Evening star., 1943-04-28
Captured Axis Guns
Show Weaknesses in
First Public Test
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Officers Soy American
Weapons Are Superior
By ROBERT C. HARPER

ABERDEEN, Nd, April 28.-Cap-
tured enemy ordnance was publicly
demonstrated for the first time be-
fore newspapermen and photog
raphers here today, and later Aber-
deem Proving Ground officials ex-
pressed belief that the American
soldier is the best equipped in the
world.
Attracting attention was a German
88-mm anti-tank and anti-aircraft
gun. It has a long barrel which
consists of two or more pieces. That
reduces it's sturdiness as compared
with the American Comm. gun. II
was explained that the Germans
lacked machine tools for a more
powerful weapon. Unlike the Amer
lean Comm, which has a single
barrel. and can revolve endlessly
about its axis, the German 88 can
be spun twice only before a "re-
winding process is necessary.
A japanese sub-machine gun
jammed during the practice session.
1t is lighter than our automatic
rifles and machine guns, but not
nearly as effective, officers said. To
prevent an erroneous impression
that the japanese weapon will not
kill, within limited range, officers
said it functioned all right last
week.
Nazi Gun Breaks Down.
Even the German 105-mm. how
itzer, with a maximum range of
about 1000 yards, failed to stand
up as a model of ordnance. When
It's first shell was fired part of the
casing remained in tee barrel, neces-
stating cleaning before another
shell could be discharged.
The Italian standard machine
gun proved sorry spectacle COM
pared with the German light all
purpose" machine gun. Fired in
unison, the German weapon shot
twice as fast as the Italian gun.
The Nazi weapon can be used by
one man as an automatic rifle.
is machine gun when mounted on
a tripod and is used in airplanes
when the butt is removed.
Failure to demonstrate new Amer
lean field ordnance was explained
on the ground that information
should not be conveyed to the
enemy.
Italian Rifles Outmoded.
Aberdeen is laboratory where
captured materiel is. dismantled
every piece analyzed by specialists
and the strength and weakness of
component parts studied.
A lot of materiel in the Museum
Room is old. The Italian Army, for
example, is using ordnance made in
1870. There are Italian rifles at
Aberdeen which the Italians cap
tured from the Austrians in 1918.
1t. Col. G. B. Jarrett, chief of the
foreign materiel branch, said he
saw $4,000 such rifles in one SPOT
during the desert warfare in North
Africa.
Col. Jarrett spent year overseas
collecting many of the items during
the Middle East campaign. He fol-
lowed Gen. Bernard MONTGOMERY
9th Army for several weeks. Spe.
cially trained American ordnance
crews also are in operation through
out the world and send captured
enemy equipment to Aberdeen fo,
analysis.
Study Aids u. S. Troops.
Arriving at the museum, CORE.
spondentS and cameramen were
greeted by Maj. Harvey Rivkin, pub.
lie relations officer; Maj. Gen
Charles T. Harris, jr., Aberdeen
commandant; Col. George G.. Edd,
and Col. Jarrett.
Col. Eddy emphasized that a sci
entif1c study of enemy weapons
eliminates the unknown factor
and makes our troops more effective
fighters.
I'VE believe the American soldie,
is the best equipped in the worlc
and that there can be only one
outcome-the defeat of the German.
and Japs," Col, Eddy added.
Col. Jarrett pointed out that il
the last war the benefits of studie.
were not realized in time to be O,
any use to the Army while engaged
with the enemy.
German Equipment Best.
"It is now very different" he de.
clared, "We know the limit O
efficiency or effectiveness Of enem,
materiel. Tests of highly tech.
nical nature are carried out OF
every single item of enemy equip.
ment received.
Roughly speaking, the German
equipment is more important thar
the Japanese and Italian. The
Germans are developers. the Jap.
and Italians copyists."
Among the most interesting item