Out of Mothballs: Antiquated Weaponry on the T2k Battlefield

[Vespers War]

Originally Posted by Raellus

Found a photo of Romanian Patriotic Guard troops using what appears to be a PM1910 water-cooled Maxim machinegun in the 1970s or '80s. These venerable weapons were used by most Warsaw Pact armies at one time or another and likely would have remained in reserve in significant numbers throughout the Cold War. Its replacement, the SG-43 Goryunov, would be even more common. -

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine listed 35,000 PM M1910 Maxims in inventory in 2011, which should give a sense of the scale of possible Cold War reserves of the weapon.

There would also be RP-46 machine guns hanging around, since some of those were encountered in Iraq during the most recent conflict there. That's the heavy-barreled, belt-fed version of the DP-27 that can still use the original's pan magazines. It's a bit heavier empty, but the much lighter ammo storage makes it more mobile overall. Taliban forces had the older pan-fed DPM.

Edit to add: honestly, one very solid reason for Russian antiques to hang around is that the Three-Line Cartridge, Model of 1891 is still in use today, so supplying old weapons with 7.62x54mmR ammo is easy. It's a lot harder to source things like .30-40 Krag or 6.5mm Shoenauer or 8mm Lebel if you keep other countries' antiques around.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Vespers War

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine listed 35,000 PM M1910 Maxims in inventory in 2011, which should give a sense of the scale of possible Cold War reserves of the weapon.

Come to think of it, I remember seeing a photo of a Ukrainian soldier, kitted out in multi-cam fatigues and modern body armor, manning a PM M1910 Maxim in a bunker, within the last year or two. Thanks for jogging my memory.

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[Brit]

This (or similar)?
https://twitter.com/ralee85/status/1223317491365163008

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Brit

This (or similar)?

That's the one! Thanks. It's nice to know it wasn't just my imagination playing games with my memory.

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[Olefin]

FYI example of how old guns might get into a T2K game

Bermuda Regiment in 1996 still had large stocks of Sterling submachine guns and Lee Enfield No. 4, Mk 1 rifles as well as two 25 pounder guns and several SBML 2-inch mortars dating from WW2. They even had some old Greener military shotguns.

Have a feeling a lot of current and ex-British possessions have much the same story as to old weapons still stored away

[Matt Wiser]

People may want to check this site out:

https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/


It highlights use of WW II-era equipment (aircraft, tanks, small arms, artillery, etc.) well after the end of the war. One example: Su-100s still being used in the Yemen War. Another: The huge arsenal found after the Grenada Invasion, and some of that was WW-II vintage. RDF Sourcebook users: Iran was still using Shermans and M-36 Tank Destroyers in the Iran-Iraq War (Some were found in Iraq after OIF), and still uses the M1 105-mm howitzer and the 155-mm M1 as well. Not to mention that StG-44s were found by U.S. and British Forces in Iraq (and some of the Syrian rebels also use 'em).

[Olefin]

Originally Posted by Matt Wiser

People may want to check this site out:

https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/


It highlights use of WW II-era equipment (aircraft, tanks, small arms, artillery, etc.) well after the end of the war. One example: Su-100s still being used in the Yemen War. Another: The huge arsenal found after the Grenada Invasion, and some of that was WW-II vintage. RDF Sourcebook users: Iran was still using Shermans and M-36 Tank Destroyers in the Iran-Iraq War (Some were found in Iraq after OIF), and still uses the M1 105-mm howitzer and the 155-mm M1 as well. Not to mention that StG-44s were found by U.S. and British Forces in Iraq (and some of the Syrian rebels also use 'em).

Great site Matt - and I would add that for those using the East Africa Kenya Sourcebook you would find a lot of older weapons in Africa - not just what the 1st US Volunteer Mech Infantry Battalion brought with them. Africa is basically awash in older British, Soviet, Chinese, American and French equipment. Uganda would still be operating old Sherman tanks and there were T-34's in multiple African countries