Equip your army...modern war with WW2 small arms.

Hey guys

Lets say you have an standing Army of 10, 000
on a small Island republic which has an educated
people and a well disciplined military.

You have to equip your defence force using on WW2
small arms, for whatever reason. What would you select
guys.

Kym

 

M-1 Garand Rifle
MG-42 Heavy Machine Gun
German 88

dont know lots about mortars

Planes, since im on an Island i want something that can attack ships and defend so probably the P-47 Thunderbolt

Tanks, hmmm so many choices I would probably go with something small and can be camouflaged easily since im on an island.

 

I thought Robinson said WW2 small arms?
I would pick Thompson submachinegun, and Sturmghwer

 

the M1 and MG-42 are WW2...

 

I think the point he was making is that Planes, Tanks, artillery and mortars aren't small arms.

 

Main Rifle-StG 44
Support Troop Rifle-M2 Carbine
LMG-Bren and MG42 for Support,
Pistol-Browning Hi-Power

 

Rifle: M-1 Garand
SMG: Thompson
LMG: MG-42
Pistol: M-1911
Squad weapon: BAR

 

I sure was.

 

this was what I thought of also. If possible I'd try to get them to fire common ammo (obviously it would take 2 different types)

 

Hmmmm....
I would issue them all Sturmghewer 44, maybe colt .45 sidearm. Every squad would have one MG42 machinegun.

 

StG 44 definitely - the outstanding shoulder gun of WW2. Backed up by the MG 42 in the medium role, and the Czech ZB30 as an LMG (the original of the Bren in 7.92x57 calibre). The sniper rifle doesn't matter too much, but it might as well be the Mauser in 7.92x57 to keep ammo compatibility. The pistol matters even less, but the 9mm Browning P35 would be as good as any, and better than most.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

 

stg44?????

why on earth would anybody pick the very breakable stg44 for the main rifle when the M1 garand is available ? every reference i recall mentions parts breakage as a major issue with it.

this question is impossible to answer intelligently without knowing something about terrain and mission. to pick the best in class of WWII I would pick as follows-
battle rifle - M1 garand with either the Kar98 or the SMLE IV as second choice
MG- bren or MG42

for support troops- M1 carbine either semi or select fire

sub gun- sten, MP39

pistol - 1911 colt , browning hi- power as second, P-38 third

sniper - SMLE IV with any number of others for second choice

borderline as a small arm but the M2HB .50 for heavy support, light anti armor, AA

 

Re: stg44?????

Why the Mauser K98?
after using it in various forms (yugoslavia wartime production and a genuine German manufacture and a Israeli conversion in 7.62mm) i found them horrible to use.

The action is way to stiff on opening (i know it's cock on opening but I still believe that a cock on close action is much more effective on a bolt action rifle), the magazine is too small at 5 rounds, if you would choose a bolt action it would have to be a Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.3 SMLE or a No.4.

The StG 44 would be chosen as it is a generally good all round weapon, ideal for infantry combat.
Selective fire, effective within a usable distance (few riflemen will be able to hit a man target at 700 yards + as it simply rarely happens and most infantry men aren't that great at shooting. so a cartrige like the .30-06 is over powered unless used ina sniper rifle of some sort,
The 30 round detachable box magazine is much more convienent that a 8 round en-bloc clip.

 

Re: stg44?????

Or alternatively, why would anyone pick the M1 Garand when something smaller, lighter, having the option of selective fire and with over 3 times the magazine capacity was available

 

because

the number one requirement for any combat rifle is that it go bang every time its asked. the garand would but the fragile stg44 didn't always. hence my choice

 

Re: because

Actually, I've read some reports from WW2 of US soldiers' view of the M1 Garand which make it clear that it didn't always work. Like any automatic weapon, it could get fouled up by mud and dust, and needed care and attention to keep it working. It was no AK...

 

Hand Gun -
Browing Hi Power 9mm (Army, Navy, Marines)
P-38 Walther 9mm (Air Force, Police and Army)
M1911A1 .45 (Army and Marines)

Sub Machine Guns -
MP-40/38 9mm (Army, Navy, Marines )
Suomi model 1931 9mm (Air Force, Army)
Berretta M38/42 9mm (Police, Air Force, Navy, Military Police)

Machine Guns-
MG-42 7.92mm GPMG (Army, Marines)
ZB-30 7.92mm LMG (Army, Marines, Air Force (base defence)
M2HB 12.7mm HMG (Army, Navy, Air Force)

Rifles-
StG 44 7.92mm Assault Rifle (Army, Marine)
G-43 7.92mm Self Loading Rifle (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force)
Kar98K 7.92mm Rifle ( Auxiliary Corp service weapon)
Sniper Rifles
All three service rifles would be fitted with sights and the more accurate rifles would be selected.


I have chosen the 7.92mm because I prefer some of the German service weapons. That way I have kept it consistent. For example the KAR 98k for all its faults and small magazine is a capable reserve and auxilary rifle, as well as an OK sniper rifle in the hands of my well trained combat and police marksman.

Typical Infantry section make up is as follows

Light Infantry

10 man section

Section CO - Stg 44 AR, Hi Power AP
Section 2IC - StG 44 AR, Hi Power AP
Gun Group 1 - ZB -30 LMG, Hi Power AP
Rifleman-gun assistant - StG 44, spare LMG mags
Gun Group 2 - ZB -30 LMG, Hi Power AP
Rifleman-gun assistant - StG 44 AR, spare LMG mags
Section AT - M1A1 AT - Browning Hi Power AP, spare rockets
AT assistant - MP 40 SMG
Medic - StG 44 AR or MP 40 SMG
Raido Operator - StG 44 AR

Mech Infantry or Heavy Infantry

12 man section

Section CO - StG 44. hand gun
Section 2IC - Stg 44, hand gun
Gun Group 1 - MG 42 GPMG
Gun assistant - G-43 SLR, spare MG belts
Gun Group 2 - ZB 30 LMG
Gun assistant- StG 44 AR, spare LMG mags
Section AT - M1A1 or M20 Super bazooka, hand gun
AT assistant - MP 40 SMG, spare rockets
Medic - StG 44
Radio Operator - StG 44 AR
Rifleman - StG 44 AR, spare MG ammo
Marksman - G-43 sniper rifle, Hand gun

Marine Section

10 man section

Section CO - G-43 SLR, M1911A1
Section 2IC - G-43 SLR, M1911A1
Gun Group 1 - ZB -30 LMG
Gun assistant - G-43 SLR, spare LMG mags
Gun Group 2- ZB-30 LMG
Gun assistant - G-43 SLR, spare LMG mags
Section AT - M1A1 bazooka AT, M1911A1
AT assistant - MP-40 SMG, spare AT rockets
Medic - G-43 SLR
Radio Operator - G-43 SLR


Or something to that effect.

Kym

 

The M20 was a post war- Korean war Bazooka,
(sorry just being pedantic)

 

Thanks for that. I just had a go at my Quartermaster.

 

Interesting that nobody selected PPSH-43,clearly best SMG in WW2.

My select:
-Main weapon STG-44
-SMG PPSH 43
-Sidearm is mostly irelevant,but if i must il pick TT33
-Support MG-42.
-Sniper,any good scoped bolt action rifle will do the job, K-98 probably...

If i can,il pick that Russian female snipers in my army too :lol: