Month: January 2010

Categories
German

7.92 mm Gewehr 33/40: Carbine

German 7.92 mm Gewehr 33/40: Carbine

This carbine, a typical Mauser, is very similar to the latest model of the Kar 98K. It is a manually operated, air-cooled, clip-fed shoulder weapon, having a laminated wood stock, a large metal butt plate to protect the stock when grenades are launched, and a sling mounted on the left-hand side.

The Gewehr 33/40 and the Kar 98K have interchangeable bolts. The most obvious differences are found in the length, weight, hand guards, and bolt handles.

The present weapon has an overall length of 39 1/8 inches as compared to the 43 1/2 inches of the Kar 98K. The barrel length is 19 3/8 inches instead of 23 1/2 inches. The carbine weighs 7 pounds 11 ounces; the rifle 9 pounds. The hand guard on the Gewehr 33/40 extends behind the rear sight and covers a greater percentage of the barrel than the one on the Kar 98K. The bolt handle on the carbine is turned down uniformly forming a semi-circle, and the knob on the end of the handle has been hollowed out and milled flat on the underside to reduce weight. On the Kar 98K, the bolt handle slopes down abruptly at right angles and the knob is solid.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber       7.92 mm (.312 in.)
Weight 7 lbs., 11 ozs.
Length (overall) 39 1/8 ins.
Principle of operation Manually operated, bolt action
Feeding device Clip-fed, hand-loaded magazine
Capacity of feeding device 5 rounds
Cooling system Air
Ammunition All 7.92 mm Mauser Types
Type of sight Inverted “V” or barleycorn front sight with hood protector and tangent leaf rear sight graduated from 100 to 1,000 meters.
Length of barrel 19 3/8 ins.
Length of rifling
Rifling
   Twist Uniform R.H.
   No. of grooves 4
Muzzle velocity 2,509 f/s

German: p. 206.2 (March 1, 1945)

Categories
German

7.92 mm M. P. 43, M. P. 43/1, M. P. 44 (Sturmgewehr 44): Submachine Gun

7.92 Submachine Gun: Top. M. P. 43; Center. M. P. 43/1; Bottom, M. P. 447.92 Submachine Gun: Top. M. P. 43; Center. M. P. 43/1; Bottom, M. P. 44

The German M. P. 43 is an automatic, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed shoulder weapon, firing from a closed bolt and a locked breech. Provision is made for both full-automatic and semi-automatic fire. For full-automatic fire, the trigger must be held back until all rounds in the magazine have been fired; for semi-automatic fire, the trigger must be released after each round. However, German official sources say that full automatic fire will be used only in emergency.

Despite the fact that it is of cheap construction, made chiefly of steel stampings, the M. P. 43 is a very serviceable weapon. It is believed that the gun was developed from the 7.92 mm M. Kb. 42 (machine carbine 42) inasmuch as the general design is quite similar, and the same type of ammunition is used. However, the M. P. 43 has a shorter barrel and gas cylinder, and has no bayonet as does the M. Kb. 42.

The receiver, frame, gas cylinder, jacket, and front sight hood are made from steel stampings. As all pins in the trigger mechanism are riveted in, it cannot be disassembled, although a complete trigger assembly may be very quickly inserted. The gas piston assembly, bolt, hammer, barrel and gas cylinder are machined parts.

The gas piston assembly consists of a piston, piston rod, and slide which appear to be machined from one piece with a stamped handle inserted. The stock and pistol grips are of low grade wood. The curved magazine is inserted from the bottom, and the fired cartridge cases are ejected on the right.

The various models of this weapon, including the M. P. 43, M. P. 43/1, and M. P. 44, have been officially designated M. P. 44. A recent official German order changed the nomenclature to Sturmgewehr 44.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber       7.92 mm (.312 in.)
Weight (with empty magazine) 10 lb., 1 oz.
Length (overall) 3 ft., 1 in.
Length of barrel 16.2 ins.
Sight radius
Principle of operation gas
Feeding device Curved magazine
Capacity of feeding device 30 rounds
Cooling system air
Ammunition types 7.92 mm Postolen Patronen
Semi AP., M.P. 43
Effective rate of fire
(automatic) 100 to 120 rds./min.
(semi-automatic) 40 to 50 rds./min.
Type of sight Leaf sight graduated from 100 to 800 meters
Rifling
Twist R.H.
No. of grooves
Chamber pressure
Muzzle velocity (approx.) 2250 f/s
Muzzle energy
Maximum range
Effective range 400 yds.

German: p. 206.1 (March 1, 1945)

Categories
German

Rbl. F. Flak: Artillery Sights

Rbl. F. Flak: Artillery SightsThe Rbl. Flak is used with heavy antiaircraft guns for indirect fire against ground targets and for reciprocal laying. A modified type is designed for use with the predictor.

When mounted in their respective sockets with the azimuth scales set to zero, the line of sight of the panoramic telescope on the predictor is 180° from that of the predictor telescope. The reason for the eyepiece of the gun sight being 90° from the axis of the gun is for convenience as the operator can stand at the right side of the gun and look into the sight at right angles to the axis of the gun. This sight is 9.3 inches in height.

German: p. 185 (August 1, 1945)

Categories
German

Rbl. F. 40: Artillery Sights

Rundblickfernrohr 40 (Rbl. F. 40): Artillery Sights The Rundblickfernrohr 40 is believed to have been designed for use with the 7.5 cm L. G. 40 or the 10.5 cm L. G. 42. A carrying case and two night lighting devices employed with the instrument were also recovered.

This is a panoramic artillery sight, consisting of an upright section approximately five inches long, supporting an objective head which has a full 360° traverse, and an eye piece approximately four inches long set at an angle to the base. The eye piece traverses approximately 200°, permitting the operator to use the sight from different positions. A knob graduated in mils and numbered on each ten mils is located near the center of the upright section and traverses the objective head. The lower section of the objective head is graduated in hundred mils, the even hundreds being numbered. By pressing a small lever near the adjusting knob, free traverse of the head for quick spotting is possible.

An adjustment for elevation is controlled by a knob on top of the objective head which is graduated in hundredths and numbered on each tenth mil graduation.

An unusual feature in this sight is that the adjusting knobs are click mounted to enable adjustments to be made at night without light.

Two night lighting devices are provided with the sight. One mounts on the left side of the eye piece and illuminates the reticle with a red light which is regulated by an aperture in the attachment. The other is worn by the operator for reading graduations on the sight and has an aperture selection for either clear or red light. It is held in place on the forehead of the operator by an elastic strap.

Weight of the sight is approximately 2 1/2 pounds.

German: p. 185 (August 1, 1945)

Categories
German

Aushilfsrichtmittel 38: Auxiliary Quadrant Sight 38

Aushilfsrichtmittel 38: Auxiliary Quadrant Sight 38This quadrant sight is called a “substitute aiming device” by the Germans. It will fit into the sight mount found on the 7.62 cm Pak 36 (r), the 5 cm Pak 38, and the 7.5 cm Pak 40. The device has apparently been designed as a cheap instrument for indirect laying and may be used with any weapon having a suitable adapter.

The elevating worm wheel housing fits into the adapter bracket and is retained by the elevation worm wheel. The telescope bracket, which is made of cast aluminum, is fastened to the elevation worm wheel by holding screws. The cross-level vial and longitudinal level vial are part of the telescope bracket assembly.

The cross leveling mechanism consists of a worm meshed with a worm wheel segment cut on the adapter bracket. Turning the cross leveling knob causes the telescope bracket and elevation worm wheel assembly to be tilted in relation to the adapter bracket. The azimuth mechanism consists of a worm and worm wheel provided with a rather unique anti-backlash arrangement.

Both the elevation and azimuth scales are divided into increments of 100 mils, and each is supplemented with a micrometer for 1 mil settings. The elevation scale is graduated from 0 to 1300 mils. There is a simple elbow telescope with a reticle design consisting of a large inverted “V” and two vertical lines such as is found in the German panoramic telescopes.

SPECIFICATIONS

Power of telescope         3 diameters
Field of view of telescope 8°
Overall height of instrument 8 1/8 ins.
Overall width of instrument 3 1/4 ins.
Complete weight of instrument 3 lbs., 12 ozs.

German: p. 184 (June 1, 1945)

Categories
German

Rundblickfernrohr 32 (Rbl. F. 32): Panoramic Telescope 32

Rundblickfernrohr 32 (Rbl. F. 32): Panoramic Telescope 32

Rundblickfernrohr 32 (Rbl. F. 32): Panoramic Telescope 32This panoramic telescope is used on all standard field equipment. It is a 4-power, fixed-focus type with a field of view of 10 degrees. The line of sight may be raised or lowered by rotation of the angle of site knob. The angle of site scale is graduated from 100 mils to 500 mils (300 mils in normal). The angle of site micrometer is graduated in mils from 0 to 100 mils. The azimuth scales on the vertical barrel of the telescope are graduated in 100-mil intervals; the upper scale, 0 to 64, is fixed in relation to the rotating head. The lower has two semi-circular scales numbered 0 to 32 and can be rotated independently of the rotating head. A knurled portion permits adjustment. The azimuth micrometer includes two scales graduated in mils from 0 to 100 mils. The outer scale can be rotated independently of the azimuth worm. Evidently the fixed azimuth scale and micrometer are used for initial laying of the piece and the second scale and micrometer are then zeroed and used to measure base deflection. A throw-out lever is provided for rapid setting in azimuth. A locking lever locks the azimuth micrometer in any setting. The reticle pattern is shown above.

The existence of Panoramic Telescopes 36 and 37 has been confirmed. They are believed to be very similar to the Rbl. F. 32.

SPECIFICATIONS

Power           4X
Field of view 10°
Weight 5 lbs.

German: p. 183 (June 1, 1945)

Categories
German

Mortar Sight

German Mortar SightThis instrument is designed to be used for laying the German 81 mm Mortar in azimuth and elevation. It embodies means for obtaining right or left lateral deflection, elevation or depression, and a collimator sight for sighting on an aiming point.

The elevation scale is graduated from 0 to 16, representing 0 to 1600 mils. The lateral deflection scale is graduated from 0 to 64. The collimator sight consists of a reticle having horizontal and vertical translucent slits located at the focal length of a single eye lens. The grooves on the top and side of the collimator are used as an open sight.

German: p. 182 (June 1, 1945)