Care to Break it Down for Tater Tot?

[ilovepotatos]

Alright guys. I'm stuck here.

Why is the Artillery Luger such a long barrel? Why don't they just use regular lugers? And why do artillery SMLE's need to be so short? Why can't they just use the regular rifle?

Why do artillery men need such weapons?
The only modification I understand is the shortening of rifles for the use of Cavalry troops prior to WW2 (and during in the case of the Polskies).

So if someone could enlighten me on this artillery thing, as well as any other modification such as the differences between regular and naval issued firearms, that'd be great.

Thanks guys.

 

[JP]

- artillery SMLE's: no such thing, SMLE was made shorter than Long Lees so it could be used by both Infantry/Artillery/Cavalry.

- Artillery Luger such a long barrel: barrel was long so that when the pistol was attached its shoulder stock/holster its could be used as a carbine.

 

[Claven2]

As JP states, by the time of the SMLE, they no longer made cavalry and artillery carbines. Said carbines were made when the issue rifle was the very long "long Lee".

The artillery Luger's long barrel is to give an acceptable sight radius when used as a carbine with shoulder stock. Add a snail drum and it was a fearsome weapon by WW1 standards. It would have handled much like the M1 carbine but with more rounds in the mag

 

[sunray]

"...artillery men need..." Because when the PBI or Cav came calling they needed something to shoot while they run away with their guns.

 

[ilovepotatos]

That seems a little silly to me. Not much stopping power on a Luger 9 mil, let alone a .30...

Thanks guys.

 

[contact148]

That seems a little silly to me. Not much stopping power on a Luger 9 mil, let alone a .30...

Thanks guys.

its not the movies here you get shot you stop

the .30 carbine killed many axis soldiers it was also used in korea and Vietnam
they made 7.2 milion rifles

the 9mm pistol is the standard us sidearms today why because it works

 

[Joe Turner]

Additionally it was felt that with a snail drum magazine the artillery Luger would play a useful role in low level antiaircraft use against straffing runs on gun posiitons. The aretillery Luger is a nice pistol to shoot and the 9MM military cartridge is powerful enough to be decisive in combat. It isn't a silly round. remember also that as in the years preceding WW1 various military powers were still experimenting with or perfecting weapons and ammunition and naturallt there would be some choices that to our modern eyes would seem unusual or ineffective. The SMLE was an excellent, " all branches " rifle for its time and the possession of small arms by artillerymen has been debated by military thinkers for years. Some though that the artillery piece WAS the only weapon for an artilleryman while others argued that artillerymen would need small arms to attempt to keep their position from being taken in the changing tide of battle. The argument has not been resolved but modern artillerists still retain small arms. Joe