Assault Rifle Platoon (GE737)

Assault Rifle Platoon (GE737) With Three Squads The first true  “Assault Rifle” appeared as a working weapon in 1942 as the MKb 42.  11,853 were produced by Haenel and given to German troops operating on the Russian Front from November 1942 as a trial. From the lessons learnt here it was redesigned in early 1943 and was now known as the MP43 with another 30,000 produced and issued for another trial. This product is no longer currently available for sale...

The MP43 wasn’t a “Machine Pistol” or SMG as the title suggests but merely political subterfuge that was necessary because Hitler was biased against this new type of weapon and banned all research into it. Hitler’s WWI experience had led him to think that only a full powered rifle cartridge would be good enough for the average soldier and these new weapons required a low powered cartridge to work successfully. Combat studies on the Eastern Front, however, had shown that 400m was the normal engagement range for infantry weapons and the MP43’s effective range was about 500m. The MP43 could fire either as a single shot semi-auto or full automatic successfully only because of the lower powered cartridge used.

The MP43 was hugely successful and the troop’s commanders clamoured for the new weapon. Finally Hitler saw the light and approved mass production in September 1943 under the name MP44 (it was just a name change and was still the same as the MP43) and later in December 1944 it was again renamed, this time as the “Sturmgewehr 44” or StG 44 mainly as a propaganda ploy. A total of 425,977, including the MKb42 and MP43, of these assault rifles were produced before the war ended and they gave inspiration to many post war weapon designs. German designers added some of their own modifications such as the “shoot round the corner” version with a bent barrel, the self defense version fitted to fire up through tank turrets to replace the MG34 normally used by an exposed crewman. Finally the end of the war saw the first combat use of IR or infrared equipment in small numbers. Combined arms teams of Panthers with IR receivers supported by SdKfz 251/D halftracks with large IR searchlights to illuminate targets were joined by Panzer Grenadiers, in halftracks, with StG44 rifles modified to accept IR scopes.

In Flames of War Your troops armed with this weapon in Flames of War have a ROF of three, even when moving! They make great assault troops and their defensive fire is not too bad either. The downside, to represent the shortened range because of the lower powered cartridge, is the max. range of 8”/20cm so you do need to get in closer to be effective. But there’s still some MG42’s for longer-range firepower to help keep out those pesky Russians.     This pack contains the figures needed to make the standard Assault rifle platoon with one squad still armed with Rifles and two MG42 GPMG’s to provide longer range firepower and two squads armed with the new MP44/StG44 assault rifles which reflects the official wartime organization of troops armed with these weapons. Add Panzerfausts to the mix as well and you have some pretty tough Grenadiers, Volks or PanzerGrenadiers as well! The Germans thought this weapon was a war winner but it might just be for you though! Designed and Painted by Evan Allen