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Thread: Why did the USA go semi-auto when others did not?

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  1. #1
    Amsdorf
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    Why did the USA go semi-auto when others did not?

    OK, I've spent a good deal of time reading up on the history of the development of the Garand and...here is my question.

    Why was the United Statesicon the only country involved in WWII that embraced the use of a semi-automatic rifle as its main battle rifle when every other nation in WW II used a bolt-action five-round rifle?

    It seems like a "no brainer" that the choice to go with an eight round semi-auto would result in fire superiority, so...

    Why were we the only ones to go this route?

    Just curious.

    Your thoughts?
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  3. #2
    Legacy Member Calif-Steve's Avatar
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    The Russians developed their Tokarev rifle and the Germans had several semi-auto rifles (K43/MP44). We were not alone.

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  5. #3
    Amsdorf
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    Thanks for that, but isn't it true that we were the only nation that used a semi-auto as its main battle rifle in WW II?

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    Contributing Member DaveN's Avatar
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    Amsdorf is right I think? I don't think those others mentioned were the main battle rifle like the Garandicon that seemed to be in the hands of 8 out of 10 of our soldiers so it seemed to be to me. A little muddled but you get my point?
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    Legacy Member us019255's Avatar
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    I'm going to go out on limb and give a few reasons I can think of.
    Japanicon didn't because they depended upon the superior abilities of their soldiers. Giving them better equipment was just not a priority.

    Germanyicon needed lots of weapons quickly to rearm. Cheapest, quickest was to continue to build what they knew. Their limited research was put into airplanes and tanks. Their doctrine placed more emphasis on machine guns for volume of fire.

    Russiaicon had other problems until after the war started.

    Franceicon was to busy preparing to fight WWI over again.

    I have no idea what was going on in the UKicon.

    Disclaimer: I make no claims that these ideas are true or can be backed up. I'm just trying to get a discussion started.
    Ed reluctantly no longer in the Bitterroot

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    Perhaps semi autos were looked at as inferior or at least unreliable. The Germans used the Mexican designed Mondragon rifle (first semi auto military rifle) in WWI but it easily fouled and jammed in the mud.

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    Legacy Member gsimmons's Avatar
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    I think the Garandicon was the first,successful and reliable semi-auto system.



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    Legacy Member us019255's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gsimmons View Post
    first,successful and reliable semi-auto system.
    Which probably means that the USAicon decided that it was worth the money to develop one in house to the Army's specifications. I suspect that in Germanyicon at least a similarly reliable weapon would have been developed if the government had decided to spend the money earlier. As I remember the fellow running things there was very opposed to the development of better battle rifles.
    Ed reluctantly no longer in the Bitterroot

  11. #9
    Legacy Member gastrapsforme's Avatar
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    Germanyicon's main reason for not issueing a semi automatic weapon as I understand it would be that it just didnt fit in with the tatics that were used. The main base of fire for a german platoon was a mg34 or mg42, the infantry was there to support the automatic weapons.They had no need of a higher cyclic rate for their rifles when every platoon had a machine gun. Compaired to U.S. tatics were the BAR was the main base of fire, were you needed the other guys combined out put of rounds just to equal the 1 automatic in a german squad. Our machine guns were used to support infantry, thats why "heavy" weapons hand there own platoon in the make up of WW2 companys. But I still wonder were any other semi autos as good a design as the garand, as durable? Maybe if they were we'd see a wider use, but we dont. Kevin

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