Firearms for the United States

[worldly sorrel]

Some weapons I think that can be added to the United States that are unique to them, and branch out from some that the British Empire currently have like the M1918 BAR, Trench Shotgun, and 1911, and others:

• American M1918 Chauchat, designed to improve the Chauchat’s flaws and meet their needs due to the BAR not being widely available until the end of the war.

• Annihilator Thompson, though never seeing combat, a unique SMG that can be given to US stormtroopers

• M1903 Springfield, standard rifle of the US armed forces

• Winchester 1907, a civilian semi-automatic hunting rifle that was adapted to trench warfare for military use.

• Colt New Service, a revolver from 1898 that was the common service pistol of the US armed forces before the 1911.

Now, there is a very few unique American weapons of that time, as many of what the US had were also British and french weapons at that time since the United States wasn’t even a grand military power just yet.

[proven bear]

why would they get a thompson?

[worldly sorrel]

I say the Thompson/Annihilator because it would be the US equivalent to the MP-18 that the Central Powers have. The MP-18 wouldn’t see extensive use, and was a rare weapon at all since only a few thousand saw any combat by the end of the war.

I get historically it wouldn’t work since it would only see use in 1919, but I think we can bend the historical precedent a bit to allow it since it was designed to be used to clear trenches? I mean shoot, the BAR barely saw any combat use in WW1, and the British somehow have it right now, when they could have the Hotchkiss or something similar.

And i’m not talking about the Thompson like we know it in the 1920s onwards

Moreso the Annihilator version that was short, and had a 15-20 round magazine, like in the image.

[true finch]

First and foremost, I apologize for quibbling, but in your initial post you referred to the BAR as M1917 where it should be M1918.

A thought I had for a possible equipment choice for US Specialists is the "walking fire" belt cup to benefit exclusively BARs and Chauchats (pretty sure they existed for Chauchats as well) through enhanced hipfiring (slower reticle bloom or greater accuracy, perhaps) while making shouldering take a little longer as a tradeoff.

As for the Annihilator, I'm personally undecided. They were very close to seeing use but never did. At the same time, we have the K-Wagen and Char 2C both in the game. I suppose I wouldn't mind either way.

Also, while the M1903 Springfield was officially the US standard issue rifle, there were far more M1917 "American Enfield" rifles produced and issued to US troops. Both should be present for that reason, in my opinion.

As a closing thought on the topic of US weaponry, while the French Hotchkiss was apparently the most commonly-used HMG by the US in WWI, I hope to see the M1917 Browning. Being able to pick either one as the Heavy Gunner would be nice, too. And if I'm being greedy, I would also like to see the M1895 Colt-Browning as a third option even though that never saw combat service with the US in the war.

[summer zenith]

walking fire is a thing for the lighter auto weapons in the game, you even move faster when hipfiring a chauchat/BAR/MP18 than the specialist LMGs

i'm against the thompson myself, meh on the american HMGs due to being much rarer but they were at least used

[true finch]

I hadn't paid enough attention to movement speed while hipfiring it would seem. Very neat that it was represented in some way. Still might be fun to have the belt cup as optional equipment, but in the end it really isn't something I'd bemoan being absent as it's quite minute.