interesting series on the evolution of firearms

[Stealhead]

From youtube a series about firearms.
This is the fifth in the series WWI firearms http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrma9Hi2egU#

[Red October1984]

Will watch! Thanks for posting.

[Stealhead]

It is a little US centric would be my only compliant. They show some curious rifles as well you can see a G98 with a trench magazine at one point but they never mention it.

Also they barely mentioned the SMLE which is a bit of an over site it being arguably the best suited design bolt action rifle for trench warfare.

There are many obscure WWI firearms several countries did produce semi-auto rilfes during the war never very many of course. Likely also cost of production as well. It is easier to produce a bolt action in large numbers vs a semi-auto.

This is why the Soviet Union went from Mosin-Nagant 91\30 to SVT38/40 back to Mosin. It was a production thing they could make more Mosins and the SVTs had draw backs as well they could get fouled up by dirt and due to the light weight wood used to make the stock they have a strong recoil.
So after Barbarossa at the end of 1941 the Soviet stopped making SVTs in large numbers until after the war ended. The original plan was to convert to the SVT in 41\42 while also improving it. Which is what the Germans did with the G41/42/43. German troops on the Eastern Front also used SVTs that they captured.

[Jimbuna]

I found the coverage on the maxim of most interest.

[Stealhead]

Indeed the Vickers version was easily the best. In the film it mentions how British units used Vickers as an indirect fire weapon that was possible because of a new version of the .303 round it had an improved design which allowed it to have enough range to be used in the indirect fire role out to 2,000 or more yards. Want to say it was introduced in 1916.

Of course we are not talking sniper accuracy but effective for area denial at such a range. The MG34/42 I would say perfected the indirect fire role of course they had to be tripod mounted to have any accuracy. Any MG needs tripod mounting for its true lethal effect to be seen. The MG34 and 42 on a tripod in a well sighted position cold just cut you to bits should a solid bead be drawn upon you. Only sinew would keep you in one solid piece.

That was the problem in WWI they did to know how to effetely counter the machinegun without suffering heavy losses. If you stay in front you will die if you sit in one place in the open you will also die. I think they still had the whole "macho" face your enemy mentality unfortunately for the actual combatants. Makes think of the part in Gallipoli where the ANZAC go over that trench towards the Turks and to certain death. Makes me wonder for how many men was the last thing they ever heard that whistle blowing. Think about that the next time you have a bad day.

A Korean War vet told me once "you do not know fear until you face a Chinese human wave attack I'll never forget those trumpets and whistles blowing".