Our Weapon series is the focus of this month's book vote, including weapons from the 17th century right on through to the 20th. Have a read of the descriptions below and click the link to make your vote!
WPN: French Military Rifles 1936–90
WPN: The PIAT
WPN: Soviet Machine Guns of World War II
WPN: The Krag-Jørgensen Rifle
WPN: The Bayonet
French Military Rifles 1936–90
The MAS-36 bolt-action rifle served alongside older Lebel and Berthier models in World War II before equipping French and other troops during conflicts in Indochina, Algeria and elsewhere. Fielded from 1949, the MAS-49 semi-automatic rifle and its derivatives saw combat across the world, often in harsh conditions, before being replaced by the FAMAS bullpup assault rifle.
The PIAT: Britain’s Anti-Tank Weapon 1942–50
Based on a mortar design and employing hollow-charge ammunition, the Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank was intended to give British and Commonwealth infantrymen the ability to take on enemy tanks and fortifications. The PIAT saw widespread combat during World War II, from Sicily to Borneo, and would be used by six Victoria Cross recipients.
Soviet Machine Guns of World War II
In June 1941 the Soviet Union fielded a variety of machine guns, ranging from the distinctive DP ‘record player’ to the formidable 12.7mm DShK. During the conflict the SG-43 joined the ageing PM M1910 Maxim in the front line, and all four models would continue to equip Soviet and other forces for many years after 1945.
The Krag-Jørgensen Rifle
The Krag-Jørgensen, an innovative bolt-action weapon, entered US service in the 1890s and equipped US forces fighting in Cuba, the Philippines and elsewhere. It continued to be issued to the Norwegian armed forces into the 1940s, seeing service with German troops during World War II, and remains a popular weapon among civilian shooters today.
From the 17th century onwards, gun designers have sought to convert military firearms into close-combat weapons by adding a blade at the muzzle. This study charts the evolution of the bayonet from its earliest beginnings to the latest developments, revealing the fascinating story of a family of weapons that have proved enduringly popular among collectors across the world.
Make your vote by clicking here!
Now it's time for last month's X-Planes book vote results, which saw Research Jets of World War II claim victory with 27% of the final vote. Avro CF-105 Arrow and Parasite Fighters 1910s-1950s weren't far behind with just 0.35% between them. See below the full results, and thank you to everyone who took the time to vote.
|XPL - Research Jets of World War II||27.47%|
|XPL - Avro CF-105 Arrow||20.07%|
|XPL - Parasite Fighters 1910s-1950s||20.42%|
|XPL - Cold War Jet Seaplanes||15.84%|
|XPL - Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne||17.20%|