Standard rifle of the US armed forces for two decades. Called “the greatest battle implement ever devised” by General George S. Patton.
Posted on 11/03/2017 6:44:39 AM PDT by w1n1
Infantry weapons of World War 2 began mostly as the standard issue weapons that had been used in World War 1, but by the end of the war, numerous modern assault rifles, automatic pistols, and machine guns were being made. These weapons were made in the millions, and some were the standard issue in front line forces around the world well into the 1970s.
Rifles like the M1 Garand, Lee-Enfield, and German Karabiner 98, along with the famous Tommy Gun, Sten Gun and MP44 are familiar from countless war movies and documentaries. These weapons changed the nature of combat, allowing soldiers to lay down constant fire, and produced in gigantic quantities. Indeed, many irregular forces in conflict-ridden hot spots still use weapons made in the 40s, bought from one of the superpowers on surplus or captured through other means.
Ok, here are the most iconic weapons of World War 2.
M1 Garand Rifle
Standard rifle of the US armed forces for two decades. Called “the greatest battle implement ever devised” by General George S. Patton.
MG 42
Super raid-fire German machine gun that outclassed all others.
MP40
Iconic German submachine gun, seen in countless war movies
StG44
German fully-automatic assault rifle – the first of its kind.
Colt M1911 Pistol
Standard US sidearm from 1911 until 1985.
M2 Browning
50 caliber machine gun used by US forces from 1933 until now.
Browning Automatic Rifle
Main light machine gun used by US infantry.
Panzerschreck
German Anti-Tank weapon based off of the American made Bazooka. See the rest of the ultimate iconic World War 2 weapons here. What other weapons would need to be added here?
What’s “super raid fire”?
L
I have a couple of hex receiver made in 1932 at Tusla. $99 a copy.
L
Id think that Comrade Winter, gulags, typhus, and cholera killed more Germans than the Mosin-Nagant did.
I thought they were killed by a Colt Monitor and Remington Model 8?
and yes, I know a colt monitor is a BAR subspecies.
Avenging his cousin kilt by Davey Crocket? ;-P
I thought the BAR was Clyde Barrows weapon of choice, not what killed him.
I think the BAR is overrated. The Bren gun was a superior light machine gun.
and the Zb26 was superior to the Bren, BAR, etc.
I take it that you haven’t fired the BAR..
It is steady, controllable, and very effective. I was able to see the strikes of my hits through the peep sight when firing in the prone and on the bipod. Had no trouble putting round after round through a bunker’s embrasure (about 6 inches) at 150 meters.
A whole lot lighter than a Bren too.
No Japanese weapons on their list - like excellent and deadly Type 99 Nambu and the extremely effective Type 89 Grenade Projector (”Knee Mortar”).
The Type 89 weighed only 10 pounds and were issued one per squad. It was rifled and threw a one pound round very accurately out to 300 meters and was so lethal that it accounted for an estimated 60% of all of our Pacific war casualties.
It’s almost Cute!
Among other weapons ...
Now, not only could it kill you, but it could chase you down to do it!
No sense in running ... you'll just die tired.
They needed a weapon that could shoot through the steel doors of the car they were driving.
On a side note, Call of Duty WWII hits the shelved today.
Niiiice!
Kicks like a rented mule. The first time I fired my mosin I made note to purchase a slip on butt pad for the next time.
CC
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