US Troops using AK-47s

(JDupre5762) wrote in message ...
We all know the history of the AK-47
families and copies around the world. It is arguably the best assault
rifle around in terms of longevity, durability, firepower, and
simplicity of design. (Of course they stole the basic design from the
German STG-44 while the West went for Mauser's STG-45 design).

This canard has been disproven many times. While there is a similarity in the
size of the round and shape of the magazine the StG 44 and AK 47 used two
substantially different operating principles and the AK is not a copy of the
StG 44.

John Dupre'

"After seeing the German MP44 (aka STG-44) and its intermediate
cartridge the Soviets rapidly appreciated the logic behind it and set
about developing their OWN version, which eveolved into the
Kalashnikov"

-Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, 6th Edition, Ian Hogg


"Once the GERMAN gun and its 7.9mm KURZ cartridge had been analysed,
the merits of such equipment in the hands of the tankoviy desant
troops (tank-borne infantry) became obvious; the assault rifle
combined the fire rate of a submachine gun with a cartridge that
offerered perhaps eight times the maximum effective range of the
standard 7.62x25 type"

- Kalashnikov, John Walter

" The rifle was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1944-45 to handle
the intermediate cartridge credited to Elizarov and Semin, but
apparently influenced by captured examples of the GERMAN 7.9mm KURZ
(found in the STG-44)"

- Guns of the Elite, 2nd Edition, George Markham

"Kalashnikov's resulting Automat Kalashnikova obrazets 1947g-AK47-
went right down the list of desirable features of the STG-44 beginning
with its straight line configuration, detachable 30 round box
magazine, pistol grip, and selective fire capability. Although its
bolt-locking was not taken from the STG-44, Kalashnikov DID make use
of that rifle's bolt carrier and gas operating system. Sheet metal
stampings are used in the receiver and top cover of the AKM versions,
and the folding stock of the AKMS is a slight modification of that of
the German MP-38 series."

-German Automatic Weapons of World War II, Robert Bruce


Is that enough for you, or shall I open another stack of books?

Rob