Re: [GZG] Failed to deliver the first time - SG 2

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http://lists.csua.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/gzg-lThe primary reason
was interservice rivalry - The FJ were under Luftwaffe control while the
rest of the infantry was under Army Control.  The FJ eventually
converted to the MG34 and later MG-42 because the FJ was too costly and
time-consuming to build in any large quantity. 

  The Germans had the technology to build superior assault rifles for
many years (fully auto weapons shooting cut-down rifle rounds, rather
than pistol rounds), but were hindered by objections from the top. 
Hitler objected to development of the assault rifle because he thought
it a waste of resources, the designers proceeded anyway and hid it under
the cover name MP44 (Machinepistol 44 or submachine gun 44).  After
development was completed and Hitler shown the effectiveness of the
weapon, he changed his mind and allowed it to be put into production as
the StG44 (Sturmgeweher 44 or 'storm' or assault rifle 44).  That design
was the basis for the AK-47 which has been in use for nearly 60 years.	

  So just because a country has the technology, industrial base,
intellectual capacity etc. to design, build and distribute a high-tech
weapon system doesn't mean that it will.  Because of political or
institutional stubborness a highly-effective system can be hindered from
deployment, or an overly complicated, expensive system fielded despite
its battlefield performance. 

  --Binhan
  I agree with your comments about Hitler prohibiting the development of
an assault rifle. The germans were not the only ones to suffer polotical
interference during the design of different weapons.

  Look at the NAC ships in FT.
  Why do you go to the difficulty of supporting ships with so many
different weapon systems on the same ship? Having one pulse torpedo
can't make that much of a difference to the combat effectiveness of the
ship compared to the same mass in beams but must increase the support
costs a lot.
  It seems likely that the politican on the arms appropriation committee
comes from a sector that makes pulse torpedos and wants to benefit their
constiuents and their own political career by getting money spent in
their electorate.