Re: AH: small arms of World War II
WOW…
Gentlemen, that was mouth full. So I suppose I'll add my small bit to the discussion.
Polishshooter has it pretty well right on the use of pistols. I will only add that in most European armies, especially with the Russians, pistols were used by officers more for ensuring discipline within the ranks than against the enemy. In the U.S., pistols are considered a fighting tool dating from the advent of the Colt Patterson.
Concerning helicopters; some time ago I read that the U.S. did deploy them in VERY limited numbers in the pacific. As far as I know the only combat use was in the Burma/China theater where a helicopter was used to extract a downed bomber crew, one at a time, over two or three days.
Even if Germany had become a full ally immediately after the war, the StG would not have been adopted. The U.S. had access to vast amounts of German technology and did use the best of it (ME 262, V-2, etc.). The west was not ready for the assault rifle concept.
"Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the dogs of War."
- William Shakespeare
Fortes Fotuna Juvat
|