what country in world war 2 had the best small arms weapons?

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
i would say the germans had the best towards the end with the STG 44, the worlds first assault rifle
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
also the light weight MG42 ............. which the design is still being used by some copmaies.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
Originally posted by: Aquaman
also the light weight MG42 ............. which the design is still being used by some copmaies.

Cheers,
Aquaman

they still make the mg42?
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I said germany, cause on that indiana jones movie he shoots through like 3 guys with the same bullet.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: slycat
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: slycat
Originally posted by: Actaeon
Probally Germany.... they had about the best of everything.

they even had the best leader, Hitler.
Well, in the end he wasn't the best was he :)

he still was, even though his generals failed him.
It's well known that he was over-bearing. That was an oversight on his part - a costly one.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
49,046
39,189
136
1. USA
2. Germany
3 England
4. Russia
5. Japan

Overall winner is the USA for several reasons:

1. First semi-auto rifle ever widely deployed as standard issue - M1 Garand
2. Very effective squad atutomatic weapon - BAR
3. Very good light machine gun - Browning .30
4. Excellent heavy machine gun - Browning .50

The german MG42 was most likely the best light machine gun of the war. A modern version called the MG3 is produced by Hk for the German army and export sales to this day.
 

BigJelly

Golden Member
Mar 7, 2002
1,717
0
0
1. America -- M1 standard issue rifle was semi-automatic (every other country had bolt action as the standard issue). America's M2 50 cal machine gun is still in service today. The M3 grease gun "poor mans tommy gun" was a powerful, mass produced, and very reliable submachine gun. Also the 45 automatic probably the best military issue sidearm to date--with its stoping power and reliability.

2. Soviet Union -- The soviet union had much more submachine guns and the guns were designed to endure the soviet climate. The only thing im not postive on is the heavy machine guns that the soviets used but since a lot of submachine guns were produced (from stalingrad and on) they had a large volume of fire.

3. Germany -- The germans sub-machine gun was not as good as the soviets. The germans have the well known MG42 "burb gun" (the fastest infantry machine gun of the time) but the rate of fire had a serious consequence--barrels needed to be exchanged after firing about 300 rounds. Germans had a great quality bolt action rifle but against the M1 and mass amounts of soviet sub-machine guns, the volume of fire was not in the germans favor.

4. England -- They had a great bolt action gun but due to their position and American aid they really didnt develope all too many small arms.

5. Japan -- Watch the history channel on this, they go on and on about the crapy designs and sh!t quality of the japanese weapons.

FYI I am basing it just off the guns alone because soldier for soldier the german was the best followed by the a toss up between the americans and the british, then the soviets, and finally the japanes.
 

cerebusPu

Diamond Member
May 27, 2000
4,008
0
0
the M1 garand was semi auto versus the german single shot rifle.

the german MG42 was the best though.
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: BigJelly
1. America -- M1 standard issue rifle was semi-automatic (every other country had bolt action as the standard issue). America's M2 50 cal machine gun is still in service today. The M3 grease gun "poor mans tommy gun" was a powerful, mass produced, and very reliable submachine gun.

2. Soviet Union -- The soviet union had much more submachine guns and the guns were designed to endure the soviet climate. The only thing im not postive on is the heavy machine guns that the soviets used but since a lot of submachine guns were produced (from stalingrad and on) they had a large volume of fire.

3. Germany -- The germans sub-machine gun was not as good as the soviets. The germans have the well known MG42 "burb gun" (the fastest infantry machine gun of the time) but the rate of fire had a serious consequence--barrels needed to be exchanged after firing about 300 rounds. Germans had a great quality bolt action rifle but against the M1 and mass amounts of soviet sub-machine guns, the volume of fire was not in the germans favor.

4. England -- They had a great bolt action gun but due to their position and American aid they really didnt develope all too many small arms.

5. Japan -- Watch the history channel on this, they go on and on about the crapy designs and sh!t quality of the japanese weapons.

1. Yes.

2. Are you trying to say that had more smgs than rifles?

3. The mp40 was quite good. Even though the barrels had to be changed, they were much easier to change than on the browning .30 cal.

4. Alright.

5. Yeah.
 

BigJelly

Golden Member
Mar 7, 2002
1,717
0
0
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: BigJelly
2. Soviet Union -- The soviet union had much more submachine guns and the guns were designed to endure the soviet climate. The only thing im not postive on is the heavy machine guns that the soviets used but since a lot of submachine guns were produced (from stalingrad and on) they had a large volume of fire.
2. Are you trying to say that had more smgs than rifles?

No but if i remember correctly, according to the histroy channels "Tales of the Gun: Soviet WWII Guns" after stalingrad roughly 1 in 5 foot soldiers had a sub machine gun. Thats a hell of a lot.
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: BigJelly
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: BigJelly
2. Soviet Union -- The soviet union had much more submachine guns and the guns were designed to endure the soviet climate. The only thing im not postive on is the heavy machine guns that the soviets used but since a lot of submachine guns were produced (from stalingrad and on) they had a large volume of fire.
2. Are you trying to say that had more smgs than rifles?

No but if i remember correctly, according to the histroy channels "Tales of the Gun: Soviet WWII Guns" after stalingrad roughly 1 in 5 foot soldiers had a sub machine gun. Thats a hell of a lot.

Indeed, that is.
 

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
Germans, on the whole. The Kar 98k was an excellent rifle...the Lee-Enfield was probably a little better. The Lee-Enfield had a bolt design allowing it up to 40 aimed shots a minute by a skilled rifleman. While the Garand is certainly superior on a firepower only basis, it had short comings as well. Germans learned very quickly when they hear that distinctive PING...well guess what...the American out of ammo for a few seconds.

You could not realistically reload a partially shot off Garand cartridge. It could be done, but was much quicker to shoot off your remaining ammo in the cartridge. Inefficient and somewhat dangerous (shooting bullets tends to be). Plus it tended to crush soldiers thumbs if they weren't quick enough. Ouch.

German machine guns were the best of the war. No question. German SMGs were superior to their American counterparts but inferior to the Soviets. I don't really know a lot about Soviet SMGs so I can't elaborate any further. The Tommy gun was just too heavy, the Grease gun jammed far too much. Not good in combat...

Experienced guy dissing the Grease Gun

German MG's were completely superior to comparable Allied arms. But they didn't really have an LMG...but didn't really need one either. The MG42 was quite effective at making Allied soldiers quite unhappy. Which is probably just as important as actual killing ability.

Japanese weapons...heh, well, no. :)
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
There is nothing that matches the accuracy and durability of the M1 Garande and the 1903.

Hand down... USA.