Does anyone know.....

[patboy]

which small arms have been used by Polish Infantry in 1939 ? Photos are welcome pls

Thanks by advance

Pat

[JasonC]

The standard infantry weapon was a version of the Mauser, based on the K98, slightly modified. Mostly by shorting the stock about 3 inches. It was called the wz. 29, after its year of adoption.

The SAW was a (Belgian) FN produced, licensed copy of the US BAR, in 7.92mm caliber instead of 30-06. It also had V sights instead of peep. It was designated the LMG wz. 28.

The main heavy machinegun was copy of the US M1917 HMG again redone in 7.92mm caliber. It was designated the HMG wz. 30.

There was an SMG in 9mm called the Mors, though it seems to have been rare. There is a photo of one of them here -

http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/0100/136.htm

They had a light mortar in 46mm caliber, designated the Granatnik wz.36, and some 7.92mm ATRs. They had heavier 81mm mortars in quantity at battalion level, and 37mm ATGs.

For more serious support they had a sizable artillery park, with a large number of field pieces meant for direct support, and a similar number in the 100mm and up range for indirect support, though mostly as planned fire. Reactivity of the arty was quite poor by WW II standards, more like WW I.

If you want detailed pics for moding, the best single source is Zaloga, who has a "men at arms" series book on the Polish army in WW II, both the 1939 and the later Russian supported forces. With illustrations, details of uniforms, and the like.

Sorry, that securityarms site seems to not like linking. Here is a better link to it, one level up. Lots and lots of weapon pics. Scroll down to the Mors and you can get an actual pic.

http://securityarms.com/20010315/all.htm

[patboy]

Hi JasonC,

Thank you very much for your help, it seems to me that polish standard weapon looks like Kar 98,(when I saw some war photos) but I was not sure about.

Cheers

Pat