VG45K: Rheinmetall's 8mm Kurz Volksgewehr

This review details the Krieghoff prototype for the FG42 paratrooper rifle, a unique design that competed against Rheinmetall's winning entry. Key features include a bizarre wire stock for weight reduction and recoil absorption, a gas trap system instead of a traditional gas port, and a cable-operated charging handle. Despite its innovative elements, the Krieghoff design was ultimately not selected for production.

The Steyr-Solothurn S2-200, known as the MG30 in Austria and 31M in Hungary, was a German-designed machine gun produced via Swiss and Austrian partnerships to circumvent post-WWI arms restrictions. Designed by Louis Stange, it featured a recoil-operated rotating collar lock and a slim profile due to lathe-turned parts. Adopted in 8x56mmR, it utilized a distinctive curved 25-round side magazine.

The M79 'Bloop Tube' was a post-WWII development intended to provide infantry with a portable, accurate grenade launcher, replacing the bazooka. Its core innovation was the 40x46mm low-pressure system, adapted from German Rheinmetall High-Low pressure technology, enabling a lightweight design. Despite its success in Vietnam, its single-shot nature led to the development of under-barrel launchers like the M203.

The 7.5cm le.IG 18 was a German light infantry howitzer developed by Rheinmetall post-WWI for close infantry support. Its unique break-action design, similar to a shotgun, allowed for rapid reloading. Despite its deceptive naming to circumvent the Treaty of Versailles, it proved a mobile and effective weapon throughout WWII, weighing under 900 lbs and capable of indirect or direct fire.

The MG-15, originally a Luftwaffe flexible aircraft machine gun, was adapted for infantry use due to late-war shortages. Its unique recoil-operated mechanism uses a rotating locking collar, and it feeds from a 75-round double drum magazine. The infantry conversion kit added a bipod, shoulder stock, and ground sights, transforming it into a ground support weapon.

The Solothurn S18-1000 was a powerful semi-automatic anti-tank rifle developed between the World Wars, chambered in 20x138mmB. While effective against early tanks like the Panzer I and II, its extreme weight (over 100 lbs) and bulk necessitated a two-man crew and limited its widespread adoption. Its unique features include a ratchet crank charging handle and a robust rotating bolt mechanism similar to the MG34.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.