Weapons

[McIvan]

There was a big argument in the forums for a tabletop WWII game, which I visit sometimes, about effectiveness of .50cal vs HMGs generally....using the term HMG to mean a 7-8mm weapon on a tripod with a trained crew.

The general answer was that the superior firepower ratings for the HMG's against soft targets (hard targets was clearly a different kettle of fish) reflected not so much the maximum RPM but first the sustainable rpm (which for the .50 cal is, I heard, about 40-50rpm; unsure about the MG42), secondly the ease of barrel changing and barrels typically carried, and thirdly the amount of ammo carried by a five to seven man team. Apparently you can carry about 5-6 times as much 7.62 or 7.92mm ammo as .50cal ammo, which is a big round.

Same rationale applies I suppose to the Soviet 12.5 and 14.5 mgs.