Platoon Firepower comparisons
British: 3 MGs, 0 rifle grenade launchers 0 50mm mortar
German: 3 MGs, 3 rifle grenade launchers 1 50mm mortar
French: 3 MGs, 3 rifle grenade launchers 0 50mm mortar
Belgian: 4 MGs, 0 rifle grenade launchers 3 50mm mortar
The British, French and Belgian MGs were similar in performance while the German had a much higher rate of fire.
The 50 mm D.B.T. grenade launchers provided a heavier and longer range source of firepower than the 3 rifle grenade launchers of the French or German platoons and the extra 2 50 mm weapons comapred with the single German 50 mm mortar gave greater flexibility and firepower.
To achieve this extra firepower a Belgian platoon was c 40% larger than a German platoon.
Each British platoon had one 2-inch mortar according to that source. (And a Boyes anti-tankrifle.)
British: 3 MGs, 0 rifle grenade launchers 1 50mm mortar
German: 3 MGs, 3 rifle grenade launchers 1 50mm mortar
French: 3 MGs, 3 rifle grenade launchers 0 50mm mortar
Belgian: 4 MGs, 0 rifle grenade launchers 3 50mm mortar
The Germans were short on MG34's in 1940. Many divisions used the old water-cooled MG08 as a heavy machinegun and the MG13 as light machineguns. Captured Czech MG26(t) were also used in 1940, especially by the Waffen SS divisions. The MG13 and MG26(t) are loaded with 25/20 round magazines and are similar to the Allied weapons.
The crews of the DBT's were all armed with the FN Browning GP (High Power) pistol. This gun held 13 rounds of 9mm Parabellum. A lot more than the 8 rounds of the Luger or the British revolvers. So they actually had a pretty decent firepower at close ranges.
Of course this is just a platoon versus platoon comparison. The Belgians had relatively fewer weapons at battalion and regimental compared to the Germans.
