WW2 Equipment

WW2 Rifles

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.

In any army a new soldier is trained in the use of one basic form of service rifle. From the old bolt-action rifles that had been in use since long before World War I to the new self-loading or automatic rifles, World War II was a war of transition for the basic infantryman. When the war started, most had at hand a bolt-action rifle. By the end of the war, every soldier had at least an acquaintance with what the future had in store in the form of the assault rifle. There were some odd divergences along the way, such as the under-powered US Carbine Ml and the ingenious but complex German Fallschirmjägergewehr 42. Some nations, such as the United Kingdom, did not make the transition and relied upon the Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifles throughout, but the move towards the self-loading or assault rifle was still present. Not every rifle used in WW2 is found here but it remains a fairly comprehensive listing.

Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98k

The 7.92-mm (0.312-in) Gewehr 98 was the rifle with which the German army fought through World War I. The Karabiner 98k was a bolt-action rifle adopted as the standard infantry rifle in 1935 by the German Wehrmacht. The Karabiner 98k was a controlled-feed bolt-action rifle based on the Mauser M 98 system. It could be loaded with five rounds of 7.92x57mm IS ammunition from a stripper clip, loaded into an internal magazine. It was comparatively bulky and heavy, and the rate of fire was limited by how fast the bolt could be operated. Its magazine had only half the capacity of Great Britain's Lee-Enfield series rifles, but being internal, it made the weapon more comfortable to carry at its point of balance. Although the Mausers lacked some of the overall appeal of the Allied rifles they provided the German forces with long and reliable service.

Gewehr 41(W) and Gewehr 43

The Gewehr 43 or Karabiner 43 (G43, K43, Gew 43, Kar 43) is a 7.92x57mm Mauser caliber semi-automatic rifle developed by Germany during World War II. It was a modification of the G41(W) using an improved gas system similar to that of the Soviet Tokarev SVT40. The Gew.43 / Kar.43 is a gas operated, semi-automatic weapon. The short stroke gas piston is located above the barrel. The bolt is locked by two flaps, which extend into the locking recesses in the receiver walls. When unlocking, these flaps are retracted into the bolt body. The receiver and bolt groups are machined from steel castings, with many surfaces being mechanically unfinished. Lots of stampings also are used throughout the construction. The rifle is fed from detachable box magazines, which held 10 rounds. Each G.43/K.43 rifle had the dovetail, which can accept the telescope sight mount, in addition to the standard adjustable open sights.

Fallschirmjägergewehr 42

The FG 42 (Paratroop rifle model 1942) was an automatic rifle produced in Germany during World War II. The weapon was developed specifically for the use with Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. This unique firearm combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form no larger than the standard-issue Kar 98k bolt-action rifle. The FG-42 is air-cooled and gas-operated. In spite of the extensive use of stamping and the minimum use of metal to reduce weight, the weapon is sturdy. The FG-42 included an optional and unique spike bayonet. The ammunition feed is from a 20-round box magazine which fits into the left side of the gun. The magazine may be loaded separately or from standard 5-round Mauser clips from the right side of the gun.

FG42 Specification
Calibre: 7.92 mm (0.312 in)
Length: 940 mm (37 in)
Length of barrel: 502 mm (19,76 in)
Weight: 4.53 kg (9.99 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 761 m (2,500 ft) per second
Magazine: 20-round box
Cyclic rate of fire: 750-800 rpm

Maschinenpistole 43 and Sturmgewehr 44

The Sturmgewehr 44 was based on the previously developed Maschinenpistole MP 43. The StG 44, developed by Louis Schmeisser, fired the new Polte Kurz (short) 7.92mm round from a 30-round detachable box feed.

Stg 44 Specification
Calibre: 7.92 mm (0.312 in)
Length: 940 mm (37 in)
Length of barrel: 419 mm (16.5 in)
Weight: 5.22 kg (11.5 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 650 m (2,132 ft) per sec
Magazine: 30- round box
Cyclic rate of fire: 500 rpm

Samozariadnyia Vintovka Tokareva (SVT40)

SVT-40 is a gas operated, magazine fed self-loading rifle. It uses a short piston stroke gas action, located above the barrel. The interesting feature of the SVT is that the gas block, along with front sight base and a muzzle brake, were produced as a single barrel extension unit. This greatly simplified the manufacture of the barrel, but the barrel extension itself unit was quite complicated to make. Gas chamber has 5 positions gas regulator to ajust the system for any conditions. The gas piston has its own return string and moved back for about 36 mm (1.5 inch) when gun was fired. It gave a quick and powerful stroke to the bolt carrier, which carried the bolt under it. Barrel locking was achieved by the rear part of the bolt, that tilted down to lock into the reinforced steel insert in the floor of the receiver. Charging handle was permanently attached to the right side of the bolt carrier. Detachable box magazine was made from sheet steel and hold 10 cartridges. SVT could be reloaded either by replacing the magazine or by using 5-round stripper clips of the Mosin-Nagant. Stripper clip guides were machined into the receiver top cover. Bolt system incorporated a bolt catch, that held the bolt group back when magazine was empty, to facilitate faster reloading, especially when using stripper clips. Both the SVT-38 and SVT-40 were hammer-fired, with safety switch located behind the trigger. When engaged, safety locked the trigger.

SVT40 Specification
Calibre: 7.62 mm (0.3 in)
Length: 1.222 m (48. lin)
Length of barrel 625 mm (24.6 in)
Weight: 3.89 kg (8.58 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 830 m (2,723 ft) per sec
Magazine: 10-roundbox

Mosin-Nagant Rifles

The Mosin-Nagant is a bolt-action, internal magazine fed rifle. When the Soviet Union was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1941 the Mosin-Nagant was the standard issue weapon to Soviet troops. As a result, millions of the rifles were produced and used in World War II as the largest mobilized army in history. The Mosin-Nagant was adapted as a sniper rifle in 1932 and was issued to Soviet snipers. It served quite prominently in the brutal urban battles on the Eastern Front, like the Battle of Stalingrad, which made heroes of snipers like Vasily Grigoryevich Zaitsev and Ivan Sidorenko . The sniper rifles were very much respected for being very rugged, reliable, accurate, and easy to maintain. Finland also employed the Mosin-Nagant as a sniper rifle, with similar success. For example, Simo Häyhä is credited with killing at least 505 Soviet soldiers using his M28 Mosin-Nagant.

Avtomaticheskaya Vintovka Simonova 1936 (AVS36)

The AVS-36 was a Soviet automatic rifle which saw service in the early years of World War II. It was among the early select-fire infantry rifles (capable of both single and full-automatic fire) formally adopted for military service. The AVS-36 was a gas-operated rifle with a short piston stroke and vertical sliding locking block. It was capable of both automatic and semi-automatic fire. The barrel was equipped with a large muzzle brake to reduce recoil. Ammunition was in a detachable magazine holding 15 rounds. A knife bayonet was issued with the rifle. A sniper version was produced in small amounts with a PE scope.

AVS36 Specification
Calibre: 7.62 x 54 mm R
Length: 1.23 m (48 in)
Length of barrel: 612 mm (24 in)
Weight: 4.3 kg (9.5 lb)
Rate of fire: 20-35 round/min
Muzzle velocity: 840 m/s (2,756 ft/s)
Feed system: 15 rounds

Lee Enfield No. 4 Mark I

By the late 1930s the need for new rifles grew, and the Rifle, No. 4 Mk I was first issued in 1939 but not officially adopted until 1941. The No. 4 action was similar to the Mk VI, but lighter, stronger, and most importantly, easier to mass produce. Unlike the SMLE, the No 4 Lee-Enfield barrel protruded from the end of the forestock. The No. 4 rifle was considerably heavier than the No. 1 Mk. III, largely due to its heavier barrel, and a new bayonet was designed to go with the rifle: a spike bayonet, which was essentially a steel rod with a sharp point, and was nicknamed "pigsticker" by soldiers. Towards the end of WWII, a bladed bayonet was developed and issued for the No 4 rifle, using the same mount as the spike bayonet. During the course of World War II, the No. 4 rifle was further simplified for mass-production with the creation of the No. 4 Mk I* in 1942, which saw the bolt release catch removed in favour of a more simplified notch on the bolt track of the rifle's receiver. It was produced only in North America, with Long Branch Arsenal in Canada and Savage-Stevens Firearms in the USA producing the No. 4 Mk I* rifle from their respective factories. On the other hand, the No.4 Mk I rifle was primarily produced in the United Kingdom.

Lee Enfield No. 4 Mark I Specification
Calibre: .303 Mk VII SAA Ball
Length: 1,130 mm (44.5 in)
Barrel length: 635 mm (25 in)
Weight ~4 kg (8.8 lb)
Rate of fire: 20-30 round/min
Muzzle velocity: 744 m/s (2,441 ft/s)
Feed system: 10-round magazine, loaded with 5-round charger clips

Lee Enfield Ritte No. 5 Mark I

Later in the war the need for a shorter, lighter rifle for use in the jungles of the Far East led to the development of the Rifle, No. 5 Mk I (the "Jungle Carbine"). With a severely cut-down stock, a prominent flash hider, and a receiver machined to remove all unnecessary metal, the No. 5 was both shorter and 2 lb (0.9 kg) lighter. Despite a rubber butt-pad, the .303 round produced too much recoil for the No. 5 to be suitable for general issue. Production of the No. 5 Mk I ceased in 1947 due to an "inherent fault in the design", often said to be a "wandering zero" and accuracy problems. However, the No. 5 Mk I was popular with soldiers owing to its light weight, portability, and shorter overall length than a standard Lee-Enfield rifle.

Lee Enfield Ritte No. 5 Mark I Specification
Calibre: 0.303 in (7.7 mm)
Length: 1.003 m (39.5 in)
Length of barrel: 476 mm (18.75 in)
Weight: 3.25 kg(7.15 lb)
Muzzle velocity: about 730 m/s (2,400 ft)
Magazine: 10-roundbox

De Lisle Carbine

The De Lisle carbine or De Lisle Commando carbine was a British carbine used during World War II. The primary feature of the De Lisle Carbine was based on a Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk III* converted to .45 ACP by modifying the receiver, altering the bolt/bolthead, replacing the barrel with a modified Thompson submachine gun barrel, and using modified magazines from the M1911 pistol. The primary feature of the De Lisle was its very effective suppressor which made it very quiet in action - indeed working the bolt to chamber the next round makes a louder noise than firing a round.

De Lisle Carbine Specification
Calibre: 11.43 mm (0.45 in)
Length: 895 mm(35.25 in)
Length of barrel: 184 mm (7.25 in)
Weight: 3.74 kg (8.25 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 253 m/s (830 ft) Magazine: 7-round box

Riue Type 38

Type 38 was the standard rifle issued to the Imperial Japanese infantry. The weapon had a high accuracy rate and was very reliable. The rifle was long and able to be used with a type 30 bayonet. The type 38 was 4'2" long and was the longest rifle in service in WW2. The additional 20" long bayonet gave the Japanese soldier an advantage when bayonet fighting was required. The average Japanese infantryman stood 5'3" and had difficulty handling such a long weapon. The small stature of the soldier also required a smaller caliber round and less of a power charge to produce less recoil when fired. These design problems lead to different versions being produced such as the carbine type 38 that was shorter and was issued to non-combat troops, the overall length was reduced to 966 mm. An airborne model was made with a folding stock and another version was called the sniper's rifle type 97 that used a telescopic sight. All rifles and bayonets were the property of the Emperor and were stamped with the 16 petal chrysanthemum on the receiver of the rifle and on the blade of the bayonet. This gave the common soldier a connection to the Samurai warrior class and was of great pride to the Imperial Army.

Riue Type 38 Specification
Calibre: 6.5 mm (0.256 in)
Length: 1.275 m (50.2 in)
Length of barrel: 797.5 mm (31,4 in)
Weight: 4.2 kg (9.25 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 731 m/s (2,400 ft)
Magazine: 5-round box

Lebel and Berthier Rifles

In 1939 the French army was equipped with an almost bewildering array of rifles, for the French appear to have adopted a policy of never throwing anything away. The Lebel, a hastily-designed derivative of the tubular-magazine Kropatschek, and its 8x50mmR cartridge, which was based on the case head dimensions of the earlier 11mm Gras round to theoretically allow for emergency conversions of older rifles, were obsoleted almost overnight by Mauser and Mannlicher designs which were loaded with clips or from chargers. Further, the Lebel's slow-to-load tubular magazine made it ineffecient if cut down to carbine length, allowing for a magazine capacity of only three rounds. In 1890, a carbine designed by Mssr. Berthier, a railroad official in French Algeria, was adopted for use by cavalry and the Gendarmerie. It combined a bolt very similar to the Lebel's with a Mannlicher-type clip-fed magazine.

Fusil MAS36

The MAS Modèle 36 is a bolt-action rifle. It was adopted in 1936 by France, and was intended to replace the Berthier and Lebel series of service rifles. The MAS-36 is a short, carbine-style rifle with a two-piece stock and slab-sided receiver. It is chambered for the modern, rimless 7.5x54 French cartridge, a shortened version of the 7.5x57mm MAS mod. 1924 cartridge that had been introduced in 1924 (then modified in 1929), for France's FM 24/29 light machine gun. It has a five-round, Mauser-style double-column magazine with a removable floorplate.

Fusil MAS36 Specification
Calibre: 7.5 mm (0.295 in)
Length: 1.019 m (40,13 in)
Length of barrel: 574 mm (22.6 in)
Weight: 3.67 kg (8.09 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 823 m/s (2,700 ft)
Magazine: 5-round box

M1903 Springfield

The Springfield M1903, formally the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, Model 1903, is an American magazine-fed, bolt-action rifle used primarily during the first half of the 20th century. It was officially adopted as a United States military service rifle on June 19 1903, and saw service in World War I. It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the faster-firing, semi-automatic M1 Garand, starting in 1936. However, the M1903 Springfield remained in service as a standard issue infantry rifle during World War II, and a sniper rifle during the Korean War, and the early stages of the Vietnam War. The M1903 and the M1903A3 rifle were used in combat alongside the M1 Garand by the U.S. military during World War II and saw extensive use and action in the hands of U.S. troops in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific.

M1903 Springfield Specification
Calibre: 7,62 mm(0.3 in)
Length: 1.105 m (43.5 in)
Length of barrel: 610 mm (24 in)
Weight: 4.1 kg (9 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 855 m/s (2,805 ft)
Magazine: 5-round box

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand (officially the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1) was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. In 1936, it officially replaced the bolt-action M1903 Springfield as the standard service rifle of the United States Armed Forces. The M1 was one of the first semi-automatic rifles to see action in combat. It offered a great improvement in fire power over the bolt-action M1903 series rifle it replaced. It was rugged, reliable, and tolerant to the abuses of use in the field. The rifle used .30-06 cal. cartridges in eight-round clips. The M1 held many advantages over the M1903 Springfield rifle. The semi-automatic operation and reduced recoil allowed new troops to achieve a higher degree of accuracy with a shorter period of training than was previously possible. The sighting system was superior under actual combat conditions. Ease of disassembly, cleaning, and oiling were also a great advantage. Most important was the increase in rate of fire, limited only by the proficiency of the soldier in marksmanship and his dexterity in inserting eight round clips of ammunition into the weapon. In the face of overwhelming odds, the capability of the M1 rifle to deliver superior firepower would most often carry the day.

M1 Garand Specification
Calibre: 7.62 mm (0.3 in)
Length: 1.107 m (43.6 in)
Length of barrel: 609 mm (24 in)
Weight: 4.313 kg (9.5 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 855 m/s (2,805 ft)
Magazine: 8-round box

Ml, MIAI, M2 and M3 Carbine

The M1 Carbine was a self-loading carbine chambered for the .30 cartridge which it took from a 15- or 30-round magazine and fired to an effective range of 300 metres. The M1 Carbine had a 458 mm long barrel and was fitted with a blade foresight and a flip aperture rearsight. In May 1942 a modified version, the M1A1 Carbine was standardised and this had a side folding stock. In 1944 the M2 Carbine version became standard. This was a selective fire model with a cyclic rate of 750 rounds per minute and was fitted with a leaf slide rearsight. A modified version of the M2 Carbine, with a flash-hider and no sights, intended to take a Sniperscope infra-red sight was also produced under the designation M3 Carbine.

M1 Carbine Specification
Calibre: 7.62 mm (0.3 in)
Length: 904 mm (35.6 in)
Length of barrel: 457 mm (18 in)
Weight: 2.36 kg (5.2 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 600 m/s (1,970 ft)
Magazine: 15-or30-roundbox

Chiang Kai-shek Rifle

The Type Zhongzheng rifle, also known as the Chiang Kai-shek Rifle and Type 24 after the Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, was a Chinese-made copy of the German Mauser Gewehr 98, the forerunner of the Karabiner 98k. The rifle served China as one of the standard rifles for the army and also helped in defending China during the early part of the Second Sino-Japanese war before being abandoned in favour of American made guns like the Thompson submachine gun and Springfield rifle up until the Chinese Civil War, when the rifle became obsolescent.

Chiang Kai-shek Rifle Specification
Calibre: 7.92 x 57 mm (8 mm Mauser)
Length: 1,110 mm
Length of barrel: 600 mm
Weight: 4.08 kg
Muzzle velocity: 810 m/s
Magazine: 5-round stripper clip, internal magazine
Rate of fire: Approximately 15 rounds/minute

vz 24 Rifle

The vz. 24 rifle is a rifle designed and produced in Czechoslovakia from 1924 to 1942. It was developed from the Mauser Gewehr 98 line, though is not a clone of any specific Mauser model. The fit and finish are of the highest quality. The vz. 24 rifle was designed in Czechoslovakia shortly after WWI. It was a new design, featuring a 600 mm (23.6") barrel which was shorter and more handy than the 150 mm-longer Gewehr 98. During WWII, the vz. 24 was produced for the German occupiers. The factory was located at Pova?ská Bystrica in the Slovak Republic.

vz. 24 Rifle Specification
Calibre: 7.92x57mm Mauser
Length: 1100 mm (43.3 in)
Length of barrel: 590 mm (23.23 in)
Weight 4,2 kg (9.2 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 760 m/s (2,493 ft/s)
Magazine: Feed system 5-round internal magazine, two-row, integral box, with quickly detachable floorplate