1939 (I will do a 1944 version later on)
Rifle: M1 Garand in 264 Pedersen (with 10 round enbloc clip)
I believe that this would provide the best all round performance for the average infantry man realistically available in 1939.
SMG: Soumi 31 SMG in 9x25mm Mauser Export (Simplified with Select fire)
Arguably the best SMG of WW2 – somewhat complicated to make so I would simplify it somewhat + use the 9mm Mauser Export as this is more powerful than the 9x19mm ‘Luger’ – and built with select fire capabilities would make for a decent carbine type weapon. Available with both its 30 round box and 70 round drum mag both of which were excellent designs.
LMG: Bren gun in 264 Pedersen
Bren gun ‘nuff said’ but in the same cartridge as the Garand
MMG: MG34 in 7.92mm (also used as AFV and vehicle MG armament) – at Battalion level in Infantry units. Arguably the first proper GPMG!
HMG: Vickers 50 Cal (also used as principle fighter armament)
At only 6 KGs heavier than the .303 version and given that it was utilised with a Universal Carrier anyway the extra weight is not going to matter. A solid and reliable water cooled MG
Anti tank: Boys ATR - all such weapons start 1939 almost obsolete but the Boys is probably the best of them.
Light Mortar: 2” Mortar – Toss up between this and the German 60mm at Company level (Im a big fan of the way in which they were used) – I plumbed for the 51mm / 2” at platoon
Medium: GrW 34 – 8cm – arguably the best Mortar of the war – certainly in 1939
Heavy: 107mm pm 38 – reliable and easy to break down etc - and not many other options in 1939
Anti tank Gun: 2 pounder - best of its type in 1939
Light AAA: 20mm Oerlikion
Medium AAA: 40mm Bofors
Heavy AAA: 8.8cm Flak 37 - not as good an AAA as teh 3.7 but a fraction of teh weight and more useful as operating as an artillery and Anti tank weapon
Light Artillery: 25 Pounder with Split trail
Medium Artillery: as above
While the shell might not be as heavy as say 105mm guns of this time the 25 pounder ROF and light weight as well as medium gun range allows it to fit in as a ‘medium’ and makes for a common gun type in artillery regiments.
Heavy Artillery: 5.5”
Universal Tank: A heavy armoured version of the A10 Cruiser (double up on the armour 60mm to 20mm) – with a better engine , wider tracks and 3 man turret mounting a 3” 20cwt gun (with external mantle)
Light/Scout Tank: Not a fan of light tanks (M3/M5 Excluded) – but I guess a MkIV – was fast and fairly reliable for the day – have it armed with 4 MG34s or 2 Vickers 50 cals.
Armoured utility vehicle: Vickers universal carrier
APC: As above but with extended chassis / road wheels and higher sides – capable of carrying 8-10 dismounts
Prime mover: Morris C8 Quad
Fighter plane: Spitfire with Cannon armament – which involved someone forking out licence money to the Swiss or 6 Vickers-Browning mgs in Vickers 50 cal
CAS: Spitfire (they didn’t know it then but....)
Bomber: Wellington
Recon Aircraft: Spitfire (there is a theme emerging here)
Carrier fighter plane: Modified Spitfire (Vickers had designed the folding wing but no one had asked!!!) – i’d go for Wildcat but I’m not waiting 2 1/2 years for the folding wing version
Carrier Dive bomber – Fulmar (again no one knew at the time..but....) also a recon plane....also a fighter plane!
Torpedo bomber – Swordfish (with British torpedoes thanks)
Carrier – Yorktown or the 27k ton version of the Illustrious (which had Ark Royals hanger layout) – cannot decide but probably Yorktown as she was built by 1939 and I prefer the elevator layout of the US Ship.
Battleship: KGV is not going to be ready in time, sooooooo Deep refitted Queen Elizabeth class (HMS Warspite).
Cruiser: Batch 3 Towns please
Destroyer: Tribal’s
Subs - Littoral: U Class
Subs – Blue water: Tambor class – fitted with the 5”/51 wet mount (Adm Hart can go play with himself)