Weapons and Artillery of World War II

Weapons and Artillery of World War II

The result of World War II was affected by many different factors. One major factor which affected the war was the weapons and artillery used during the war. Since the beginnings of time, weapons have always been around. From swords and knives to nuclear weapons and missiles, weapons have evolved greatly throughout the years. The weapons and artillery used in World War II basically were evolved types of weaponry that were used during World War I (Military History 1).

World War II began in 1939 when the German armies decided to invade parts of Europe, therefore causing Europeans to retaliate against the Germans (World War 1). World War II began because those countries which were defeated in World War I (Germany, Italy, and Japan) were greatly devastated by the loss. Their countries were suffering from economical problems and were also left in bad conditions after World War I. They had lost much territory and now were practically in debt for the damages which they had done during the war (1). These countries figured that the only way for them to get out of economic depression and revive their country was to take land from other countries, which was one of the reasons why the war began.

The main countries which were involved in World War II were Germany, Japan, and Italy, which were known as the Axis Coalition, against the United States, the Soviet Union, and many other countries. Overall World War II was seen as the most devastating war in human history. Each country had different types of weaponry and artillery which proved to be vital in the result of the war (World War 1).

Many new and improved weapons and artillery were brought out during the war. One example of this introduction of new weapons was the long-range rocket. Also during this time the atomic bomb proved to have a big impact on the war. Along with these new and improved weapons, falls the infamous tanks of World War II (Military History 1). Although some weapons proved to be more important than others, every weapon played an important role in fighting this war. Some of these smaller weapons include pistols and rifles.

A majority of weapons used in World War II were improved weapons from World War II. Most guns increased in power and abilities. In World War II people thought that pistols were useless but this was proved wrong due to the fact that the U.S. Military spent a lot of time into making a better sidearm. Pistols were mainly used in emergencies or whenever a soldier ran out of ammunition. A pistol, at times, could have decided whether a soldier would live or die in combat depending on the situation. Another factor which made the pistol a very important weapon was the fact that the pistol could be reloaded much faster than a rifle (Slayton 12).

Another very powerful gun that was used in World War II was the Submarine guns. The submarine guns are much stronger and better than normal guns due to the fact that they have better firing distances (Military History 7). The submarine gun was built mainly for endurance and for accuracy. This gun had the accuracy to fire from 800 to at least 1,000 yards away and delivers a powerful blow to its victims. One problem which the gun had was the fact that it could dislocate a soldiers arm whenever it was fired. But finally the submarine gun was improved and is now less powerful which makes it easier for firing full automatic rounds along with pistol rounds (8).

Another very important weapon used in World War II was the rifle. Most infantrymen were defined by their rifles (Slayton 34). To most men, this gun was the most important, due to the fact that it was their main protection against the enemy. Also, they were around their rifle more than any other weapon which gives the soldiers a more comfortable feeling around their rifles.

Another gun which branches from the rifle is the machine gun. The Germans were mainly the ones who would take the credit for the invention of the machine gun (50). There were two main types of machine guns, light machine guns and heavy machine guns. The main differences between the two were the weight and the fire power. For the Americans the M2HB was considered the war winner for them because of its power. The Germans had no gun comparable to the fire power of the M2HB. You can call the M2HB the closest weapon to be called a universal weapon (61).

The mortars were also an important weapon in World War II. They were small, light and lobbed shells at high angles. It was a smoothbore tube, sealed at the bottom, and had some kind of elevating feature. The main use for the mortar was when a soldier would drop down from a chute and release them into the enemies. It would then fling projectile toward the enemy’s way (Slayton 63).

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