Mauser develops semi-auto rifle in 1911-1913

In 1905 Mauser developed a semi-automatic rifle that was plagued with trouble being able to handle the miltary cartidges of the time. Supposing he corrected this problem, perhaps by developing an intermediate cartidge or by having a way to fix the problem with the cartidges of the time, how does this affect World War I and what are the effects in general?
 
In 1905 Mauser developed a semi-automatic rifle that was plagued with trouble being able to handle the miltary cartidges of the time. Supposing he corrected this problem, perhaps by developing an intermediate cartidge or by having a way to fix the problem with the cartidges of the time, how does this affect World War I and what are the effects in general?

If it was ready to go and was being used by the German infantry by the time the fighting started in 1914, it would have been just as devastating as the Maxim machine gun. No doubt, the British (and the Americans) would be pressing to get their own versions developed ASAP.
 

archaeogeek

Banned
If it was ready to go and was being used by the German infantry by the time the fighting started in 1914, it would have been just as devastating as the Maxim machine gun. No doubt, the British (and the Americans) would be pressing to get their own versions developed ASAP.

Actually, semi-autos during ww2 showed little to no difference in performance with bolt actions. Mexico had and abandoned a semi-auto rifle in the late 19th century, with no significant advantage. The Garand was not particularly devastating against Mausers.
 
In 1905 Mauser developed a semi-automatic rifle that was plagued with trouble being able to handle the miltary cartidges of the time. Supposing he corrected this problem, perhaps by developing an intermediate cartidge or by having a way to fix the problem with the cartidges of the time, how does this affect World War I and what are the effects in general?
The effects on WW1 are probably pretty marginal.

It's not impossible to design a semiautomatic rifle for 8mm Mauser; France had a semiautomatic rifle in the works at the same time, and the ballistics are in the same ballpark. (Even though it was a huge step up from the Lebel, it was doomed because there wasn't ammo stockpiled for it. An intermediate cartridge would have the same problem and be a notable step down in killing power; good luck selling that.) The main challenge is producing enough of them; most semiautomatic rifles from that period were built to exacting standards and priced accordingly, which is why Mexico abandoned the Mondragon (they couldn't produce it domestically.) It's not insurmountable, but it is an added expense, and it's markedly less effective than smokeless artillery and gas.

(As an aside, France also bought semi- and fully-automatic Winchesters for pilots, and later for trench raiders. They weren't far removed from M1 carbines, but those becoming widespread in the Great War would have a big impact by WW2.)
 
Mexico had and abandoned a semi-auto rifle in the late 19th century, with no significant advantage.
I thought the Mondragon rifle was used by the Mexicans, and even some in the German army in WW1. If I remember it correctly, it was too sensitive to dirt and dust, things all too common in the trenches.

I think that's a probably any WW1 semi-automatic rifle will have. Bolt-action rifles at least are (comparatively) simple enough to clean and can stand a bit of dirt. And even that wasn't always a guarantee, looking at the Ross rifle.
 
Very little effect, Artillery and in 2nd place (a long way behind) Heavy machine guns did most of the killing in WWI.

for WWI the sub machine gun arriving earlier might have made a difference leading to earlier use of specialist assault troops such as Germany used in 1918.
 
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