WW2 Equipment

WW2 Machine Guns

From the ancient spear to today's GPS-guided bomb, many wars saw the appearance of new weapons based on amazing technologies, but none saw such a dramatic and diverse flow of exciting new scientific developments and new weapons as WW2. During six years of war, the most scientifically advanced nations recruited the best minds and enormous resources to an unprecedented arms race. Nevertheless, even with tanks and aircraft, the foot soldier remains an essential element of modern armies, both because there are tasks they do best, and because even the richest nations can't afford to equip millions of soldiers with tanks.

The machine-gun stood out from the weapons introduced during World War I. In fixed positions, in support of massed infantry, it largely dictated infantry tactics. The machine gun had a dramatic effect on the conduct of warfare; one or two men operating a single machine could produce the same weight of fire as a squadron of rifles, and when used against an inferior enemy, the effect could be devastating. The focus here is portable infantry weapons used in the support role, so automatic cannon of 20mm and larger calibres are excluded. The categories of weapon included are, therefore, Light Machine Guns [LMG], submachine guns [SMG] and Light Support Weapon [LSW]; Medium Machine Guns [MMG]; Heavy Machine Guns [HMG]. One specialist variety of machine gun, the grenade machine gun [GMG], also known as the automatic grenade launcher [AGL], is included as well.

Lehky Kulomet ZB vz.26 and vz.30 light machine-guns

The Czech ZB vz.26 was one of the most influential designs of its day and the forerunner of the British Bren gun. The vz.26 is a gas-operated weapon with a long gas piston under the barrel and fed from an adjustable gas vent about half-way down the finned barrel. Gas operating on the piston pushed it to the rear and a simple arrangement of a hinged breech block on a ramp formed the locking and firing basis. Ammunition was fed downwards from a simple incline box magazine, and the overall design emphasized the virtues of easy stripping, maintenance and use in action. Barrel cooling was assisted by the use of prominent fins all along the barrel but a simple and rapid barrel change method was incorporated. They were, and still are, excellent light machine-guns.

Suomi KP/-31

The Suomi KP/-31 (Suomi-konepistooli or "submachine gun Finland") was a submachine gun of Finnish design that was in service during World War II. It was a descendant of the M-22 prototype and the KP/-26 production model, which was revealed to the public in 1925. The Suomi KP/-31 went into serial production in 1931 by Tikkakoski Oy and most of these weapons were bought by the Finnish Defence Forces. The Finnish Defence Forces were equipped with about 4000 Suomi KP/-31 submachine guns when the Winter War started.

Suomi KP/-31 Specification
Calibre: 9 mm
Length (butt extended): 870 mm (34.25 in)
Length of barrel: 314 mm ( 12.36 in)
Weight loaded (drum magazine): 7.04 kg (15.52 lb)
Magazine: 30- or 50-round box, or 71-round drum
Rate of fire, cyclic: 900 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 400 m/s (1,310 ft)

Lahti-Saloranta M/26

The Lahti-Saloranta M/26 (alternatively LS/26) is a light machine gun which was designed by Aimo Lahti and Arvo Saloranta in 1926. The weapon was able to fire in both full automatic and semi-automatic modes. Both 20 round box and 75 round drum magazines were produced but the Finnish army seems to have only used the smaller 20 round magazine. On the battlefield, the Lahti-Saloranta M/26 was found to be hard to clean due to the 188 parts of the gun, heavy and lacking in magazine capacity. It was a nicknamed "Kootut virheet" or "assembled mistakes".

Lahti-Saloranta M/26 Specification
Calibre: 7.62x53mmR
Length: 1,109 mm
Length of Barrel: 500 mm
Weight: 9.3 kg
Rate of fire: 450 to 550 round/min
Muzzle velocity: 800 m/s (2,624 ft/s)
Effective range: 400 m
Feed system: 20 or 75 round magazine

Fusil Mitrailleuse modèle 1924/29

The FM 24/29, or fusil-mitrailleur modèle 1924 M29 was the standard squad-level automatic weapon of the French infantry and cavalry at the start of WWII. The Germans captured many examples in 1940, which they used operationally. From 1943 on, as the French army was re-equipped and re-organized in North Africa with Allied support, the FM 24/29 was kept in service, as French troops considered it superior to the B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle).

Fusil Mitrailleuse modèle 1924/29 Specification
Calibre: 7.5 mm (0.295 m)
Length: 1007 mm (39.65 in)
Length of barrel: 500 mm (19.69 in)
Weight:8.93 kg (19.7 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 820 m/s (2,690 ft)
Rate of Feed: 25-round box

Mitrailleuse mle 1931

The Reibel machine gun (official French designation mitrailleuse mle 1931 - "machine gun, model of 1931"), was a machine gun used on French tanks of the World War II era as well as in fortifications such as the Maginot line. It used the 7.5 mm MAS cartridge and was loaded with 150-round drum magazines.

Mitrailleuse mie 1931 Specification
Calibre: 7.5 mm (0.295 in)
Length: 1030 mm (40.55 in)
Length of barrel: 600 mm (23.62 in)
Weight: 11.8 kg (26.0 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 850 m/s (2,790 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 750 rpm
Feed: ISO-round drum

Maschinengewehr 34 Machine Gun

The Maschinengewehr 34, or MG34, was a German machine gun that was first produced and accepted for service in 1934, and first issued to units in 1935. It was an air-cooled machine gun firing 7.92x57mm Mauser rounds and had similar performance to other medium machine guns. However, it was also designed to perform both as a light machine gun and also in heavier roles, in an early example of a general purpose machine gun. In the light role, it was intended to be equipped with a bipod and 50-round belt contained in a drum-shaped ammo basket, which attached to the receiver. In the heavier role it was mounted on a larger tripod and was belt-fed. In practice the infantry usually just belt-fed the bipod version, resulting in it functioning as a classic medium support weapon.

MG34 Specification
Calibre: 7.92 mm (0,31 in)
Length: 1219 mm (48.0 in)
Length of barrel: 627 mm (24.69 in)
Weight: 11.5 kg (25.4 lb) with bipod
Muzzle velocity: 755 m/s (2,475 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 800-900 rpm
Feed: 50 round belt (five belt lengths), or 75-round saddle drum

Maschinengewehr 42 General Machine Gun

The MG 42 (Maschinengewehr 42, or "machine gun 42") is a 7.92mm universal machine gun that was developed in Nazi Germany and entered service with the Wehrmacht in 1942. It supplanted and in some instances, replaced the MG 34 general purpose machine gun in all branches of the German Armed Forces, though both weapons were manufactured and used until the end of the war. The MG 42 has a proven record of reliability, durability, simplicity, and ease of operation, but is most notable for being able to produce a stunning volume of suppressive fire. The MG 42 has one of the highest average rates of fire of any single-barreled man-portable machine gun, between 1,200 and 1,500 rpm, resulting in a distinctive muzzle report.

MG42 Specification
Calibre: 7.92 mm (0.31 in)
Length: 1220 mm (48,03 in)
Length of barrel: 533 mm (20.98 in)
Weight: 11.5 kg (25.4 lb) with bipod
Muzzle velocity: 755 m/s (2,475 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: up to 1,550 rpm
Feed: 50-round belt

Fucile Mitragliatore Breda modello 30

The Fucile Mitragliatore Breda modello 30 was the standard light machine gun of the Italian army during World War II. The Breda 30 is widely regarded as a poor weapon. It had fragile clips, a slow rate of fire, used the underpowered 6.5x52mm cartridge and was prone to jamming. It was magazine fed from the right side. The magazine was attached to the gun, and was loaded using brass or steel 20 round stripper clips. This weapon is interesting in that it fired from a closed bolt alongside using blowback for its action, and had a small lubricating device that sprayed oil on each cartridge as it entered the chamber. This system allowed the chamber and barrel to heat rapidly, which caused rounds to "cook off" (fire) before they were fully in the chamber. The oil from the lubrication also quickly picked up dust and debris, making the weapon highly prone to jamming during the North African Campaign.

Modello 30 Specification
Calibre: 6.5 mm (0.256 in)
Length: 1232 mm (48.5 in)
Length of barrel: 520 mm (20.47 in)
Weight: 10.32 kg (22.75 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 629 m/s (2,065 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 450-500 rpm
Feed: 20-round charger

Fucile Mitragliatore Breda modello 37

The Breda Modello 37 was adopted in 1937 and was the standard machine gun for the Italian Army during World War II. The M37 was meant as a replacement for the more troublesome M1930, and proved far more effective in combat, though possessing some of the same problematic features of its predecessor. The Mod. 37 used 8mm rounds and had a magazine of 20 rounds. The interesting fact is that the fired rounds were reinserted in the magazine. Also the ammunition had to be oiled prior to firing to prevent the cases from sticking in the chamber. Every 450-500 rounds the barrel had to be changed.

Modello 37 Specification
Calibre: 8 mm (0.315 in)
Length: 1270 mm (50.0 in)
Length of barrel: 740 mm (29.13 in)
Weight: 19.3 kg (42.8 lb)
Weight of tripod: 18.7 kg (41.2 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 790 m/s (2,590 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 450-500 rpm
Feed: 20-round tray

Type 11 Light Machine Gun

The Type 11 Light Machine Gun was a design by famed arms designer Kijiro Nambu, based on a modification of the French Hotchkiss machine gun. It was an air-cooled, gas-operated design, using the same 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridges as the Type 38 rifle infantry rifle. The Type 11 came into active service in 1922, and some 29,000 were produced by the time production stopped in 1941. It was the primary Japanese light machine gun through the Manchurian Incident and in the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Although superseded by the Type 96 light machine gun in production in 1936, it remained in service with front-line combat through the end of World War II.

Type 11 Light Machine Gun Specification
Calibre: 6.5 mm (0.256 in)
Length: 1105 mm (43.5 in)
Length of barrel: 483 mm (19.0 in)
Weight: 10.2 kg (22.5 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 700 m/s (2,295 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 500 rpm
Feed: 30-round hopper

Type 96 Light Machine Gun

The Type 96 Light Machine Gun was almost identical in construction to the Type 11 in that it was an was an air-cooled, gas-operated design based on the French Hotchkiss machine gun. The major difference with the Type 11 was the top-mounted curved detachable box magazine holding 30 rounds, which somewhat increased reliability, and lessened the weight of the gun. The finned gun barrel could also be rapidly changed to avoid overheating. The Type 96 had a blade front sight and a leaf rear sight, with graduations from 200 to 1,500 meters, with a wind adjustment. A 2.5X telescopic sight with a 10 degree field of view could be attached at the right side of the gun. The Type 96 also had a folding bipod attached to the gas block, and could be fitted with the standard infantry bayonet, which could be attached to the gas block below the barrel. The gun was capable of automatic fire only, although it was possible to fire single shots by briefly pulling the trigger. The Type 96 came into active service in 1936 and was intended to replace the older Type 11; however the Type 11 had already been produced in large quantities, and both weapons remained in service until the end of the war. The Type 96 was regarded as rugged and reliable, but its 6.5 mm bullets lacked penetration against cover, and the design was supplemented by the more powerful Type 99 light machine gun with the larger 7.7 mm bullet in 1937.

Type 96 Light Machine Gun Specification
Calibre: 6.5 mm (0.256 in)
Length: 1054 mm (41.5 in)
Length of barrel: 552 mm (21.75m)
Weight: 9.07 kg (20 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 730 m/s (2,395 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 550 rpm
Feed: 30-round box

Type 99 Light Machine Gun

The Japanese Arisaka Type 99 Rifle, manufactured 1939 to 1945 in the Tokyo and Nagoya Arsenals, Japan. It was the replacement of the Type 38 rifle and was the primary Japanese battle rifle until their surrender to Allied forces in 1945. The Type 99 is a variation of the Mauser design and early production models have probably one of the strongest receiver/action of any military bolt action rifles.

Type 99 Light Machine Gun Specification
Calibre: 7.7x58mm Arisaka Length: 44.1 in (1120 mm) Length of barrel: 25.87 in (657 mm) Weight: 8.16 lb (3.7 kg) Muzzle velocity: 730 m/s (2394.4 ft/s) Feed: 5-round internal box magazine, stripper clip loaded

DShK 1938

The DShK 1938 (Degtyaryova-Shpagina Krupnokaliberny, Degtyaryov-Shpagin Large-Calibre) is a Soviet heavy anti-aircraft machine gun firing 12.7x108mm Soviet cartridges. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield. It took its name from the weapons designers Vasily Degtyaryov, who designed the original weapon, and Georgi Shpagin, who improved the cartridge feed mechanism. It is sometimes nicknamed Dushka (lit. "Sweetie", "Dear"), from the abbreviation. The DShK 1938 was used in several roles. As an anti-aircraft weapon it was mounted on pintle and tripod mounts, and on a triple mount on the GAZ-AA truck. Late in the war, it was mounted on the cupolas of IS-2 tanks and ISU-152 self-propelled guns. As an infantry heavy support weapon it used a two-wheeled trolley, similar to that developed by Sokolov for the 1910 Maxim gun. It was also mounted in vehicle turrets, for example, in the T-40 light amphibious tank.

DShK Specification
Calibre: 12.7 mm (0.5 in)
Length: 1602 mm (63.1 in)
Length of barrel: 1002 mm (39.45 in)
Weight: 33.3 kg (73.5 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 843 m/s (2,765 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 550-600 rpm
Feed: 50-round metal-link belt (five belts joined)

PPSh-41

The PPSh-41 (Pistolet-Pulemyot Shpagina; Shpagin Machine Pistol; nicknamed Pah-Pah-sha, Shpagin and Burp Gun) submachine gun was one of the most mass produced weapons of its type of World War II. The PPSh operated with simple blowback action, had a box or drum magazine, and fired a 7.62x25mm pistol round. It was made with metal stampings to ease production, and its chrome-lined chamber and bore helped to make the gun very low-maintenance in combat settings. The impetus for the development of the PPSh came partly from the Winter War against Finland, where it was found that submachine guns were a highly effective tool for close-quarter fighting in forests or built-up urban areas.

PPSh-41 Specification
Calibre: 7.62x25mm Tokarev
Length: 843 mm
Length of Barrel: 269 mm
Weight: (without magazine) 3.63 kg (approx. 8 lbs.)
Rate of fire: 900 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity: 488 m/s (1,600.6 ft/s)
Effective range: 200-300 m
Feed system: 35-round box magazine, 71-round drum magazine

The Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2

The Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR as it is usually known, is one of those odd weapons that falls into no precise category. It may be regarded as a rather light machine-gun or as a rather heavy assault rifle, but in practice it was used as a form of light machinegun. The BAR M1918 is a gas operated, magazine fed, air cooled weapon. It used the gas piston, located under the barrel, and the bolt with tilting locking lug, that was raised to lock into the roof of the receiver. This lug was linked to the operating rod via the swinging link, much like in the earlier Berthier system. The BAR always fired from the open bolt to avoid cook-offs. The return spring was located around the gas piston under the barrel.

BARM1918A2 Specification
Calibre: 7.62 mm (0.3 in)
Length: 1214 mm (47.8 in)
Length of barrel: 610 mm (24.0 in)
Weight: 8.8 kg (19.4 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 808 m/s (2,650 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 500-600 rpm (fast rate) or 300-450 rpm (slow rate)
Feed: 20-round box

Bren Light Machine Gun

The Bren (from Brno, the Czechoslovak city of design, and Enfield, the location of the British Royal Small Arms Factory), usually called the Bren Gun, was a series of light machine guns adopted by Britain in the 1930s and used in various roles until 1991, best known for its role as the British and Commonwealth forces' primary infantry light machine gun (LMG) in World War II. The Bren was a modified version of a Czechoslovak-designed light machine gun, the ZB vz.26, which British Army officials had tested during a firearms service competition in the 1930s. The later Bren featured a distinctive curved box magazine, conical flash hider and quick change barrel. In the 1950s the Bren was rebarrelled to accept the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. Although fitted with a bipod, it could also be mounted on a tripod or vehicle-mounted.

Bren Light Machine-Gun Mk 1 Specification
Calibre: 7.7 mm (0.303 in)
Length: 1156 mm (45.5 in)
Length of barrel: 635 mm (25.0 in)
Weight: 10.03 kg (22.12 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 744 m/s (2,440 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 500 rpm
Feed: 20-round box magazine

Sten Submachine Gun

The Sten (or Sten gun) was a family of British 9 mm submachine guns used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout World War II and the Korean War. They were notable for having a simple design and very low production cost. STEN is an acronym, cited as derived from the names of the weapon's chief designers, Major Reginald Shepherd and Harold Turpin, and EN for Enfield. Over 4 million Stens in various versions were made in the 1940s. The Sten was a simple, open bolt, blowback operated, selective-fire firearm firing 9 mm pistol ammunition. Single shots and fully automatic fire were selected by a cross-bolt type push-button located in front and above the trigger. The tubular receiver and the barrel sleeve were made from rolled steel. The Sten was fed from a box magazine attached to the housing on the left side of the gun. Various stocks were used with different models, from all steel skeleton and tubular stocks to wooden stocks and pistol grips. The sights were fixed, consisting of a rear peep and front blade, zeroed to a nominal 100 yards.

Sten Submachine Gun Specifications
Calibre: 9x19mm Parabellum
Length: 760 mm (29.9 in)
Length of barrel: 196 mm (7.7 in)
Weight: 3.2 kg (7.1 lb) (Mk. II)
Muzzle velocity: 365 m/s (1,198 ft/s)
Rate of fire: Version dependent ~500 round/min
Feed system: 32-rd detachable box magazine

Vickers-Berthier Light Machine Guns

The Vickers-Berthier is an independent development of a French Weapons designer. He first sold the design to the US, who approved it as the M-1917 Light Machinegun, but Berthier never could ramp up production in time for the US requirement, and it was dropped. He then went to England, but they too rejected it in favor of the VZ-26 they had modified into the Bren. A few minor powers such as Bolivia bought the design, but large sales eluded Berthier until India adopted it as their standard light machinegun. In fact, most reports of Indian troops using the Bren during the period of 1929-1950 were probably of troops armed with the "VB." Some are still in use today by militias and reserves, and as a training gun. The Vickers K was a development of the Vickers-Berthier (VB) light machine gun, adopted in 1932 by the Indian Army.[1] The VB, like the Bren gun, used a tilting locking breechblock. However, unlike the Bren, the VB locked its breech only at the last moment of forward travel, and this fact enabled the development of the Vickers K or VGO (Vickers Gas Operated).[2] With lighter moving parts and the VB locking design, the Vickers K had a adjustable rate of fire between 950 and 1,200 rounds per minute.[3] The weapon was adopted for British service as the Vickers Gas Operated (VGO). When the Browning Model 1919 machine gun was selected as the standard machine-gun armament for British aircraft, the VGO became redundant.

Vickers MkII

The Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 inch (7.7 mm) machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army. The machine gun typically required a six- to eight-man team to operate: one to fire, one to feed the ammunition, and the rest to help carry the weapon, its ammunition and spare parts. It served from before the First World War until after the end of the Second World War.

Vickers MkII Specification
Calibre: 7.7 mm (0.303 in)
Length: 1156 mm (45.5 in)
Length of barrel: 721 mm (28.4 in)
Weight of gun: 18.1 kg (40 lb) with water
Weight of tripod: 22 kg (48.5 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 744 m/w (2,440 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 450-500 rpm
Feed: 250-round belt

Browning M1919 Machine Guns

The M1919A4 was produced mainly for infantry use and it proved to be a first-class heavy machine-gun capable of pouring out masses of fire and absorbing all manner of abuse and punishment. Among all the different types and in such a long production run there were numerous minor and major modifications and production alterations, but the basic M1919 design was retained throughout. The basic M1919 used a fabric or metal-link belt feed. The normal mount was a tripod, and of these there were many designs ranging from normal infantry tripods to large and complex anti-aircraft mountings.

M2 Browning 12.7-mm (0.5-in)

Ever since the first Browning 12.7-mm (0.5-in) heavy machine-gun was produced in 1921 the type has been one of the most fearsome anti-personnel weapons likely to be encountered. The projectile fired by the type is a prodigious man-stopper, and the machine-gun can also be used as an armour-defeating weapon, especially when firing armour-piercing rounds. The M2 Machine Gun, Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun, or "Ma Deuce" is a heavy machine gun designed towards the end of World War I by John Browning. It was nicknamed Ma Deuce by U.S. Military personnel or simply called "fifty-cal." in reference to its caliber. The design has had many specific designations; the official designation for the current infantry type is Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible. It is effective against infantry, unarmored or lightly-armored vehicles and boats, light fortifications, and low-flying aircraft.

M2HB Browning 12.7-mm Specification
Calibre: 12.7 mm (0.5 in)
Length: 1654 mm (65.1 in)
Length of barrel: 1143 mm (45.0 in)
Weight: 38.1kg (84 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 884 m/s (2,900 ft)
Rate of fire, cyclic: 450-575 rpm
Feed: 110-round metal-link belt