REME MUSEUM of TECHNOLOGY

 
Weapon No 58
MP 44 7.92 mm (Kurz) WW II Assault Rifle

This is, in fact, the MP 43/1 which was redesignated MP 44 in April 1944. There is no apparent reason for this change in nomenclature. The nomenclature was changed again later in 1944 from MP (meaning Maschinen Pistole) to StG (meaning Sturm Gewehr) or assault rifle. This change was politically inspired, but is truly more descriptive of the role of the weapon. There were two experimental versions of StG 44, the StG 44 (P) and StG 44 (V), these had curved barrels of 90° and 45° respectively. Both were rejected by Waffen Amt. The design of this was the result of Hugo Schmeisser's work on the original design by the Haenel plant, which was the Mk b 42(H). Another design was produced by Walther about the same time, the Mk b 42(W), but this was dropped entirely.

 
Weapon No 59
AK 47 7.62 mm (Intermediate) Kalashnikov

The Soviets have introduced two new shoulder weapons since World War 2, and recently developed an improved version of one of these. The 7.62 mm Simonov Sks Carbine was introduced in 1946, but is no longer standard, having been replaced by this weapon, frequently referred to as the AK 47. This has since been modified and a new version called the AKM was introduced some years ago and is replacing the AK (AK - Automat Kalashnikov). See also Weapon No 67.

 
Weapon No 60
Colt 5.56 mm (.223 in) AR 18 Armalite

Developed by the Armalite company when the new 5.56 mm cartridge became a feasible military round and lighter weapons were attractive. The AR 18 could be easily manufactured on simple machinery by customers wishing to make the rifle under licence. Similar to the AR 15, the AR 18 uses steel stampings instead of alloy forgings to reduce the cost. The AR 18 has a simpler design for greater reliability, easier cleaning and handling. It was tested by the US Army who said it had military potential, but they adopted the M16. Sterling Armaments in Dagenham were one of the licensed manufacturers.

 
Weapon Nos 61 and 62
Rifle 7.92 mm GEW 41 (M) Mauser

Rifle 7.92 mm GEW 41 (W) Walther

These two exhibits, one by Mauser and the other by Walther, are semi-automatic or self-loading rifles firing standard German 7.92 mm rifle and machine gun ammunition. They were developed in parallel by the two manufacturers in response to a need for a more rapid firing rifle than could be achieved with hand operated bolt action. Several thousand were produced and used mainly on the Eastern Front but they were not a success. They were overcomplicated, expensive to produce, difficult to load and poorly balanced. In seeking an improvement Walther developed the G43 (Weapon No 63)

 
Weapon No 63
Kar (Carbine) 43 7.92 mm (Walther)

After experience with the G41 (Weapons No 62) self-loading rifle Walther developed an improved version which was aimed at ease of production and also used a simpler system for diverting propellant gases to drive back the bolt as part of the reloading sequence. The new rifle was given the designation G(Gewehr)43 but late examples exist with the designation K(Karbinier)43. In most cases the K designation indicates a shorter barrel but it appears that the G43 and K43 are virtually identical.

 
Weapon No 64
Hybrid Self-Loading Rifle (Farquhar-Hill)

It is generally known that approximately 50 years prior to the introduction of the Belgian designed SLR (L1 A1) into the British Army, quite a lot of trial work was carried out by the Army with self-loading rifles. A large number of designs were tested between 1900 and the outbreak of the 1914-18 war. Very few were of British design, this being one of the few. It was first tested in May 1908, but had many failures. Design was by Major H J Farquhar-Hill, who produced several improved designs none of which completely satisfied the Small Arms Committee. This particular model was produced in 1909, probably one of his last efforts, although the rifle (or one similar to it) was tried in the United States late in the 1914-18 war using a drum type magazine.

 
Weapon No 65
Rifle 7.92 mm Automatic ZH 29

A design by Vaclav Holek, the famed Czech Small Arms developer. It is a pre-war semi-automatic made in prototype form only. This rifle was among those submitted to the United States for tests before the adoption of the M1. It was exported in limited quantities, Ethiopia being one of the purchasers. This was among the first of the successful military semi-automatic rifles.

 
Weapon No 66
Rifle 7.92 mm SL FN (SLEM)

The SLEM or SLEM I or II is of Belgian origin and was tested by the United Kingdom in the late 1940s when it had become fairly obvious that the days of the bolt action rifle as a first line weapon were over. The abbreviation 'SLEM' stands for Self-Loading Experimental Model.

 
Weapon No 67
Rifle 7.62 mm (Intermediate) Simonov SKS

Adopted before the AK Kalashnikov (Weapon No 59). Both of these rifles are chambered for the same 7.62 mm 'intermediate' sized M43 cartridge. This weapon is no longer used in Soviet first line units. The action of this rifle is basically a scaled down version of the obsolete 14.5 mm PTRS anti-tank rifle (Weapon No 146) also designed by Sergei, Gavrilovich, Simonov and used extensively during World War 2.

Serial Number - YU7410, Museum Number - E:02.0157.11

 
Weapon No 71
Rifle .303 inch Mk III (Experimental Self-Loading)

One of the early attempts to convert the No 1 rifle to semi-automatic action during the First World War. Although it appears a rather clumsy attempt, it shows all the same fundamental characteristics as the modern types.

 
Weapon No 132
7.92 mm Paratroop Rifle Model 42 (FG 42)

The Falischirmjager Gewehr (FG 43) was developed by the Rheinmettalborsig at the request of the German Air Force. Paratroops in the German Service were under the Air Force and therefore the Air Force were responsible for obtaining arms for them. This was a remarkable weapon, being designed to replace the rifle, machine gun in the light role and the sub-machine gun. It has been reported that only 5000 were produced and it is surprising that the Germans did not make more of them. Some have a wooden butt, whilst others have butts of stamped steel.

 
Weapon No 438
Rifle 7.62 mm X8El (BR)

The X8El was brought into service in 1954 for troop trials and was an experimental rifle. At this time NATO decided on a common ammunition (7.62 mm) for all member states, for obvious reasons. It is the forerunner of the LlAl SLR. This weapon is the British version of the Belgian FN (Fabrique Nationale) rifle and is fully automatic.

 
Weapon No 439
Rifle 7.62 mm X8E5 (BR)

The X8E5 is a modified version of the X8El, incorporating a new cocking handle assembly and firing pin.

 
Weapon No 461
Rifle FN Calibre .22 in (Magazine Capacity 8)

A FN Browning self-loading hunting rifle believed to have been manufactured between 1914 and 1928 when Browning worked with FN in Belgium.

 
Weapon No 474
Rifle AK 47 Chinese Type 56

A Chinese AK 47 is known as the Type 56 rifle. This late Type 56 has a permanently attached folding triangular bayonet which unfortunately is missing. Chinese made Type 56 rifles were extensively used in Vietnam by the Viet Cong who found them to be ideal weapons for soldiers who were mostly small and slight by Western standards. They are also found in considerable numbers in the Yemen and other Middle East countries and as insurgent weapons in African nations.

In spite of its popularity and efficiency, the AK is not without its defects. There is, surprisingly, no hold-open device on the bolt to indicate an empty magazine, nor, indeed, any method of holding the bolt open.

 
Weapon No 475
Rifle SKS (Chinese) Simonov

This rifle is very similar to the Soviet SKS (Weapon No 67). This rifle was manufactured by the Chinese and large numbers of this carbine have been made and, although it is no longer in current service in the Soviet Union, it has appeared in almost every Communist country in the world.

It is a gas-operated rifle of very conventional design with a charger loaded 10-round box magazine enclosed inside the receiver. There is a catch below the receiver, behind the magazine which, when pressed, releases the bottom plate of the magazine to allow quick emptying. The calibre is 7.62 mm, but the cartridge is much smaller in length compared to the NATO 7.62 mm. The rumour of the Russian ammunition of 7.62 mm fitting into the British 7.62 mm rifles, or vice versa, is complete nonsense and cannot be achieved without fatal results.

 
Weapon No 477
Rifle 7.62 SKS

Details as for Weapon No 475.

 
Weapon No 481
Rifle FAL 7.62 mm (Folding Butt)

Probably the most successful of the many designs produced by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium. The FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger) has been sold to over 30 different countries, including the Argentinians. This weapon was captured during the Falklands Conflict in 1982.

Compared to the British SLR, the FAL has changes in the trigger mechanism which makes the rifle capable of automatic fire. The weapon is comparatively light and whilst firing auto the rifle is extremely inaccurate, due to the 'climbing' effect of the muzzle. This is one of the reasons why the British did not adopt fully automatic SLRs.

 
Weapons No 529 to 533
Carbine SKS (Chinese) Simonov

Similar to Weapon No 475.

 
Weapons No 537 to 540, 542 and 544
US Army .30 Cal MI Carbine

Detail as for Weapon No 185.

Weapon Number - 544, Serial Number - 3927104, Museum Number - E:02.0157.10

 
Weapon No 545
MI Carbine (Civilian Pattern)

A commercial type Ml carbine in .30 calibre.

Museum Number - E:02.0157.07

 
Weapons No 550 and 551
Rifle FN 7.62 mm FAL

No details available.

 
Weapon No 556
Light Automatic Rifle, Fusil Automatique Legere (FAL)

This is a heavy barrelled version of the Infantry rifle, which was sometimes fitted with a bipod for use as a light machine gun. The advantage of this heavier barrel was that it was able to absorb the heat generated by firing the weapon as a machine gun.

Argentina was one of several countries that made various versions of the FAL under licence. The British Army did not use the type and this example was captured during the Falklands war. Belgian manufacture.

 
Weapon No 561
Rifle FN 7.62 mm

Detail as for Weapon No 438.

 
Weapon No 615
Rifle .22 inch Marlin Repeate

In 1915, the Marlin-Rockwell Corporation was contracted to produce Colt guns for the Russian Government. After production was set up, the Chief Engineer, Carl Swebilius, decided to improve the Colt. The swinging arm system was replaced with a gas cylinder and piston beneath the barrel which, with other minor modifications, made the weapon much lighter and more reliable. It was the only gas operated gun of the period that fired from a closed bolt. This also made it feasible for this gun to be synchronised for air use, or fire through a rotating propeller.

This rifle was perfected just in time for the USA's entry into the First World War in 1917. By August 1917, they were in use in aircraft and by the end of 1918, they were also used in tanks. In 1941, several thousand Marlins were supplied for use as anti-aircraft defences on small merchant ships, but they were not used elsewhere to any extent. USA origin.

 
Weapon No A:1998.4216.02
Rifle AK 47

Serial No V37023, Museum Number - A:1998.4216.02