| STG-44 Assault Rifle | |
|---|---|
| |
| Manufactured: | 1943 |
| Industry: | C. G. Haenel Waffen und Fahrradfabrik |
| Rate of Fire: | 550-600 rounds/min |
| Region of Origin: | Nazi Germany |
| Users: |
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| Effective Range: | 300 m (automatic) 600 m (semi-automatic) |
| Cartridge: | 30-round detachable box magazine |
| Years Actove: | 1943-2016 |
| Action: | Gas-operated, tilting bolt |
The StG 44 (Sturmgewehr 44, literally "storm (or assault) rifle (model of 19)44") was an assault rifle developed in Nazi Germany during World War II that was the first of its kind to see major deployment and is considered by many historians to be the first modern assault rifle.[5] It is also known under the designations MP 43 and MP 44 (Maschinenpistole 43, Maschinenpistole 44 respectively), which denote earlier development versions of the same weapon with some differences like a different butt end, muzzle nut, shape of the front sight base or with an unstepped barrel, all only visible with close inspection.
History[]
At the start of the Second World War, German infantry were equipped with weapons comparable to those of most other military forces. A typical infantry unit was equipped with a mix of bolt action rifles and some form of light or medium machine guns. One difference from other armies was the emphasis on the machine gun as the primary infantry weapon. In contrast, allied doctrine centered around the rifleman, with machine guns employed as support and point-defense weapons. German units tended to be machine gun "heavy", carrying more ammunition for the machine gun than for the rifles, using belt ammunition for their more modern section-level weapons to maintain a higher rate of fire, and generally thinking of the rifle as a support weapon. Although newer rifle designs had been studied on several occasions, the infantry squad primary centered around the machine gun.
One problem with this mix was that the standard rifles were too large to be effectively used by mechanized and armored forces, where they were difficult to maneuver in the cramped spaces of an armored vehicle.
Submachine guns such as the MP 28, MP 38, and MP 40 were issued to augment infantry rifle use and increase individual firepower, but suffered from a distinct lack of range and accuracy beyond 100 m. A small fast-firing weapon would have been useful in this role, but again the need did not seem pressing.
The issue arose once again during the invasion of the Soviet Union. The Red Army had been in the process of replacing its own bolt action rifles in the immediate pre–war era. Increasing numbers of semi-automatic Tokarev SVT-38 and SVT-40s were reaching Red Army units, though issue was generally restricted to elite units and non-commissioned officers. Submachine guns were extremely widespread, and issued on a far larger scale; some Soviet rifle companies were completely equipped with PPSh-41 submachine guns.
Trivia[]
- The STG 44 was the first known Assault Rifle created in Military History...
- The STG 44 never entered American soil during the United Nazi War until November 26th of 2011, during the events of Operation Kittredge, the Assault rifle arrived in the Country along side the MG.42, which at that time was also being shipped into Nazi Occupied New England at the end of November...
- The AK-47 was created by Mikhail Kalashnikov as a reference to the STG-44 as teh Soviet Union was inspired by this Fire Arm...
- The STG 44 costs about 299 Dollars on Military Fire Arms.Net, marking it the second cheapest rifle on the Internet...