Any evidence that SKS rifles were fielded in WW2?
- Thread starter hayday
- Start date
Mumbles Marble Mouth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- Lower Mainland
It sure was in WWII. It was just a lot bigger then.
I realize I’m kinda answering my own question here, but - based on what has been posted and what I’ve found out myself - I tend to believe that:
A gun very much like if not identical to the firearm we call the SKS-45 was fielded in the last months, weeks or days of WW2.
The crap translation of archived reports on deployment of these final prototypes says they were issued to motorized units. I think that they mean that these were given to crews handling towed artillery pieces. I get this because the pictures I found which show people with SKS rifles – (for sure as well as possibles) all seem to have been taken where a Soviet 122 mm howitzer M-30 was in operation.
That would make sense because issuing a non-standard caliber rifle to general infantry, on a confused battlefield, would create logistical problems. Issuing a prototype to crew managing M-30 Soviet 122 mm howitzers would mean that the oddball 7.62X41 or 7.62X39 ammo could be allocated together with the supply of 120MM shells.
The SKS could be seen as a fast firing short range weapon, useful for defending the big gun at close quarters from flanking infantry attacks, etc. (maybe similar to the intended WW1 deployment of the German’s Artillery Lugers?).
You could limit training on the SKS-45 to a small population of artillery loaders, etc.
Once inside Berlin, all bets were off and you would see artillery handlers running around with SKS rifles in random street fights etc.
Since the cold war kicked in right after WW2 the Soviets would have suppressed publication of pictures of it new gun until it was officially adopted (in 1949)
I'm just not sure how Nessy fits into all this
A gun very much like if not identical to the firearm we call the SKS-45 was fielded in the last months, weeks or days of WW2.
The crap translation of archived reports on deployment of these final prototypes says they were issued to motorized units. I think that they mean that these were given to crews handling towed artillery pieces. I get this because the pictures I found which show people with SKS rifles – (for sure as well as possibles) all seem to have been taken where a Soviet 122 mm howitzer M-30 was in operation.
That would make sense because issuing a non-standard caliber rifle to general infantry, on a confused battlefield, would create logistical problems. Issuing a prototype to crew managing M-30 Soviet 122 mm howitzers would mean that the oddball 7.62X41 or 7.62X39 ammo could be allocated together with the supply of 120MM shells.
The SKS could be seen as a fast firing short range weapon, useful for defending the big gun at close quarters from flanking infantry attacks, etc. (maybe similar to the intended WW1 deployment of the German’s Artillery Lugers?).
You could limit training on the SKS-45 to a small population of artillery loaders, etc.
Once inside Berlin, all bets were off and you would see artillery handlers running around with SKS rifles in random street fights etc.
Since the cold war kicked in right after WW2 the Soviets would have suppressed publication of pictures of it new gun until it was officially adopted (in 1949)
I'm just not sure how Nessy fits into all this
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Found:
Said to be from the battle for Berlin. See this LINK
Here is the full sized image: http://waralbum.ru/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/3467.jpg
Interesting that first guy has a sidearm closely resembling Stechkin APS, I thought that APS was created way after WWII...
Good spotting but the area around the mag well seems to looks wrong. It should be like this:
It could be an Inglis HP - ripped off from a brit, a commonwealth guy or even a German (who had FN ones after they overran the factory in Belgium).
You both could be right but FYI this picture is on the web at least 8 times identified as being at the battle for Berlin (including in the Berlin archives and in about 5 Russian language sources, etc.).
My Inglis HP had a lanyard ring - but it comes off in seconds if you want it to.
Various Russian language people also seem to suggest that the markings on the back of the barrel shroud also seem right - identifying different possible elevation and other settings, according to firing distances. My reservations come from the better than normal quality of the image. Then again it is about the same quality as the one in Post #42. I'm an old guy, but I wasn't there, so I don't know. What do you think?
You could be right (both times). They do say, however, that saying something over and over again doesn't necessarily make it true ;-)
Lol sorry i dont know why it double posted.
All early Ak and sks slings had leather tabs and the one in the pic is a post 1951 metal tab sling. But the true nail in the coffin is the late 3rd version gas block used on the SKS in the pic. Soviets made lots of bs propaganda pic of wwii or it could just be miss labelled. It would be like seeing a lee enfeld no4 mkii in a wwi pic.
As for your ref, its a video game forum...
I could be wrong if Peabody and Sherman brought a SKS built in the 1950s back in time to 1945.
All early Ak and sks slings had leather tabs and the one in the pic is a post 1951 metal tab sling. But the true nail in the coffin is the late 3rd version gas block used on the SKS in the pic. Soviets made lots of bs propaganda pic of wwii or it could just be miss labelled. It would be like seeing a lee enfeld no4 mkii in a wwi pic.
As for your ref, its a video game forum...
I could be wrong if Peabody and Sherman brought a SKS built in the 1950s back in time to 1945.
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Actually I agree with you. There are multiple sources identifying this as having been taken in the WW2 attack on Berlin. All apparently wrong. Thanks. Those interested in hard evidence need to keep looking.
Museum atribution is just that: best guess based on available evidence. Most of the posters here have more firearms specific knowledge than the typical museum staff. For fun, take a walk through the arms and armour section of the ROM. Read the tags. LOL
Which reminds me, ever hear the one about the three Nazis that walk into a BAR?
-----------------
Yeah,--- No Joke!!
Got a chuckle---Good One!!
If you mean the one with the SKS guy next to the 122mm Howitzer, the highest resolution version I found was this.
Here is the full sized image: http://waralbum.ru/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/3467.jpg
It would be the best for enlarging
Yeah well the square gas block on the early SKS and the prototype are true and fact no matter what saying you incorporate. Slanted or angled ones were on mid to later model SKS and definetly 100% post 1945.
