The Lowly SKS

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Originally Posted by Panther Al

Hell, I toted one in Iraq for a while. The things just keep working.

SKS, MP44 or StG44?

[Panther Al]

Originally Posted by raketenjagdpanzer

SKS, MP44 or StG44?

MP44. Surprisingly, getting ammo wasn't impossible. Difficult mind, but I kept it fed for almost a month.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Panther Al

MP44. Surprisingly, getting ammo wasn't impossible. Difficult mind, but I kept it fed for almost a month.

Wow, kickin' it ole skool!

[Panther Al]

You've no idea: I talked about in another thread 'lo ago, but when they took our tanks away we started doing dismounted patrols. Since the M1 only has two rifles, its interesting to decide who gets to walk about with a pistol (OK, we dismounted the 240's, but the point remains).

Did a raid in the Fallujah weapons market, and scooped up all sorts of things - usual AK and sov bits of kit, plus a sterling, and a pair of beat up MP5's - that was more beat up then the prize of the raid. The prize was the pair of MP44's and an Iranian MG3.

Since we already scored a MP40, and we did have fritz helmets...


When higher found out about what my tank crew was walking about with, shitting a brick is a bit of understatement. God, that first year of Iraq was a ton of fun before the PC crap started and everybody went mickey mouse with a vengeance.

[Targan]

I remember when you talked about it a while ago. If higher up forced you guys to patrol on foot why didn't they just issue you extra rifles?

[Panther Al]

Same reason they wouldn't issue more ammo, or let us carry grenades: The commander didn't want us to get too aggressive and upset the locals.

Only 40mm ammo I scored was by stealing it from an MP unit, and *all* of our 5.56 and 9mm resupply came from buying or seizing it from the locals.

Actually came *this* close to getting an Article 15 because of this: the HQ unit I was attached to was hoarding some 5.56 tracer, and the scout platoons was down to about 60rds a man. So I 'accidentally' gave them a couple of cases. My Chain was about to throw the book at me till the platoon sergeants pointed out to the commander that he would have fun trying to explain to higher - for they would make sure I pushed it the max - just why I felt it was needed to steal ammo to get it to a line platoon.

[B.T.]

*Taking this a little more OT - hope you don't mind!*

Hi Panther Al,

I have heard (and read) million-zillion rumours about the reliability and the actual handling of the MP44, but I never met someone, who had live experiences with it. So, can you say something about the rifle and how it worked? Very interested in this.