Best WWII automatic weapon

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yes both fire the 7.62 x 51 NATO round.

[drgondog]

I would have picked the Mp44, but of the ones on the list I would rather have the thompson for sheer stopping power. .45 over 9mm when pondering.

of the ones NOT listed Mg42, then Ma Duece for the crew served as long as I didn't have to carry it...

[SoD Stitch]

Originally Posted by drgondog

I would have picked the Mp44, but of the ones on the list I would rather have the thompson for sheer stopping power. .45 over 9mm when pondering.

of the ones NOT listed Mg42, then Ma Duece for the crew served as long as I didn't have to carry it...

Yeah, I would've picked the Stg44 also, but I think they meant to limit the poll to SMG's, not assault rifles, MG's, etc.

However, I also would've listed the MG-34/42; possibly the most influential MG of the 20th century. Was effectively used on every front of the War, from freezing sub-zero Russian winters, to 100+ weather in North Africa; extremely reliable. Adaptable as a bipod-mounted crew-served weapon, highly accurate tripod-mounted weapon, anti-personnel tank weapon, aircraft-mounted anti-aircraft weapon, tank-mounted anti-aircraft weapon, etc., etc. Spawned a "copy" in the form of the late 20th-century MG-3, which is still in production in several countries today. Also had the highest rate of fire of any medium machine gun in history (I believe) at 1200+ RPM.

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by SoD Stitch

Yeah, I would've picked the Stg44 also, but I think they meant to limit the poll to SMG's, not assault rifles, MG's, etc.

However, I also would've listed the MG-34/42; possibly the most influential MG of the 20th century. Was effectively used on every front of the War, from freezing sub-zero Russian winters, to 100+ weather in North Africa; extremely reliable. Adaptable as a bipod-mounted crew-served weapon, highly accurate tripod-mounted weapon, anti-personnel tank weapon, aircraft-mounted anti-aircraft weapon, tank-mounted anti-aircraft weapon, etc., etc. Spawned a "copy" in the form of the late 20th-century MG-3, which is still in production in several countries today. Also had the highest rate of fire of any medium machine gun in history (I believe) at 1200+ RPM.

It was all of those things - I thought about the Mg34 just because I like machined weapons, less those with stamped parts - but both had about the same performance and reliability as I recall. Would like either one.

My uncle brought one back from ETO - he was ex 2nd, then 5th, Rangers - a Thompson carrying MD..I think they 'liberated' Dachau and he brought it back from there in pieces.

[Aussie1001]

Well since i don't know much about this subject so i will just provoke questions (in a good way).
Wasn't the sten a contender for the best SMG i mean what were the brits dropping to the resistance in france and other countries ?
I personally like the owen however if a jap was coming at me a tommy wouldn't be bad for sheer stopping power remember some japs were fanatics so go on give me answers !!!!!!
Heh heh

[Stupid]

I went for thompson of course! 20-30 round 45. ACP would pack some serious stopping power! Once shot a can with my friends grandfathered Colt 1911 and wow did it do a number on the can. My Grandfather who fought in the aleutians in the Army Engineers dove under a bulldozer during a bonzai charge with his non-scoped springfield, he got hold of a Thompson, put it on semi auto and on his first shot it blew a Japanese Soilders leg in half, he says he thinks the bullet hit right below the shin. If not the Thompson i'd go for the PPSh-41, it had a very high rate of fire and with a 71 round drum it was one heck of a gun.

[SoD Stitch]

Originally Posted by Aussie1001

Well since i don't know much about this subject so i will just provoke questions (in a good way).
Wasn't the sten a contender for the best SMG i mean what were the brits dropping to the resistance in france and other countries ?
I personally like the owen however if a jap was coming at me a tommy wouldn't be bad for sheer stopping power remember some japs were fanatics so go on give me answers !!!!!!
Heh heh

The main reason the Sten was so ubiquitous was because they were relatively inexpensive to manufacture (almost all of the parts were stamped steel), and there were only about two moving parts in the whole thing, so they were fairly reliable. The Brits used them up until fairly recently in their Spec Ops; I know the SAS used to train with them back in the '70's & '80's.

[trackend]

The Sten was made for 7s 6d which is about 35p in new money, in 1939 my old man was paid £2.50p a week in the Navy + 5p hard layers payment for combined ops service so even then it was a very cheap gun.
I personally think the Thomson was the best sub machine gun not prone to stoppages, not too higher muzzel velocity, a relitively heavy round and thin bullet casing so the stopping power was high. Ideally suited to building clearance and close quarter action.

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by trackend

The Sten was made for 7s 6d which is about 35p in new money, in 1939 my old man was paid £2.50p a week in the Navy + 5p hard layers payment for combined ops service so even then it was a very cheap gun.
I personally think the Thomson was the best sub machine gun not prone to stoppages, not too higher muzzel velocity, a relitively heavy round and thin bullet casing so the stopping power was high. Ideally suited to building clearance and close quarter action.

The only feature I didn't care for on the Thompson was tendency to 'ride up' in fully automatic fire - but I learned to fire short bursts and was able to control it just fine. This is one area that I favored the Mp40, but I would choose 40 S&W or .45 ACP for any short range stuff way over the 9mm or even 357 SiG.

Off topic - I recently fired the H&K Mp5 in 40 S&W - awesome piece, would choose that over any other small weapon available today from any era for short range stuff 50 yards or less.

[trackend]

Originally Posted by drgondog

The only feature I didn't care for on the Thompson was tendency to 'ride up' in fully automatic fire

If I'm not mistaken slightly to the left as well? DD

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by trackend

If I'm not mistaken slightly to the left as well? DD

Trackend - for a right hander like myself it was high right - a natural motion for a rifle, shotgun or submachine gun with a lot of drop in the stock.

[Wildcat]

I'm a fan of the Owen gun myself. For jungle warfare it was ideal, tough and very reliable.
Here's an interesting article written by an American
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/usr/wba...t/owen_gun.txt

[Konigstiger205]

I have to go with the MP40 here...cheap, easy to produce, compact and a 32 rounds magazine.Of course the Thompson did have more stopping power but it had more recoil than the MP40.

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

I like the PPSH best in the video game, , Medal of Honor. It shoots for one many bullets in a small space, and it's got 20 rounds more than the Thompson.

[Aussie1001]

he he he