05-21-2011, 04:10 AM
stanc,
The Garand was the standard service rifle, but was augmented healthily with a mix of M1 Carbines and Thompsons in key leaders' and riflemens' duty positions, in addition to BAR and M1919 gunners. That was a broad mix of weapons capable of CQB out to beyond riflemen distances. A single caliber would have short-changed them, however, they had a logistical nightmare on their hands.
The extreme jerk to the opposite end of the spectrum with the 7.62 NATO single caliber system failed miserably. While a 7mm Enfield would have served the Garands, BAR's, & M1919's very well, it would have hurt the M1 Carbine and Thompson.
Looking into the future, the Russians have fielded the An-94, which is actually their official service rifle since 1986-from what they have told me, but only one regiment has it since there is too much political loyalty to the Kalashnikov design and the "new" AK-100 series. The An-94 is designed to defeat hard armor by firing the 1st 2 rounds on auto at 1800rpm, after which it transitions to a conventional cyclic rate like the AK-74. It is chambered in 5.45mm, and places those 2 rounds within a few centimeters of each other at 100m, so that an armor plate is in a more elastic state when the 2nd round hits, blowing through it.
There doesn't seem to be much knowledge of...or interest in it, since it requires more extensive manufacturing, with a receiver that recoils within a receiver (heavy).
LRRPF52
The Garand was the standard service rifle, but was augmented healthily with a mix of M1 Carbines and Thompsons in key leaders' and riflemens' duty positions, in addition to BAR and M1919 gunners. That was a broad mix of weapons capable of CQB out to beyond riflemen distances. A single caliber would have short-changed them, however, they had a logistical nightmare on their hands.
The extreme jerk to the opposite end of the spectrum with the 7.62 NATO single caliber system failed miserably. While a 7mm Enfield would have served the Garands, BAR's, & M1919's very well, it would have hurt the M1 Carbine and Thompson.
Looking into the future, the Russians have fielded the An-94, which is actually their official service rifle since 1986-from what they have told me, but only one regiment has it since there is too much political loyalty to the Kalashnikov design and the "new" AK-100 series. The An-94 is designed to defeat hard armor by firing the 1st 2 rounds on auto at 1800rpm, after which it transitions to a conventional cyclic rate like the AK-74. It is chambered in 5.45mm, and places those 2 rounds within a few centimeters of each other at 100m, so that an armor plate is in a more elastic state when the 2nd round hits, blowing through it.
There doesn't seem to be much knowledge of...or interest in it, since it requires more extensive manufacturing, with a receiver that recoils within a receiver (heavy).
LRRPF52