Gewehr 41

Gewehr 41
Specifications
Type	Semi-automatic Rifle
Caliber	7.92mm
Feed System	10 Round Box
Muzzle Velocity	776m/s
Maximum Effective Range	400m

History

The Gewehr 41 was produced during the Second World War in response to a German Army requirement for a self-loading rifle. The Army's procurement office laid down strict guidelines to govern the design of such a rifle. Its action was not to be cycled by gas tapped from the barrel (the most common means of working such weapons), the upper part of the rifle was not permitted to move while the action cycled and, if the gas system failed, the rifle had to be capable of being charged manually. Designs were submitted by the firms Mauser and Walther. Both harnessed the power of gas trapped in a cone at the muzzle to work them. This had the disadvantage of making the rifle muzzle-heavy and proved a difficult mechanism to keep free from fouling in combat conditions. During 1942 the two weapons were produced in tandem, as the G41 (M) and the G 41 (W). The latter proved more efficient - largely due to the fact that Walther had paid little attention to the stipulations about moving parts and manual charging. In December 1942 the G41 (W) was adopted for service as the G41 and production of the G41 (M) ceased. The G41 went in to manufacture with Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik as well as Walther, but never became truly reliable or popular with its users. Production ended in early 1944.

See Also

Infantry Weapons of Battleground Europe American Weapons Boys Anti-Tank Rifle ·Browning M1919A6 . BAR · M1903 Springfield · M1 Garand ·M1 carbine ·M1A1 Thompson · M3A1 Grease Gun · Mk 2 Fragmentation_Grenade · M8 Smoke Grenade · LG 50 mm mortar · M1911 Colt · M9 Bazooka British Weapons Boys Anti-Tank Rifle · Bren Mk II LMG · Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I · M1928 Thompson · sten Mk II · No.36 Mills Bomb · No.77 Smoke Grenade · 2 inch mortar · Webley Pistol · PIAT French Weapons Boys Anti-Tank Rifle · FM 1924/29 LMG · Fusil MAS mle 1936 · Fusil MAS mle 1940 · Fusil mle 1886 M93 "Lebel · MAS.38 · Grenade à main offensive modèle 1915 · Grenade fumigène · LG 50 mm mortar · Pistolet mle 1935S · M9 Bazooka German Weapons Panzerbüchse 39 · MG-34 · Karabiner 98k· Gewehr 43 · Gewehr 41 · FG42 · STG44 · MP-40 · MP34 · Stielhandgranate 24 · Nebelhandgranate 39 · Granatwerfer 36 · Luger P08 · Panzerschreck 54 Italian Weapons Beretta Model 38 · Carcano Modello 1891 Universal Weapons Ammo Resupply Pack · Combat Knife · Satchel Charge