THE RED GAMBIT SERIES

I keep reminding myself of how much time has elapsed (or rather how little) and the urgency to staunch the Red flow West. I guess the question is how much and when could any be implemented.

Bums in pews, and anything that comes to hand would be the order of teh day at first, hence the use of retired kit that has started to be noticeable.

Marcus1870 at March 25, 2014 at 10:08 AM

I think my point may have been misconstrued.  I don't think the U.S. would have built the 262 . They would have benefited by the swept wing recharging was used in the F-86.  The Germans would have benefited from possible metal access, such as high strength stees to lighten the ST44 and to prolong the Jump engine compressor and power turbine blade lives which would have increased engine life.  

As far as the M1 Carbine, well as WW 2 and the Korean War demonstrated, the weapon was less than satisfactory, being well underpowered.  The ST 44 and definitely the ST45 are shorter and weigh less than a M1 Garande which paratroopers used. Except for tanks, there's no reason why paratroopers could use one.

I would never expect the U.S. to adopt German systems outright.  After all "We won the war, right?" Yet the M60 machine gun was based upon the MG42, all modern assault rifles can trace their lineage to the ST44.  The Allied bias ,logistical issues, and manufacturing issues would have prevented the U.S. from ever manufacturing it but their assistance might help the Ruhr or France in cranking them out.  Now IR use, that's different as the U.S. cranked out radar sets given to them by the British.

US assistance might also help in developing the HeS 011 engine, the successor to the Jumo engine.  

Operation Paper Clip is precisely what I have been talking about. Not just outright systems but a pooling of technologies.

Well, the M1 Carbine was never intended to be a frontline weapon. It was intended to arm rear-echelon types. As for the St44 and the Garand, the latter has more stopping power and range.

Precisely, however most engagement ranges were within the St44' effective range. This was done deliberately s ok nice German studies determined that and concluded that the Kar 98 and it's full-size round was overkill for the ranges discussed, much like the Garande would be.  The 7.92 Kurtz is probably effective enough. A design that we see today in modern armies unlike the very good but older generation Garande.

As far as the carbine, you pointed it out, designed for fear echelon troops not front line ones, such as paratroopers or line infantry.

"On the m1 carbine, i have yet to meet a veteran who felt it was satisfactory in terms of stopping power."  There was NO problem with "stopping power" when the M-1 carbine was used at the recommended ranges, i.e. out to 250M-300M.  That being said, there was an issue with primers and incomplete powder combustion in extreme cold...that got fixed.  Is the cartridge as powerful as a .303/.30-06?  No, but it wasn't supposed to be.

Anyhow, did not intend (much) to highjack your forum.  Keep up the good work, Mr. Gee.  Looking forward to the next installment.  I am waiting as fast as I can.