American weapons of World War II and modern. American rifles and pistols

The weapon has always been a sentimental topics for discussion. Some argue that such was created to kill, the other - for protection. No matter how hot was not a dispute, but both sides in its own right. This article will be a speech about American weapons. After all, the two world wars were not without such. In addition to these more and the Vietnam conflict, and, of course, the war in Syria.

A bit of history

Due to the relatively a distant US location from the main theater of operations during World War II, American industry has made a significant jump (in comparison with the European countries involved in the conflict) in the autumn of 1939 to the autumn of 1943 because of the large amount on development orders, production and supply of armaments.

Based on the report by Jerzy Potocki, who was the Polish ambassador to the United States in 1939, American propaganda reached such heights that the people fully accepted the need to focus on the military industry, relegating to second place even their own need for national defense.

the M1911

First and foremost, it is worth mentioning the creation of John Browning, enduring from 1911 to 1985 by the US Army. Colt 1911, better known as the "Colt" gained international fame thanks to popular western films and TV series about the police.

It should be noted that the transition from the gun turret type autoloading was made not so fast. All the fault of the conservative views of the US Department of Defense at the time. Drum weapons are proven because it is abandoned with great reluctance. Moreover, such a policy is concerned, as a weapon of American police and military. Changes took place immediately.

However, by 1911 revolvers "Smith and Wesson" were replaced with semi-automatic weapons. New product had a weight of 1, 12 kg, length 216 mm, whereby the trunk was 127 mm. The width was 30 mm, and a height of as much as 135. Shop 7 could accommodate a charge and a bullet fired from such a gun, speeds up to 252 m / s. Sighting range - 50 meters.

Available as an upgraded version of a marking MEU (SOC) pistol for a division of the US Marines, which has a range of sight 70 meters. As well as the already mentioned company Smith & Wesson has its modification called SW1911. It differs from the original that is produced under two caliber 9 mm "Luger" and .45 ACP for the original M1911.

This gun is operated by the US to this day, many companies around the world produce as advanced models and candid "clones" under another label. Weapons used in all armed conflicts since 1911.

The rifle Springfield M1903

US weapons are not always taken out of service at the appointed time. It happened with the magazine rifle Springfield M1903. The sample is put into service in 1903, and in 1936 decided to completely re-equip the army, replacing the rifle M1 Garand. In view of the outbreak of the Second World War, not all members of staff managed to change weapons, because some of the soldiers of the US Army and went through the whole war with the Springfield M1903.

The kit includes a bayonet, developed in 1905, which in 1942 was replaced by the model under the designation M1. An interesting feature is the fact that in the same year is an American firearms received one more kit - rifle grenade launcher, allowing to throw a grenade over a long distance.

Weight rifle was almost 4 kg (to be exact, 3, 95), the total length of 1098 mm, the barrel length of 610 mm. Feature allows you to do 15 rounds per minute, the bullet speeds up to 760 m / s, and the sighting range - 550 meters. The maximum possible firing range - 2743 meters.

This American weapons equipped with a mechanical eye, the store may contain the five rounds. Caliber .30-06 same mark as that in the national classification - 7, 62 * 63 mm.

Rifle grenade

Widespread the "kit" was during the First World War. And such was equipped with not only the US weapons in Europe. They enjoyed all the parties to the conflict, with at least some armed with rifles.

All due to the fact that the fighting were characterized positionally. Often between the trenches of the opposing sides a distance was a little more than throw a hand grenade. Because the soldiers not to leave their trenches, I had to resort to tricks.

By garnet is welded thin wire or old ramrod, then threaded onto a rifle barrel. Blank shot led to fire gunpowder, the energy released is pushed grenade. Homemade shank quickly render useless gun barrel, because for such purposes small hand-held mortars were developed.

In 1941, the M1 Grenade Launcher, firing rifle grenades, 22 mm, has been developed and entered service with the US Army.

M1 Garand

As mentioned above, the US firearms subject to refurbish, but because of the war unable to completely re-equip all soldiers. The new rifle is almost completely supplanted the "Springfield" just in 1943.

Excellent proven in combat operations as an easy-to-use and reliable weapon. Unlike the predecessor was equipped with a telescopic sight, it had a greater weight - 4, 32 kg. By length different from "Springfield" only 7 mm (1105 mm when the old sample was 1,098 mm), the trunk is not shortened and lengthened - as being 610 mm, and remained.

If we compare the characteristics of the other two rifles, swept clear step forward in terms of:

• rate of elementary bullets went from 760 to 865 m / s;
• sighting range remained unchanged - 550 m;
• is reduced to a maximum of 1800 meters.

On the latter point it is worth noting that the Springfield M1903 and the lack of an optical sight is unlikely to be allowed to shoot the claimed distance of 2743 meters, because new variation is much closer and mundane to the conditions of warfare.

Changed the type of ammunition and the type of ammunition. In addition to the already existing caliber of "Springfield" has been added to the English patron .276 Pedersen, and in the post-war period up to 1957 by the US Navy in the back of the cartridge has been marked by T65 (7, 62 * 51 mm NATO).

Accordingly standard ammunition were caged 8 pieces in a bundle, and .276 Pedersen - 10.

M1Carbine

And this is not the rifle, and easy self-loading rifle. Designed for the needs of US troops and allies during the war. It entered into service in 1942 and served valiantly until the sixties.

Intended for military personnel who are not directly involved in hostilities: all kinds of technology drivers or artillery calculations. According to the doctrine of the US Army, it is easier to train a soldier to possess a carbine, a pistol than the Colt 1911. Because it is the weapon served as a kind of "self-defense". Application of such expected if close contact with the opponent and fights at small distances. For example, a breakthrough defense and movement to the enemy artillery position calculation points.

In view of the above, the range of products was only 300 meters, with a box magazine holds a 15 to 30 rounds. Carbine was superficially similar to the M1 Garand, single shot had a sighting range of 600 meters, .30Carbine caliber (7, 62 * 33 mm) and weighed only 2, 36 kg (of course, without cartridges). Length reached 904 mm from the start of the stock to the barrel tip. The very same barrel was 458 mm.

"Tommy Gun"

American machines originate from this gun. Thompson submachine gun, known for Western films about gangsters, widely used reconnaissance and airborne units of the US armed forces during World War II, the Korean conflict, confrontations in Yugoslavia and the war in Vietnam. Was used by the British in 1940 during the war in Italy and Africa, as well as copies delivered under Lend-Lease, and are widely used in the ranks of Soviet soldiers.

It is a weapon of American special forces was quite cumbersome. Mass almost five pounds (4, 8 kg, to be precise), the length of 810 mm (including the barrel was placed 267 mm). Caliber 11, 43 mm. Fond thanks to the possibility of using as a box magazine on 20-30 cartridges and drum - 50-100.

Nevertheless, the soldiers still had to carry a large quantity of ammunition, because at rate of 700 rounds per minute Shop had changed quite often.

Sighting range of only 100 meters, and the maximum - 750. The bullet of speeds up to 280 m / s.

Browning M2

This large-caliber machine gun could be called a modern American weapons. It is developed as early as 1932, this killing machine in operation to this day. In addition to World War II it was used in the Gulf War, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

It has a number of variations: air defense, infantry and aviation. Each variant is designed according to the scope and nature of the troops.

Firing is carried out large-caliber cartridges 12 7 * 99 mm, are fed machine gun type of loose tape. Because of its impressive weight (38, 22 kg) is mainly fastened to combat equipment housings. Together with the machine 58 weighs 6 kg. Length 1653 mm, of which the trunk allocated in 1143.

Sighting range of 1830 meters, the bullet is able to develop a speed of 895 m / s. But the rate differs from one model to another depending on the type:

• conventional military gun marked M2HB able to produce from 485 to 635 rounds per minute;
• another embodiment of the product intended for aircraft (AN / M2), has a rate from 750 to 850;
• Aviation fellow modernized under the designation AN / M3 - have 1, 200 rounds per minute.

sniper shooting from Browning M2

The interesting thing about using this machine gun is an attempt to serial production model with a sniper scope. It all started with the case during the Vietnam War when a soldier named Carlos Hetchkok successfully hit the target at a distance of 1700 meters (in another version of 1830 meters), the size of a human. The distance is two times higher than the maximum range of conventional rifles. Specially formed evaluation committee checked the results of the hand, those confirmed, and a new world record was set.

This news American propaganda successfully raised the morale of the soldiers began to produce models with mounted scope. But such has not justified itself. Out of the US Army so many oldtimers, capable not intended to use this gun. A training sniper shooting of this weapon is unlikely someone would deal with, because the initiative was quickly stopped. But the idea of ​​creating a line of sniper rifles on the basis of a machine gun Browning M2. The idea was never implemented, because in 1982 the rifle from "Barrett" very good account of themselves, and need to develop the above innovations quickly disappeared. By the way, "Barrett" is used by the Americans to this day, along with Browning M2, though the latter is the American weapon of World War II.

However, rumors of a "sniper-Gunners" overgrown with all new stories. Established Hetchkokom world record lasted until 2002, when it was recorded hit the target at a distance of 3000 meters.

Browning M1918

This gun can hardly be called something other than a "mutant". A cross between a machine gun and rifle. But for the last she had too much weight, and for machine guns - too small supply of ammunition in the store. It was originally conceived as an infantry machine gun, which could be used by soldiers, going on the attack. In the context of the fighting in the trenches of the product were attached bipod. He served in service until the fifties, after which it began to take off with the operation and replaced by the M60.

RPG

If the comparison of the Russian and US weapons during the Second World War, immediately come to mind are domestic models of weapons, without which this war would hardly be won: the submachine gun Shpagin (PCA), a machine gun Degtyarev. This weapon has become something of a calling card of the USSR. However, it should be mentioned that the US has a pattern of arms, which became a household word. And this is not an American gun "Colt".

This "bazooka" - the name of anti-tank grenade launcher, is, in fact, a portable rocket launcher. The projectile had his own jet.

Used for combat, both in open country and in the city. It was used by the Americans to deal with heavy armored vehicles in Germany. It was adopted in 1942 and operates to this day, because is considered modern.

has a mass of 6, 8 kg, length 1370 mm, the caliber is 60 mm. A projectile fired from a gun that has an initial velocity of 82 m / s. The maximum possible firing range is 365 meters, but it is believed that the most effective distance is 135 meters.

projectile itself had a cumulative portion which weighed less kilograms (700 grams), total length equal to the munition 55 cm, the overall weight does not exceed two pounds (1, 59 kg, to be precise).

The word "Bazooka" was borrowed from the musical wind instrument that invented American comedian Bob Burns in the twentieth century.

M-20

Technological progress does not stand still, the US weapons often undergoes changes during the war due to enemy use of more powerful and high-quality counterparts. So, faced with the facts of the use of the Germans "panzerschreck" (German analogue of grenade that is longer than the US figures), the command of the US Army conducted an upgrade of the standard grenade launcher in "Super Bazooka" towards the end of the war. A new sample was labeled M-20 caliber amounted to 88, 9 mm shell weight - 9 kg, and the weight of the product - 6, 5 kg.

This launcher has successfully remained the US Army until the end of the sixties. It has been used successfully in Vietnam. However, due to the total absence of heavy machinery have been used to destroy enemy fortifications, fortifications and enemy communication centers. It was gradually withdrawn from service due to the transition to the use of M72 LAW - disposable anti-tank grenade launcher.

M20 itself also took pride of place in the warehouses that store samples decommissioned weapons, and on the shelves of various historical museums all over the world next to the revolver "Smith and Wesson".

Conclusion

With not just American machines have undergone changes over time. On the world arms market has sharply increased interest in machine guns with interchangeable type of food.

The transition from the tape to the store operation was due to the fact that the use of American weapons (and not only the US) with a belt nutrition needed a calculation of two people. Machinegun ducts were invented later, which led to a decrease in the calculation to one infantryman. But the tapes are often stuck and had to disassemble the weapon. Also, fragments of machine-gun belt, though light, but prone to rust, leading to rapid failure of both the tape and the cartridge feed mechanism into the chamber. Use store limits the number of cartridges used, and increases the amount of tolerable with conventional ammunition soldier.

The international recognition won the Belgian machine gun FN Minimi. In 1980 he was adopted by the US Army under the designation M249 SAW. Sample a very long time occupied a leading position in the world market, meeting the needs of customers, focuses on the models of weapons with interchangeable power. Meanwhile, in September 2016 at the International Exhibition of Arms of the Russian "Army 2016" was presented to the development of domestic designers, able to press the aforementioned gun. Talking about innovation model - RPK-16. New domestic RPK is capable of "eat" as via tape machine gun and conventional horn of AK-74 ammunition calibers 5, 45.

The performance characteristics of the new product are secret, but there is every chance to assume that a machine gun, rifle, (which is the nickname has already been awarded the designers) will open a new branch in the development of weapons market and displace from his seat to stand "Belgian" FN Minimi.

What will happen in the end - time will tell. We can only wait and watch news.