tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4291766504841418751.post658357384982663190..comments2023-10-30T09:46:39.144-04:00Comments on Excels at Nothing: More on the Norway National Guard courtesy of Shorter HalfNancy R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13088583590240745542noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4291766504841418751.post-74837879573705342602010-12-21T11:45:58.238-05:002010-12-21T11:45:58.238-05:00DW:
Two Browing water cooled MMGs, while totally ...DW:<br /><br />Two Browing water cooled MMGs, while totally awesome MMGs, in an urban, nightime environment, WITHOUT a bunker location, and without the mountain of water cans, pre-linked (or pre-belted, if you have cloth belts) ammo boxes, do not equal the offensive firepower and mobility of ten or so GPMGs. <br /><br />Heck, you can tie up each one of their MMG positions with 3 or 4 GPMGs firing in succession to keep the barrels cooler, adn STILL have a couple GPMGs for the assault force as either door-knockers or suppressive overwatch on the actual assault point.<br /><br />Ammo resupply is only relevant for the NEXT firefight. The German paras were on a short duration (so, no need to carry a bunch of food and snivel gear -- more room for ammo!), well rehearsed, surprise attack, with a VERY limited aim, and no anticipation of having to fight their way out against long odds. (Dude, you got the King and his council as POWs -- ain't NOBODY going get real sparky with you on the way out, unless they are convinced you're just going to execute the prisoners once you're away.)<br /><br />The short range of the SMGs wouldn't normally be seen as a disadvantage for a surprise, urban, nighttime, snatch & grab. That sort of close range, high intensity, short duration assault work is what they were invented for, after all.<br /><br />Long story short - the Germans had the objective advantages -- they had an equal fore, of (theoretically) higher quality, a well-rehearsed and planned operation with the initiative, better equipment, equipment that was better suited to the conditions of the engagement (Krag-Jorgensen rifles for most of your troops, who happen to be unorganzied militia, are NOT ideal for an night urban engagement against automatic weapons), better supply, MORE support firepower, limited aims, etc. They should have rolled up the Norweigians like a newspaper and they got stopped butt-cold.<br /><br />Becuase the Germans brought better STUFF, while the Noweigans brought better MEN.Geodkythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328915597574377444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4291766504841418751.post-22779533566982147402010-12-16T00:08:14.774-05:002010-12-16T00:08:14.774-05:00Every man being armed with a sub-machine gun nets ...Every man being armed with a sub-machine gun nets a very high rate of fire, but at awful short range, and with concomitant resupply issues. <br /><br />And those water-cooled Browning .30s (okay, 7.92mms) should not be discounted: Steady as a rock, and capable of pretty much continuous fire as long as they were supplied with belts of ammo.Dranghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08082177597135236652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4291766504841418751.post-82460235724094940102010-12-15T22:52:04.701-05:002010-12-15T22:52:04.701-05:00Them Norwegians may talk slow, but they sure are h...Them Norwegians may talk slow, but they sure are handy with a gun...bluesunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11995973825892791271noreply@blogger.com