The Germans in WW2 and the Mauser

[Limeyfellow]

Semi-autos in WWII also included Germany's Mauser Model G41 (abandoned in 1943),Gew.41(saw limited use),Model G43, and Volksturm Gew.VG2 a last ditch defense weapon. Japan had a semi-auto built on the Pedersen principle which saw little action but was in the Japanese arsenal since the 1920s. Germany and Japan both chose to go with bolt action battle rifles over semi-autos because the bolts actions could be produced much cheaper and in much larger numbers.

The US had the same problems fielding the M1 Garand. That is why there were far more M1 Carbines fielded to frontline troops than any other weapon, since it was so much cheaper and quicker to make them compared to the Garand making process. Sure they were never supposed to be front line weapons, but it still became the most used US weapon of the US forces.

 

[black_powder_Rob]

^ are you sure about that?

 

[HorseSoldier]

are you sure about that?

I'm not sure on basis of issue, but more carbines than Garands were built.

 

[Limeyfellow]

It is true, especially in the likes of Marine campaigns like Iwo Jima, Okinowa and so on and later in the war, when there was a need to quickly supply troops with a weapon. Not so sure in the European theatre, but it still probably had enough M1 Garands to go around back then. The problem is they couldn't produce the design fast enough.

It not much different than say WW1, where despite the fame, the M1903 made up about 1/4 of the rifles issued to troops for the US forces and the rest being given the M1917.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

We now return you to your regularly scheduled bickering.

Well, no. Time to put this one to bed.

 

[rbernie]

One hundred and forty three posts originally in this thread, and one hundred and fourteen of them had NOTHING to do with Rifles.

That must be a new record.