One of the most difficult and significant for the history of all mankind was World War 2. The weapons that were used in this crazy battle of 63 of the 74 countries that existed at that time claimed hundreds of millions of human lives.
Melee weapons
The 2nd World War brought weapons of various promising types: from a simple submachine gun to a rocket launcher - "Katyusha". A lot of small arms, artillery, various aviation, naval weapons, tanks have been improved in these years.
Melee weapons of World War 2 were used for close combat and as a reward. It was represented by: needle and wedge-shaped bayonets, which were supplied with rifles and carbines; army knives of various types; daggers for higher land and sea ranks; long-bladed cavalry checkers of private and commanding staff; naval officers' broadswords; premium original knives, daggers and drafts.
Small arms
Small arms of World War 2 played a particularly important role, as it involved a huge number of people. Both the course of the battle and its results depended on the weapons of each.
The small arms of the USSR of the 2nd World War in the armament system of the Red Army were represented by the following types: personal service (revolvers and pistols of officers), individual of various units (shopping, self-loading and automatic carbines and rifles, for enlisted personnel), weapons for snipers (special self-loading or magazine rifles), individual automatic for close combat (submachine guns), collective type of weapon for platoons and squads of various groups of troops (light machine guns), for special machine gun units (machine guns mounted on an easel support), anti-aircraft small arms (machine-gun anti-aircraft installations and large-caliber machine guns), tank small arms (tank machine gun).
The most significant Soviet small arms
The Soviet army used such small arms as the famous and irreplaceable rifle of the 1891/30 model (Mosin), self-loading rifles SVT-40 (F. V. Tokareva), automatic ABC-36 (S. G. Simonova), automatic submachine guns PPD-40 (V. A. Degtyareva), PPSh-41 (G. S. Shpagina), PPS-43 (A. I. Sudayeva), TT type pistol (F. V. Tokareva), light machine gun DP (V. A. Degtyareva, infantry), heavy machine gun DShK (V. A. Degtyareva - G. S. Shpagina), machine gun SG-43 (P. M. Goryunova),anti-tank rifles PTRD (V. A. Degtyareva) and PTRS (S. G. Simonova). The main caliber of the weapon used is 7.62 mm. This entire assortment was mainly developed by talented Soviet designers, united in special design bureaus (design bureaus) and bringing victory closer.
Small arms of the 2nd World War, like submachine guns, played their significant contribution to the approach of victory. Due to the lack of machine guns at the beginning of the war, an unfavorable situation developed for the Soviet Union on all fronts. A rapid build-up of this type of weaponry was necessary. During the first months, its production increased significantly.
New assault rifles and machine guns
In 1941, a completely new submachine gun of the PPSh-41 type was adopted. It surpassed the PPD-40 by more than 70% in terms of accuracy of fire, was as simple as possible in the device and had good fighting qualities. Even more unique was the PPS-43 assault rifle. Its shortened version allowed the soldier to be more maneuverable in battle. It was used for tankers, signalmen, scouts. The production technology of such a submachine gun was at the highest level. Much less metal was spent on its manufacture and almost 3 times less time than on similar ones produced earlier PPSh-41.
The use of a DShK heavy machine gun with an armor-piercing bullet made it possible to inflict damage on enemy armored vehicles and aircraft. The machine gun SG-43 on the machine eliminated the dependence on the availability of water supplies, as it had aircooling.
The use of anti-tank rifles PTRD and PTRS brought enormous damage to enemy tanks. In fact, with their help, the battle of Moscow was won.
What did the Germans fight with
German weapons of World War 2 are presented in a wide variety. The German Wehrmacht used pistols like: Mauser C96 - 1895, Mauser HSc - 1935-1936., Mauser M 1910., Sauer 38H - 1938, W alther P38 - 1938, W alther PP - 1929. The caliber of these pistols fluctuated: 5, 6; 6, 35; 7.65 and 9.0mm. Which was very uncomfortable.
The rifles used all caliber 7.92mm types: Mauser 98k - 1935, Gewehr 41 - 1941, FG - 42 - 1942, Gewehr 43 - 1943, StG 44 - 1943., StG 45(M) - 1944, Volkssturmgewehr 1-5 - late 1944.
Machine gun types: MG-08 - 1908, MG-13 - 1926, MG-15 - 1927, MG-34 - 1934, MG42 - 1941. They used 7.92mm bullets.
Submachine guns, the so-called German "Schmeissers", produced the following modifications: MP 18 - 1917, MP 28 - 1928, MP35 - 1932, MP 38/40 - 1938, MP -3008 - 1945. They were all 9mm. Also, the German troops used a large number of captured small arms, inherited from the armies of the enslaved countries of Europe.
Weapons in the hands of American soldiers
One of the main advantages of the Americans at the beginning of the war was a sufficient number of automatic weapons. The United States at the time of the outbreak of hostilities was one offew states in the world that have almost completely re-equipped their infantry with automatic and self-loading weapons. They used self-loading rifles "Grand" M-1, "Johnson" M1941, "Grand" M1D, carbines M1, M1F1, M2, Smith-Wesson M1940. For some types of rifles, a 22-mm M7 detachable grenade launcher was used. Its use greatly expanded the firepower and combat capabilities of the weapon.
The Americans used Thompson submachine guns, Reising, United Defense M42, M3 Grease gun. Reising was supplied under Lend-Lease to the USSR. The British were armed with machine guns: Sten, Austen, Lanchester Mk.1.
It was funny that the knights of British Albion, in the manufacture of their Lanchester Mk.1 submachine guns, copied the German MP28, and the Australian Austen borrowed the design from the MP40.
Gunshot
Firearms of World War 2 on the battlefields were represented by famous brands: Italian "Berreta", Belgian "Browning", Spanish Astra-Unceta, American Johnson, Winchester, Springfield, English - Lanchester, unforgettable "Maxim", Soviet PPSh and TT.
Artillery. The famous "Katyusha"
In the development of artillery weapons of that time, the main stage was the development and implementation of multiple rocket launchers.
The role of the Soviet rocket artillery combat vehicle BM-13 in the war is huge. She is known to everyone by the nickname "Katyusha". Herrockets (RS-132) in a matter of minutes could destroy not only the manpower and equipment of the enemy, but, most importantly, undermine his spirit. The shells were installed on the basis of such trucks as the Soviet ZIS-6 and the American, imported under Lend-Lease, all-wheel drive Studebaker BS6.
The first installations were made in June 1941 at the Komintern plant in Voronezh. Their volley hit the Germans on July 14 of the same year near Orsha. In just a few seconds, emitting a terrible roar and throwing out smoke and flame, the rockets rushed at the enemy. A fiery tornado completely engulfed enemy trains at Orsha station.
The Jet Research Institute (RNII) took part in the development and creation of deadly weapons. It is to his employees - I. I. Gvai, A. S. Popov, V. N. Galkovsky and others - that we must bow for the creation of such a miracle of military equipment. During the war years, more than 10,000 of these machines were created.
German "Vanyusha"
The German army also had a similar weapon - a rocket-propelled mortar 15 cm Nb. W41 (Nebelwerfer), or simply "Vanyusha". It was a very low accuracy weapon. It had a large spread of shells over the affected area. Attempts to modernize the mortar or produce something similar to the Katyusha were not completed due to the defeat of the German troops.
Tanks
World War 2 showed us in all its beauty and diversityweapon - tank.
The most famous tanks of World War 2 were: the Soviet medium tank-hero T-34, the German "menagerie" - heavy tanks T-VI "Tiger" and medium PzKpfw V "Panther", American medium tanks "Sherman", M3 "Lee", Japanese amphibious tank "Mizu Sensha 2602" ("Ka-Mi"), English light tank Mk III "Valentine", their own heavy tank "Churchill", etc.
"Churchill" is known for being supplied under Lend-Lease to the USSR. As a result of reducing the cost of production, the British brought his armor to 152 mm. In combat, he was completely useless.
The role of tank troops during World War II
The plans of the Nazis in 1941 included lightning strikes with tank wedges at the joints of the Soviet troops and their complete encirclement. It was the so-called blitzkrieg - "lightning war". The basis of all offensive operations of the Germans in 1941 were the tank troops.
The destruction of Soviet tanks through aviation and long-range artillery at the beginning of the war almost led to the defeat of the USSR. Such a huge impact on the course of the war had the presence of the required number of tank troops.
One of the most famous tank battles of World War 2 was the Battle of Prokhorovka, which took place in July 1943. The subsequent offensive operations of the Soviet troops from 1943 to 1945 showed the power of our tank armies and the skill of tactical combat. The impression was that the methods used by the Nazisat the beginning of the war (this is a strike by tank groups at the junction of enemy formations), have now become an integral part of Soviet combat tactics. Such strikes by mechanized corps and tank groups were superbly shown in the Kyiv offensive operation, the Belorussian and Lvov-Sandomierz, Yasso-Kishenev, B altic, Berlin offensive operations against the Germans and in the Manchurian - against the Japanese.
Legendary Soviet tanks
Tanks are the weapons of World War 2, which showed the world completely new combat techniques.
In many battles, the legendary Soviet medium tanks T-34, later T-34-85, heavy tanks KV-1 later KV-85, IS-1 and IS-2, as well as self-propelled guns SU- 85 and SU-152.
The design of the legendary T-34 introduced a significant leap in world tank building in the early 40s. This tank combined powerful armament, armor and high mobility. In total, about 53 thousand pieces were produced during the war years. These war machines took part in all the battles.
In response to the appearance of the most powerful tanks T-VI "Tiger" and T-V "Panther" in the German troops in 1943, the Soviet tank T-34-85 was created. The armor-piercing projectile of his cannon - ZIS-S-53 - from 1000 m pierced the armor of the "Panther" and from 500 m - "Tiger".
From the end of 1943 heavy IS-2 tanks and SU-152 self-propelled guns also confidently fought against "Tigers" and "Panthers". From 1500 m, the IS-2 tank pierced the frontal armor of the "Panther"(110 mm) and practically stitched its insides. SU-152 shells could have blown the turrets off the German heavyweights.
The IS-2 tank received the title of the most powerful tank of World War 2.
Aviation and navy
The German dive bomber Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka", the impregnable "flying fortress" B-17, the "flying Soviet tank" Il-2, the famous La-7 and Yak-3 fighters are considered one of the best aircraft of that time (USSR), Spitfire (England), North American R-51 Mustang (USA) and Messerschmitt Bf 109 (Germany).
The best battleships of the naval forces of various countries during the years of World War 2 were: the Japanese Yamato and Musashi, the English Nelson, the American Iowa, the German Tirpitz, the French Richelieu and Italian "Littorio".
Arms race. Deadly Weapons of Mass Destruction
The weapons of the 2nd World War amazed the world with their power and cruelty. It made it possible to destroy almost without hindrance a huge number of people, equipment and military installations, to wipe entire cities from the face of the earth.
Brought World War 2 weapons of mass destruction of various kinds. Nuclear weapons have become especially deadly for many years to come.
The arms race, the constant tension in conflict zones, the interference of the powerful in the affairs of others - all this can give rise to a new war for worlddomination.
