WW2 Firearms trivia question

Greybeard · 08-08-2006, 10:32 AM,

Ok - I'm home sick, and I'm bored to death of watching TV..

So here is the question..

We all know that the first nation that participated in WW2 that supplied it's infantry troops with semi-automatic firearms was the USA in the form of the M1 Garand..

The Germans introduced the Gewehr 43 into service in 1943, and issued them primarily to paratroops.

Prior to 1943 only one other European country had issued a semi-automatic rifle for use with regular infantry.

Can you tell me which country, and what the weapon was?

I've got one of these little animals in my small collection, so I am pretty certain that I know the answer.. ;)

-Greybeard

Survor · 08-08-2006, 11:34 AM,

M40' Tokarev

Survor · 08-08-2006, 11:46 AM,

and the seized Tokarev was very popular by the germans....
and - I think - it had an influence by developing the FG42

08-08-2006, 12:15 PM,

Steel God · 08-08-2006, 12:52 PM,

The answer to the question depends on what Greybeard considers "issued...for use with regular infantry".

The Polish SLR was produed in VERY low numbers, having finished design not too long before the start of the war. The Soviet AVS36 was aborted as Randy mentions. The Tokarev was supposed to replace the bolt action rifles in the Soviet RDs, and almost 2 million were produced by the time the Germans invaded and the Russians switched to production of the bolt action rifles again because they could be built faster and cheaper.

I would have to say GB was thinking of the Tokarev when he posted this.

Of course I could quibble with his definition of a European nation if that's what he's talking about...the USSR was more in Asia than Europe.

Didn't the Belgians actually develop but not field an SLR prior to WWII? The FAL ended up being based on it, I thought.

Paul

Greybeard · 08-09-2006, 01:32 AM,

Hello Guys,

SG is correct.. I am looking for the firearm that was not issued as experimental, produced but not issued, or issued in extremely low production numbers per captita of serving front line troops.. but as a regular issue firearm that saw service from it's initial production/introduction thru the end of the war (and in this case saw service well into the 1960's).

As a hint, this european country had (still has) a small standing army, so only appx 30,000 of this firearm were produced and was not a major combatant in WW2.

The Tokarev is a good candidate.. but here's a clue.. Egypt bought the production machinery from the (yet to be un-named) parent country in the 1950's and manufactured it for their own use. They changed the design only slightly so it would chamber 7.92x57 in one model, then later 7.62x39 - the 'Hakim' and 'Rashid'.. Belgium also built a licensed modified version known as the 'FN49' chambering the 7.92x57.

Looking for the parent of all the above that was regular issue begining in 1942.

-will give answer tomorrow.. along with another trivia question..

Greybeard

Steel God · 08-09-2006, 01:48 AM,

Oh, well with all those hints:

The AG42 from Sweden, aka Automatgevar m/42

You have one of those huh? Sweet.

Greybeard · 08-09-2006, 02:47 AM,

Hello SG- Correct..

The AG-42 was also one of the first production firearms to incorporate a vented barrel design to reduce felt recoil.

With the heavy weight (10.5 lb), smallish 6.5mm round, and the vented bbl, it's like shooting a .22 with a reach of 800 yds..

Ok - next question:

Along with the M-1 Garrand, the United states procured another semi-auto rifle for military use. This Rifle was issued primarily to the US Rangers that served in China and the USMC (until the Garrand became available). Also Chambered in 30-06 and named after it's designer. This was not the M-1 Carbine..

This same design could be readily converted to use as a LMG, to be used in the same capacity as the BAR

Can you identify this firearm?

-Greybeard

RedDevil · (This post was last modified: 08-09-2006, 03:14 AM by RedDevil.)

is this the M1941 Johnson?

Greybeard · 08-09-2006, 06:37 AM,

Hello Red..

Yes - correct.. it was more expensive, and a bit more complex in operation so once the Garrand became available the Johnson was phased out.

Next question..

In WW1 the US Springfield Rifle came to fame.. but was NOT the most common rifle issued to the US Military. Can you name the much less famous, but far more numerous rifle that equipped the AEF in WW1?

-Greybeard