mp40 in Libya, 2011

Definitely an MP38, not a 40. And in all likelihood he has mags - they aren't exactly rare over there. I suspect he took it out as the weapon is open-bolt and carrying with a mag offers no advantage when not in combat (no round chambered anyhow). It's an ungainly SMG with the mag in - I used to have one, trust me.
 
Claven2 said:
Definitely an MP38, not a 40. And in all likelihood he has mags - they aren't exactly rare over there. I suspect he took it out as the weapon is open-bolt and carrying with a mag offers no advantage when not in combat (no round chambered anyhow). It's an ungainly SMG with the mag in - I used to have one, trust me.
Click to expand...


Interesting post,..there is a fair amount of hype about the MP 38 from historians who always claim it was such a superior weapon to our sten, yet it fired the same type of single stack mag, also a soldier couldn't lay too prone to the ground, on account of the long mag.

Wish i could figure out how to get a youtube video on to CGN of a Sten mk5 and MP 40, shows the various pros & cons for both SMGS, mentioned that the MP 40 was easier to keep on target due to its downward mag, where the Sten's side mounted mag was a disadvantage to staying on target,.
 
Last time I saw one of those in action was in Cyprus in 1975. A Turk soldier had one that was absolutly silver and his mag pouches were blanched white by the desert sun. I would have loved to have had that one.
 
i always like seeing what kind of stuff shows up over there, also note the Armani toque on the dude behind the guy with the MP-38
a lot of these "rebels" seem to have a higher clothing budget than me...
 
Would you be the crazy collector to bump into that guy in Libya and ask to examine his MP38 looking for the date, maker, and markings as well as matching numbers ? :D
 
Donny Fenn1 said:
i always like seeing what kind of stuff shows up over there, also note the Armani toque on the dude behind the guy with the MP-38
a lot of these "rebels" seem to have a higher clothing budget than me...
Click to expand...

Although Afghanistan is not Libya, based on my experiences there I'd guess it's almost certainly a Pakistani knock-off.
 
Afrika Korps left lotsa MP-38s in Libya.

It was an Italian colony until Wavell sent Roberts and O'Connor in there to push Benny the Moose's boys out. Afrika Korps came in with Rommel and the next couple of years were called the "Benghazi Sweepstakes" for the number of times everything was pushed back and forth. Monty finally put an end to all that at Alamein, then pushed West.

LOTSa German and Italian stuff dropped/lost/stolen/recovered/restored/refurbished and still some stashed away without doubt. MP-38 works real well with 9mm Mod 38 ammo, too, so once less problem: Electric Whiskers lost a mountain of the stuff.

I'd plunk for an original.

I want it......
.
 
Cdn303 said:
Just be carefully if you decide to go for a walk out int the desert. There is probably a LOT of mines still buried out there too.
Click to expand...

The History Channel (Tank Battles) had a show a while back about the North Africa Campaign. Anyways, there was an older man on the show that lived there and he stepped on an land mine a long time ago and was without a foot or leg, but was still picking up stuff off the desert.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom