List of weapons of West Germany explained

This is a list of weapons of West Germany. West Germany was formed as a result of the division of germany after World War II. As part of the Western Bloc West Germany was a member of NATO and an important part of the alliance. Especially so since any conflict with the Soviet Union was most likely going to start in West Germany itself or on its border with East Germany. After West Germany was reunited with East Germany during German reunification in 1990 they still retained NATO membership and today as a united Germany have remained a crucial part of the alliance.

Small arms

Rifles

• FN FAL^[1] -Adopted in 1956 just after Germany was allowed to rearm in 1955 designated G1.only lasted 3 years was replaced by G3 in 1959.
• Heckler & Koch G3^[2] -Main German Cold War rifle.

Sniper Rifles

• G3-SG1 - developed in 1972 and based on the G3 battle rifle, this served as Germany's primary sniper rifle. It was replaced by the Heckler & Koch MSG90 in 1990.

Sidearms

• Walther P38^[3] -reintroduced from WWII in 1957 and saw service till 1963. After this a new variant of the pistol the P1 was introduced and served as the standard German sidearm for the rest of the Cold War.

Machine guns

• MG 3 machine gun^[4] - Modernised variant of WWII MG 42. Served as the main German Cold War machine gun from the late 1950s.
• Heckler & Koch HK21 - a general purpose machine gun developed in 1961, based on the G3 battle rifle

Submachine guns

• Walther MP - developed in 1963. Largely outclassed and replaced by the MP5
• Heckler & Koch MP5 - developed in 1966, this would go on to serve as the primary submachine gun in Germany and in many nations around the world

Anti tank weapons

• PzF 44^[5]
• MILAN^[6]

Artillery

Towed

• FH70^[7]

Self propelled

• M107 self-propelled gun^[8]
• M109 howitzer^[9]
• M110 howitzer^[10]

Self propelled rocket artillery

• Light Artillery Rocket System^[11] -Created in Germany.

Anti-aircraft

Self propelled

• Flakpanzer Gepard^[12]

Armoured fighting vehicles AFV's

Main battle tanks

• M47 Patton^[13]
• M48 Patton^[14]
• Leopard 1^[15]
• Leopard 2^[16]

Light tanks

• M41 Walker Bulldog^[17]

Tank destroyers

• Kanonenjagdpanzer^[18]
• Raketenjagdpanzer 1^[19]
• Raketenjagdpanzer 2^[20]

Infantry fighting vehicles(IFV's)

• Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz^[21]
• Schützenpanzer Lang HS.30^[22]
• Marder (IFV)^[23]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Association. National Rifle. An Official Journal Of The NRA The FN FAL: 5 Facts You Might Not Know. 2022-01-13. An Official Journal Of The NRA. en.
2. Web site: Heckler & Koch HK G3. 2022-01-13. www.militaryfactory.com. en-US.
3. Web site: Post-war career: The Pistole P1 of the Bundeswehr compared to the P.38 of the Wehrmacht.38 der Wehrmacht. 2022-01-13. all4shooters. en.
4. Web site: MG-3 Machine Gun Military-Today.com. 2022-01-13. www.military-today.com.
5. Web site: Dynamit Nobel Panzerfaust 2 (PzF 44 2A1). 2022-01-16. www.militaryfactory.com. en-US.
6. Web site: MILAN Anti-Tank Guided Missile Military-Today.com. 2022-01-16. www.military-today.com.
7. Web site: FH-70 155 mm Towed Howitzer Military-Today.com. 2022-01-16. www.military-today.com.
8. Web site: M107 self propelled gun (1960). 2022-01-16. www.tanks-encyclopedia.com.
9. Web site: 2015-10-08. M109 Paladin. 2022-01-16. Tank Encyclopedia. en-US.
10. Web site: M110 SPA. 2022-01-16. www.militaryfactory.com. en-US.
11. Web site: LARS. 2022-01-16. Weaponsystems.net. en.
12. Web site: Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard (Flakpanzer). 2022-01-16. www.militaryfactory.com. en-US.
13. Web site: 2014-11-18. M47 Patton. 2022-01-18. Tank Encyclopedia. en-US.
14. Web site: M48 Patton. 2022-01-18. www.militaryfactory.com. en-US.
15. Web site: Krauss-Maffei Leopard 1. 2022-01-18. RAF Museum. en-GB.
16. Web site: West German cold war KMW Leopard 2 MBT (1978. 2022-01-18. tanks-encyclopedia.com.
17. Web site: M41 Walker Bulldog Light Tank. 2022-01-18. www.inetres.com.
18. Web site: Kanonenjagdpanzer. 2022-01-18. Weaponsystems.net. en.
19. Web site: Raketenjagdpanzer 1 (RakJPz 1). 2022-01-18. www.militaryfactory.com. en-US.
20. Web site: Raketenjagdpanzer 2. 2022-01-18. Weaponsystems.net. en.
21. Web site: Schutzenpanzer Kurz 11-2 (1958). 2022-01-18. www.tanks-encyclopedia.com.
22. Web site: Schützenpanzer Lang HS.30 Armoured Personnel Carrier. 2022-01-18. TankNutDave.com. en-US.
23. Web site: Newdick. Thomas. Germany Still Can't Give Up Its Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles After Half A Century. 2022-01-18. The Drive. en.