Entering service in 1931, the 9x19mm Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun saw extensive combat with Finnish troops during their fight against Soviet forces in 1939-44. It was also manufactured under licence in Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden, and remained in Finnish service until the 1980s, an indication of its durability.
Rugged and accurate, the Suomi was a favourite with Finnish ski troops who would strike from ambush, cutting down Soviet troops, then skiing away into the woods. Initially used by the Finns as a light machine gun at infantry squad level, it eventually became a dedicated...
Entering service in 1931, the 9x19mm Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun saw extensive combat with Finnish troops during their fight against Soviet forces ...
Influenced by the German MP 40 and the British Sten, the .45-caliber M3 "Grease Gun" served as the primary U.S. submachine gun for almost a half century. Designed to replace the expensive Thompson SMG, the M3 was issued to airborne troops thanks to its compact design with sliding wire stock, also being favored by armored crews right up to 1991's Operation Desert Storm.
In Korea and Vietnam, reconnaissance troops and special-operations forces were at times armed with the M3A1--also available in a suppressed version--and it was the first SMG issued to the US counter-terrorist...
Influenced by the German MP 40 and the British Sten, the .45-caliber M3 "Grease Gun" served as the primary U.S. submachine gun for almost a half ce...
Now the standard weapon for British soldiers across the globe, the SA80's early years were shrouded in controversy after a series of dismal performances. It was prone to jamming in desert conditions, had several flimsy parts that would often break after repeated use, and had an incredibly sensitive magazine catch. When these issues came to light, the SA80 was lambasted by the news, leading to the Ministry of Defence ordering an extensive modification program that dramatically improved reliability.
Combat accounts and in-depth analysis of the SA80's performance in Kosovo, Sierra...
Now the standard weapon for British soldiers across the globe, the SA80's early years were shrouded in controversy after a series of dismal perform...
In the build-up to World War II both the United States and Japan believed their battleships would play a central role in battle, but after the Pacific War began in December 1941, the role of the battleship proved to be much more limited than either side expected. There would be only two battleship vs battleship actions in the Pacific in World War II, both of which are assessed in this engaging study. At Guadalcanal in 1942, Kirishima faced two modern US battleships, USS Washington and USS South Dakota. In the Surigao Strait in 1944, two World War I-era Japanese...
In the build-up to World War II both the United States and Japan believed their battleships would play a central role in battle, but after the Paci...
During the later stages of the Vietnam War, the US-made M41 Walker Bulldog light tank fought the Soviet-designed T-54 main battle tank in a series of battles in Laos and Vietnam. Fully illustrated, this engaging study investigates the origins, combat record, and legacy of these two armored fighting vehicles.
During the later stages of the Vietnam War, the US-made M41 Walker Bulldog light tank fought the Soviet-designed T-54 main battle tank in a series of ...
