the trouble with this question is that it could apply to all of the rifles used by the major powers in WW2
Onthefield: "well both could be right but it's not the one I'm looking for." It's time to withdraw this quiz question. Otherwise say that the previous answers are wrong ... and then be prepared to defend your belief.
I agree with MHN and redcoat, although not a frequent poster of possible questions, I feel this is a question open to the mood of the questioner; - Which US president served out his 4 years of precidency? - Teddy Roosevelt! - yes, he did, but I am looking for another one... That don't jive; Teddy Roosevelt is (a) right answer, so the turn should go to right answeree... Like AK 47; that is (a) right answer, so the turn should go to me. If Mauser or Enfield is, it should go to Popski or MHN who said Enfield. You ask the forum-members to use psychic powers or Remote Viewing to get the answer that is in your head! That is not fair on those with underdeveloped psychic abilities. [ 08. October 2003, 06:28 AM: Message edited by: Stevin Oudshoorn ]
But Onthefield What is the answer you were looking for. Don't keep us in suspence. Give us a Aha erlebnis. Pops
I was looking for the M-1 Garand as the answer. I just figured it would be one of the first ones said because of how much it was used but that's alright, lol. So over to you MHN.
"Trinity Test" on 16 July 1945 in the New Mexico Desert 'Little Boy' Hiroshima, 6.8.1945 "Fat Man" Nagasaki 9.8. 1945 "Little Boy" and "Fat Man"
Kai-Petri has it! There were two triggering designs. Little Boy used conventional artillery technology to fire one subcritical U-235 mass into the other. Fat Man used a relatively unknown implosion technology, symmetrical shockwaves directed inward to compress a subcritical plutonium mass (hence its almost spherical shape). Field tests of the prototypes (less fissionable material) in drops from a B-29 established confidence in the Little Boy approach. Trinity was deemed necessary to establish confidence in the Fat Man approach. For those interested in more history in this vein, see http://www.ntshf.org/index.htm (Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation). They dedicated their Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas this past week.
Immediately recognizable by the weird magazine layout, this is a French Chauchat 8mm Machine Rifle ( or Fusil Mitrailleur Chauchat-Suterre Ribeyrolle-Gladiator , if you prefer ), described by WHB Smith as '..one of the most poorly constructed weapons ever developed ..recoil excessive and accuracy poor...poor workmanship and design...'. You can't say fairer than that ! At the beginning of WWII, it was in widespread use by both French and Belgian Armies, using both French 8mm rimmed, Belgian .301 and, later in the war, .30-06 US cartridges.
I accept your answer Martin as I think the part of using the gun must be as correct as well, though I thought more of the Finnish front, well... Here´s something of it: "A small amount (15 or so) of Chauchat LMGs had cumulated to Finnish Armed Forces by end of Finnish Civil War of 1918, at 1937 these were sold abroad. During Winter War Finnish military equipment shortage led to second coming of these dubious weapons, as France "generously donated" some 5000 Chauchat and 10 million rounds of ammunition for them to Finland. Weapons were delivered to Finland at February - March of 1940. This was so late that Chauchat was not issued to Finnish troops during Winter War, but during early part of Continuation War even some unfortunate front-line units got these issued as their light machineguns. At earliest possible possibility they were replaced with captured Soviet LMGs and were soon only used by home-front units and some field artillery units. After WW2 Chauchat LMGs were warehoused until 1955 when selling them out begun, last ones were sold to Interarmco at 1959 - 1960." http://www.ankkurinvarsi.net/jaeger/LMG2.htm Over to you Martin!
The early M4 Sherman's 75mm M2 main armament had its' genesis in which legendary gun from another war ? [ 14. October 2003, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ]
I guess like the re-named Freedom Fries the origin of the gun is not PC in the USA! [ 14. October 2003, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: m kenny ]
ROFLMAO!!!!! Obviously the French 75 (got to clean one at the royal artillery museum when i did my placement there, what an honour) though in all honesty Kenny deserves it. What I want to know is what is what is the 'French Kiss' know as these days? Freedome Kiss? Shame they are not going for the aliteration thing...
That's the reply I was looking for, Stefan - the French soixante-quinze of pre-WW1 was indeed the design which led to the Sherman's early armament. Your question....
Not bad, I would like to know what unusual features the Spanish CETME 58C took from German firearms and which weapons thewe were taken from please. Martin, please resist the temptation because I think you know this one...
