Worst equipment of WW2

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#106

Post by Cult Icon » 03 Jun 2021, 15:45

"To be honest , I rather hear of non-combat/mundane use equipment that was the worst, rather than just weapons. Soldiers used that stuff far more than they used weapons, so this topic should be a discussion more of raincoats, packs, coats, heaters,lamps, boots, rations, tents , trucks , containers, tools , utility knifes, etc, ad inf."

This is more interesting to me as well, the poor items of daily, rather than infrequent use.

Like a poor canteen, food item, clothing item, etc. IMHO the US did the best job here out of all the powers.

The German greatcoats were supposed to be poor, not just for the Russian winter but for movement. These were replaced by snow suits, but not completely.

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#107

Post by Empiricist » 03 Jun 2021, 16:06

We may add US WWII M1942 Canteen Cups which lost very quickly their Combat Serviceable status (far right in the picture).
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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#108

Post by Cult Icon » 03 Jun 2021, 17:19

what was the replacement for the cup?

The Ration D was unpopular with troops due to its (intentionally) poor taste and hardness.

The improved version:

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#109

Post by Empiricist » 03 Jun 2021, 17:26

Cult Icon wrote:
03 Jun 2021, 17:19
what was the replacement for the cup?
1. CRS cups manufactured since 1943 (CRS = Corrosion Resistant Steel).

2. M1910 aluminum cups of new production runs of 1943.

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#110

Post by Empiricist » 03 Jun 2021, 17:44

My private nominee of WWII era worst military equipment is the American M1928 haversack. The only one haversack in the world's military history that needed (and needs up to this time in the case of reenactors) special Manual indicating how to pack and assembly it, because no one has any idea how to do it.

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#111

Post by LineDoggie » 04 Jun 2021, 00:49

peter2010 wrote:
15 Jan 2014, 14:17
The Sherman tank (aka as "Tommy Cooker") also has a reasonable claim to the title of worst equipment of WW2.
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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#112

Post by LineDoggie » 04 Jun 2021, 01:08

Having handled various weapons and gear of WW2 my list

US-
Double buckle rough out combat boots- Absorbed moisture leading to Trenchfoot.

Reising Submachinegun series (M50/M55) folding stock too flimsy, magazines too flimsy and reduced to a 12 rd mag useless in combat for an SMG, Stoppages due to minor amounts of debris in the locking shoulder of the receiver.

M1919A6 LMG- Adding a stock and bipod to a 30 lb company level MMG does not make it a handy lightweight gun. Mind the M1919A4 was excellent as a company support gun using a tripod and T&E.

4.5" Field gun M1- absolutely no need that could not be covered by the 155mm in rifle (M1/M2 later M59) and howitzer (M1 later M114) versions. introduced a special caliber into the log chain for little if any advantage.

US made Hispano-Suiza 20mm cannon M1 (HS404)- Chambers manufactured too deep resulting in light primer strikes and stoppages. British warned US ordnance about it but was ignored. Effectively kept US fighter A/C armed with the .50
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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#113

Post by sailorsam » 04 Jun 2021, 02:36

the magnetic Mark 6 detonator on US Navy torpedoes.
these, plus the torpedoes' unfortunate tendency to run deep, ruined many a submariner's day.

also the HOR engines in some US submarines. all ended up being replaced.
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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#114

Post by Cult Icon » 04 Jun 2021, 04:00

Maybe this doesn't count but it is funny to me that the German troops carried "fat containers", where they stored butter or other spreads instead of packaged fats. Doesn't seem the most sanitary thing, especially in hot weather. This comes across as 19th centuryish, like it's from the American Civil War.

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#115

Post by gebhk » 04 Jun 2021, 15:31

An honourable mention must go to the Kleine Blinkgerat or K-Blink. A smallish light signalling apparatus (ie a miniature man-portable Aldis) , it was supposedly part of every platoon HQ in 1939. Heavy, awkward to carry and likely to get you killed if used in a combat zone, I suspect there was little that could be done with it that could not be done with a normal flashlight. As I understand it, within days of commencement of hostilities, most found their way into the deepest ditch or densest bushes that could be found and reported as 'destroyed by enemy action'. A discreet veil was drawn over the whole matter thereafter.
Last edited by gebhk on 05 Jun 2021, 06:28, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#116

Post by stg 44 » 05 Jun 2021, 00:41

Not sure it has been mentioned yet, but the Breda LMG was abysmal.

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#117

Post by Cult Icon » 05 Jun 2021, 02:38

stg 44 wrote:
05 Jun 2021, 00:41
Not sure it has been mentioned yet, but the Breda LMG was abysmal.
A very bizarre and poor weapon to equip an army with.

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#118

Post by Hans1906 » 05 Jun 2021, 11:15

# 114

Butterdose / Fettbüchse / Wehrmacht:

:wink:

Bakelit https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakelit#: ... ormaldehyd.


Hans

P.S. In my time in the german Bundeswehr, there was no Butter for the troops, typical german "Margarine" was given to us
in 125 Gramm tubes, good to polish the boots, durability 150+ years... :lol:
Last edited by Hans1906 on 05 Jun 2021, 14:25, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#119

Post by Cult Icon » 05 Jun 2021, 14:10

The 28 seems designed for stability while running? Like some modern military/hiking gear. I do like how the spade can be installed in the rear flap instead of dangling from the belt. I don't know why the blanket carrier is placed vertical than horizontal. On shorter men it would hang belong the hip. The shape of the sack looks restrictive, the larger paratroop one looks to have more utility.

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Re: Worst equipment of WW2

#120

Post by Mark in Cleveland, Tn. » 05 Jun 2021, 17:24

From what i have read several times in the past on various books, web sites etc the standard German issued Gas mask and container.-combat version.. as for weapons, the list is endless..

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