The Kalashnikov assualt rifle (AK-47) and WWII

I had recently read a book (In Deadly Combat, by Gottlob Bidermann) in which he makes mention of encountering Russian soldiers with Kalashnikov assualt rifles. What little research I've seen including an article in today's local paper about the AK-47 states that although Kalashnikov started to design the assault rifle in 1941 when he was in the hospital recovering from an injury, that the rifle did not become standard issue until 1949. The article in the paper even states that the 47 in AK-47 is for the year in which the design was completed. Was there another rifle designed by Kalashnikov that was used in WWII or was the author mistaken?

 

I do not think the author is correct, and when the Kalashnikov was complete and done trials the weapon was kept a secret of the Soviet state until the weapon was used against a member of Nato.

 

I belive that author is mistaken. AK-47 actually mean assault rifle model 1947. In my opinion author probaly saw Soviets using captured german StuG-43 or 44 rifles.

 

i always thought that the AK-47 was the russain copy of the german STG-44.

 

Not at all, the resemblance is superficial but that's about it. IIRC the mechanism is completely different.

 

Yes and General Kalashnikov still denies any influence from the STG-44.

 

col hackworth learned of a huge cache of ak47s packed in grease in iraq...he tried to get the us army to switch over at once....lol fat chance ..hack felt that the ak was a much better infantry wea pon than the m16....especially in sand....ive read that the british army bullpup rifle is even worse than the m16...could this be....?some day i hope we and the brits can build a rifle as reliable as the 60 year old ak47....

 

i think the Israeli's also built the Galil because they were tired of having their FAMAS's jamming in the desert sand.

 

FAL surely.
FAMAS wasn't into full production until 1979, while Galil was introduced around 1973.

 

Whoops. yup, Oli is right, the FNFAL

 

FN FAL idd. made by the Belgians by the way. :smok:

 

Nah. It's really the L1A1 and we just LET you Belgians think you designed it, just to keep you happy.
But we'll let you have the credit for M249 Minimi.....

 

yes, it's important to keep us happy, else we pay a visit and bring our Minimi's with us

 

I have split off the topic about food... It is now in the Member's Lounge.

 

He may well have been referring to encountering SKS's, not AK-47s. Prototypes were sent out to the Byelorussian front in late 1944 and approved in 1945.

 

Don't the British have a good assault rifle, the SA-80?

 

That was introduced in the 1980's (offically designated as the L85A1) but we are now onto the L85A2 model which is slightly improved from the A1 variant.

 

ive read that the british sa.bullpup was even more bedviled by troubles than the much bemoaned m16

 

It was until Heckler and Koch reviewed the weapon and solved most of the major problems, thought still can be unreliable the A2 model is much better than its A1 brother.

 

Is the AK-47 the most long-lasting weapon post 1900 (if so Why?)