If EPK Machine Gun had entered to mass production?

nova2010

Banned
What the impact?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPK_(Pyrkal)_Machine_gun

800px-EPK.jpg
 
Very little. A few infantry skirmishes have a slightly different number of casualties on both sides, but Greece still falls on schedule.
 

nova2010

Banned
To influence future designs as the Czechoslovak ZB vz. 26 the British Bren or the German Stg 44 the Russian AK-47?
 
Well, first off, the Bren gun sort of was the ZB 26, it wasn't influenced, it was a British-made copy under license. And the StG44 was, IIRC, quite a different design to the AK47 inside, they just looked similar on the outside.

Given that it would have seen action in 1940-41 and promptly been captured and destroyed/impounded by the Germans, it would have only been able to influence weapon design in the late 1940s among NATO countries and by then they had reached the same conclusions. Would it inspire German assault weapon production? I don't know, is my honest answer.
 

That's a big question. We really need more information to answer it. How many are made? How much ammo is made? What is the combat ammo load for it? How is it deployed? Do the Greeks change infantry tactics for the increased firepower or is it just replacing a current MG?

For example if it's given only to supply units then it has no effect. If it's fielded 1 per platoon, it has no effect. If they field them in whole infantry companies it might have some effect. The fact they named it a machine-gun seems to point to a more limited issue, I don't think it would have much impact against the Germans.
 

nova2010

Banned
That's a big question. We really need more information to answer it. How many are made? How much ammo is made? What is the combat ammo load for it? How is it deployed? Do the Greeks change infantry tactics for the increased firepower or is it just replacing a current MG?

For example if it's given only to supply units then it has no effect. If it's fielded 1 per platoon, it has no effect. If they field them in whole infantry companies it might have some effect. The fact they named it a machine-gun seems to point to a more limited issue, I don't think it would have much impact against the Germans.

In 1937, the "Greek Powder and Cartridge Company", (GPCC) suggested that the Greek government to expand its activities in the field of arms production. The booming economy of the company and timely then attempt Greece to be re-armed , make the moment perfect. Immediately began the development of a modern Greek weapon design would follow the spirit of the season. A small number of prototypes built in [1939] and, paradoxically, reveal a Greek assault rifle, three years before the first German counterpart project.

Presumably, the ammunition that would use the gun, were simple modification of the cap Manlicher (6,5 mm x 54mm) reduced in length in 36 mm and adapted to receive bullets German press, 7,92 mm, bore with it already directed at that time the Greek Army. Created so the cartridge EPK 7,92 mm x 36mm, which was very similar to the German 7.92x33mm Kurz, who was the archetype of all arms cartridge this category. The development of two parallel strips was, but cooperation with the German ERA POLKE created the 7.92x33mm Kurz is not known to exist, although neither can be excluded. However, the POLKE started work on the program in 1938 with a philosophy very similar to PSR: initially reduced the length of the basic German cased cartridge 7,92 x 57mm Mauser to 35 mm and then at 30 mm to 33 mm in reach .

The whole project included the construction of new facilities and infrastructure to produce weapons in large quantities, but the entry of Greece in World War II on October 28, 1940 these facilities were still under construction and the gun did not have time to get ever mass production. The war and occupation have prevented the plans of the company and the destruction of factories by the retreating Germans, along with the economic situation of postwar Greece made it impossible to use the Greek machine gun, a phenomenon common for Greek weapons development until today.

The anachorigia should be done with a detachable magazine, horizontally from left to not obstruct the operator in the ex-prone shot. The empty shells will eject to the right. It had conventional rear sight pin and open shooting. The shutter lever on the right. Trigger and pistol grip handle on the second place of the absent Aluminum handguard mean that the operator would keep it as-war Thompson submachine gun. The shoulder strap placed at the bottom of the gun. The ideal weight and size meant that the requirements of success in his plan, although it will never know whether it was a really healthy and without serious operational deficiencies construction. However, almost all the innovative designs of weapons had to go through some "teething problems" and adults, taught by experience. Opportunity lost his gun of GPCC.

During occupation GPCC passed into the hands of the Germans, along with its facilities intact. Yielding in 1944, the Germans destroyed everything they could to get them. From 10 to 15 original pieces produced, none is known to have survived today.
 
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