SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post

_dgn_ · 04-25-12, 11:47 AM

What is an "assault rifle" and why this new arm was created ?

During WWII, the German Army needed a new weapon, with high fire rate and great stopping power, used at close or mid-range. It was a compromise between the MP 40 SMG (9mm - close range) and the standard rifle Kar98 (7.92mm - long range). So the Sturmgewehr ("assault rifle") was born.

It was intended as the adversary of the soviet PPSh 41 (71 rounds) as MP 40 had only 30/32 bullets in its magazine and the Mauser 98 only 5 (with bolt action).

Its use ? Close action. By example, in a "Panzerknacker" team : a soldier with its StG44 "cleaned" the back of a T34 from it's accompaniment infantry (generally equipped with a PPSh) while the other soldier used its Panzerfaust to destroy the tank.

A detail : the bullet (not the cartridge) used in the Sturmgewehr was the same as the one used in the standard Mauser rifle or in LMG or MMG (MG34 - MG42). So a large stopping power during close combats, and still much of energy to 300 m : the exact opposite of the 5.56mm ammunition ...

And the "assault" rifle after the war ? Soviets copied it and it was the AK-47. During the Indochina War, heresy about the place of this new weapon in the standard infantry squad started in the French Army. Against VietMinhs with their Kalashnikov, Frenchs could only oppose at the same distance the US M2 or US M3 Carbine (but with a poor stopping power).

So German Sturmgewehrs were given (2 specimens in each squad) in the infantry, but complementary to the collective MAC 24/29 LMG. The "assault rifle" became an individual LMG, but with a closer distance.

And the G36 ? It' s an assault rifle, used inside close range (combat range = 200 m). It's generally the same things for all assaulft rifles.

Recomanded using : single or short bursts. The German soldier wears 5 30 rounds magazines, but in combat situations, complementary ammunition can be given.

If you want fire with a good precision at 300 m (or higher), another specialised firearm is recommanded. But it's trying to increase the firepower of a squad, in order to "stress" (not to kill) the engaded ennemy.

But if you use C-Mags (100 rounds) with full auto (long bursts) for hitting targets at 300 m, it's not surprising that the G36 has a hot hand-shield and a very low precision.

If you want firepower for the good distance, use something which is intended for it : LMG as MG3 or Minimi, generally fitted with heavy barrel.

In 1980, French Military Staff wanted to replace all the various weapons with an unique one and to standardize the ammunition (and to reduce military instruction). It was really a headache for a platoon or campany leader.

In an armored infantry platoon, there was the 7.62 NATO for the 3 mounted MMG & 3 squad LMG, the 7.62 precision bullets for FRF1 sniper rifles, the 9 mm for Mat 49 SMG and MAC 50 pistols, 7.5 mm for the Mas 49/56 rifles. Plus 89 mm rockets for the LRAC (ATRL) and 20mm for the 3 mounted guns.

The weapons were varied, because the targets were varied and at various distances : rifles (combat range = 200 m), sniper rifles (range 300/600m), SMG (combat range = 50 m).

So FAMAS was introduced with its unique 5.56 ammunition. The Staff considered that it has a great fire rate (1000 rounds/min), about like the famous German MG-42 (1200 rounds/min). So the Staff considered that the LMGs were no more necessary in each squad and were removed. But on the battlefield, when the 6 25 rounds magazines for each FAMAS are empty ?

However, it's faster to add another 50 rounds belt to a M-60, an AA-52 or to a MG3. And when the barrel is to hot after constant shooting, only 3 seconds and the second barrel is installed.

It's what one rediscovered during military operations made by France. Rapidly, collective AA-52 (7.62 NATO) LMGs were again used, but for ammunition reasons, replaced by FN Minimis (5.56mm), considered as an individual LMG (standard equipment : with a spare barrel. Naturally ...).

For some years, the German Army didn't have any more experience on the battlefield. Maybe same bad solutions about using of firearms on the battlefield were selected by their Staff.

But reality is increasingly more concrete than the concepts ...

About this particular problem, I read this on the Heckler & Koch site. They naturally defend their products (generally "German quality"), but their analysis is rather interesting.

04-25-12, 11:47 AM	#22
_dgn_ Machinist's Mate Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: France Posts: 122 Downloads: 331 Uploads: 0	What is an "assault rifle" and why this new arm was created ? During WWII, the German Army needed a new weapon, with high fire rate and great stopping power, used at close or mid-range. It was a compromise between the MP 40 SMG (9mm - close range) and the standard rifle Kar98 (7.92mm - long range). So the Sturmgewehr ("assault rifle") was born. It was intended as the adversary of the soviet PPSh 41 (71 rounds) as MP 40 had only 30/32 bullets in its magazine and the Mauser 98 only 5 (with bolt action). Its use ? Close action. By example, in a "Panzerknacker" team : a soldier with its StG44 "cleaned" the back of a T34 from it's accompaniment infantry (generally equipped with a PPSh) while the other soldier used its Panzerfaust to destroy the tank. A detail : the bullet (not the cartridge) used in the Sturmgewehr was the same as the one used in the standard Mauser rifle or in LMG or MMG (MG34 - MG42). So a large stopping power during close combats, and still much of energy to 300 m : the exact opposite of the 5.56mm ammunition ... And the "assault" rifle after the war ? Soviets copied it and it was the AK-47. During the Indochina War, heresy about the place of this new weapon in the standard infantry squad started in the French Army. Against VietMinhs with their Kalashnikov, Frenchs could only oppose at the same distance the US M2 or US M3 Carbine (but with a poor stopping power). So German Sturmgewehrs were given (2 specimens in each squad) in the infantry, but complementary to the collective MAC 24/29 LMG. The "assault rifle" became an individual LMG, but with a closer distance. And the G36 ? It' s an assault rifle, used inside close range (combat range = 200 m). It's generally the same things for all assaulft rifles. Recomanded using : single or short bursts. The German soldier wears 5 30 rounds magazines, but in combat situations, complementary ammunition can be given. If you want fire with a good precision at 300 m (or higher), another specialised firearm is recommanded. But it's trying to increase the firepower of a squad, in order to "stress" (not to kill) the engaded ennemy. But if you use C-Mags (100 rounds) with full auto (long bursts) for hitting targets at 300 m, it's not surprising that the G36 has a hot hand-shield and a very low precision. If you want firepower for the good distance, use something which is intended for it : LMG as MG3 or Minimi, generally fitted with heavy barrel. In 1980, French Military Staff wanted to replace all the various weapons with an unique one and to standardize the ammunition (and to reduce military instruction). It was really a headache for a platoon or campany leader. In an armored infantry platoon, there was the 7.62 NATO for the 3 mounted MMG & 3 squad LMG, the 7.62 precision bullets for FRF1 sniper rifles, the 9 mm for Mat 49 SMG and MAC 50 pistols, 7.5 mm for the Mas 49/56 rifles. Plus 89 mm rockets for the LRAC (ATRL) and 20mm for the 3 mounted guns. The weapons were varied, because the targets were varied and at various distances : rifles (combat range = 200 m), sniper rifles (range 300/600m), SMG (combat range = 50 m). So FAMAS was introduced with its unique 5.56 ammunition. The Staff considered that it has a great fire rate (1000 rounds/min), about like the famous German MG-42 (1200 rounds/min). So the Staff considered that the LMGs were no more necessary in each squad and were removed. But on the battlefield, when the 6 25 rounds magazines for each FAMAS are empty ? However, it's faster to add another 50 rounds belt to a M-60, an AA-52 or to a MG3. And when the barrel is to hot after constant shooting, only 3 seconds and the second barrel is installed. It's what one rediscovered during military operations made by France. Rapidly, collective AA-52 (7.62 NATO) LMGs were again used, but for ammunition reasons, replaced by FN Minimis (5.56mm), considered as an individual LMG (standard equipment : with a spare barrel. Naturally ...). For some years, the German Army didn't have any more experience on the battlefield. Maybe same bad solutions about using of firearms on the battlefield were selected by their Staff. But reality is increasingly more concrete than the concepts ... About this particular problem, I read this on the Heckler & Koch site. They naturally defend their products (generally "German quality"), but their analysis is rather interesting. Last edited by _dgn_; 04-25-12 at 12:09 PM.