The world of submachine weapons is filled with high-capacity, fast-firing rifles, from strange, double-barreled oddities, to the fast-firing Soviet workhorses of the Second World War, or homemade Polish resistance weapons that peppered Nazi Wehrmacht troops. One of many submachine weapons you’ve in all probability by no means heard of nevertheless, was designed and constructed by an empire that now not exists: Austria-Hungary.
Standschütze Hellriegel Submachine Gun
Austria-Hungary’s Standschütze Hellriegel submachine gun is a really distinct, if considerably mysterious gun that exists only in a few photographs within the Austrian Nationwide Library, presumably from when the weapon went by means of improvement and testing.
The comparatively lengthy firearm sat in a picket inventory that ended simply ahead of the set off and was carbine size. It was presumably chambered within the 9×23mm Steyr, then the usual pistol service cartridge for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The cartridge was barely longer than the now ubiquitous 9x19mm Parabellumpistol cartridge, and is said to have been high-velocity and strong.
Apparently, the Standschütze Hellriegel fed from a singular, high-capacity drum journal. Relatively than connected to the firearm itself, the drum magazine is linked by way of a versatile metallic sleeve by means of which ammunition is fed. Capability was in all probability round 150 rounds. Different images present the weapon fed with conventional field magazines, probably with a 20 to 30-round capability.
However it will get weirder: the Standschütze Hellriegel was water-cooled.
The submachine gun’s barrel was nearly totally encased by a water container, not unlike John Browning’s M1917 machine gun. Although this will have aided cooling considerably, it will have dramatically elevated the burden of the weapon, and impractical to make use of when on the transfer. In any occasion, the water case seems to have a leather-based jacket sewn round it to guard the person’s arms. The barrel case additionally had a kind of curved tube deal with beneath it that allowed for a two finger grip to regular the weapon, and will have doubled as a carry deal with.
The bizarre weapon was in all probability supposed to be served by two males, the gunner, and an ammunition bearer. {A photograph} of the gun exhibits a person, presumed to be the ammunition bearer, with a type of ammunition backpack that would vertically retailer 5 – 6 drum magazines in addition to a drawer area beneath, maybe for field magazines or upkeep gear.
Just like the American Browning Computerized Rifle, the Standschütze Hellriegel could have been supposed as an infantry assist weapon, shot from the hip whereas strolling to maintain the enemy’s head down. One risk is that when in a hard and fast place, the Standschütze Hellriegel’s gunner would go for the awkward, however increased capability drum magazines, and when on the transfer, would change to rather more manageable, although lower-capacity stick magazines.
Postscript
Except for some photographic proof, no Standschütze Hellriegel prototypes are identified to exist and it’s solely attainable, if unlikely, that the weapon by no means progressed handed the prototype stage.
Caleb Larson is a Protection Author with The Nationwide Curiosity. He holds a Grasp of Public Coverage and covers U.S. and Russian safety, European protection points, and German politics and tradition.
Image: Wikimedia.
