#ahistoryofwar

[ahistoryofwar]

I’m back, for good. I’m taking requests again, fully. Getting back into giving information to you guys. Hope to speak to you again. <3

[ahistoryofwar]

Members of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, commonly known as WAACs, don their first gas masks at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, in June 1942. The female troops were famously praised by General Douglas MacArthur, who called them "my best soldiers."

[ahistoryofwar]

In a picture that captures the violence and sheer destruction inherent in war perhaps more graphically than any other ever published in LIFE, Marines take cover on an Iwo Jima hillside amid the burned-out remains of banyan jungle, as a Japanese bunker is obliterated in March 1945.

[ahistoryofwar]

Caliber: 40 mm launcher; 40 and 70 - 105mm warheads (depending on the grenade model). Type: recoilless launch + rocket booster. Overall length: 650mm. Weight: 6.3 kg unloaded, with PGO-7 telescope sight. Effective range: 200-500 meters, depending on the grenade type.

The RPG-7 is a further development of the previous RPG-2 antitank grenadelauncher. RPG-7, in its first version, known as RPG-7V, has been adopted by Soviet army in 1961, and still is widely fielded in Russia and at least 50 more countries. By far, RPG-7 can be considered as one of the most successful antitank grenade launchers ever made. Initially thought as an anti-armor weapon, it latter has been adopted for other fire-support missions by introduction of various types of grenades, such as anti-infantry HE-FRAG, multi-purpose Thermobaric/FAE, and some other types of ammunition. The antitank grenades for RPG-7 also came a long way, from original PG-7V grenade, with penetration of about 260mm/10inches of RHA, and up to 500mm/20inches of RHAor 1.5 meters/5ft of brick wall with single-warhead PG-7VL grenade, developed in 1977. By the late 1980s, a tandem-type PG-7VR grenade has been introduced. This grenade has two warheads and is intended against the most modern tanks, fitted with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor). Front warhead sets off the ERA, and second warhead then penetrates more than 600mm/24in of armor.

The RPG-7 is a shoulder fired, single-shot, smoothbore recoilless launcher. Grenades are loaded from the front, and the rear of the barrel is fitted with venturi nozzle. Because of the recoilless design, there is a dangerous backblast zone, more than 20 meters/60ft long. The antitank grenades are of combination type, using a charge of smokeless powder for RCL-type launch. Once grenade reaches safe distance from the shooter (about 10-20 meters), the built-in rocket booster engine ignites and further accelerates the grenade, greatly enhancing the effective range (up to 500+ meters for single warhead grenades, up to200+ meters for much heavier tandem or FAE grenades). Because of increase in range, RPG-7 is usually issued with 2.7X fixed magnification optical sight, designated PGO-7. The sight has a range-finding scale for typical targets (tanks) with height of 2.7m/9ft, and windage adjustment scales. RPG-7 also fitted with backup iron sights. RPG-7 uses mechanical ignition system with manually cocked external hammer, and a single-action trigger. Because of this, grenade must be properly aligned with the firing mechanism upon loading.

Each AT grenade consists of a large-caliber HEAT warhead with base fuze, with the 40mm diameter rocket engine behind. The rocket nozzles are located at the front of the engine, close to the warhead. The tail of the rocket is fitted with folding stabiliztator fins, which are extended when grenade leaves the barrel. The launch charge, made of black powder, is loaded into a combustible cardboard case, and attached to the rear of the grenade prior to loading into launcher. Grenades and launch charges are carried in special backpacks. By the original soviet standards, grenadier carries two rounds, and his assistant carries three more. There were several minor upgrades to the basic design of the RPG-7 in USSR and Russia, the most important being the RPG-7D, with two-part takedown barrel, which was issued to the airborne troops. Since RPG-7 was, and still is manufactured in many countries(such as Bulgaria, China, Iraq and Romania, to name a few), there are plenty of modifications in launcher, and, more important, in grenades.

RPG-7 is a simple and inexpensive weapon, yet it possess a high threat to most modern tanks, and also can serve in a number of other roles, making it a true one-man artillery.

[ahistoryofwar]

Back!

I’ve missed taking requests, so send them in and I’ll be sure to present a post for you.

I’m back!

[ahistoryofwar]

Liverpool remembers. 

R.I.P to those whom died on September 11th 2001. Gone but not forgotten. 

[ahistoryofwar]

Heckler & Koch HK416:

Following the revision of the OICWBlock 1 / XM8 program, the Heckler & Koch company decided to enter the US military and law enforcement markets with the alternative design, which, in fact, looks quite promising. Based on the experience, gained during successful upgrade program of the British SA80 / L85A1 program, HK decided to cure the existing M16 rifles and  M4 carbines from most of their problems, inherent to this 40-years old design.The key improvements, made by HK, are their patented short-stroke gas piston system, borrowed from HK G36 rifle. This system replaced the direct gas system of standard M16 rifle, so no powder residue will remain in the receiver even after long shooting sessions. The "new"gas system also is self-regulating and will work reliably with any barrel length. Other improvements include new buffer assembly, improved bolt, and a cold hammer forged barrel, as well as free-floating hand guard with integral Picatinny-type rails. Originally developed as a "drop-in" upper receiver assembly for any standard M16/M4 type lower receiver, HK416 is also available as a complete weapon, with HK-made lower receivers. Current (late 2005) models include carbines with 10.5" and14.5" barrels, and 16.5" barrelled carbine and 20" barrelled rifle will be added later. 7

Another interesting development, which is apparently based on the up scaled HK416 design, is the HK417 - the 7.62x51 NATO rifle that combines AR-15/M16 type ergonomics, layout and handling with improved reliability of HK-made and designed gas piston system. This rifle probably will use HK G3-type magazines. If the rumours about HK417 are true, the 5.56mm HK416 / 7.62mm HK417 combination will be a direct rival to the newest FN SCAR system.

HK416 is a gas operated, selective fired weapon of modular design. It uses short-stroke gas piston that operates the 7-lug rotating bolt. Receiver is made from high grade aluminium alloy. Combination-type safety / fire selector allows for single shots and full automatic mode. Hk416 retains all M16-style controls, including last round bolt hold-open device, rear-based charging handle and magazine release button on the right side of the magazine well. HK416 is fitted with four Picatinny rails as standard, and may accept any type of sighting devices on STANAG-1913 compliant mounts. It also can accept modified HK AG36/AG-C 40mm grenade launcher, which is clamped directly to bottom rail. Butt-stock is of typical M4 design, multi-position telescoped.

[ahistoryofwar]

For centuries, many people were trying to build multi-shot firearms. For instance, there were ''pepperbox revolvers'' developed in the 1500s and the Colt Paterson revolver from 1836. Many of these early firearms had a 5 or 6 round capacity at most. In order to allow loading more rounds, some people developed the Harmonica Gun, otherwise called the Slide Gun.

It isn't exactly very clear who invented the first harmonica gun, but one of its early famous makers was Jonathan Browning, who started manufacturing them in Quincy, Illinois, back in 1834. Jonathan Browning later migrated to Ogden, Utah and is mostly famous today, not for his harmonica guns, but for being the father of the famed firearm designer, John Moses Browning.

It consists of a firearm with a steel slide, which has multiple chambers bored into it. Each chamber is loaded with a cartridge, or with powder and ball. Firing mechanism is either via percussion cap or a pin fire cartridge, depending upon the manufacturer and model. The steel slide is loaded into a slot on the side of the firearm and locked into place using a cam or a spring loaded plunger.

Since the slide resembles the musical instrument, the harmonica, this type of firearm was called the harmonica gun.

In order to fire this weapon, the user simply cocks the hammer, then unlocks the slide's locking mechanism (cam or plunger) and moves it so that a new cartridge comes under the hammer, applies the slide lock and then pulls the trigger. The user needs to re-cock the hammer and move the slide manually each time to fire the next round.

Harmonica gun mechanisms were not restricted to handguns alone. For example, General Sam Houston was known to own a percussion rifle that used a harmonica loader mechanism and this rifle is displayed in the Smithsonian museum.

Harmonica guns often held 9 or 10 rounds in a slide and definitely had more capacity than revolvers of that era. However, since the user needed to move the slide manually along with cocking the hammer, it took more time to prepare one for firing than a revolver-type firearm. Balance was also a problem, especially when firing the first few or last few rounds, because the slide would predominantly hang off one side of the firearm and affect its balance. Also, the user would have to disassemble the slide from the firearm before they could carry it in a holster, which meant that these could not be immediately brought into action like a revolver could. These are some of the reasons why harmonica guns never really sold well, because of the competition from reliable revolvers.