The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Re the destruction of The Pedersen Device

**Mike Irwin** · August 17, 2014, 01:11 PM

"But everything I have seen and read about the PD seems to be about the idea of "marching fire" and "keeping their heads down."

That was the great theory of the day, as being a means of getting across no man's land. Once you get inside of trenches it's pretty obvious that weight of fire is going to be a huge consideration.

It's why Thompson started developing his submachine gun, very tellingly calling it a "trench broom."

The Germans developed the MP18 was developed as a weight of fire weapon for use by stoss trupen during infiltration into Allied trenches, and it was used to great effect several times on such missions.

The Italians were also working on submachine guns for trench warfare and assault, culminating with the Beretta Modelo 1918, which also proved successful in limited use against the Austrians.

August 17, 2014, 01:11 PM	#87
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,385	"But everything I have seen and read about the PD seems to be about the idea of "marching fire" and "keeping their heads down." That was the great theory of the day, as being a means of getting across no man's land. Once you get inside of trenches it's pretty obvious that weight of fire is going to be a huge consideration. It's why Thompson started developing his submachine gun, very tellingly calling it a "trench broom." The Germans developed the MP18 was developed as a weight of fire weapon for use by stoss trupen during infiltration into Allied trenches, and it was used to great effect several times on such missions. The Italians were also working on submachine guns for trench warfare and assault, culminating with the Beretta Modelo 1918, which also proved successful in limited use against the Austrians. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.