Quote:
Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic
I should have been clearer, the 7.92x57mm round then in use would still have been retained for use, specifically for the MG34 & MG42 machineguns and sniper rifles.
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(snip)
Agreement. The Germans could have fielded a 7.92x33/7.92x57 mix of calibers during the war pretty effectively. German MGs were the main consumer of small arms ammo in infantry units by a pretty wide margin (though widespread issue of a select fire assault rifle would have changed that some).
The bigger problem was the lack of competence at high level that kept the program underfunded and under supported until relatively late in the war. (Not that incompetence at the top was a solely German problem when it came to small arms decisions -- as evidenced by the US retention of 30-06 instead of 276 Pedersen when fielding the Garand.)
The other thing the StG-44 managed to do was be the coolest weapon of the war by a long margin. Wasn't a perfect design, but with some very modest tweaks it could certainly hold its against anything fielded into the 1960s (and for a real combat gun it was superior to all the 7.62x51 battle rifles fielded by NATO thanks to more incompetence in the US military establishment).
