Home / Series / Guns The Evolution of Firearms / Aired Order / Season 1 / Episode 6
Home / Series / Guns The Evolution of Firearms / Absolute Order / Season 1 / Episode 6

The Weapons of World War 2

Episode six begins with the development of the Thompson .45 caliber submachine gun and its wide usage in prohibition and depression era America in the lead-up to World War II. The evolution of the BAR into a fully automatic-only weapon, the development of the M1919, and the introduction of the venerable .50 caliber M2 or "ma deuce" machine gun, which even served as a sniper rifle in Vietnam by Carlos Hatchcock, are examined. The development and wartime usage of the classic M1 Garand, the first semi-automatic rifle to serve as standard issue for any army in the world, swallows much of this episode's runtime. Also featured are a plethora of small arms used in the European and Pacific theaters, including lighter automatic rifles such as the .30 caliber M1 carbine; the updated M1A1 carbine with a folding stock designed for use by paratroopers; and the stamped M3 submachine gun, better known as the "grease gun." Also featured are the Japanese Type 99 rifles, the German K98s, the Soviet Mosin-Nagant rifles (which are still popular and available in large surplus quantities), and the PPSH 41 made from stamped steel and mass produced in Russian factories during the war.

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  • Originally Aired January 8, 2013
  • Runtime 40 minutes
  • Content Rating United States of America TV-PG
  • On Other Sites IMDB
  • Created February 19, 2019 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified February 19, 2019 by
    Administrator admin
Name Type Role
Baron Blakley Writer
Kevin R. Hershberger Director