Calibers.

This is coolbert:

From the Quarry web site:

"First, I need to define what I mean by an 'assault rifle',

as there are various definitions around. The one I use is:

A standard military rifle, capable of controlled,

fully-automatic fire from the shoulder,

with an effective range of at least 300 metres."

The military assault rifle. First developed and fielded by the Germans during World War Two [WW2]. The standard issue weapon to the common soldier having attributes such as:

* High-capacity detachable magazine. [twenty or thirty rounds]

* Capable of both semi-auto or automatic fire. [use of a selector switch]

* Firing an intermediary round, halfway between that of a conventional high-power military rifle and a pistol.

The original German design using the 7.92X33 caliber round, referred to as Kurz [short]!

Other nations, such as the Soviets, adopting their own caliber and cartridge [Soviet 7.62X39] felt to be most appropriate for the assault rifle concept.

Post-war [WW2], a ferment of assault rifle design existing - - German expatriates, part of the German diaspora, at the forefront of weapons design. Vorgrimler and Loffler in particular doing some innovative and interesting work for the French.

Engineering design and development resulting in the CEAM assault rifle. A weapon, however, NEVER fielded, only existing in the experimental prototype stage.





"After the war ended, Mauser's Department 37 development group was placed under control of the French War Department's armament group . . . (DEFA) . . . [later becoming] . . . (CEAM) . . . Vorgrimler and fellow Mauser engineer Theodor Löffler were assigned the development of roller-delayed carbines [assault rifles] . . . during the late 1940s/early 1950s"

The CEAM Modèle 1950 was a prototype assault rifle . . . It was developed by Centre d'Etudes et d'Armement de Mulhouse (CEAM) of France during the late 1940s/early 1950s.

" between 1946 and 1949. Three versions were made, chambered in":

* .30 Carbine [U.S.]
* 7.92x33mm Kurz [German]
* 7.65x35mm [French]

ALSO under consideration as a possible "round" for the CEAM assault rifle but never went further than that:

* 7.5x38mm [French]

"[that] 7.5x38mm cartridge using a partial aluminium bullet was abandoned in 1947"

Vorgrimler and Toffler later continuing their work in Spain, the result of their labor being the CETME assault rifle, CHAMBERED FOR THE CALIBER 7.62 X 51 NATO ROUND!




That CETME assault rifle, however, NOT capable of "controlled, fully-automatic fire from the shoulder"!

It should be obvious that the considerations of the Spaniards were to be compatible with NATO standardization and NOT rock the boat, so to speak. This cannot have been very gratifying for Vorgrimler and Toffler, but you do as your masters tell you to do. Be unemployed in Germany and starve or work in Spain and eat! NOT much choice.

coolbert.