unique design, but also for its long service life. It remains today the most “collectible” German weapons that war. Periodically appears as a personal military weapons and at the present time.
4. KA-BAR combat knife
The armament and equipment of soldiers in any war is unthinkable without mention of the use of so-called trench knives. An indispensable assistant for any soldier for a variety of situations. They can dig holes, open cans, be used for hunting and clearing a path in a deep forest, and, of course, used in bloody hand-to-hand combat. Only more than one and a half million were produced during the war years. Received the widest use when used by fighters Marine Corps USA in the tropical jungle islands in Pacific Ocean. And today the KA-BAR knife remains one of the greatest knives ever created.
3. Thompson automatic
Developed in the USA back in 1918, the Thompson has become one of the most iconic submachine guns in history. In World War II greatest distribution received the Thompson M1928A1. Despite its weight (more than 10 kg and was heavier than most submachine guns), it was a very popular weapon for scouts, sergeants, special forces, and paratroopers. In general, everyone who valued lethal force and high rate of fire.
Despite the fact that production of this weapon was discontinued after the war, the Thompson still “shines” around the world in the hands of military and paramilitary forces. He was noticed even in the Bosnian War. For the soldiers of World War II, it served as an invaluable combat tool with which they fought through all of Europe and Asia.
2. PPSh-41
Submachine gun of the Shpagin system, model 1941. Used in the winter war with Finland. On the defensive, Soviet troops using PPSh had a much better chance of destroying the enemy at close range than with the popular Russian Mosin rifle. The troops needed, first of all, high fire performance at short distances in urban battles. A true miracle of mass production, the PPSh was extremely easy to manufacture (at the height of the war, Russian factories produced up to 3,000 machine guns per day), very reliable and extremely easy to use. It could fire both bursts and single shots.
Equipped with a 71-round drum magazine, this machine gun gave the Russians fire superiority at close range. The PPSh was so effective that the Russian command armed entire regiments and divisions with it. But perhaps the best evidence of the popularity of this weapon was its highest rating among German troops. Wehrmacht soldiers willingly used captured PPSh assault rifles throughout the war.
1. M1 Garand
At the beginning of the war, almost every American infantryman in every major unit was armed with a rifle. They were accurate and reliable, but required the soldier to manually remove spent cartridges and reload after each shot. This was acceptable for snipers, but significantly limited the speed of aiming and the overall rate of fire. Wanting to increase the ability to fire intensively, the American Army introduced one of the most famous rifles of all time, the M1 Garand. Patton called it “the greatest weapon ever invented,” and the rifle deserved this high praise.
It was easy to use and maintain, had a fast reload time, and gave the US Army superior fire rate. The M1 served faithfully in the active US Army until 1963. But even today, this rifle is used as a ceremonial weapon and in addition, it is highly valued as a hunting weapons among the civilian population.
The article is a slightly modified and expanded translation of materials from the site warhistoryonline.com. It is clear that the presented “top-end” weapon may cause comments among military history buffs of different countries. So, dear readers of WAR.EXE, put forward your fair versions and opinions.
https://youtu.be/6tvOqaAgbjs
Nazi Germany was seriously preparing for war with the Soviet Union. Were involved in both industrial, scientific, human resources own country, and the potential of all enslaved countries. Austria and the Czech Republic, along with the Reich, were a forge of weapons, a repair base for military equipment, weapons of the Wehrmacht. Tanks, planes, guns, as well as a variety of small arms for the ground forces came in a continuous stream to the Eastern Front, only to remain melted, twisted scrap metal on Russian soil. German pistols of the Second World War, which were in service with the Wehrmacht, today are often idealized and collected; lovers and connoisseurs of weapons on forums often call them an example of design thought and its embodiment in metal. Was this for real or just another hoax?
The production of short-barreled weapons - pistols, later revolvers, which can be used with ease and convenience with one hand, to equip the armed forces is not a new idea. The first pistols were matchlock. With the advent of wheel-type, flint-impact, capsule samples of the design of ignition of a powder charge, they became more common, although due to the complexity and labor-intensive manufacturing they were quite expensive weapons, used mainly as follows:
- The weapon of cavalrymen who were uncomfortable using long guns in short-lived battles. However, such pistols were distinguished by a longer barrel length to increase the range of hitting the target. The great weight was compensated by the fact that it was not the rider who had to carry and carry the cavalry pistol.
- Noble weapons, including dueling weapons. Such pistols were distinguished by both high quality, shooting accuracy, and expensive finishing that turned them into works of art.
- Officer's weapon.
These pistols were smooth-bore, single-shot, and often misfired when firing, so for reliability and insurance in combat conditions, they tried to have two copies with them. Only in the middle of the 19th century did cartridge revolvers with rifled barrel, allowing you to produce several without recharging accurate shots. Having such advantages, they never forced pistols out of history, despite the cult appeal, largely introduced into the consciousness later by American Westerns.
Since the end of the 19th century, weapons designers from different countries have been developing a self-loading pistol, also called an automatic pistol. The first production pistol of this type in history to enter service with the cavalry forces of Austria-Hungary was the Roth-Steyr M1907:
First good example showed other countries the opportunity to equip their officers, junior officers, pilots, and tank crews with weapons that have many advantages over rifles:
- Small size and weight, which allows you to carry a pistol for a long time without fatigue in a holster on your belt, from which you can quickly take it out, and does not interfere in cramped conditions - in a car, the cockpit of an airplane, tank, or other equipment.
- Ease of handling, low inertia during use, compared to two-handed weapons.
- Due to its low mass, it can be carried as a second, auxiliary weapon.
Experience of use in the First World War confirmed initial impressions and assumptions. It was convenient to shoot from a pistol in close combat, inside buildings, premises, including moving up stairs, moving in bushes, dense forest, wear hidden under clothing. Although pistols were inferior to rifles in terms of firepower, they were in many cases superior to them in effectiveness in battle, often making them indispensable.
German and Austrian weapon designers, we must give them their due, put a lot of effort and talent so that the pistols they created, and later the German machine guns of World War II, received worldwide recognition as reliable, effective weapons. By the way, one of their technical solutions back in the 30s of the 19th century was to increase the capacity of a replaceable extended magazine from 6 - 8 rounds to 12 - 20, which is also used in modern weapons.
Mauser, Walter, Luger
That's right, with capital letters connoisseurs good weapons are the well-known pistols that were in service with the police and the Wehrmacht during the last world war. And there are reasons for this. But, in order, about the most common models, the production of which amounted to hundreds of thousands of copies:
- Luger (mod.1900). The pistol was developed in 1900. There are several modifications. The 1903 model pistol and 9 x 19 mm cartridges, when moving from 7.65 to 9 mm caliber, were given proper name Parabellum, which is often called all versions of this famous hand-held small arms, although after entering the Reichswehr of Kaiser Germany, only commercial products began to receive this name. 282 thousand copies of modifications of the Luger pistol (mod.1900) were produced.
- Luger P08 - standard short-barreled weapon of the German army from 1908 to 1945. Weight with loaded magazine - only 876 g. Magazine - 8 rounds. About 3 million copies were released. All Luger brand pistols were produced from corrosion-resistant alloy steel and were distinguished by high-quality manufacturing, reliable design, combat accuracy, high penetration ability bullet fired from it. Disadvantages include labor-intensive manufacturing, high cost, and sensitivity to contamination. During the Second World War, they remained in service with junior command personnel, armored and auxiliary vehicle crews. The officers switched to the more modern Walter pistol.
- Walter P38 – self-loading weapon caliber 9 mm. It was put into service in 1940. It was distinguished by high technical characteristics, which, in particular, is shown by the guaranteed service life of 10 thousand shots. Weight – 880 g. Magazine – 8 rounds.
- Walter RR (1929), shortened, lighter version of Walter RRK (1931). Their characteristics, respectively: weight - 690/590 g, length - 170/155 mm, operating principle - blowback, magazine capacity - 8/7 rounds. The pistols were produced in four calibers from 5 to 9 mm. In total, about 1.2 million units were produced.
By the end of the 30s, almost all participants in the coming world war had formed general directions in the development of small arms. The range and accuracy of the attack was reduced, which was compensated by the greater density of fire. As a consequence of this, the beginning of mass rearmament of units with automatic small arms - submachine guns, machine guns, assault rifles.
Accuracy of fire began to fade into the background, while the soldiers advancing in a chain began to be taught shooting on the move. With the advent airborne troops There was a need to create special lightweight weapons.
Maneuver warfare also affected machine guns: they became much lighter and more mobile. New types of small arms appeared (which was dictated, first of all, by the need to fight tanks) - rifle grenades, anti-tank rifles and RPGs with cumulative grenades.
Small arms of the USSR World War II
On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, the rifle division of the Red Army was a very formidable force - about 14.5 thousand people. The main type of small arms were rifles and carbines - 10,420 pieces. The share of submachine guns was insignificant - 1204. There were 166, 392 and 33 units of heavy, light and anti-aircraft machine guns, respectively.
The division had its own artillery of 144 guns and 66 mortars. The firepower was supplemented by 16 tanks, 13 armored vehicles and a solid fleet of auxiliary vehicles.
Rifles and carbines
Three-line Mosin
The main small arms of the USSR infantry units of the first period of the war was certainly the famous three-line rifle - the 7.62 mm S.I. Mosin rifle of the 1891 model, modernized in 1930. Its advantages are well known - strength, reliability, ease of maintenance, combined with good ballistics qualities, in particular, with an aiming range of 2 km.
Three-line Mosin
Three-ruler – perfect weapon for newly recruited soldiers, and the simplicity of the design created enormous opportunities for its mass production. But like any weapon, the three-line gun had its drawbacks. The permanently attached bayonet in combination with a long barrel (1670 mm) created inconvenience when moving, especially in wooded areas. The bolt handle caused serious complaints when reloading.
After the fight
On its basis, a sniper rifle and a series of carbines of the 1938 and 1944 models were created. Fate gave the three-line a long life (the last three-line was released in 1965), participation in many wars and an astronomical “circulation” of 37 million copies.
Sniper with Mosin rifle
SVT-40
At the end of the 30s, the outstanding Soviet weapons designer F.V. Tokarev developed a 10-charge self-loading rifle cal. 7.62 mm SVT-38, which after modernization received the name SVT-40. It “lost weight” by 600 g and became shorter due to the introduction of thinner wooden parts, additional holes in the casing and a decrease in the length of the bayonet. A little later, a sniper rifle appeared at its base. Automatic firing was ensured by the removal of powder gases. The ammunition was placed in a box-shaped, detachable magazine.
The target range of the SVT-40 is up to 1 km. The SVT-40 served with honor on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. It was also appreciated by our opponents. Historical fact: Having captured rich trophies at the beginning of the war, among which there were many SVT-40s, the German army... adopted it for service, and the Finns created their own rifle on the basis of the SVT-40 - TaRaKo.
Soviet sniper with SVT-40
The creative development of the ideas implemented in the SVT-40 became the AVT-40 automatic rifle. It differed from its predecessor in its ability to fire automatically at a rate of up to 25 rounds per minute. The disadvantage of the AVT-40 is its low accuracy of fire, strong unmasking flame and loud sound at the moment of firing. Subsequently, as automatic weapons entered the military en masse, they were removed from service.
Submachine guns
PPD-40
The Great Patriotic War was the time of the final transition from rifles to automatic weapons. The Red Army began to fight, armed with a small number of PPD-40 - a submachine gun designed by the outstanding Soviet designer Vasily Alekseevich Degtyarev. At that time, PPD-40 was in no way inferior to its domestic and foreign analogues.
Designed for pistol cartridge cal. 7.62 x 25 mm, the PPD-40 had an impressive ammunition load of 71 rounds, housed in a drum-type magazine. Weighing about 4 kg, it fired at a rate of 800 rounds per minute with an effective range of up to 200 meters. However, just a few months after the start of the war, it was replaced by the legendary PPSh-40 cal. 7.62 x 25 mm.
PPSh-40
The creator of the PPSh-40, designer Georgy Semenovich Shpagin, was faced with the task of developing an extremely easy-to-use, reliable, technologically advanced, cheap to produce mass weapon.
PPSh-40
Fighter with PPSh-40
From its predecessor, the PPD-40, the PPSh inherited a drum magazine with 71 rounds. A little later, a simpler and more reliable sector horn magazine with 35 rounds was developed for it. The weight of the equipped machine guns (both versions) was 5.3 and 4.15 kg, respectively. The rate of fire of the PPSh-40 reached 900 rounds per minute with an aiming range of up to 300 meters and the ability to fire single shots.
PPSh-40 assembly shop
To master the PPSh-40, a few lessons were enough. It was easily disassembled into 5 parts made using stamping-welded technology, thanks to which during the war years the Soviet defense industry produced about 5.5 million machine guns.
PPS-42
In the summer of 1942, the young designer Alexey Sudaev presented his brainchild - a 7.62 mm submachine gun. It was strikingly different from its “bigger brothers” PPD and PPSh-40 in its rational layout, higher manufacturability and ease of manufacturing parts using arc welding.
PPS-42
Son of the regiment with a Sudaev machine gun
PPS-42 was 3.5 kg lighter and required three times less manufacturing time. However, despite the obvious advantages, mass weapons he never did, leaving the PPSh-40 to take the lead.
DP-27 light machine gun
By the beginning of the war light machine gun DP-27 (Degtyarev infantry, caliber 7.62mm) was in service with the Red Army for almost 15 years, having the status of the main light machine gun of infantry units. Its automation was powered by the energy of powder gases. The gas regulator reliably protected the mechanism from contamination and high temperatures.
The DP-27 could only fire automatically, but even a beginner needed a few days to master shooting in short bursts of 3-5 shots. Ammunition of 47 rounds was placed in a disk magazine with a bullet towards the center in one row. The store itself was attached to the top receiver. The weight of the unloaded machine gun was 8.5 kg. An equipped magazine increased it by almost another 3 kg.
Machine gun crew DP-27 in battle
It was a powerful weapon with an effective range of 1.5 km and a combat rate of fire of up to 150 rounds per minute. In the firing position, the machine gun rested on a bipod. A flame arrester was screwed onto the end of the barrel, significantly reducing its unmasking effect. The DP-27 was serviced by a gunner and his assistant. In total, about 800 thousand machine guns were produced.
Small arms of the Wehrmacht of World War II
The main strategy of the German army is offensive or blitzkrieg (blitzkrieg - lightning war). The decisive role in it was assigned to large tank formations, carrying out deep breakthroughs of the enemy’s defenses in cooperation with artillery and aviation.
Tank units bypassed powerful fortified areas, destroying control centers and rear communications, without which the enemy quickly lost their combat effectiveness. The defeat was completed by motorized units of the ground forces.
Small arms of the Wehrmacht infantry division
The staff of the German infantry division of the 1940 model assumed the presence of 12,609 rifles and carbines, 312 submachine guns (machine guns), manual and heavy machine guns- 425 and 110 pieces, respectively, 90 anti-tank rifles and 3,600 pistols.
The Wehrmacht's small arms generally met the high wartime requirements. It was reliable, trouble-free, simple, easy to manufacture and maintain, which contributed to its serial production.
Rifles, carbines, machine guns
Mauser 98K
Mauser 98K is an improved version of the Mauser 98 rifle, developed in late XIX century by the brothers Paul and Wilhelm Mauser, founders of the world famous arms company. Equipping the German army with it began in 1935.
Mauser 98K
The weapon was loaded with a clip of five 7.92 mm cartridges. A trained soldier could shoot 15 times within a minute at a range of up to 1.5 km. The Mauser 98K was very compact. Its main characteristics: weight, length, barrel length - 4.1 kg x 1250 x 740 mm. The indisputable advantages of the rifle are evidenced by numerous conflicts involving it, longevity and a truly sky-high “circulation” - more than 15 million units.
At the shooting range. Mauser 98K rifle
G-41 rifle
The self-loading ten-shot rifle G-41 became the German response to the massive equipping of the Red Army with rifles - SVT-38, 40 and ABC-36. Its sighting range reached 1200 meters. Only single shooting was allowed. Its significant disadvantages - significant weight, low reliability and increased vulnerability to contamination - were subsequently eliminated. The combat “circulation” amounted to several hundred thousand rifle samples.
G-41 rifle
MP-40 "Schmeisser" assault rifle
Perhaps the most famous Wehrmacht small arms of the Second World War was the famous MP-40 submachine gun, a modification of its predecessor, the MP-36, created by Heinrich Vollmer. However, as fate would have it, he is better known under the name “Schmeisser”, obtained thanks to the stamp on the store - “PATENT SCHMEISSER”. The stigma simply meant that, in addition to G. Vollmer, Hugo Schmeisser also participated in the creation of the MP-40, but only as the creator of the store.
MP-40 "Schmeisser" assault rifle
Initially, the MP-40 was intended to arm the command staff of infantry units, but later it was transferred to the disposal of tank crews, armored vehicle drivers, paratroopers and special forces soldiers.
A German soldier fires from an MP-40
However, the MP-40 was absolutely unsuitable for infantry units, since it was exclusively a melee weapon. In a fierce battle in open terrain, having a weapon with a firing range of 70 to 150 meters meant for a German soldier to be practically unarmed in front of his enemy, armed with Mosin and Tokarev rifles with a firing range of 400 to 800 meters.
StG-44 assault rifle
Assault rifle StG-44 (sturmgewehr) cal. 7.92mm is another legend of the Third Reich. This is definitely an outstanding creation Hugo Schmeisser- the prototype of many post-war assault rifles and machine guns, including the famous AK-47.
The StG-44 could conduct single and automatic fire. Its weight with a full magazine was 5.22 kg. At a target range of 800 meters, the Sturmgewehr was in no way inferior to its main competitors. There were three versions of the magazine - for 15, 20 and 30 shots with a rate of up to 500 rounds per second. The option of using a rifle with underbarrel grenade launcher and an infrared sight.
Creator of Sturmgever 44 Hugo Schmeisser
Not without its shortcomings. The assault rifle was heavier than the Mauser-98K by a whole kilogram. Her wooden butt couldn't stand it sometimes hand-to-hand combat and just broke down. The flame escaping from the barrel revealed the location of the shooter, and the long magazine and sighting devices forced him to raise his head high in a prone position.
Sturmgever 44 with IR sight
In total, before the end of the war, German industry produced about 450 thousand StG-44s, which were used mainly by elite SS units.
Machine guns
By the beginning of the 30s military leadership The Wehrmacht came to the need to create a universal machine gun, which, if necessary, could be transformed, for example, from a manual one to an easel one and vice versa. This is how a series of machine guns was born - MG - 34, 42, 45.
German machine gunner with MG-42
The 7.92 mm MG-42 is rightly called one of the best machine guns of World War II. It was developed at Grossfus by engineers Werner Gruner and Kurt Horn. Those who experienced its firepower were very outspoken. Our soldiers called it a “lawn mower,” and the allies called it “Hitler’s circular saw.”
Depending on the type of bolt, the machine gun fired accurately at a speed of up to 1500 rpm at a range of up to 1 km. Ammunition was supplied using a machine gun belt with 50 - 250 rounds of ammunition. The uniqueness of the MG-42 was complemented by relatively a small amount parts – 200 and high technology of their production by stamping and spot welding.
The barrel, hot from shooting, was replaced with a spare one in a few seconds using a special clamp. In total, about 450 thousand machine guns were produced. The unique technical developments embodied in the MG-42 were borrowed by gunsmiths from many countries around the world when creating their machine guns.
Content
Based on materials from techcult
With a rifled barrel it is the main weapon of a soldier in any army. The American television channel Discovery once again pleased the world with its latest weapons rating, based on the results of which the best rifle of the 20th century was chosen. Despite some bias and bias in the Military Channel programs, I believe that it is always useful to get acquainted with a foreign perspective on a topic that interests us.
Each model was evaluated by military experts for accuracy of fire, combat effectiveness, originality of design, ease of use and reliability. The presented weapon models were created throughout the 20th century, which did not confuse the experts at all - in their opinion, good small arms have been used in the regular army for decades, and then get a second life in regional conflicts, which abound in the 20th century. To be convinced of the validity of these words, it is enough to recall the Mosin “three-line” model of 1891, the Kalashnikov assault rifle or the legendary “Colt” M1911 - the index speaks for itself, but even after 100 years the pistol does not seem like an anachronism and is still widely used throughout to the world.
10th place - A rifle that strikes on the spot.
Automatic rifle M14
Caliber: 7.62 mm
Muzzle velocity: 850 m/s
Rate of fire: 700-750 rounds/min.
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds
During World War II american army ran into major problem: every infantry platoon used three types of small arms with different ammunition: a standard semi-automatic M1 Garand rifle (caliber 0.30-06), a 45-caliber Thompson submachine gun and a Browning M1918 light machine gun (7.62 x 63 mm). The result of work on the topic “universal small arms” was the creation of the M14 automatic rifle; the weapon was put into service in 1957 (complete with an M76 under-barrel grenade launcher). The M14 used a full-size 7.62 caliber cartridge (powder charge 1.5 times greater than that of the AK-47), giving the rifle a longer effective firing range and high lethality of the ammunition.
However, in practice new rifle turned out to be of little use for combat: the extremely powerful ammunition did not allow firing in bursts without using a bipod - at a distance of 100 meters, the 3rd bullet in the burst went 10 meters above the initial aiming point. Most rifles were issued to soldiers with the fire mode translator removed - firing in bursts from the M14 was nothing more than a waste of ammunition. After suffering with the M14 for several years, the Americans adopted a new automatic weapon chambered for a low-impulse cartridge. In 1964, the combat career of the M14 as the main army rifle ended, but the high power and excellent accuracy of this unsuccessful machine gun made it possible to create on its basis a line of special rifles - the M21 self-loading sniper rifle, a high-precision weapon for special forces - the M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle, the TEI M89-SR sniper rifle for the Israel Defense Forces, a rifle for the Armed Forces Lithuania, etc.
9th place – First assault rifle
Sturmgewehr 44
Caliber: 7.92 mm
Muzzle velocity: 650 m/s
Rate of fire: 500 rounds/min.
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
So unique weapon that its creation was hidden even from Hitler. In the middle of World War II, the Wehrmacht came up with the idea
creating a new small arms that combined the high rate of fire of a submachine gun and the power of a long-barreled rifle. German designers found an ingenious solution - an intermediate cartridge 7.92 x 33 mm. Now the recoil did not tear the machine gun out of the hands, however, the effective range and destructive power of the ammunition were quite consistent with a classic long-barreled rifle. And thanks to the reduction in the mass of the cartridge, the wearable ammunition load has increased.
Alas, Uncle Adolf himself stood in the way of a successful project - fortunately for our soldiers, Hitler did not appreciate the advantages intermediate cartridge and closed the project. But huge firepower machine guns impressed the military so much that in 1943 they began mass production under the “left” designation MP-43. During one of his inspection trips, Chief German nation was surprised by the soldiers' request - they needed more assault rifles. Despite the revealed deception, Hitler independently came up with a sonorous name for the new “wunderwaffe” - Sturmgewehr 44 (“Hurricane Rifle”).
Despite the primitiveness of the design, German machine gun rightfully receives high praise for the innovative nature of the design - there is still debate as to whether it was legendary machine gun The Kalashnikov was inspired by the StG 44.
8th place – American centenarian
Springfield M1903
Caliber: 7.62 mm
Muzzle velocity: 820 m/s.
Rate of fire: 10 rounds/min.
Clip capacity: 5 rounds
American rifle of the early twentieth century, one of many successful designs created at that time. Accurate and reliable weapon.
In 1941, American soldiers went into battle with the same rifles that their fathers had used 20 years earlier. There simply weren’t enough new M1 Garand rifles, and the Marines had to use the Springfield M1903 in battle, but objectively, the rifle at that time was not at all outdated, surpassing all Japanese models in its main characteristics. It was also used in Vietnam as a special sniper rifle (“What was there in this Vietnam!” the reader will exclaim, and he will be right - weapons from all over the world, from different time periods, fought there). Nowadays, “Springfields” are carefully kept in many American families.
A good weapon, but, in my opinion, the creators of the show could have found more interesting things for the rating. The Americans paid tribute to their traditions, and they have the right to rate them.
7th place - Back to front
Automatic rifle Steyr AUG
Caliber: 5.56 mm
Muzzle velocity: 940 m/s
Rate of fire: 650 rds/min
Magazine capacity: 30 or 42 rounds
The exotic design and technology of the Austrian Steyr AUG rifle became a real challenge to army traditions. The Armee Universal Gewehr small arms complex, which appeared in 1977, represented a new direction in the design of small arms - bullpup assault rifles, in which the magazine and bolt assembly are located behind the fire control handle and trigger. This made the rifle light and compact, and also increased the accuracy of fire. Among others interesting features Steyr AUG: set of quick-release barrels of different lengths (replacement takes a dozen seconds), built-in optical sight low magnification, the absence of a fire mode translator (the selection of modes is carried out by the depth of the trigger press), the choice of the direction of ejection of cartridges - for the first time, the weapon was adapted for right-handed and left-handed people.
But, despite its outstanding technical specifications and excellent Austrian quality, "Steyr" is not widely used in the world - in addition to the Austrian army, it is produced under license in Australia, used in some Arab countries and the US Coast Guard. The unusual appearance of the machine scared off most potential customers.
By the way, the experts were wrong - the first automatic rifle built according to the bullpup design was the Korovin assault rifle, created in 1945. Unfortunately, the unfinished design and the overall low technical level of performance did not allow it to successfully pass tests.
6th place - Hitler's favorite rifle
Bolt-action rifle Mauser K98k
Caliber: 7.92 mm.
Muzzle velocity: 860 m/s.
Rate of fire: 10-15 rds/min
Magazine capacity: 5 rounds
The Mauser K98 rifle, adopted by the Reichsheer in 1898, absorbed the most promising achievements of the then weapons science. These included smokeless powder, clips of cartridges that could simply be inserted into the magazine, and, finally, the bolt-action bolt action, a fast and simple design still used in most hunting rifles.
It is not surprising that the rifle pleased the young corporal A. Hitler. In 1935, a shortened version of the Mauser K98 was adopted by the Wehrmacht army, receiving the name Mauser K98k.
In 1943, when preparing the assassination attempt on Hitler (it was planned to land two elite snipers in the area of Hitler’s Alpine residence), British intelligence was faced with the question: which rifle to use in the operation. The answer was clear: only the Mauser M98k, thanks to its high precision. Gradually the situation changed, and along with it, plans to eliminate the mustachioed Fuhrer changed. In 1944, the British canceled the operation altogether: Hitler, with his stupid orders, was causing more harm to Germany than good.
On May 9, 1945, the history of the Third Reich ended, but the history of the Mauser K98k continued. The kosher rifle became the main small arms of the Israel Defense Forces (although the Americans are disingenuous - in the first years of the IDF’s existence, its small arms were a hodgepodge from all over the world, and the Mauser was far from the main one there, but not the last).
5th place – Right hand free world
Automatic rifle FN FAL
Caliber: 7.62 mm
Muzzle velocity: 820 m/s.
Rate of fire: 650-700 rds/min
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds
The FN FAL assault rifle has become a symbol of the struggle of Western civilization for the ideals of freedom and democracy - the weapon was supplied to 70 countries around the world, and is still produced in the USA. The “Big Belgian Barrel” was originally designed for shortened ammunition, but due to the standardization of weapons within the NATO bloc, it was converted to a powerful American cartridge of 7.62 x 51 mm. Despite the excessive power, the Fabric National engineers managed to achieve more or less acceptable accuracy of fire in automatic fire mode. The result is a heavy classic rifle with enormous destructive power, reliable and easy to use.
The FN FAL was the main small arms of the Israel Defense Forces during the Six-Day War, and was used in the jungles of Vietnam by units of the Canadian and Australian armies, where it showed itself with the best side than the American M16. A funny embarrassment happened during the Falklands conflict - British marines and Argentine soldiers shot at each other from FN FAL.
4th place – Weapons of the winners in World War II
Semi-automatic rifle M1 "Garand"
Caliber: 7.62 mm
Muzzle velocity: 860 m/s
Rate of fire: up to 30 rounds per minute.
Clip capacity: 8 rounds
A true legend, a symbol of that great generation of Americans. A soldier armed with an M1 felt real power in his hands - a semi-automatic eight-shot rifle was the best weapon in the world for an infantryman at that time.
The M1 Garand, named after Canadian engineer John Garand, entered service in 1936 and remained the primary rifle of the US Army until 1957.
World War II poster - US flag has 48 stars (missing Alaska and Hawaii)
When millions of American soldiers went to fight on foreign shores, the M1 rifle suddenly developed a curious drawback: to increase the rate of fire, John Garand used an automatic ejection of an empty pack in his weapon - after the eighth shot was fired, the clip instantly flew out of the rifle's bolt mechanism with a clang. A very convenient feature in peacetime, but the enemy soldiers quickly realized what the specific sound meant - the American GI was unarmed. But not everything is so simple - perhaps the cunning Marine clicked the spare clip on the bolt and threw the pack on the ground, waiting for the deceived Japanese to raise his head from cover.
Seriously speaking, the M1 Garand showed itself to be the most in the best possible way in a variety of climatic conditions– in the jungles of tropical islands, the sands of the Sahara or the snowdrifts of the Ardennes. There were no complaints about the reliability of the rifle. The Garand was simple, powerful and had excellent shooting accuracy. Soldiers armed with the M1 fought on all fronts of World War II; the rifle was used in Korea and, despite being officially retired, was often seen in the jungles of Vietnam.
3rd place – In the service of the Empire
Bolt-action rifle Lee-Enfield SMLE
Caliber: .303 British (7.7 mm)
Muzzle velocity: 740 m/s
Rate of fire: 20-30 rds/min
Magazine capacity: 10 rounds
Afghan Mujahid with Lee-Enfield SMLE, Kunar Province, 1985
For non-automatic rifles, the Lee-Enfield SMLE had a simply terrifying rate of fire thanks to a successful bolt design and a high-capacity magazine capable of holding 10 rounds (in this indicator, the Lee-Enfield SMLE was the leader throughout the first half of the 20th century). A trained shooter could fire up to 30 shots from it in a minute, turning a target into a sieve at a distance of 200 m. The “Crazy Minute” was one of the most spectacular numbers during the demonstration performances of the British Army.
The Lee-Enfield SMLE's fire density is comparable to that of modern semi-automatic rifles and carbines. It is not surprising that these weapons survived two world wars and were used all over the world for a long time, protecting the interests of British Empire. Between 1907 and 1975, 17 million of these killer rifles were produced.
2nd place – Black rifle
Automatic assault rifle M16
Caliber: 5.56 mm
Muzzle velocity: 1020 m/s.
Rate of fire: 700-950 rds/min
Magazine capacity: 20 or 30 rounds
In 2003, alarming information began to arrive from the territory of occupied Iraq - too many Iraqi soldiers were killed by head-shots. The results of numerous brutal reprisals against prisoners are evident. But why are the bodies of the murdered lying everywhere? Did the experienced punishers really not even bother, at least for the sake of decency, to remove the evidence in the face of numerous international observers? Iraqi soldiers were shot in the head where they took their last Stand, leaning out of tank hatches and house windows, in trenches and on barricades. Often in equipment and with weapons in their hands.
The Coalition Forces command explained this paradox by the superior accuracy of the M-16 rifles and the excellent training of American snipers. Thousands of people around the world stopped breathing thanks to the M16.
Comic for American soldiers: how to properly clean and disassemble the M16, 60s. Tastefully decorated
.For 50 years, the M16 has been an indispensable attribute of the American soldier. Despite the lower barrel energy, the power of the low-pulse 5.56 x 45 mm cartridge was quite enough to stop a person; often, when it hit the body, the bullet began to tumble unimaginably, further increasing wound channel. At the same time, recoil was reduced and shooting accuracy increased. The design of the automatic rifle is made of plastic and alloyed aluminum, thanks to which the M16 had a minimum weight - only 2.88 kg without a magazine.
The "Black Rifle" was the nickname given to the M16 by American soldiers in Vietnam, but despite its stylish appearance, the new weapon had many problems. The machine mechanism did not tolerate dirt and sand. The problem was solved by sealing the rifle, for example, the window for ejecting cartridges is closed with a spring-loaded curtain. In a word, you need to try to get dirt inside the M16.
The Americans admit that the M16 has excellent shooting accuracy, but this “toy” also requires careful handling from its owner. The American assault rifle is not suitable for a partisan detachment; it is created for a professional army, in which cleaning and lubricating the weapon is the daily duty of every soldier. In return, the M16 makes it possible to shoot an enemy in the head from 500 m.
1st place – Thirty charges of rock and roll. The bad guys' weapons.
Automatic assault rifle AK-47
Caliber: 7.62 mm
Muzzle velocity: 710 m/s.
Rate of fire: 600 rds/min
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
A universal killing machine, the most deadly weapon ever created by man - according to statistics, the number of people killed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle is many times greater than the number of victims of atomic bombings or killed by any other method. 1/5 of the world's small arms reserves are Kalashnikov assault rifles. Countless clones and modifications, 60 years of combat service in all hot corners of the planet. In terms of the number of armies that have adopted this weapon, Kalashnikov can only compete with the FN FAL. AK-47 is present on national flag Mozambique.
How did the Russians manage to achieve SUCH an impressive result? American experts smile and shrug – this is probably the only time America has lost to smithereens Soviet Union. The reasons for the wild popularity of the Kalash are low cost, ease of maintenance, reliability, reliability and once again RELIABILITY.
Osama Bin Laden and his Kalashnikov
Covered with rust and dirt, buried in sand or thrown with all its might onto the ground - the Kalashnikov assault rifle continues to fire in any conditions. All you need to service it is a finger and a rag. It is no coincidence that experts compared shooting from a Kalash to the game of rock and roll: the same drive, the same reckless hacking without stopping. True, experts found a “flaw” in the legendary assault rifle - a not very attractive design (but for some reason the ugly appearance of the Kalashnikov assault rifle did not at all affect its worldwide commercial success). Thanks to its simplicity and effectiveness in any conditions, the Kalash has become faithful companion bandits, guerrillas and terrorists around the world. “Kalash” was promoted with all its might in the United States - Hollywood specially worked to create its negative image: clearly, “Kalash” is the weapon of the bad guys.
Note: Many phrases and statements in this text may seem strange to you. The author just translated the funniest opuses of Military Channel experts.