What Rifle was Used in WW2?
World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving many countries and militaries. During this period, various rifles were used by different armies and nations. In this article, we will explore the most widely used rifles during World War II.
German Rifles
The German army, known as the Wehrmacht, used several rifles during World War II. The most widely used was the Karabiner 98k, a modified version of the Mauser Gewehr 98 rifle. The Karabiner 98k was a bolt-action rifle chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, and it was used by German soldiers from 1935 to 1945.
Other German rifles used during World War II included:
• Gewehr 43: A semi-automatic rifle chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, used by German soldiers from 1943 to 1945.
• StG 44: A select-fire rifle chambered in 7.92x33mm Kurz, used by German soldiers from 1944 to 1945.
• Karabiner 214: A sniper rifle chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, used by German snipers from 1942 to 1945.
American Rifles
The United States Army used several rifles during World War II. The most widely used was the M1 Garand, a semi-automatic rifle chambered in.30-06 Springfield. The M1 Garand was used by American soldiers from 1937 to 1957.
Other American rifles used during World War II included:
• M1903 Springfield: A bolt-action rifle chambered in.30-06 Springfield, used by American soldiers from 1903 to 1945.
• M1941 Johnson Rifle: A semi-automatic rifle chambered in.30-06 Springfield, used by American soldiers from 1941 to 1945.
British Rifles
The British Army used several rifles during World War II. The most widely used was the Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I, a bolt-action rifle chambered in.303 British. The Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I was used by British soldiers from 1939 to 1957.
Other British rifles used during World War II included:
• Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III: A bolt-action rifle chambered in.303 British, used by British soldiers from 1907 to 1945.
• Sten Gun: A submachine gun chambered in.380 ACP, used by British soldiers from 1941 to 1945.
Soviet Rifles
The Soviet Army used several rifles during World War II. The most widely used was the Mosin-Nagant M1891/38, a bolt-action rifle chambered in 7.62x54mmR. The Mosin-Nagant M1891/38 was used by Soviet soldiers from 1938 to 1958.
Other Soviet rifles used during World War II included:
• SVT-40: A semi-automatic rifle chambered in 7.62x54mmR, used by Soviet soldiers from 1940 to 1945.
• Simonov SKS: A semi-automatic rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm, used by Soviet soldiers from 1945 to 1958.
Table: Rifles Used in WW2
| Country | Rifle | Caliber | Action | Years Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Karabiner 98k | 7.92x57mm Mauser | Bolt-action | 1935-1945 |
| Germany | Gewehr 43 | 7.92x57mm Mauser | Semi-automatic | 1943-1945 |
| Germany | StG 44 | 7.92x33mm Kurz | Select-fire | 1944-1945 |
| Germany | Karabiner 214 | 7.92x57mm Mauser | Bolt-action | 1942-1945 |
| USA | M1 Garand | .30-06 Springfield | Semi-automatic | 1937-1957 |
| USA | M1903 Springfield | .30-06 Springfield | Bolt-action | 1903-1945 |
| USA | M1941 Johnson Rifle | .30-06 Springfield | Semi-automatic | 1941-1945 |
| UK | Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I | .303 British | Bolt-action | 1939-1957 |
| UK | Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III | .303 British | Bolt-action | 1907-1945 |
| UK | Sten Gun | .380 ACP | Submachine gun | 1941-1945 |
| USSR | Mosin-Nagant M1891/38 | 7.62x54mmR | Bolt-action | 1938-1958 |
| USSR | SVT-40 | 7.62x54mmR | Semi-automatic | 1940-1945 |
| USSR | Simonov SKS | 7.62x39mm | Semi-automatic | 1945-1958 |
Conclusion
World War II was a global conflict that involved many countries and militaries. During this period, various rifles were used by different armies and nations. In this article, we have explored the most widely used rifles during World War II, including the German Karabiner 98k, the American M1 Garand, the British Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I, and the Soviet Mosin-Nagant M1891/38. These rifles played a significant role in the outcome of the war, and their designs and technologies continue to influence the development of modern firearms.
