German assault rifle Sturmgever: description, performance characteristics. German Mauser rifle: device, technical characteristics and photos

On September 19 in Moscow, at the intersection of the Garden Ring and Dolgorukovskaya Street, a monument was unveiled to the inventor of the world's most famous machine gun. This date fell on Gunsmith's Day, a holiday established by V.V. Putin on the initiative of Kalashnikov himself.

A couple of days after the opening, experts in the field of military history discovered that an explosion diagram was depicted on the pedestal of the monument StG 44 (Sturmgewehr 44, a German assault rifle designed by Hugo Schmeisser, a gunsmith of the Third Reich).

An old dispute has surfaced on the Internet about Kalashnikov borrowing parts and components from StG 44. Let us remind you that critical commentators, who in 99.9% of cases turn out to be unforgivably far from the weapons topic, point to external similarities AK And StG 44 as indisputable evidence that Russian weapons were “snapped” from German rifles. However, if you look at the internal parts and operation of both rifles, you will see fundamental differences. What kind of relationship are they in? Kalashnikov assault rifle And Sturmgewehr 44?

Maxim Popenker, official representative concern "Kalashnikov", published an article on the Kalashnikov.Media website that well answers this question. So…

1. Who is Hugo Schmeisser and why is he often remembered next to Kalashnikov?

Hugo Schmeisser (1884-1953) - German weapons designer and entrepreneur, hereditary gunsmith. He became famous for developing several early automatic pistols for the Bergmann company, one of the first mass-produced MP 18 submachine guns (its priority is not without reason disputed by the Italians with the OVP-1918 and Beretta-1918). In the context of Russian weapons history, Schmeisser is most often remembered in connection with the development of machine guns for intermediate cartridge. Indeed, in 1943, the Red Army received as a trophy the German Mkb 42(H) assault rifle designed by Schmeisser chambered for the 7.9x33 intermediate cartridge, which led to the creation in 1943 of its own 7.62x41 intermediate cartridge with slightly better ballistics than the Germans and deployment of active work on weapons for this ammunition.

Here it should be especially noted that when Schmeiser was still engaged in establishing mass production of his modified machine gun in Germany Stg 44, in the USSR, work was underway to create a whole family of weapons chambered for an intermediate cartridge - carbines with manual reloading and self-loading, machine guns and light machine guns. Already in the summer of 1945, when Schmeisser, captured by the Americans in April 1945, was still in their captivity, military tests of the Sudaev AS-44 assault rifle chambered for 7.62x41 began in the USSR. In parallel with it, tests began on the Simonov SKS self-loading carbine chambered for the same cartridge. In 1946, Schmeisser, along with a group of other German engineers, was sent to the USSR to transfer German experience.

Let me remind you that in those days this was normal practice - the first Soviet jet planes had engines of a German design, the first Izhevsk post-war motorcycle IZH-350 was a copy of the German DKW 350, the French at their factories assembled Walter pistols for their police from captured parts and according to captured documentation, and all American space rockets up to the Saturn-5 moon were made under the leadership of former SS Sturmbannführer Wernher von Braun.

2. What is known about the collaboration between Schmeisser and Kalashnikov?

By and large, nothing. Mikhail Timofeevich worked on his machine gun in the city of Kovrov and at the Shchurovsky training ground in the Moscow region, taking part in competitions for a new machine gun in 1946 and 1947 along with many other designers who, in one way or another, had a noticeable influence on the final version of the AK-47 machine gun after the failure with the AK -46. In particular, it is worth noting Tula resident Bulkin with his TKB-415 assault rifle, who was one of Kalashnikov’s main competitors at the last stage of the 1947 competition.

In Izhevsk, where Hugo Schmeisser and a group of his former compatriots had been staying since 1946, Kalashnikov arrived at the beginning of 1948 with a more or less finished design of the assault rifle AK to put it into mass production.

It should also be noted that the design of the new machine gun was secret at that time, and the German engineers working in Izhevsk did not have access to secret work. In general, in open access in the IZHMASH museum in Izhevsk there is a fairly large volume of documents on the work there of a group of German gunsmiths, including personal characteristics on them, from which it follows that Schmeisser, unlike a number of his other colleagues who also ended up in Soviet captivity (such as Gruner, for example) , did not show much zeal in helping the winners and was engaged in not very serious developments such as a new submachine gun or magazines for weapons. It can be assumed that Schmeisser could have passed on to Soviet engineers some data on the technology of stamping weapon parts from sheet steel, but no documentary evidence of this has yet been found.

3. Is the design similarity between the Stg-44 and AK-47 a coincidence?

If we talk about external similarities, then yes, the StG 44 and AK-47 are similar. How similar are any other weapons similar in purpose to each other?

If we talk about external similarity, then it is appropriate to recall the engineering saying that form is determined by function. One purpose dictates the similarity of appearance, it should be noted that a similar StG 44 The general layout (stamped design, separate pistol grip, detachable box magazine, trigger mechanism block with handle folding down on a hinge) had, say, a Sudaev submachine gun of the 1942 model. On the other hand, similar to AK layout (both externally and internally) had an automatic rifle ( light machine gun) American Lewis (Lewis machine rifle) 1923 - this system also had gas-operated automatics with an overhead gas piston with a long stroke and locking with a rotating bolt.

If we talk purely about the design of automation and the layout of internal components, then there are also many more differences between the Kalashnikov and Schmeisser systems than coincidences.

Concerning StG 44, then its layout with a trigger assembly folding down, a return spring in the butt, a gas piston with a long stroke and a characteristic locking by skewing the bolt in a vertical plane had more than a coincidental resemblance to the design of the Czech ZB Vz.26 light machine gun. This similarity was especially noticeable in the early version of the German Mkb 42(H) assault rifle, however, even in the 1944 Sturmgever the Czech “ears” stick out in the most obvious way.

The Kalashnikov assault rifle is based on the design of the locking unit and the trigger mechanism American system Garand M1 (which was confirmed by Mikhail Timofeevich himself in his memoirs). The concept of “hanging” the bolt group with large gaps to ensure high reliability in case of contamination was previously used by Sudaev in his AS-44 assault rifle; the design of the receiver with a separate cover and a characteristic return spring solution were previously implemented in the Bulkin TKB-415 assault rifle.

In short, both Schmeisser and Kalashnikov were engaged in solving the same engineering problem (that is, creating weapons on already known principles and meeting similar requirements), but their approaches were fundamentally different, as were the results - Kalashnikov assault rifle turned out to be noticeably lighter than the Sturmgewehr, more flexible structurally (for StG 44 creating a version with a folding butt would result in a serious redesign of the design due to the spring located in the butt), and most importantly, it would be much more reliable.

That is why, despite the fame, StG 44 after the war they were not seriously copied in other combat models, but AK became one of the most successful, widespread and copied models not only in its class, but generally among all military small arms of the 20th century.

For our more experienced readers, here is a complete disassembly of the StG 44. Those who are well acquainted with the structure of the Kalashnikov assault rifle will see the differences in the systems of these rifles.

Mauser Gewehr 98 (Mauser 98)- repeating rifle model 1898, developed by German designers, brothers Wilhelm and Paul Mauser.

Rifle Mauser 98 was in service with many armies around the world until the end of World War II and gained a reputation as an accurate and reliable weapon.

Mauser 98k (Mauser 98k)- repeating rifle (in German sources: Karabiner 98k, Kar98k or K98k), officially adopted into service in 1935. It was the main and most widespread small arms of the Wehrmacht. Structurally, it is a shortened and slightly modified modification of the rifle Mauser 98.

TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Model:	Mauser Gewehr 98	Karabiner 98k
Manufacturer:	Mauser-Werke A.G. and others (see below).
Cartridge:	7.92x57mm Mauser
Caliber:	7.92 mm
Weight without cartridges:	4.1 kg	3.7 kg
Weight with cartridges:	n/a
Length:	1250 (with bayonet 1500) mm	1100 (with bayonet 1340) mm
Barrel length:	740 mm	610 mm
Number of rifling in the barrel:	4 right-hand
Trigger mechanism (trigger):	Impact type
Operating principle:	Sliding butterfly valve
Flag
Aim:	Front sight and rear sight, adjustable in range	Front sight with muzzle and rear sight, adjustable in range
Effective range:	500 m
Sighting range:	2000 m	1000 m
Initial bullet speed:	878 m/s	860 m/s
Type of ammunition:	Integral two-row magazine
Number of cartridges:	5
Years of production:	1898–1945	1935–1945

History of creation and production

Rifle Gewehr 98 was patented by Paul Mauser on September 9, 1895. This repeating rifle is a further development 7.92 mm rifle model 1888, created on the basis of the experience gained by the German army during the wars of 1864, 1866 and 1870–71. By decision of the commission Gewehr-Prüfungskommission(G.P.K.) Gewehr 98(also designated G98 or Gew.98- rifle model 1898) was adopted by the German army on April 5, 1898.

The first combat use of rifles Mauser 98 became their use in suppressing the “Boxer Rebellion” in China in 1900–1901.

In 1904 contracts were concluded with Waffenfabrik Mauser for 290,000 rifles and with Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken(DWM) for 210,000 rifles.

In the spring of 1915, it was decided to select 15,000 Mauser 98 rifles, for their exceptional shooting accuracy during factory tests, to install optical sights on them and use them as snipers. To install an optical sight, the bolt handle was bent down. 2.5x and 3x optical sights from such manufacturers as Gortz, Gerard, Oige, Zeiss, Hensoldt, Voigtländer, as well as models from various civilian manufacturers Bock, Busch and Fuss. By the end of the war, 18,421 Gewehr 98 rifles had been converted, equipped with optical sights, and issued to German snipers. Sniper versions of the Gewehr 98 rifle entered service with the Reischwehr and then the Wehrmacht and were used in World War II.

The new rifle turned out to be so successful that it served almost unchanged in the German army until the end of World War II, and was also exported in various versions and produced under license in various countries (Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, etc.).

Carbine Kar.98a

Along with the rifle Gew.98 a carbine was also released Kar.98, however, it was produced in its original form only until 1904 or 1905, when the Gew.98 system underwent its first changes due to the adoption of a new 7.92x57 mm cartridge, which had a pointed bullet instead of a blunt one. The new bullet had much better ballistics and the rifles as a result received new sights, re-calibrated for a longer-range cartridge. In 1908, another version of the carbine based on the Gew.98 appeared, which in the early 1920s received the designation (K98a). In addition to the reduced length of the stock and barrel relative to the Gew.98, the K98a had a bolt handle bent down and a hook for placing in a sawhorse under the muzzle of the barrel. The next, most widespread modification was Karabiner 98 Kurz- a carbine released in 1935 and adopted as the main individual weapon of the Wehrmacht infantry. The carbine was distinguished by minor improvements, the mounting pattern of the gun belt, and sighting devices (front sight in the front sight).

The original designation “carbine” for this sample is not correct from the point of view of Russian terminology: Mauser 98k it is more correct to call it a “shortened” or “lightweight” rifle, since the German term “carbine” (Karabiner) in its meaning used in those years does not correspond to the understanding of this word accepted in the Russian language. In terms of its dimensions, this “carbine” was only very slightly inferior, for example, to the Soviet “three-ruler”. The fact is that this word in the German language at that time only meant the presence of more convenient side, “cavalry” fastenings for the belt - instead of “infantry” swivels located below on the stock. For example, some German “carbines” were significantly longer than rifles of the same model. This terminological difference gives rise to a certain confusion, aggravated by the fact that subsequently in German the term “carbine” acquired its “usual” meaning and also began to designate a very shortened rifle.

During the war, in order to rationalize production and reduce the relatively high cost of the 98k carbine, which became the main model of small arms of the Wehrmacht, the following changes were made to its design:

• for the manufacture of stocks they began to use beech plywood instead walnut(the consequence of which was an increase in the mass of the carbine by 0.3 kg);
• some parts began to be made from sheet steel by stamping;
• spot welding of individual parts was introduced;
• a simplified sight and bolt were used;
• instead of bluing, the outer surfaces of the parts were phosphated;
• The handle linings of a bladed bayonet began to be made not from wood, but from bakelite.

For the Wehrmacht and SS troops, the Mauser 98k was produced by the following companies:

• Mauser Werke A.G., plant in Oberndorf am Neckar;
• Mauser Werke A.G., plant in Borsigwald, a suburb of Berlin;
• J.P. Sauer und Sohn Gewehrfabrik, plant in Suhl;
• Erfurter Maschinenfabrik (ERMA), plant in Erfurt;
• Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik, plant in Lübeck;
• Berlin-Suhler-Waffen und Fahrzuegerke;
• Gustloff Werke, plant in Weimar;
• Steyr-Daimler-Puch A.G., plant in Steyr (Austria);
• Steyr-Daimler-Puch A.G., workshops in the Mauthausen concentration camp (Austria);
• Waffen Werke Brunn A.G., plant in Povazska Bistrica (Slovakia).

Until 1945, German industry, as well as the industry of countries occupied by Germany (Austria, Poland, Czech Republic) produced more than 14 million rifles and carbines of this system.

Options and modifications

• Sniper option- standard rifles were used as sniper rifles; those that gave maximum accuracy were selected from the batch. For shooting, SmE (Spitzgeschoss mit Eisenkern - pointed bullet with a steel core) cartridges were used.

  
  
  

  The first type of telescopic sight officially adopted by the German army was ZF 39(German) Zielfemrohr 1939). Otherwise this sight was called Zielvier(“quadruple”), this name was also applied to other sights that provide fourfold magnification. In 1940, the sight received a standard graduation for a distance of up to 1200 m. It was installed above the bolt; during the war, the mounting design was repeatedly improved.

  
  

  In July 1941, another sight was put into service - ZF 41(German) Zielfernrohr 41), also known as ZF 40 And ZF 41/1. Kar.98k rifles equipped with ZF 41 began to enter troops at the end of 1941. With a length of 13 cm, it provided only one and a half times magnification; it was attached to the left side of the rear sight, so it did not interfere with loading the magazine from the clip. Due to its 1.5x magnification, this sight could only be used for medium-range shooting. A rifle with such a scope was positioned as a rifle for high-precision shooting, and not as a sniper. At the beginning of 1944, ZF 41 sights were removed from many rifles, but their production continued until the end of the war.

  
  

  Telescopic sight ZF 4(or ZF 43, ZFK 43 And ZFK 43/1) was intended for the G43 self-loading rifle and was a copy of the Soviet sight. It was not possible to produce the G43 in sufficient quantities; the new sight had to be adapted to the old rifle. The sight was placed above the bolt on a swept-back mount, adopted a few months before the end of the war and produced in a limited series.

  There were other types of sights. For example, sight Opticotechna. Quadruple telescopic sights Dialytan And Hensoldt & Soehne. Rare six-fold telescopic sight Carl Zeiss Jena Zielsechs.

  According to a very rough estimate, about 200,000 rifles were equipped with telescopic sights Kar.98k. About half of this amount is for the ZF 41 scope, and the other half is for other types of scopes.

• Special options for skydivers- German paratroopers received a fairly large number of small arms, developed taking into account the requirements of the Airborne Forces command.

  Collapsible, with the barrel mounted in the receiver on an interrupted thread (German. Abnehmbarer Lauf).

  
  
  

  Shortened Kar 98/42, created on the basis of the infantry 98k and differing from it only in slightly smaller length and weight.

  Folding - with folding wooden stock 33/40 Klappschaft. The length of the weapon without a bayonet was 995 mm, the barrel length was 490 mm. Weight without bayonet - 3.35 kg.

  
  Folding carbine 33/40, right view The folding unit was located immediately behind the end of the bolt and the trigger guard. The initial bullet speed was 820 m/s, the target range reached 1000 meters. The rifle was equipped with a standard German knife-shaped bayonet. In parachute units there were also sniper versions of folding rifles 33/40 , equipped with an optical sight (indicated by the index ZF).
  
• Rifle Vz. 24(Czech. Puška vz. 24, rifle model 1924) is a Czechoslovak bolt-action repeating rifle.

  
  
  

  Produced in Czechoslovakia from 1924 to 1942. Structurally, it was a modification of the German Mauser 98 repeating rifle. The rifle had a different design, it was shorter and more convenient than the Mauser 98. It was produced in the city of Povazska Bistrica.

  
  
• Carbine Vz. 33- a carbine created on the basis of the Vz rifle. 24, intended for the police, treasury guards and other similar services, was distinguished by a barrel shortened to 490 mm, a total length of 995 mm and a curved bolt handle, as well as a new bayonet with a shortened handle. In production since 1934.

  
  
  

  After the occupation of Czechoslovakia, the carbine was slightly modified and its production continued until 1942, already for the needs of the Wehrmacht, where it was adopted by mountain rifle and parachute units under the name Gewehr 33/40(t).

  
  A Wehrmacht private on guard duty on the North Sea coast in Holland. The soldier is armed with a Mauser Gewehr 33/40 carbine
• Rifle wz. 98a(Polish Karabin wz. 98a) - Polish Mauser. Produced in Poland from 1936 to 1939. Captured rifles of the Polish army entered service with the Wehrmacht under the name Gewehr 299 (p).
  
• (Polish Karabinek wz. 29) - a shortened version of the Polish rifle wz. 98a. Produced in Poland from 1930 to 1939. Captured carbines of the Polish army entered service with the Wehrmacht under the name Gewehr 298(p).
  Polish carbine wz. 29
• M24 rifle(Serbian-chorus. Sokolska puška M. 1924) - Yugoslav version of the Mauser rifle, similar to the Czech Vz. 24. Produced in Yugoslavia from 1925 to 1945.
• M1935 rifle(fr. Fusil Mle. 1935) - the Mauser rifle adopted by the Belgian army, is a development of the Belgian rifle of the 1924 model produced by FN Herstal for export sale. The main difference is the front sight of its own design and a modified mount for the needle bayonet.
• Zhongzhen type rifle(Chinese: 中正式), known as Chiang Kai-shek rifle or Type 24(Chinese: 二四式) - a Chinese rifle, a licensed copy of the German Mauser 98 rifle, the predecessor of another Wehrmacht rifle, the Mauser 98k. Production of the Chiang Kai-shek rifle began in August 1935 (or 24 according to the calendar of the Republic of China, after which it was named Type 24). Later it received the name Zhongzhen type. In the Chinese Red Army it was known as Type 79. Despite the fact that the Type 24 was adopted in 1935, it was not the most common rifle in the history of the Republic of China, and it only began to be actively used during the Sino-Japanese War. The weapon was used until the end of the Korean War

  
  
  

  Chiang Kai-shek's rifle is an exact copy of the Mauser 98: a cylindrical bolt, a long stock and a muzzle extending from it, a bayonet handle, finger recesses in the front and one stock ring are the main visible parts. Type 24 was better than the Japanese Arisaka rifle in such indicators as rate of fire and firing range, and was also more compact.

  
  A National Revolutionary Army soldier with a Type 24 rifle guards P-40 fighters from the American volunteer Flying Tigers squadron. Flying tigers)
• Volkssturmkarabiner 98 (VK.98)- literally translated from German - “Volkssturm carbine”. It is a greatly simplified version of the Mauser 98k. Produced by Mauser at the end of World War II, both in single-shot and magazine versions.

  
  
  

  At the end of World War II, other German manufacturers produced Volkssturmgewehr 1 (VG 1) and Volkssturmgewehr 2 (VG 2) carbines, which, despite the similarity of names, have significant differences from the Volkssturmkarabiner 98.

Design

By its design, the rifle belongs to the magazine rifles with a sliding bolt with a rotation when locked. The bolt is locked by turning 90 degrees and has three lugs, two of which are located in its front part and one in the rear. The charging handle is located on the rear of the bolt. The bolt has gas outlet holes, which, when gases break through from the cartridge case, remove powder gases back through the hole for the striker down into the magazine cavity. The bolt is removed from the weapon without the help of tools - it is held in the receiver by a bolt lock located on the left of the receiver. To remove the bolt, you need to put the safety in the middle position, pull the front part of the lock and remove the bolt back. A design feature of the Mauser bolt is a massive non-rotating ejector, which captures the rim of the cartridge as it is removed from the magazine and rigidly holds the cartridge on the bolt mirror. Such a system, together with a short longitudinal displacement of the bolt back while turning the handle when opening it, ensures the initial release of the cartridge case and reliable extraction of even cartridge cases that are very tightly seated in the chamber. The cartridge case is ejected from the receiver by an ejector mounted on the left wall of the receiver and passing through a longitudinal groove in the bolt. The barrel bore is locked by symmetrically located lugs The bolt stem is a part or constructive part of the moving system of a weapon, when -moving the shutter.">shutter stem. The cartridges are fed from a double-row magazine with a staggered arrangement of 5 cartridges. The magazine is completely hidden in the stock. Loading from clips or one cartridge at a time. Loading cartridges directly into the chamber is not allowed, as it may lead to breakage of the ejector tooth.

Complete disassembly of the rifle (click on the picture to enlarge it)

Striker-type trigger mechanism, trigger stroke with warning. The firing pin is cocked and armed by turning the handle when opening the bolt. The mainspring is located inside the bolt, around the firing pin. The position of the firing pin can be easily determined visually or by touch by the position of the shank protruding from the rear of the bolt. three-position, reversible, located in the rear of the shutter. It has the following positions: horizontally to the left - “safety on, bolt locked”, vertically up - “safety on, bolt free” and horizontally to the right - “fire”. The “up” safety position is used to load and unload the weapon and remove the bolt. Operating the safety is simple and easy to use with your right thumb.

Safety on, bolt locked

The rifle has a sector sight, consisting of an aiming block, The sighting bar is a detail of the me-ha-no-thing-at-the-aim of the arrow-to-the-weapon, full-on in the view of the plan-ki with the de- le-ni-i-mi, with-the-response-to-the-de-len-no-distance to shoot.">targeting bar And Clamp - de-tal of me-ha-no-thing-at-the-ts-la, re-mo-s-cha-yu-sha-ya along the aiming plank or stand purpose-la and pre-designated for setting the angles of the purpose."> clamp with latch. The sighting bar has divisions from 1 to 20. Each division corresponds to a change in range by 100 m. The front sight is attached to the base of the muzzle of the barrel in a dovetail groove with the possibility of making lateral corrections. An adjustable rear sight is located on the barrel in front of the receiver. On some samples, the front sight is covered with a semicircular removable front sight.

The stock is wooden with a semi-pistol grip. The back of the butt is the back part of the arrow-stock of the weapon or a separate part attached to the back side of the butt pri-kla-du.">Butt plate- steel has a door that closes the cavity for storing accessories, the cleaning rod is located in the front of the stock under the barrel. To clean a weapon, a standard cleaning rod is assembled from two halves.

The design of the Mauser 98k is generally similar to that of the Mauser 98. The main features of the Mauser 98k include:

• shorter barrel (600 mm instead of 740 mm for the Mauser 98);
• shutter handle bent down; slightly reduced length of the stock and the presence of a recess in it for the bolt handle;
lodge The family of rifles in Germany alone included 7 main models, with blade lengths from 523 mm to 345 mm. Mauser 98k were equipped with standard bayonets SG 84/98, significantly shorter and lighter than the bayonets provided for the Mauser 98. This bayonet had a blade 25 cm long with a total length of 38.5 cm. To be worn on a belt, the bayonet was placed in a special sheath. Massive bayonet battles were uncharacteristic of the Second World War, therefore, in order to save money, from the end of 1944, rifles were no longer equipped with bayonet knives; they even lacked a bayonet mount and a cleaning rod. In addition to the standard bayonet, the model was adopted SG 42, although it was not included in the series. SG 42 had a length of 30 cm with a blade length of 17.6 cm.


Additional accessories

During World War II, a muzzle grenade launcher and curved attachments (smoothbore) were adopted for the Mauser 98k rifle, making it possible to fire from behind cover (from around a corner, etc.).

Standard rifle grenade launcher Gewehrgranat Geraet 42 attached to the barrel using a folding clamp. The maximum firing range is up to 250 m. There were approximately 7 types of grenades for the grenade launcher.

Barrel anti-tank grenade launcher GG/P40 (Gewehrgranatgeraet zur Panzerbekämpfung 40) designed specifically for skydivers. It was lighter and smaller than standard GG 42, was produced in a small batch, attached to a rifle like a bayonet, and was intended to fight enemy armored vehicles.

Krummlauf- a device for shooting from behind cover, capable of turning the bullet's travel by 30 degrees. It was attached to the rifle barrel using the same mechanism as the barrel grenade launcher. Developed in 1943, after several prototypes were produced, the main focus of work on barrel curvature was transferred to assault rifles.

Winter trigger(German) Winterabzug) - a device for shooting a rifle in winter. Developed in 1942, officially adopted in 1944. The winter release consisted of an oval tin container with a lever inside and an external trigger located on the side. The container was placed on the trigger safety guard. By turning the outer trigger back, the shooter carried out the descent. A similar device was used on the MP 40 submachine gun. It is unknown how many of these devices were made, but it was widely used by snipers because it allowed them to shoot in winter without taking off their mittens.




Silencers. There are two known silencers for the Kar.98k: one 25.5 cm long with a spiral surface, the other 23 cm long. They were put on the barrel using a clamp similar to the mount for a barrel grenade launcher. Subsonic cartridges were used. No further details available.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• High muzzle energy - 3828 J (carbine - 3698 J), good penetrating and lethal effect of the bullet.;
• The design of the shutter ensures high reliability and smooth operation, durability and long service life, ease and safety in handling;
• Stopping the bolt in the rear position warns the shooter about the need to load the weapon and eliminates attempts to fire from an unloaded weapon;
• Placing the handle at the end of the bolt allows you to reload the rifle without removing it from your shoulder, without losing sight of the target and without disturbing the monotony of aiming, which increases the accuracy of fire;
• The magazine hidden in the stock is protected from mechanical damage;
• System Mauser model 1898 years and its development - Karabiner 98 Kurz became the most successful in their class, as evidenced by great amount various samples of military and hunting rifles and carbines, based on the Mauser design.

Flaws

• Small magazine capacity.
• The rifle, despite its large mass, has strong recoil, a sharp and loud shot sound;
• Some other bolt action rifles, such as the British Lee-Enfield, have a higher rate of fire;
• The main disadvantage of this system is the impossibility of fast and cheap mass production.

Usage

In addition to the Wehrmacht, the Mauser rifle during the Second World War was in service with the armies of Belgium, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Czechoslovakia, Sweden and Yugoslavia.

Video

Rifle shooting, weapon handling, etc.:

Weapons TV. Rifle Mauser Gewehr 98 (Mauser 98) Mauser K98 (Russian trophy). Part 1 (on English language) Mauser K98 (Russian trophy). Part 2 (in English)

On the monument to gunsmith Mikhail Kalashnikov opened in Moscow, an image of a drawing of a German StG machine gun 44 instead of AK-47. The Russian Military Historical Society (RVIO), which oversaw the construction of this monument, stated that this was a mistake by the sculptor and his apprentices, and thanked the person who revealed this. It was also stated that the drawing of the German StG 44 assault rifle would soon be removed from the new monument.

Photo: ©RIA Novosti/Vladimir Astapkovich

The military-historical editor of Rolling Wheels magazine, Yuri Pasholok, rightly drew public attention to the “oddities” of the new monument.

Pasholok posted a photo of the monument and a scan of a drawing of a German machine gun on Facebook.
“Don’t say it was them by accident. You have to beat someone for this, painfully and publicly,” the expert commented on his unsightly discovery.

Let us recall that the author of the monument to the legendary Mikhail Kalashnikov is Salavat Shcherbakov. His chisel belongs to the stone patriarch Hermogenes, Alexander I in the Alexander Garden, as well as the recently opened, but already famous Monument to Prince Vladimir.

The fact that the Kalashnikov monument contains a diagram of the German StG 44 assault rifle is quite symbolic. (Let us clarify that the concept of “machine gun” is used in relation to small arms of this kind precisely here, in Russia. In the rest of the world, another classification is accepted - “submachine gun” and “assault rifle”. But we will call it as we like for us, not for the world - “automatic”!) The fact is that outwardly our AK-47 suspiciously strongly resembles just this technical work of the talented designer Hugo Schmeisser, which was used by special units of the Third Reich - mountain riflemen (including their second division "Edelweiss"), as well as units of the "Waffen-SS". We have specifically posted below interesting material about Soviet and German small arms during the Second World War, where, in particular, this same StG 44 is described and shown in illustration form.

There is nothing wrong with the fact that Kalashnikov, to one degree or another, adopted the achievements of the Germans. This is normal practice for the military-industrial complex of any country - any achievement of the enemy is immediately implemented into its own defense structures. This was the case, for example, with the tanks of the French company Renault, which were created during the First World War, in 1916-17, and which for the first time used a turret of circular rotation (360 degrees). This innovation was immediately adopted by tank builders all over the world - and are still in use today! And what - all the armies of the world consider themselves “humiliated” after this?!

Moreover, the Germans, when they captured warehouses with a large number of our excellent SVT-40 rifles, did not consider it shameful to officially arm their units with them - its shooting characteristics were so good! (By the way, this will be discussed below).

After the war, special groups from both the USSR and the USA intensively hunted for the technical secrets of the Nazis - documentation, technologies and finished products. Our outstanding leader was in one of these special forces. rocket designer Sergei Pavlovich Korolev - “Colonel Sergeev”. It was from Germany that the V-2 engines were delivered, which helped Korolev develop his own rocket engines. They then stood at the entrance to the Museum of Cosmonautics, located on the territory of RSC Energia. At one time I made a publication on this topic in one of the central newspapers of Russia, where I worked at that time. And how funny the situation looked when I visited this Museum again. and... didn’t see these units! In response to my astonished question, the guide, looking at me with pewter eyes, firmly began to assure that they had never been here: apparently, the management of the concern, after publication in the press (and it was the first at that “perestroika” time), considered it “shameful” for S P. Korolev and “lowering his authority as a designer” is the fact that he used the developments of “some Germans.” Truly funny!

Alexey Anatolyevich Cheverda

Small arms of World War II

By the end of the 30s, almost all participants in the coming world war had formed general directions in the development of small arms. The range and accuracy of the attack was reduced, which was compensated by the greater density of fire. As a consequence of this, the beginning of mass rearmament of units with automatic small arms - submachine guns, machine guns, assault rifles.

Accuracy of fire began to fade into the background, while the soldiers advancing in a chain began to be taught shooting on the move. With the advent of airborne troops, the need arose to create special lightweight weapons.

Maneuver warfare also affected machine guns: they became much lighter and more mobile. New types of small arms appeared (which was dictated, first of all, by the need to fight tanks) - rifle grenades, anti-tank rifles and RPGs with cumulative grenades.

Small arms of the USSR

On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, the rifle division of the Red Army was a very formidable force - about 14.5 thousand people. The main type of small arms were rifles and carbines - 10,420 pieces. The share of submachine guns was insignificant - 1204. There were 166, 392 and 33 units of heavy, light and anti-aircraft machine guns, respectively.

The division had its own artillery of 144 guns and 66 mortars. The firepower was supplemented by 16 tanks, 13 armored vehicles and a solid fleet of auxiliary vehicles.

Mosin rifle

The main small arms of the USSR infantry units of the first period of the war was certainly the famous three-line rifle - the 7.62 mm S.I. Mosin rifle of the 1891 model, modernized in 1930. Its advantages are well known - strength, reliability, ease of maintenance, combined with good ballistics qualities, in particular, with an aiming range of 2 km.

The three-line rifle is an ideal weapon for newly recruited soldiers, and the simplicity of the design created enormous opportunities for its mass production. But like any weapon, the three-line gun had its drawbacks. The permanently attached bayonet in combination with a long barrel (1670 mm) created inconvenience when moving, especially in wooded area. The bolt handle caused serious complaints when reloading.

On its basis, a sniper rifle and a series of carbines of the 1938 and 1944 models were created. Fate gave the three-line a long life (the last three-line was released in 1965), participation in many wars and an astronomical “circulation” of 37 million copies.

At the end of the 30s, the outstanding Soviet weapons designer F.V. Tokarev developed a 10-round self-loading rifle cal. 7.62 mm SVT-38, which after modernization received the name SVT-40. It “lost weight” by 600 g and became shorter due to the introduction of thinner wooden parts, additional holes in the casing and a decrease in the length of the bayonet. A little later, a sniper rifle appeared at its base. Automatic firing was ensured by the removal of powder gases. The ammunition was placed in a box-shaped, detachable magazine.

The target range of the SVT-40 is up to 1 km. The SVT-40 served with honor on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. It was also appreciated by our opponents. Historical fact: Having captured rich trophies at the beginning of the war, among which there were many SVT-40s, the German army... adopted it for service, and the Finns created their own rifle - TaRaKo - on the basis of the SVT-40.

The creative development of the ideas implemented in the SVT-40 became the AVT-40 automatic rifle. It differed from its predecessor in its ability to fire automatically at a rate of up to 25 rounds per minute. The disadvantage of the AVT-40 is its low accuracy of fire, strong unmasking flame and loud sound at the moment of firing. Subsequently, as automatic weapons entered the military en masse, they were removed from service.

Submachine guns

The Great Patriotic War was the time of the final transition from rifles to automatic weapons. The Red Army began to fight, armed with a small number of PPD-40 - a submachine gun designed by an outstanding Soviet designer Vasily Alekseevich Degtyarev. At that time, PPD-40 was in no way inferior to its domestic and foreign counterparts.

Designed for a pistol cartridge cal. 7.62 x 25 mm, the PPD-40 had an impressive ammunition load of 71 rounds, housed in a drum-type magazine. Weighing about 4 kg, it fired at a rate of 800 rounds per minute with an effective range of up to 200 meters. However, just a few months after the start of the war it was replaced by the legendary PPSh-40 cal. 7.62 x 25 mm.

The creator of the PPSh-40, designer Georgy Semenovich Shpagin, was faced with the task of developing an extremely easy-to-use, reliable, technologically advanced, cheap to produce mass weapon.

From its predecessor, the PPD-40, the PPSh inherited a drum magazine with 71 rounds. A little later, a simpler and more reliable sector horn magazine with 35 rounds was developed for it. The weight of the equipped machine guns (both versions) was 5.3 and 4.15 kg, respectively. The rate of fire of the PPSh-40 reached 900 rounds per minute with an aiming range of up to 300 meters and the ability to fire single shots.

To master the PPSh-40, a few lessons were enough. It could easily be disassembled into 5 parts made using stamping and welding technology, thanks to which during the war years the Soviet defense industry produced about 5.5 million machine guns.

In the summer of 1942, the young designer Alexey Sudaev presented his brainchild - a 7.62 mm submachine gun. It was strikingly different from its “bigger brothers” PPD and PPSh-40 in its rational layout, higher manufacturability and ease of manufacturing parts using arc welding.

PPS-42 was 3.5 kg lighter and required three times less manufacturing time. However, despite its quite obvious advantages, it never became a mass weapon, leaving the PPSh-40 to take the lead.

By the beginning of the war, the DP-27 light machine gun (Degtyarev infantry, 7.62mm caliber) had been in service with the Red Army for almost 15 years, having the status of the main light machine gun of infantry units. Its automation was powered by the energy of powder gases. The gas regulator reliably protected the mechanism from contamination and high temperatures.

The DP-27 could only fire automatically, but even a beginner needed a few days to master shooting in short bursts of 3-5 shots. Ammunition of 47 rounds was placed in a disk magazine with a bullet towards the center in one row. The magazine itself was mounted on top of the receiver. The weight of the unloaded machine gun was 8.5 kg. An equipped magazine increased it by almost another 3 kg.

It was a powerful weapon with an effective range of 1.5 km and a combat rate of fire of up to 150 rounds per minute. In the firing position, the machine gun rested on a bipod. A flame arrester was screwed onto the end of the barrel, significantly reducing its unmasking effect. The DP-27 was serviced by a gunner and his assistant. In total, about 800 thousand machine guns were produced.

Wehrmacht small arms

The main strategy of the German army is offensive or blitzkrieg (blitzkrieg - lightning war). The decisive role in it was assigned to large tank formations, carrying out deep breakthroughs of the enemy’s defenses in cooperation with artillery and aviation.

Tank units bypassed powerful fortified areas, destroying control centers and rear communications, without which the enemy quickly lost their combat effectiveness. The defeat was completed by motorized units of the ground forces.

Small arms of the Wehrmacht infantry division

German state infantry division model 1940 assumed the presence of 12,609 rifles and carbines, 312 submachine guns (machine guns), light and heavy machine guns - 425 and 110 pieces, respectively, 90 anti-tank rifles and 3,600 pistols. Wehrmacht small arms generally met the high wartime requirements. It was reliable, trouble-free, simple, easy to manufacture and maintain, which contributed to its serial production.

Rifles, carbines, machine guns

"Mauser 98K"

"Mauser 98K" is an improved version of the "Mauser 98" rifle, developed in late XIX century by the brothers Paul and Wilhelm Mauser, founders of the world famous arms company. Equipping the German army with it began in 1935.

« Mauser 98K"

The weapon was loaded with a clip of five 7.92 mm cartridges. A trained soldier could shoot 15 times within a minute at a range of up to 1.5 km. The Mauser 98K was very compact. Its main characteristics: weight, length, barrel length - 4.1 kg x 1250 x 740 mm. The indisputable advantages of the rifle are evidenced by numerous conflicts involving it, longevity and a truly sky-high “circulation” - more than 15 million units.

At the shooting range. Rifle "Mauser 98K"

The self-loading ten-shot rifle G-41 became the German response to the massive equipping of the Red Army with rifles - SVT-38, 40 and ABC-36. Its sighting range reached 1200 meters. Only single shooting was allowed. Its significant disadvantages - significant weight, low reliability and increased vulnerability to contamination - were subsequently eliminated. The combat “circulation” amounted to several hundred thousand rifle samples.

MP-40 "Schmeisser" assault rifle

Perhaps the most famous Wehrmacht small arms of the Second World War was the famous MP-40 submachine gun, a modification of its predecessor, the MP-36, created by Heinrich Vollmer. However, as fate would have it, he is better known under the name “Schmeisser”, obtained thanks to the stamp on the store - “PATENT SCHMEISSER”. The stigma simply meant that, in addition to G. Vollmer, Hugo Schmeisser also participated in the creation of the MP-40, but only as the creator of the store.

MP-40 "Schmeisser" assault rifle

Initially, the MP-40 was intended to arm the command staff of infantry units, but later it was transferred to the disposal of tank crews, armored vehicle drivers, paratroopers and special forces soldiers.

However, the MP-40 was absolutely unsuitable for infantry units, since it was exclusively a melee weapon. In a fierce battle on open area having a weapon with a firing range of 70 to 150 meters meant for a German soldier to be practically unarmed in front of his enemy, armed with Mosin and Tokarev rifles with a firing range of 400 to 800 meters.

StG-44 assault rifle

Assault rifle StG-44 (sturmgewehr) cal. 7.92mm is another legend of the Third Reich. This is certainly an outstanding creation by Hugo Schmeisser - the prototype of many post-war assault rifles and machine guns, including the famous AK-47.

The StG-44 could conduct single and automatic fire. Its weight with a full magazine was 5.22 kg. IN sighting range– 800 meters - the Sturmgever was in no way inferior to its main competitors. There were three versions of the magazine - for 15, 20 and 30 shots with a rate of up to 500 rounds per minute. The option of using a rifle with an under-barrel grenade launcher and an infrared sight was considered.

Creator of "Sturmgever 44" Hugo Schmeisser

Not without its shortcomings. The assault rifle was heavier than the Mauser-98K by a whole kilogram. Her wooden butt couldn't stand it sometimes hand-to-hand combat and just broke down. The flame escaping from the barrel revealed the location of the shooter, and the long magazine and sighting devices forced him to raise his head high in a prone position.

« Sturmgever "44 with IR sight

In total, before the end of the war, German industry produced about 450 thousand StG-44s, which were used mainly by elite SS units.

Machine guns

By the beginning of the 30s, the military leadership of the Wehrmacht came to the need to create a universal machine gun, which, if necessary, could be transformed, for example, from a manual one to an easel one and vice versa. This is how a series of machine guns was born - MG - 34, 42, 45.

The 7.92 mm MG-42 is rightly called one of the best machine guns of World War II. It was developed at Grossfus by engineers Werner Gruner and Kurt Horn. Those who have experienced it firepower, were very frank. Our soldiers called it a “lawn mower,” and the allies called it “Hitler’s circular saw.”

Depending on the type of bolt, the machine gun fired accurately at a speed of up to 1500 rpm at a range of up to 1 km. Ammunition was supplied using a machine gun belt with 50 - 250 rounds of ammunition. The uniqueness of the MG-42 was complemented by a relatively small number of parts - 200 - and the high technology of their production using stamping and spot welding.

The barrel, hot from shooting, was replaced with a spare one in a few seconds using a special clamp. In total, about 450 thousand machine guns were produced. The unique technical developments embodied in the MG-42 were borrowed by gunsmiths from many countries around the world when creating their machine guns.

https://www.techcult.ru/weapon/2387-strelkovoe-oruzhie-vermahta

C.G. Haenel MP-43 MP-44 Stg.44 (Germany)

Caliber: 7.92x33mm (7.92mm Kurz)
Automation type: gas vent, locking by tilting the shutter
Length: 940 mm
Barrel length: 419 mm
Weight: 5.22 kg
Shop: 30 rounds

The development of hand-held automatic weapons chambered for a cartridge intermediate in power between a pistol and a rifle began in Germany at the beginning of the Second World War. The intermediate cartridge 7.92x33 mm (7.92mm Kurz), developed on its own initiative by the German company Polte, was chosen as the base one. In 1942, by order of the German Armaments Directorate, two companies began developing weapons for this cartridge - C.G. Haenel and Karl Walther.

As a result, two samples were created, initially classified as automatic carbines - (MachinenKarabine, MKb). The Walter company sample was designated MKb.42(W), the Haenel company sample, developed under the leadership of Hugo Schmeisser, was designated Mkb.42(H). Based on the test results, it was decided to develop the Henel design, which included significant changes, primarily related to the trigger device. Due to Hitler's reluctance to begin production of a new class of weapons, development was carried out under the designation MP-43 (MachinenPistole = submachine gun). The first samples of the MP-43 were successfully tested on the Eastern Front against Soviet troops, and in 1944 more or less mass production of a new type of weapon began, but under the name MP-44. After the results of successful frontal tests were presented to Hitler and approved by him, the nomenclature of the weapon was changed again, and the model received the final designation StG.44 (SturmGewehr-44, assault rifle). The name SturmGewehr had a purely propaganda meaning, however, as usual, it firmly stuck not only to this model, but also to the entire range of hand-held automatic weapons chambered for an intermediate cartridge.

The MP-44 was an automatic weapon built on the basis of automatic weapons with a gas engine. The barrel was locked by tilting the bolt down behind the receiver. The receiver is stamped from a steel sheet, and the stamped trigger block together with the pistol grip is hinged to the receiver and folds forward and down for disassembly. The butt was made of wood and was removed during disassembly; a return spring was located inside the butt. The sight is sectorial, the safety and the fire mode selector are independent, the bolt handle is located on the left and moves with the bolt frame when firing. The muzzle of the barrel has a thread for attaching a rifle grenade launcher, usually covered with a protective sleeve. The MP-44 could be equipped with an active IR sight "Vampire" as well as a special Krummlauf Vorsatz J curved-barrel device, designed for firing from tanks at the enemy in the dead zone near the tank.

In general, the MP-44 was a fairly successful model, providing effective fire with single shots at a range of up to 600 meters and automatic fire at a range of up to 300 meters. It was the first mass-produced model of a new class of weapons - assault rifles, and had an undoubted influence on ALL subsequent developments, including, of course, the Kalashnikov assault rifle. HOWEVER, it is impossible to talk about Kalashnikov’s DIRECT BORROWING from the Schmeisser design - as follows from the above, the AK and MP-44 designs contain too many fundamentally different solutions (receiver layout, trigger device, barrel locking unit, etc.). The disadvantages of the MP-44 include the excessively large mass of the weapon, sights located too high, which is why the shooter had to raise his head too high when shooting while lying down, and shortened magazines for 15 and 20 rounds were even developed for the MP-44. In addition, the butt mount was not strong enough and could be destroyed in hand-to-hand combat.

In total, about 500,000 variants of the MP-44 were produced, and with the end of World War II it was

production ended, but until the mid-1950s it was in service with the police of the GDR and the airborne troops of Yugoslavia.

Heckler - Koch G3 (Germany)

the very first production version of the G3 rifle, with a stamped metal forend and a reversible diopter rear sight

rifle G3A3 - a modified version, with a plastic ventilated forend and a drum rear sight

G3A3 rifle with a mounted bayonet and a more modern design forend

rifle G3A4 - modification with a telescopic (sliding) butt

G3KA4 is a short rifle with a sliding butt. Also equipped with the most modern trigger module, made integral with a pistol grip made of plastic

Caliber: 7.62x51 mm NATO (.308 win)
[b]Weight: 4.5 kg
Length: 1023 mm
Barrel length: 450 mm (315 mm in G3KA4 version)
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds

After the adoption of the American T-65 cartridge (7.62x51mm) as the standard NATO rifle and machine gun ammunition by the mid-1950s, Germany, like other NATO countries, faced the problem of rearmament. An attempt to adopt the Belgian FN FAL rifle for unification purposes failed, since the Belgians (apparently in retaliation for the recent occupation of Belgium) refused to sell Germany a license to manufacture their rifle. Since the Germans, for obvious reasons, wanted to produce weapons for themselves, they had to turn to other available developments. They were interested, in particular, in the latest Spanish automatic rifle from CETME, developed under the leadership of the German engineer Ludwig Forgrimler. In 1957, Germany acquired a license for the CETME rifle and, based on the results of a tender, the new weapon received the right to produce new weapons. Heckler company und Koch from Oberndorf, created “on the ruins” of the Mauser concern. In 1959, the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) adopted a new rifle under the designation G3 (Gewehr 3 - Rifle model 3). At the same time, its G3A1 variant is also being adopted, differing only in the presence of a retractable stock instead of the fixed one on the G3. From 1959 to 1995, the G3 rifle in various modifications was in service with the Bundeswehr, and since 1995 it was replaced by the G36 5.56mm NATO assault rifle developed by the same company. In addition to Germany, the G3 was or is in service in the armies of more than 50 countries, including Greece, Pakistan, Portugal, and Sweden. Norway, Iran and many others. G3 was produced under license in countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Greece, Turkey. The Heckler-Koch company itself produced G3 rifles until 2000 or 2001, when they finally disappeared from the company’s catalogs. However, such derivatives of the G3 design as the well-known HK MP-5 submachine gun, the 5.56mm HK33 assault rifle, the HK21 and HK23 single machine guns, and the HK PSG-1 and HK MSG-90 sniper rifles are still produced and sold around the world. ..

The main reason for the high popularity of the G3 rifle compared to its main competitors in the NATO bloc - the Belgian FN FAL rifle and the American M14, was, in addition to high combat characteristics, also the low cost of production and maintenance associated with the widespread use of stamping instead of expensive machining, and simple design.

The G3 rifle is an automatic weapon built on the basis of a semi-free action automatic weapon. The opening of the bolt is slowed down by the interaction of a pair of rollers with the barrel shank and the bolt, which consists of two parts. At the same time, at the first moment, the rollers serve as accelerators for the rear part of the bolt, while simultaneously slowing down the movement of the front part of the bolt, which holds the sleeve in the chamber. The chamber itself has longitudinal grooves (the so-called Revelli grooves), designed to prevent the cartridge case from “sticking” in the chamber. The general automation scheme was developed in 1945 at the Mauser company, and is described in more detail in the article about the 7.62mm CETME rifle. The receiver of the G3 rifle is made from stamped steel sheet. On early models, the body of the trigger mechanism was also stamped from a steel sheet; later, a plastic trigger body, made integral with the pistol grip and trigger guard, began to be used. The trigger body is attached to the receiver with a pin and, when disassembled incompletely, folds down and forward after separating the butt from the butt plate of the receiver. If necessary, the trigger housing can be easily separated from the weapon for repair or replacement by removing the pin located behind the magazine well. The trigger trigger itself, the fire mode translator also serves as a fuse, is located on the left side of the trigger housing. Standardly it has 3 positions - “safety” - “single” - “burst”, however, there are also trigger options with an additional fire mode with a burst cut-off of 3 rounds. The charging handle is foldable, located on the left above the barrel and does not move when firing. Sights on the first versions (G3 and G3A1) consisted of a front sight in a ring front sight and a reversible open rear sight; on later modifications (G3A2, A3, A4) the rear sight became dioptric, in the form of a drum with holes for firing ranges of 100, 200, 300 and 400 meters. The stock and butt plate are attached to the receiver with two pins and are removed during disassembly. There are two main options for stocks - non-folding made of plastic (on models G3 and G3A2) and retractable telescopic, stamped from steel with a rubber butt (models G3A1, G3A3). On the earliest rifles, the forend was stamped from metal, with holes for cooling the barrel. Later the forend became plastic, at first also with holes for cooling, on latest models- smooth, without holes. The barrel is equipped with a slotted flash suppressor, which is also used for throwing rifle grenades. A bayonet can also be attached to it. The rifle is fed from metal magazines with 20 rounds of ammunition.
Especially for the civilian market, Heckler-Koch produced only self-loading versions of the G3 rifle, known first as the HK 41 and then the HK 91.

Gate circuit

Heckler&Koch HK 33 and HK 53 (Germany)

HK53A3 with folding stock

The HK33 vtomat (assault rifle) was developed by the German company Heckler und Koch based on their G3 rifle in the second 1960s, and went into production in 1968. The HK33 is chambered for the 5.56x45mm (.223 Remington) cartridge. The HK33 did not enter service with the German army, but was and is used by some German police units and security services, is in service in Malaysia, Chile and Thailand and is exported, including to the USA. In addition, since 1999, NK33 has been produced under license in Turkey and entered service Turkish army. Based on the HK33, the G41 assault rifle and the shortened machine gun (submachine gun according to the Heckler-Koch classification) HK53 were developed. The latter is a variant of the HK33 with a greatly shortened barrel chambered for the same cartridge; its production began in 1975 and continues to this day.

The HK33 is built according to an automatic scheme with a semi-free shutter, the opening of which is slowed down using a pair of rollers. To ensure normal extraction, longitudinal grooves are made in the walls of the chamber, ensuring equalization of gas pressure outside and inside the cartridge case to prevent it from swelling during early extraction, typical of semi-blowback schemes.
A replaceable trigger mechanism module assembled with a pistol grip and trigger guard is attached to the stamped receiver; at the customer’s request, it is possible to install various trigger options, with or without the ability to fire in bursts of 3 shots. The stock can be fixed made of plastic (models with index A2) or retractable made of metal with a rubber butt pad (modifications with index A3). Sights are traditional for XK weapons - a front sight and a drum rear sight, graduated from 100 to 500 meters in range. Full-size HK33 assault rifles can be equipped with a 40mm NK79A1 underbarrel grenade launcher or a bayonet, and can fire rifle grenades from the barrel.

HK33K "carbines" have a shortened barrel, without the ability to fire rifle grenades and install a 40mm grenade launcher, otherwise they do not differ from the base model.

The shortened HK53 assault rifles are a variant of the HK33K with an even shorter barrel, not differing from the HK33K in design. However, on the HK53 it is impossible to install a bayonet and an under-barrel grenade launcher, and an elongated four-slot flame arrester is mounted on the barrel, which effectively reduces the muzzle flame caused by incomplete combustion of gunpowder in a short barrel.

All HK33 series assault rifles can be equipped with proprietary quick-release mounts for optical or night sights, which do not require modification of the weapon or reshooting after removing and reinstalling the sight.

Initially, the NK33 series assault rifles were equipped with magazines for 25 or 40 rounds, currently they are used with magazines for 25 or 30 rounds, and the production of magazines for 40 rounds has been discontinued.

Heckler und Koch G-41 (Germany)

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Automation type: semi-free shutter, slowing down using rollers
Length: 997 mm (fixed stock) or 996/806 mm (folding stock)
Barrel length: 450 mm
Weight: 4.1 kg
Shop: 20, 30 or 40 rounds

The G-41 rifle was developed in the early 1980s by the German company Heckler und Koch, based on their earlier XK Model 33 rifle, as a “companion” to the G-11 caseless rifle being developed by the same company. The G-11 rifle was supposed to go into service with the first line troops, and the G-41 rifle was supposed to go into service with all other troops. After the closure of the G-11 program, the G-41 rifle was offered both to the German Bundeswehr and for export, but it turned out to be too expensive, and despite its high quality, no one bought the G-41, and starting from the mid-1990s, the company Heckler-Koch stopped advertising and offering the G-41, switching to the cheaper and more popular G-36 rifle.

The G-41 is built according to the proprietary HK scheme with a semi-free shutter, the opening of which is slowed down using two rollers located between the cylinder and the shutter body. The main consideration when creating the G-41 rifle was the rifle's compliance with NATO standards - the G-41 had a magazine receiver adapted for the M16 rifle magazines, and standardized sight mounts. In addition, a lid was added to the design to cover the window for ejecting cartridges and a device for sending the bolt to the front position, similar to that found on the M16 rifles (since the G-41 has a charging handle that is not rigidly connected to the bolt). In addition, the G-41 had a folding handle for carrying. The rifle could be equipped with an under-barrel grenade launcher and an optical sight. The butt could be fixed made of plastic or folding, sliding.

Assault rifle (automatic) Heckler-Koch G36 (Germany)

G36E (export version) with one red dot sight in the handle

G36C - Compact or Commando variant

G36K - shortened version with two sights (standard version of sights for the German army)

G36 - incomplete disassembly

The G-36 assault rifle has been developed by the German company Heckler and Koch since the early 1990s under the in-house designation HK-50. In 1995, the G-36 was adopted by the Bundeswehr (German Army), and in 1999 by the Spanish Armed Forces. In addition, the G-36 is used by the UK police and is exported to the USA for sale there. law enforcement agencies. Especially for the civilian market, based on the G36 automatic rifle, the Heckler-Koch company released the SL-8 self-loading rifle of .223 Remington caliber.

The somewhat modernized G36 rifle with a shortened barrel also served as the basis for the creation of the “kinetic” component of the promising American OICW XM-29 SABR system, developed jointly by the American company ATK and Heckler-Koch. Moreover, according to the most recent data, a version of the G36 rifle, created for the OICW system, can be adopted by the US Army as a separate model under the designation “XM-8 light assault rifle” (XM-8 light assault rifle), to replace the failed Nadzhd carbines Colt M4.

The G-36 is significantly different from previous HK developments, built on the basis of automatic semi-free jam (HK G3 and others), and is more reminiscent of the development of the American Armalite AR-18 rifle than the previous own HK systems.

The G-36 is built on an automatic basis with a gas engine with a short stroke of the gas piston. The bolt is rotary, located in the bolt frame, which moves along one guide rod on which a return spring is attached. On the upper surface of the bolt frame there is a cocking handle protruding above the upper surface of the receiver. In the stowed position, the cocking handle is located along the axis of the weapon and is held in this position by a spring, and for cocking it can be bent in any direction by about 90 degrees. When firing, the handle moves along with the bolt frame. The receiver is made of plastic with steel inserts, the trigger is made in the form of a single block along with the pistol grip and trigger guard, and is attached to the receiver using transverse pins. The trigger mechanism can be supplied in several versions - with or without a firing mode with a cut-off of 2 or 3 rounds. The plastic handguard is also pinned to the receiver, so that partial disassembly requires only a cartridge or other object suitable for pushing the pins out of the holes.

The buttstock of the G-36 folds sideways and is made of plastic. On the upper surface of the receiver there is a large carrying handle, in the rear of which there are sighting devices. The standard G-36 has two sights - a 3.5X optical sight, and a red dot sight located above it, intended for use at close ranges. The export version of the G-36E rifle and the shortened G-36K “carbine” have only one optical sight with a magnification of 1.5X. An even shorter version of the G-36C (C stands for Compact or Commando) instead of a carrying handle, has universal Picatinny-type rails for attaching sights of any type.

The G-36 is fed from clear plastic 30-round magazines that have special mounts for combining magazines into “packs” to speed up reloading. Because the G-36's magazine receiver is built to NATO standards, the G-36 can accept any standard magazine, including 100-round Beta-C dual drum magazines.

The G-36 can be equipped with a bayonet or a 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher manufactured by Heckler-Koch, in addition, the G-36 flash suppressor has a standard diameter and can be used for throwing rifle grenades (however, the automatic rifle does not provide for the presence of a gas regulator, and therefore this practice hardly recommended).

Based on the G-36 rifle, the MG-36 light machine gun was created, distinguished by a longer and heavier barrel and the presence of a bipod. For the MG-36, Beta-C 100-round magazines are standard, but standard 30-round magazines are also suitable.

Overall, the G-36 is a top-notch example: a lightweight, comfortable, and reliable weapon.

Heckler und Koch G11 (Germany)

HK G11 - final version

HK G11K2 with an optical sight installed instead of the standard one

caseless cartridges - on the left early development, on the right - the final version of the DM11 cartridge (sectional view)

G11 mechanism operation diagram

Caliber: 4.7x33 mm, caseless cartridge
Automation type: gas outlet, rotary breech
Length: 750 mm
Barrel length: 540 mm
Weight: 3.6 kg without cartridges
Shop: 50 or 45 rounds

The development of the G11 rifle was started by Heckler and Koch (Germany) at the very end of the 1960s, when the German government decided to create a new, more effective rifle to replace the G3 rifles.

Based on the results of the research, it was decided that the Bundeswehr needed a light, small caliber rifle with high shooting accuracy. To ensure reliable destruction of the enemy, it was necessary to ensure that several bullets hit the target, so it was decided to create a rifle chambered for a caseless cartridge of 4.3mm caliber (later moved to 4.7mm caliber) with the ability to fire in single, long bursts and with a burst cut-off of 3 shots . The Heckler-Koch company was supposed to create such a rifle, with the participation of the Dynamite-Nobel company, responsible for the development of a new caseless cartridge.

G11 design.
The rifle's automation operates using the energy of powder gases removed from the barrel. The cartridges are placed in the magazine above the barrel with the bullets facing down. The G11 rifle has a unique rotating breech chamber into which the cartridge is fed vertically downward before firing. Then, the chamber rotates 90 degrees, and when the cartridge aligns with the barrel line, a shot occurs, but the cartridge itself is not fed into the barrel. Since the cartridge is caseless (with a combustible primer), the automatic operation cycle is simplified by eliminating the extraction of the spent cartridge case. In the event of a misfire, the faulty cartridge is pushed down when the next cartridge is fed. The mechanism is cocked using a rotary handle on the left side of the weapon. When shooting, this handle remains motionless.

The barrel, firing mechanism (excluding safety/translator and trigger), rotating breech with mechanics and magazine are mounted on a single base that can move back and forth inside the rifle body. When firing in single or long bursts, the entire mechanism makes full cycle rollback-rollback after each shot, which ensures reduced recoil (similar to artillery systems). When firing in bursts of three shots, the cartridge is fed and fired immediately after the previous one, at a rate of up to 2000 rounds per minute. In this case, the entire mobile system comes to the extremely rearward position already AFTER the third shot, while the recoil begins to affect the weapon and the shooter again after the end of the burst, which ensures extremely high accuracy of fire (a similar solution was used in the Russian AN-94 "Abakan" assault rifle ).

Early G11 prototypes were equipped with a fixed 1X optical sight. The magazines had a capacity of 50 rounds and could be loaded from special clips.

Initially, cartridges for the G11 were a block of compressed special gunpowder, with a primer composition sprayed on it and a glued bullet, coated with a burnable varnish to protect it from damage and moisture. The final version of the cartridge, designated DM11 4.7x33mm, had a telescopic design in which the bullet was completely recessed into the powder charge block. Development of the DM11 was completed by the mid-1980s, successfully solving the problem of self-ignition of cartridges in the chamber under intense fire that had plagued early prototypes.
The DM11 cartridge accelerated a bullet weighing 3.25 grams to a speed of 930-960 m/s at the muzzle.

In 1988, the first G11 samples were sent to the Bundeswehr for testing. Based on the testing results, a number of changes were made to the G11 design, in particular: the sight was made removable, with the possibility of replacing it with other types of sights; The magazine capacity was reduced from 50 to 45 rounds, but it became possible to mount two spare magazines on the rifle on both sides of the barrel; a mount for a bayonet or bipod appeared under the barrel. A new version of the rifle, designated G11K2, was provided to the German military for testing at the end of 1989. Based on the test results, a decision was made to put the G11 into service with the Bundeswehr in 1990, but deliveries were limited to a batch of only 1,000 units, after which the program was closed by decision of the German authorities. The main reasons for the closure of this technically quite successful program are most likely, firstly, a lack of money due to the unification of the two Germanys, and, secondly, NATO requirements for the unification of ammunition, which resulted in the adoption of the G36 rifle by the Bundeswehr.

In 1990, the G11 was also tested in the United States as part of the ACR (Advanced Cobat Rifle) program. The purpose of this program was to test new concepts (caseless ammunition, arrow-shaped sabot bullets, etc.) for further analysis and development of requirements for a potential successor for the M16A2 rifle. During these tests, the G11 proved to be a reliable and easy-to-handle weapon, with very good firing accuracy in all modes.

Currently, the future fate of the G11 program is uncertain.

HK416 modular carbine/assault rifle (Germany)

carbine HK416 with a barrel length of 276mm

carbine HK416 with a barrel length of 368mm

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Automation type:
Length (stock folded/unfolded): 686/785 mm (276mm barrel), 787/886 mm (368mm barrel)
Barrel length: 276, 368, 419 or 508 mm
Weight: 3.31 kg (276mm barrel), 3.5 kg (368mm barrel)
Rate of fire: 700-900 rounds per minute
Shop: 30 rounds

Following the recent revision of the OICW Block 1 / XM8 program, Heckler & Koch has decided to enter the US military and police weapons market with a new, alternative system, the HK416. This modular assault rifle (currently available only in a carbine version with short barrels, a "full-size" model promised later) combines the ergonomics and appearance of an M16 rifle familiar to any American with significantly increased reliability through a number of measures. First of all, this is the replacement of the direct gas system of the M16 rifle with a more reliable and much less sensitive to contamination scheme with a gas piston with a short stroke, borrowed from the G36 rifle. In addition, Heckler-Koch engineers improved the bolt and return mechanism with a recoil buffer, and used a cold forged barrel with increased survivability (more than 20,000 rounds). The forend is made in such a way that the barrel is hung in it in a cantilever manner; on the forend itself and on the upper surface of the receiver there are Picatinny rail type guides (MILSTD-1913) for attaching any compatible sighting devices and other accessories, including a laser target, flashlights and an under-barrel 40mm grenade launcher AG36/AG-C. Initially, the HK416 was developed as a separate replacement module for installation on any lower receiver of an M16 rifle or M4 carbine, but later HC began producing complete HK416 carbines.
Even more interesting is information dating back to October 2005 about the development of a similar HK417 system based on the HK416, but chambered for a much more powerful 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. The HK417 rifle will be almost identical to the HK416 in appearance and design, however, apparently, it will use 20-round magazines from the German HK G3 rifle. This combination of the 5.56mm HK416 rifle and the 7.62mm HK417 rifle will be a serious competitor to the Belgian-developed FN SCAR modular system.

The HK416 assault rifle (automatic) is built on the basis of gas-operated automatics with a short stroke of a gas piston located above the barrel. The barrel is locked by a rotating bolt with 7 lugs. The receiver is made of aluminum alloy. The fire mode switch safety switch is three-position and allows firing in single shots and bursts. The design retains the T-shaped bolt cocking handle, traditional for the M16 series rifles, located above the butt, as well as the bolt stop mechanism. On the upper surface of the receiver, as well as on the forend, there are guides for attaching sights (open or optical), as well as other accessories. The buttstock is telescopic, sliding, multi-position, similar in design to the buttstock of the M4 carbine.

Automatic rifle Heckler-Koch HK417 (Germany)

Caliber: 7.62x51 NATO
Automation type: gas vent, locking by turning the bolt
Length: 905 - 985 mm (option with 400mm barrel)
Barrel length: 305, 406 or 508 mm
Weight: 4.36 - 4.96 kg depending on barrel length
Rate of fire: 600 rounds per minute
Shop: 10 or 20 rounds

The Heckler-Koch HK417 7.62mm NATO automatic rifle is developed on the basis of the Heckler-Koch HK416 5.56mm NATO automatic rifle. The development of the NK 417 rifle began in 2005 based on the experience gained by the international coalition troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, where, under certain conditions, 5.56mm weapons showed insufficient effective firing range and insufficient penetrating and stopping effect of small-caliber bullets. The NK 417 series rifles went into mass production in 2007 or 2008, and are offered for arming army and police forces. The HK417 rifle has a modular design that largely replicates the design of the American M16 rifle, with one important difference - the German HK417 rifle has a modified automatic gas system that uses a conventional gas piston with a short working stroke. There are a number of other differences, but all the main controls and the method of disassembling and assembling the weapon are inherited from the M16. This is explained primarily by the fact that the United States is expected to be one of the main markets for the HK417.

The Heckler-Koch HK417 automatic rifle is built on the basis of a gas-operated automatic rifle with a short stroke of a gas piston located above the barrel (similar to the Heckler-Koch G36 rifle). The barrel is locked by a rotating bolt with 7 lugs. A special feature of the NK417 design is the ability to relatively quickly (3-5 minutes) replace barrels by the user himself and using a minimum of tools. In total, 4 barrel options are offered - regular ones with a length of 30 and 40 centimeters and “sniper” (improved processing) with a length of 40 and 50 centimeters. When using “sniper” barrels and appropriate cartridges, the rifle provides single-shot accuracy of 1 arc minute (1 MOA). The receiver is made of aluminum alloy and consists of two halves connected by a pair of cross pins. The fire mode switch safety switch is three-position and allows firing in single shots and bursts. The design retains the T-shaped bolt cocking handle, traditional for the M16 series rifles, located above the butt, as well as the bolt stop mechanism. On the upper surface of the receiver, as well as on the forend, there are guides for attaching sights (open or optical), as well as other accessories. The buttstock is telescopic, sliding, multi-position, similar in design to the buttstock of the M4 carbine. The NK 417 series rifles use specially designed polymer transparent magazines with a capacity of 10 or 20 rounds

Undoubtedly, the name "Mauser" pops up in the minds of most people when it comes to German weapons. This company developed many designs, most of which were successful and served the German army well in both world wars, and after them. In this article we will talk about the weapon that was the most popular in the history of Germany - the Mauser rifle, the photos of which are very recognizable.

History of the appearance of weapons

By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Mauser company already had great fame and popularity - it was not only a successful developer, but also supplied its weapons to many countries. Its rifles and pistols were in service not only with the German army, but also in Spain, Turkey, Belgium, many countries in Europe and the Americas. The reasons for this popularity lay in the firepower, convenience, unpretentiousness and versatility that were outstanding at that time. In addition, they could easily be converted to the required cartridge without any effort. Mauser rifles were used in most conflicts of that time - the Anglo-Boer War, clashes in colonial Africa, India, and the Middle East.

Presented in 1898 new development- the G98 rifle, which was immediately adopted by the Kaiser’s army. It was this rifle that became revolutionary, since in one form or another it served in both world wars, was supplied en masse to many countries of the Nazi bloc, and even now it can be found in many places. It was produced under license in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia and a number of other countries. Nowadays, both the original rifles and samples created based on their design are still popular, although mainly as hunting weapons.

Of course, the 1898 Mauser rifle was not the only one in the family. In parallel with it, the Kar.98 carbine was also produced. Its design remained unchanged until 1904, when the entire system was redone. This happened in connection with the adoption of a new 7.92x57 mm cartridge, which had a pointed bullet instead of a blunt one. The changes made had a positive effect on ballistics, as a result of which the sights on all rifles were re-calibrated for longer distances. 1908 saw the development of a newer version, the G98. Now it has become much shorter, has a bolt handle curved downwards, as well as a modified muzzle part of the barrel with a hook. This modification (K98a) lasted until Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. In 1935, the design was redesigned again and received the name K98 kurz (short). This model was adopted as the individual weapon of the German infantry. It served in this form until 1945. Before this period, the industry of the countries of the Nazi bloc produced a colossal number of rifles - several million. Among the improvements made to the design were new-style belt fastenings, a more durable front sight (in the front sight) and a number of other little things that increased ease of use. Many rifles written off after the war migrated to the civilian market, and they are still being sold. They even appeared in Russia, although they were converted to the .308 Winchester cartridge (7.62x51 mm), and were called KO-98.

Rifle design

Generally speaking, the Mauser K98 rifle is a repeating weapon with a rotating bolt. The stock was made of walnut or durable beech, its neck was made in the shape of a pistol grip. The receiver was fastened with two screws - from the stop and the tail. There is a counter-screw to prevent spontaneous unscrewing of the stops. The forend was attached to the receiver with two metal rings. The bayonet was attached to a special tip under the barrel.

Shop and food features

The rifle has a non-detachable box magazine for 5 rounds, which is completely recessed into the stock. The cartridges in the store are placed in a checkerboard pattern. When equipped, they are inserted through the top window (with the shutter open) one at a time or using a special clip. For this purpose, grooves are provided on the back of the window. Early modifications required manual removal of the empty clip, while in later modifications it was ejected itself when the bolt was closed. The bottom magazine cover was removable, specifically to facilitate cleaning and inspection. It is impossible to load a cartridge directly into the chamber; this may lead to breakage of the extractor tooth.

Bolt group

The bolt of the Mauser rifle belongs to the common group of longitudinally sliding ones. It is located on two combat lugs in the front and one massive one in the rear. The shutter is locked by turning it 90 degrees. For this, a handle is used, which also performs the function of reloading; on early models of the rifle it was straight, and on later models it was bent downwards. The handle is firmly fixed during installation. The bolt body is made with special cavities that are designed to remove powder gases away from the shooter’s face. Gases are discharged through a cavity in the striker into the magazine area. In the event of a breakdown or the need for maintenance, the bolt is very easy to remove, since it is held in the receiver only by a latch. In order to remove the bolt, the safety is placed in the middle position, then the front part of the lock is snapped off, and the bolt is pushed back with a hand movement.

Another one distinctive feature The bolt that the Mauser rifle has is a non-rotating massive extractor. When removing ammunition from the magazine, it grabs the cartridge case by its rim and then firmly fixes it on the bolt mirror. If we take into account that when the bolt is opened, it moves slightly backwards, then almost one hundred percent extraction of any cartridge case is ensured, even if it sits very tightly in the chamber. This is possible thanks to the bevel located on the jumper of the bolt box. The spent cartridge case is ejected through a window in the bolt by an ejector, which is mounted on the left side of the receiver on a latch; the ejector passes through a special longitudinal groove in the gate.

Trigger mechanism

The rifle has a striker-type trigger mechanism. The trigger is made without trigger warning, the mainspring is located around the firing pin inside the bolt. To cock the spring and cock the firing pin, just turn the bolt opening handle. You can find out what position the striker is in now either visually or by touch - to do this you need to feel its shank, which protrudes from the rear of the bolt.

The rifle's safety is three-position, located in the rear part of the bolt; to change its position, you just need to throw it in the required direction. There are three modes that are provided by the fuse: if it is in the horizontal position to the left - the shutter is locked, the fuse is active; if in the vertical upward position, the shutter is free, the safety is on; if horizontally to the right - the fuse is off, fire. The upper mode is necessary for reloading the weapon and removing the bolt. The safety knob is switched with the thumb of the right hand.

Sights

They consist, like most rifles, of a front and rear sight. The rear sight has a V-shaped slot, and the front sight looks like an inverted V. The rear sight can be adjusted to the desired range - from 100 to 2000 meters. The front sight is installed on a transverse groove in the muzzle of the barrel. It can be shifted if you need to move the point of impact to the right or left. The rear sight is located on the barrel in front of the receiver. In some models of the rifle, the front sight can be covered with a special semicircular muzzle guard.

Ammunition

The Mauser K-98 rifle used 7.92x57 mm or 8 mm Mauser cartridges. It was created based on a cartridge used by the army a little earlier - M71 11.15 mm caliber.

The cartridge case was made of brass. Its corrosion protection was enhanced thanks to the phosphating technology used at that time using bakelite varnish. Since 1944, it has become mandatory to coat each cartridge case with a thin layer of wax. This was a consequence of the tight extraction of the cartridges.

For the new cartridge, starting in 1904, they began to use smokeless gunpowder marked Nz.Gew.Bl.P. It had an increased combustion rate and stronger gas pressure when fired. Subsequently, some of the ideas implemented in this gunpowder were used by the Americans.

The 7.92x57 Mauser rifle cartridge was the main rifle and machine gun ammunition in the German army. Armor-piercing, tracer, and incendiary variants were used. Also, in addition to Germany, this cartridge was widely used by many European countries- Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, England and even the USSR.

Rifle stock and equipment

The Mauser 98K rifle has a wooden stock with a semi-pistol grip. The butt plate is equipped with a steel butt plate, which has a lid that covers a cavity for storing accessories. A short cleaning rod is located under the barrel, located in the front of the stock. To clean the weapon, you need to have two of these cleaning rods, so the second carbine should always be nearby. It is also possible to place a bayonet mount under the barrel. In addition to cleaning accessories and a cleaning rod, the carbine also includes a belt for carrying weapons. There is no rear swivel, instead there is a slot in the butt into which the belt is threaded and secured with a patch buckle (the original was G98, it had a regular rear swivel), while the front swivel is located on the rear stock ring. To facilitate disassembly and assembly of the bolt, as well as the firing pin with the spring, a metal disk is made on the butt, on which the bolt is supported during assembly.

Mosin and Mauser rifles: comparison

It was these two famous rifles that bore the brunt of the battles of World War II. It would be very illogical not to compare them with each other in order to properly evaluate their combat and operational qualities.

Despite the fact that approximately 7 years passed between the creation of the Mauser and the three-line, their design is not fundamentally different. German rifle was made for a more advanced and promising cartridge, which did not have a protruding flange, like the Russian 7.62x54 R. Although their power was the same, the German cartridge had a more convenient shape and associated good fighting qualities. And the “German”’s store itself is made in two rows, in contrast to the “three-line” one. The Mauser bolt did not have fragile parts that worked with the rim of the case. Another advantage is the detachable bayonet for the Mauser rifle. Her rival's operational rules required use only with a fixed bayonet, and this made her heavier and longer.

But the “three-line” also had advantages. Initially, the designer included in it the ability to take larger tolerances during manufacturing, which reduced the cost of production. The rifle had wood lining along the entire length of the barrel, which increased its thermal safety. No special tools were needed to repair and disassemble the shutter. If necessary, the bayonet could be used as a screwdriver. The repair was simple, since the rifle had a simple bolt mechanism.

What can we say in the end? Both rifles were equally good, and their effectiveness in battle depended entirely on the skills of the shooter. However, the outcome of the war can serve as proof that the German army, even having the Mauser in service in both wars, still lost them.

And in terms of quantity, the Mauser is clearly inferior to the three-line. During the war years, the USSR produced approximately 12 million rifles, while the industry of the Nazi bloc countries produced about 8 million rifles. In addition, when comparing German and Russian carbines, you can notice the difference in weight - 3.9 for the “German” versus 3.4 for the Mosin rifle. An extra half a kilogram in battle is important.

Creator of legendary weapons

Paul Peter von Mauser was born on June 27, 1838 in Oberndorf am Neckar. His father worked at the Royal Arms Factory in Württemberg. Paul was the youngest son among 13 children in the family. Having reached the age of 12, he began working with his father, then got a job as an apprentice at the same factory. In 1852 he graduated from school and received further training as a gunsmith. From 1859 he served in the army, in the arsenal, where he thoroughly studied the design of the weapons and equipment available at that time.

His first invention was small cannon, loaded from the treasury, and shells for it. He modified the design of the Prussian needle gun; the improvements were significant. Paul and his brother Wilhelm worked in Belgium, where they improved the design of the standard rifle bolt, and in 1871 their new revolver and threaded bolt were approved as the main weapon of the German army. For the command, it was a good step to adopt the brainchild that Mauser produced. The rifle, whose caliber was 11 mm, previously used in the army, was significantly inferior to the new product.

Then an enterprise was opened in Obernodorf, which later turned into the Mauser plant. Paul Mauser continued to create new rifles, the last of which was the G98. In 1896, the famous Mauser pistol appeared, which in 1908, after modifications, was adopted by the armies of Germany, Czechoslovakia and a number of other European countries.

For his work in the arms industry, the government awarded Mauser many titles and awards, including the prefix "von", denoting noble origin. Paul held the rank of commercial advisor, had medals and orders from many countries and was awarded an award by the Association of German Engineers.

Sniper option

Of course, by massively developing snipering, the German government could not help but take care of proper weapons for future shooters. Similar initiatives were practiced at the beginning of the First World War. Already at the end the Germans had at least 6 sniper rifles for a standard company, while in Russia such things did not yet exist. It was the sniper troops that played a key role during the “positional” war during the First World War. The Entente forces suffered heavy losses without even attacking the enemy.

In 1923, Germany became interested in the new carbine - 98K, ordering the production of sniper samples with an optical sight. Each company received 12 such rifles.

After the attack on the USSR, the blitzkrieg worked (for a while), and they forgot about snipers. Until 1942, when the USSR began to use them in defense, the Germans immediately remembered marksmanship and began mass training of sniper soldiers.

The Mauser 98K sniper rifle began to be supplied en masse to the troops only after the attack on the USSR. In 1942, the percentage of rifles with an optic mount was approximately 6% of the total number. But as the war progressed, this figure dropped to 2%. However, an analysis carried out after the war showed that German sniper rifles were significantly inferior to their Soviet counterparts.

To transform the carbine into a sniper model, it was equipped with a mount for the Zf 41 sight, with a magnification of 1.5 times. Such a sight did not allow for long-range shooting, so mostly Soviet trophies or other weapons more suitable for this role were used. In addition, more advanced models of sniper weapons appeared.

Modernity

Nowadays the Mauser K-98 rifle is found mainly as a hunting weapon. This is facilitated by the power of the cartridge and good qualities, allowing you to shoot even a large animal.

Another area where the Mauser 98K is used is reconstruction. Since it was the main weapon of the Wehrmacht, it is the Mauser that is used in recreating the battles of that time (for those who chose the German side, of course), along with the MP-40 and the Luger pistol.

The influence of the Mauser design on modern weapons is clearly visible to this day. Most of the successful sniper rifles of our time are produced according to it (original or modified). The materials and technologies available now allow for greater range and accuracy in combat, and the Mauser design is good for just this. Therefore, it is not surprising that it is still relevant today. In addition, replicas are produced for sport shooting, as well as non-combat versions (for collecting).

Mauser rifle: characteristics

1. Caliber - 7.92 mm.
2. The length of the rifle/carbine without bayonet is 1250/1110 mm.
3. The length of the rifle/carbine with bayonet is 1500/1360 mm.
4. Rifle/carbine barrel length - 600/450 mm.
5. Weight without a rifle/carbine bayonet - 4.1/3.4 kg.
6. Cartridge - 7.92x57 mm.
7. Initial bullet speed (rifle/carbine) - 840/765 m/s.
8. Heavy/light bullet weight - 12.8/10 g.
9. Magazine and clip capacity is 5 rounds.

Results

What can we say by summing up the available information? Undoubtedly, the developer of the Mauser rifle managed to create a practical and reliable weapon that was in many ways ahead of its time. Its high combat qualities and performance characteristics made it popular for almost half a century. And some of its variants and modifications are still used in our time. So the German Mauser rifle can easily stand on a par with such legendary weapons as the Maxim machine gun, Kalashnikov assault rifle, M16 and Mosin rifle.