Grendel LMG

[LRRPF52]

LLRPF52 the book is consistent (if not as concise) as LRRPF52's reply, above. There's a lot of discussion about the Eastern Front. I recall one passage in particular that suggested that in some cases the squad LMG was knocked out or out of ammo by the time the Russians and Germans closed with each other, leaving a partial squad to fight with their personal weapons. The book also says that the fact that the Russians were equipping most of their infantrymen with SMGs also influenced the Germans. I'm out of my depth here. Your post just reminded me of something I'd read.

I'd still love to get some opinions on the potential of .224 Valkyrie (or something similar) as an LMG round. It seems reminiscent of the 6mm SAW in some ways (IIRC 6mm SAW used bullets that were just a little heavier and fatter). Somewhere in between 5.56x45 and 6.5 Grendel, and probably compatible with those M68 links discussed above.

That makes sense given the RoF for the MG34 and MG42.

German units acquired a lot of Soviet self-loaders like the SVT and PPSh-41. http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.a...icles=3842










For close combat of that era, the PPSh-41 in 7.62x25 with 71rd drum backed by 35rd box mags was the portable firepower platform to beat. There were German Commando units that issued/fielded the PPSh-41 for their assault groups as SOP, as well as Finnish units that did the same.

Since their 7.92x57 GPMGs ate ammo so fast and the ammo occupied a lot of space with substantial weight, it's only logical to see why they ran black on it before final assaults.

The battle rifle cartridges of the late 1800s/early 1900s once again proved to be a hinderance to mobility and sustainability to continue the fight. Having humped linked 7.62 NATO all over this planet, I can feel what these guys were going through, and why.

The US Army tried fielding the M60, which is one of the most maneuverable GPMGs ever produced due to its half-bullpup layout, down into the Infantry Rifle Squad as a Light Support Weapon before and during Vietnam, which was a failed approach due to weapon and ammo weight, and the necessity of an Assistant Gunner. The SAW program was born from this problem, which hinges around the infeasibility of battle rifle sized cartridges for dismounted soldiers.