TOPLINE WEAPON OVERVIEW

    Colt:

    The Colt, or M1911, is a .45 caliber, single action, semi-automatic handgun, which was the standard-issue handgun in the combat arm of the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985.  The design is described as one of the most effective and reliable in the history of firearms, having a service life of over 70 years.  A lot of the mechanisms used in the original Colt 45 are still used in standard issue handguns worldwide to date.

   
    G-43 Rifle:

    The Gewehr 43 is a semi-automatic German rifle used during WW2.  It followed many earlier less successful designs but became popular due to its weight, reliability and its ability to be mass produced.  It was given to German Army units that were in more advanced positions and was used as a Sniper Rifle due to its accuracy.  It could not be fitted with a bayonet, so in close combat it was less successful.

   
    Luger:

    The Luger P. 08 is a 9mm recoil action, semi-automatic pistol, which was the standard-issue pistol for the German Armed forces from 1908 to 1938, although was still primarily used by Officers as their standard side-arm throughout WW2.  It was a much coveted prize if it was found by the Allied Forces and was often traded between themselves for cigarettes and other rations.

   
    Luger Carbine:

    The Luger Carbine or ‘Zie Lange Pistole 08’ is a 9mm recoil action, long barrelled pistol which could be turned in to a rifle with a 32 round drum magazine (like the American Tommy guns made famous by Al Capone).  This dual purpose weapon proved popular during ‘Blitz Krieg’ with the fast moving SS troops needing less weight to carry so having two guns in one was a great advantage.

   
    MG-42:

    The MG-42 (shortened from German: Maschinengewehr 42, or "Machine Gun 42") is a machine gun that was developed for, and entered service with, Nazi Germany in 1942, during World War II.   The machine gun was a huge contributor to Allied casualties and the MG-42 was made infamous to its durability, reliability, simplicity to operate and the ease in which it could be moved and reloaded. 

   
    MP-40:

    The MP40 (Maschinenpistole 40, literally "Machine Pistol 40") is a submachine gun developed in Germany and used extensively by paratroopers and platoon and squad leaders during World War II.  The MP40 had a relatively low rate of fire and low recoil, which made it more manageable than other contemporary submachine guns.  As it is a machine pistol the user had the ability to hold it in one hand and fire either while parachuting or in close combat so didn’t have to fully expose them and risk being shot.

   
    Shotgun:      

    The Shotgun was manufactured by all sides during WW2, but was not frequently used in regular combat.  It was used by the army to guard Prisoner of War camps, but proved very popular with the underground Militia forces throughout France and Belgium.  It was an easy weapon to use accurately due to the ammunition spread, especially with little combat training like that of most Guerilla forces.

   
    STG-44:

    The StG44 (Sturmgewehr 44 or "Assault rifle model 1944") was an assault rifle developed in Nazi Germany during WW2 and was the first of its kind to see major deployment.  It was named for propaganda reasons by Adolf Hitler himself and literally means ‘Storm Rifle’, intended to be used to storm Allied positions.  It was first deployed on the Eastern Front against Russia and was very effective in long range confrontation with the enemy and more useful in close quarter combat as it had the capability to be fitted with a bayonet or provide cover fire to help the advancing troops.

   
    Flamethrower:

    The Flamethrower was a handheld or vehicle mounted weapon that consisted of three tanks, two filled with a flammable liquid and one with a pressurised gas (usually nitrogen) and a small reservoir where it’s then passed over an incendiary device before being pushed through the gun.  A primitive form of the flamethrower was used by the Byzantine Empire in Greece around 673 A.D.  It was fitted aboard ships and used to set other ships and rigging alight.  During WW2 troops carrying Flamethrowers were to a distinct disadvantage as their movement was impaired due to the tank strapped to their back and were a target for enemy snipers.  It is rumored that if these troops were captured they would be executed rather than taken prisoner due to the graphic nature of their victims’ death.  It was a particularly dangerous job and was known to be given to troops caught breaking rules or disrespecting officers.

    Grenade:
    The word Grenade is derived from the French word for Pomegranate as it was a similar size and the shrapnel reminded troops of the seeds from the fruit.  It was primarily used to attack enemy positions such as bunkers or pillboxes; it was also used as an anti-personnel weapon to move the enemy from their positions making it easier to confront them with regular weapons.