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Valkyrja-Skuld β StG 44 - Sturmgewehr II
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Published: 2012-08-11 11:26:17 +0000 UTC; Views: 3335; Favourites: 32; Downloads: 78
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Description
Baugnez War Museum, Baugnez/MalmΓ©dy, Belgium.December 44, Battle of the Bulge.
And now...the legend!
This is the first modern assault rifle: the StG-44, or SturmGewehr (assault rifle).
The submachine gun lying on the crate is a Schmeisser.
The StrmGewehr distinctive features should remind you of the famous Russian AK-47. The Germans claim the Russians copied the SturmGewehr, while the Russians claim they developed a similar model in parallel. Who's right? Only Stalin knows, I guess.
It has the characteristics of a carbine, a submachine gun and a full automatic assault rifle. The volume of fire it can deliver largely outmatches regular carbines, and the Red Army learnt it the painful way on the Eastern Front.
However, it was produced and distributed very late during the War, so it's difficult to evaluate the full tactical impact this weapon could have make (or not) on the result of infantry battles.
An urban legend says only the Waffen-SS were equipped with the SturmGewehr. It is however not true, even if they were the first ones to recieve it.
All of the uniforms, equipment, insignas...displayed in this museum are period, not repros. During their respective retreats, both Allied and German forces left behind huge quantities of equipment, part of it in very good state. True eye-candy!
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Comments: 23
Sweet pieces of machinery indeed!
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Excellent shot. Two most interesting weapons. Personally I doubt the AK 47 was copied, because it is very complicated to use (compared to Western rifles.)
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I know this was posted 4 years ago, but I had the opportunity to use the Kalashnikov recently (in a firing range of course). I've been in the military many years ago and can compare to the FN FAL NATO. The kalash is very light, precise enough at med range, and quite easy to handle.
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I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that!! What I was trying to say (rather poorly) is that it was very difficult to design! I didn't find it light, but then, I was using the old wooden stock version.Β
Thanks for the correction!Β
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The one I tried was the AK-74 1974 model, it has a wooden stock too and weighs about 3.8 kgs fully loaded. In comparison the standard US M16 is 3.5 kgs and the belgian FN-FAL I was used to is about 4.7 kgs!
Maybe I found the Kalachnikow "light" because I was expecting something much heavier.
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Could be.Β
I remember the FN was very heavy to carry, but also had quite a long kill range. The AK series certainly was an incredible success. I remember Mr Kalashnikov came out here and was very upset to find out that his gun had become the weapon of choice for all sorts of guerrillas, terrorists and other ne'er-do-wells.Β
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of all assault rifles
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I'm not a specialist in uniform accuracy - so please enlighten me...
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I was interested in the StG44 ammunition pouches in the image. They are canvas with the leather rieforcements.
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As much as I'd like to use one, wasnt the material used for it of lower quality since the third Reich was short on any strategic material?
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Not being a weapons' expert, I have no idea. However I do know that STG44s are still used in some Third World and Middle Easter countries. So I guess they still do the job.
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I love the Sturmgewehr 44.
It's design looks so perfect, imho
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Almost. I've been told the magazine is slightly too long, and is bothersome if you have to lay low on the ground.
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Mein Gott, es ist so schon.Fuck Ak, i want that rifle. Now (german accent)
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Beautiful, isn't it?
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Superb, aren't they?
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