The Lee-Enfield was the main firearm used by the British Empire and Commonwealth, not just during World War II, but for the first half of the 20th century. It was a bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle that was first adopted in 18.
What weapon did the British Army use in ww2
The Lee-Enfield was the main firearm used by the British Empire and Commonwealth, not just during World War II, but for the first half of the 20th century. It was a bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle that was first adopted in 18.
Why was Britain so weak in ww2
In particular, there was a lack of home defences, especially against bombing. The heads of Britain’s armed forces consistently warned Chamberlain that Britain was too weak to fight.
What was the ww2 British service pistol
The official service pistol for the British military during the Second World War was the Enfield No. 2 Mk I . 38/200 calibre revolver. Owing to a critical shortage of handguns, a number of other weapons were also adopted (first practically, then officially) to alleviate the shortage.
Did ww2 soldiers have condoms
As World War II began, American military were issued not only condoms, but also propaganda promoting their use against sexually transmitted diseases.
Why did ww2 soldiers condoms
Condoms made sure the rifle was ready instantly. Condoms were also used as waterproof containers for small items—such as matches or charges for underwater explosives. Condoms could also be filled with water and used in emergencies as a surgical glove to prevent infection.
How big was UK army in ww2
By June 1940 it stood at 1.65 million men and had further increased to 2.2 million men by June 1941. The size of the British Army peaked in June 1945, at 2.9 million men. By the end of the Second World War some three million people had served. In 1944, the United Kingdom was facing severe manpower shortages.
How many tanks did Britain have in ww2
This article lists British armoured fighting vehicle production during the Second World War. The United Kingdom produced 27,528 tanks and self-propelled guns from July 1939 to May 1945, as well as 26,191 armoured cars and 69,071 armoured personnel carriers (mostly the Universal Carrier).
Did the US sell weapons to Britain in ww2
In December 1940, Roosevelt introduced a new policy initiative whereby the United States would lend, rather than sell, military supplies to Great Britain for use in the fight against Germany.
Who had best tanks in ww2
The Panther is often believed to be the best German tank of the Second World War. When the Germans invaded Russia in June 1941, they were surprised by the quantity and quality of Soviet armour. Hitler ordered that the T-34 be copied and the result was the Panther, which saw action for the first time at Kursk in 1943.
Did Britain nearly surrender in ww2
But to Germany’s surprise, Britain, although apparently defeated and certainly painfully exposed and isolated, did not surrender. It did not even seek to come to terms with Germany.
Has Britain ever lost a war
In 1942, around 100,000 British and Australian troops surrendered to Japan in Singapore despite having a much larger army. Japanese forces took advantage of good intel and poor command on the British side, securing an easy win in what would be remembered as one of the most humiliating defeats in British military
What was the most feared machine gun in ww2
The ShKAS had the highest rate of fire of any aircraft machine gun in general service during WWII. It was designed by Boris Shpitalniy and Irinarkh Komaritsky and entered production in 1934. ShKAS was used in the majority of Soviet fighters and bombers and served as the basis for the ShVAK cannon.
Did the British use the Lewis gun
The Lewis gun (or Lewis automatic machine gun or Lewis automatic rifle) is a First World War–era light machine gun. Designed privately in the United States though not adopted there, the design was finalised and mass-produced in the United Kingdom, and widely used by troops of the British Empire during the war.
What is the oldest functioning gun?
The Heilongjiang hand cannon or hand-gun is a bronze hand cannon manufactured no later than 1288 and is the world’s oldest confirmed surviving firearm.
What equipment does a British soldier carry
This includes ammunition/weapon ancillaries, entrenching tool, bayonet, food and water (and a means to cook), protective and communications equipment. Soldiers will also often carry other items such as waterproof clothing and spare socks.
What weapons did soldiers carry in ww2
- Pistols (manual and semi-automatic)
- Automatic pistols and submachine guns.
- Rifles.
- Carbines.
- Shotguns.
- Grenades and grenade launchers.
- Mines.
- Recoilless rifles.
What equipment did a ww2 soldier have
They were supplied with clothes, boots, weapons and a personal kit. Soldiers carried a water-bottle, ammunition pouches, entrenching tool (spade), a groundsheet and a haversack containing; mess-tin, tinned rations, extra iron rations, spare socks and laces.
What personal items did soldiers have in ww2
Supplies included ration boxes of food, emergency drinking water in a can, bullets, grenades, and socks. Soldiers who landed on as a part of the D-Day invasion did not know when they would be resupplied so their backpacks weighed anywhere from 70-100 pounds!
Who dropped condoms during war?
But that wasn’t quite bold enough for one CIA operative, who drew up a plan to also have packets of extra-large condoms, labelled only “small” or “medium”, dropped on Communist nations. The idea literally was to lower their morale by implying the Capitalist Yanks were incredibly well-endowed.
Why did German soldiers carry condoms
At the time of World War I there were no fast and easy cures for STD’s and the condom was just about the only line of defence readily and cheaply available.
Did soldiers shower in ww2
About once every week to ten days, Soldiers would go to the rear for their shower. Upon entering the shower area they turned in their dirty clothing. After showering they received new cloths. They had their choice for size: small, medium, or large.
Did ww2 soldiers shave?
Shaving became a requirement during WWI to ensure a “proper fit and seal on the gas mask and personal hygiene”6. Beards and mustaches continued to be outlawed during WWII, however due to razor shortages (an allowance of one blade per week) and the logistics of shaving in trenches, these requirements were more lax.
Why did soldiers have to shave?
The official explanation for this practice was field sanitation, to help reduce the risk of spreading hair and/or body lice. In addition to personal hygiene benefits, the military buzz cut has had the following effects: Standardization of military look for troops. Adherence to regulations.
Was the UK powerful in ww2
World War II confirmed that Britain was no longer the great power it had once been, and that it had been surpassed by the United States on the world stage. Canada, Australia and New Zealand moved within the orbit of the United States.
Who had the largest army in ww2
The Second World War pitted two alliances against each other, the Axis powers and the Allied powers; the Soviet Union served 35 million men and women, with the U.S serving 16 million, Germany 13 million, the British Empire 8.5 million and Japan 6 million.
When was the British Army at its strongest
The ‘third’ was formed after the introduction of conscription in January 1916 and by the end of 1918 the British Army had reached its peak of strength of four million men and could field over seventy divisions.
Does the UK still build tanks
The Challenger 3 tanks are being upgraded by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) under an £800 million contract, which will deliver 148 Challenger 3 tanks and equip the British Army with this modern capability until 2040.
How many warships did Britain have in WW2?
At the beginning of World War II, the Royal Navy was the strongest navy in the world, with the largest number of warships built and with naval bases across the globe. It had over 15 battleships and battlecruisers, 7 aircraft carriers, 66 cruisers, 164 destroyers and 66 submarines.