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Quiz about Firearms of the Twentieth Century
Quiz about Firearms of the Twentieth Century

Firearms of the Twentieth Century Quiz


This is a quiz on the small arms of the twentieth century and beyond.

A multiple-choice quiz by kabeesh. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
kabeesh
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
300,123
Updated
Jul 03 24
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
12 / 20
Plays
1455
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 97 (15/20), Guest 173 (17/20), Guest 116 (15/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. A doughboy in the American 3rd Infantry Division in World War 1, you are being shouted at by your sergeant to take aim at the German soldiers across the Marne River. What rifle are you now raising to your shoulder? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. You are enlisting for the U.S. Army in the 1920s, expecting to see all the rifles of your toy plastic infantry. However, you are handed a heavy, bulky gun that the officer says is an squad automatic weapon. Playing with the bipod at the end of the barrel, you are wondering, what is this gun? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. Welcome to Aberdeen Proving Grounds. You are firing an M1 Thompson for observation. The scientists take down everything: range, rate of fire, recoil, magazine size, even the overheatings and jams. In the booth next to you, another soldier emerges with a German gun. The scientists are all crowded around the other soldier, praising its construction and other factors that make it better than the one in your hands. What is that other soldier wielding? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. As a factory worker in Great Britain in World War 2, you are dumbfounded by a new product coming down the production line. This is the first all-metal weapon you have seen in your factory, which manufactures all types of firearms. What is this novelty? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. One day, signing into your new unit, fresh out of West Point, you see some other officers sporting M1911 Colts. Instead, the supply officer hands you a smaller gun, saying that that is the new standard sidearm for American forces. What is that handgun you are now buckling around your leg? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. As an American soldier, you are issued an M249 SAW. When deployed to Germany, you see a few fellow NATO troops sporting your same weapon. You saunter over to talk machine-gunner chat, and you are astounded. Wow, the British troops say its the L108A1! And the Canadians and the New Zealanders call it the C9! It's the F89 to the Aussie troops. They all say it isn't the M249, but it looks exactly the same! Well, what is it then? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. You are a police officer in the 1990s in Belgium. There is a situation requiring a little more firepower than your handgun. You are issued a submachine gun, the most widely used gun of your time. What is the gun you will be getting? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. You are a standard trooper in the small Austrian army, but you are proud of you state-of-the-art rifle from Germany. What is this excellent rifle? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. A long time sniper in the British Army, you are getting ready to ship out again. However, when you ask the quartermaster for the usual L96, he hands you a brand new rifle, which he says is the new standard issue. The German troops training with you also have the same gun, but they call it a Gewehr 22. What is this rifle you are receiving? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. You are a French soldier, and your standard-issue rifle, although excellent, is just an upgraded version of a rifle older than both the British and German rifles of the troops you are training with at Sandhurst. What gun are you holding? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. You are lucky, as you get to test out a new weapon that will never formally enter the U.S. inventory. After years of designing, the project for this replacement for the M16 has been cancelled. What is that rifle you are firing at the range? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. You are a member of a small nation, fighting Russian troops. Your AK-47 runs out of rounds, and you see the Russians are using similar weapons. You bend down to pick up a Russian soldier's magazine, but your gun can't fire his rounds! The gun looks almost exactly like yours except with a straighter stock and a elongated muzzle. What is it? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. You are part of the GSG-9 of Germany, the leading counter-terrorist group in the world. You are getting ready to deploy. when you remember, you need to grab your USP. What in the world is a USP? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. You bash into a room, and there is an insurgent holding a small hand held weapon that looks like an Uzi. This is smaller than any other Uzi or Mini-Uzi you have seen. What is it? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. There is a friendly helicopter gunship flying above you, and it doesn't notice the targets in that three-story building. You contact it, and try to direct it, but you can't accurately direct its fire. What round are you forgetting to use? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. You are an American trooper in Cambodia in the 1970s. Your M14 jammed and spoiled in the last firefight, so you ask for a new rifle. The quartermaster takes a look at your excellent marksman records, and hands you a new gun. This looks almost exactly like your old gun, only with a scope! What is this gun? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. You are taking heavy fire in your Humvee in 1993, in Mogadishu. You are the turret gunner, firing your .50 cal at any movement you see. It occurs to you that your father, half a century ago, used the same weapon on top of his Sherman tank. What is this weapon? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. Still in Somalia, you look at the Air Force CCT next to you firing a GAU-5. That has exactly the same look as the weapon that the Ranger across the street is firing! What does the Ranger call it? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. As a squad leader in Vietnam, you see a crowded observation tower. You quietly signal to your grenadier to flatten it. What weapon is he most likely going to use? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. Your comrades, part of the local militia, are defending a town from American invaders. In close quarters combat, you pull out your ancient M1987 Trench Gun shotgun. Turning a corner, you find yourself face to face with a shotgun wielding American Marine. You both fire once, and you both miss. As you pump your shotgun for another shot, his shorter shotgun quickly barks again, and again, and you are forced into cover. What is that shotgun that fires so fast? (Most Likely) Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. A doughboy in the American 3rd Infantry Division in World War 1, you are being shouted at by your sergeant to take aim at the German soldiers across the Marne River. What rifle are you now raising to your shoulder?

Answer: Springfield M1903

The United States Rifle, caliber .30, Model 1903, was a magazine-fed bolt action rifle, used as the standard rifle in all American military conflicts from 1903 until World War II, where it was replaced by the M1 Garand. However, outfitted with a scope, as the M1903A4 and M1903A6, they were often used as sniper rifles until the end of the Korean War, even until the beginning of the Vietnam War.
2. You are enlisting for the U.S. Army in the 1920s, expecting to see all the rifles of your toy plastic infantry. However, you are handed a heavy, bulky gun that the officer says is an squad automatic weapon. Playing with the bipod at the end of the barrel, you are wondering, what is this gun?

Answer: Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) M1918

Designed by the famous John Browning, this light machine gun was adopted by the U.S. military in 1918, replacing foreign-made machine guns as the first American-produced machine gun. Some models were outfitted with bipods for firing stability, later on.

The BAR gained a reputation for being very heavy, as it weighed close to twenty pounds or more when loaded. The BAR was used until the Korean War, and it was replaced by the M60.
3. Welcome to Aberdeen Proving Grounds. You are firing an M1 Thompson for observation. The scientists take down everything: range, rate of fire, recoil, magazine size, even the overheatings and jams. In the booth next to you, another soldier emerges with a German gun. The scientists are all crowded around the other soldier, praising its construction and other factors that make it better than the one in your hands. What is that other soldier wielding?

Answer: MP-40

This type of stamped weapon was not only easier to produce, it was also more reliable. A few insignificant changes created the Schmeisser MP-40, which was the standard German sub-machine gun in World War II.
4. As a factory worker in Great Britain in World War 2, you are dumbfounded by a new product coming down the production line. This is the first all-metal weapon you have seen in your factory, which manufactures all types of firearms. What is this novelty?

Answer: Sten

On the Allies side, the Sten was the first all metal, stamped weapon. Cheap and simple, they were mass-produced easily and shipped to the front lines. They were used by British and Commonwealth forces. They were phased out by the British in favor of the Sterling SMG in the '60s. The Americans used an excellent M3 Grease Gun instead of the Sten.
5. One day, signing into your new unit, fresh out of West Point, you see some other officers sporting M1911 Colts. Instead, the supply officer hands you a smaller gun, saying that that is the new standard sidearm for American forces. What is that handgun you are now buckling around your leg?

Answer: Beretta M9 (92FS)

This pistol, although it packed less power than the slugs of the Colt, phased the M1911A1 out of service in the 1980s, officially adopted in 1990. They now are in the holsters of military, security, law enforcement, and criminal hands all over America. The U.S. Armed Forces also, to some extent, use the M11, or the P228, but definitely not to the extent of the M9.
6. As an American soldier, you are issued an M249 SAW. When deployed to Germany, you see a few fellow NATO troops sporting your same weapon. You saunter over to talk machine-gunner chat, and you are astounded. Wow, the British troops say its the L108A1! And the Canadians and the New Zealanders call it the C9! It's the F89 to the Aussie troops. They all say it isn't the M249, but it looks exactly the same! Well, what is it then?

Answer: FN Minimi

The M249 SAW is a licensed copy of Belgium-based Fabrique Nationale's 20th century machine gun. First produced in 1974, the Minimi is one of the most widely used automatic weapons today, used in over 35 countries. There are actually two versions, the SAW is the normal Minimi, and the Para is the paratrooper and vehicle crew version.
7. You are a police officer in the 1990s in Belgium. There is a situation requiring a little more firepower than your handgun. You are issued a submachine gun, the most widely used gun of your time. What is the gun you will be getting?

Answer: MP5

The Heckler and Koch MP5 is the most successful sub-machine gun of the later 20th century. Based on the larger G3 layout, this weapon is in police forces and military hands all over the world. Recently however, one of the main drawbacks of the gun is that the 9mm bullets have not enough power in medium or longer ranges, and in some cases, cannot even penetrate a well-armored soldier in close quarters. Even so, the cheap, compact, and reliable design have made it one of the most popular weapons of its time.
8. You are a standard trooper in the small Austrian army, but you are proud of you state-of-the-art rifle from Germany. What is this excellent rifle?

Answer: G-36

Another Heckler and Koch weapon, the G-36 is one of the most modern rifles. Designed in the 1990s, the G-36 is a light, accurate, and reliable replacement for the venerable G3 series. It is in the service of armed forces of numerous countries in Europe, notably Germany.
9. A long time sniper in the British Army, you are getting ready to ship out again. However, when you ask the quartermaster for the usual L96, he hands you a brand new rifle, which he says is the new standard issue. The German troops training with you also have the same gun, but they call it a Gewehr 22. What is this rifle you are receiving?

Answer: L115A1 (AWSM)

The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum is the next generation of sniper rifles. The AWM is used in ten countries under different names, and it replaced the Accuracy International L96A1 in British service.
10. You are a French soldier, and your standard-issue rifle, although excellent, is just an upgraded version of a rifle older than both the British and German rifles of the troops you are training with at Sandhurst. What gun are you holding?

Answer: FAMAS G-2

The FAMAS G2 is an modified version of the G1, which is the upgraded version of the F1. Few changes have been made overall because the FAMAS is a reliable and hardy weapon. The F1 was adopted by the French in 1974, before both the SA80 and the G36 were adopted by the British and German Armies.
11. You are lucky, as you get to test out a new weapon that will never formally enter the U.S. inventory. After years of designing, the project for this replacement for the M16 has been cancelled. What is that rifle you are firing at the range?

Answer: XM8

At the turn of the century, the U.S. Army began testing and developing a replacement for the M16A2 that had been in the Army's service for well over two decades. The XM8 showed promise, but unknown factors caused the cancelling of the project in 2005.
12. You are a member of a small nation, fighting Russian troops. Your AK-47 runs out of rounds, and you see the Russians are using similar weapons. You bend down to pick up a Russian soldier's magazine, but your gun can't fire his rounds! The gun looks almost exactly like yours except with a straighter stock and a elongated muzzle. What is it?

Answer: AK-74

The AK-74, produced in 1974, is the AKM assault rifle rechambered and refitted to fire the 5.45mm round instead of the 7.62mm. The AKM was simply a modified version of the AK-47. The AK-74 has been upgraded with the modernized AK-74M, which is now in Russian service.

The AK-74 serves in around 30 countries, but they are still outnumbered by the hundreds of thousands of AK-47 variants in use by various militaries and cells all over the world.
13. You are part of the GSG-9 of Germany, the leading counter-terrorist group in the world. You are getting ready to deploy. when you remember, you need to grab your USP. What in the world is a USP?

Answer: Universal Self-Loading Pistol

The Universal Self Loading Pistol, introduced in 1993 by Heckler and Koch, has taken the lead in the handgun service. The USP is a result of a mix of good qualities from many older handguns. Many variants are circulated today, one of which is the P8, under German Army Service.
14. You bash into a room, and there is an insurgent holding a small hand held weapon that looks like an Uzi. This is smaller than any other Uzi or Mini-Uzi you have seen. What is it?

Answer: Micro-Uzi

The Micro-Uzi is a smaller version of the Mini-Uzi, which is a smaller version of the famous Uzi.
15. There is a friendly helicopter gunship flying above you, and it doesn't notice the targets in that three-story building. You contact it, and try to direct it, but you can't accurately direct its fire. What round are you forgetting to use?

Answer: Tracer Rounds

Tracer Rounds are types of ammunition that are fitted with a burning material that would make visible the bullet's path and impact point. Originating in World War I, tracer rounds can be used to point out targets to the shooter, friendly soldiers, or support assets. They can also be placed at the end of a magazine to notify the shooter of an emptying clip.
16. You are an American trooper in Cambodia in the 1970s. Your M14 jammed and spoiled in the last firefight, so you ask for a new rifle. The quartermaster takes a look at your excellent marksman records, and hands you a new gun. This looks almost exactly like your old gun, only with a scope! What is this gun?

Answer: M21

The M14 was an accurate and reliable weapon, but heavy and sometimes unwieldly. Any attempt at automatic fire was also discouraged, because it was unfit for such use. However, its qualities made it an excellent sniper rifle, and it was outfitted with a scope, forming the M21, or M14 DMR, which lasted longer in the service than the M14, which was replaced by the M16.
17. You are taking heavy fire in your Humvee in 1993, in Mogadishu. You are the turret gunner, firing your .50 cal at any movement you see. It occurs to you that your father, half a century ago, used the same weapon on top of his Sherman tank. What is this weapon?

Answer: M2

The .50 caliber Ma Deuce is the most successful of John Browning's creations, lasting from the end of World War I until now, and there is no need for any replacement for this excellent weapon. Used by the Allies in World War II and NATO afterwards, the M2 has outlived all other small arms in U.S. service, as well as the numerous tanks and vehicles it has been mounted on.

It finds a place in the armed forces of close to 50 nations.
18. Still in Somalia, you look at the Air Force CCT next to you firing a GAU-5. That has exactly the same look as the weapon that the Ranger across the street is firing! What does the Ranger call it?

Answer: CAR-15

The CAR-15 is a shortened, compact version of the M-16, or the AR-16. This concept found much favor, and was issued to vehicle crews and foot soldiers in all facets of the U.S. armed forces. Under the USAF, it is designated the GAU-5. The CAR-15 has been replaced by the M4, now in service of the American Army.
19. As a squad leader in Vietnam, you see a crowded observation tower. You quietly signal to your grenadier to flatten it. What weapon is he most likely going to use?

Answer: M79

Although the M203 was in use in the later stages of the Vietnam War, the M79 Thumper was the predominant grenade launcher. The M79 is not an underslung launcher like its successors, but it could fire a variety of 40mm grenade rounds. First intended as a smaller, more mobile mortar, the M79 found favor with the military and eventually sparked the line of UGLs in service today with many countries.

The M79 is still in limited use today, as the effective range is considerably longer than that of the M203 UGL.
20. Your comrades, part of the local militia, are defending a town from American invaders. In close quarters combat, you pull out your ancient M1987 Trench Gun shotgun. Turning a corner, you find yourself face to face with a shotgun wielding American Marine. You both fire once, and you both miss. As you pump your shotgun for another shot, his shorter shotgun quickly barks again, and again, and you are forced into cover. What is that shotgun that fires so fast? (Most Likely)

Answer: M1014 (M4 Benelli)

Although the Remington 870 is in use by American troops, it is not of the semi-automatic shotguns that can fire much faster. The SPAS 12 is one example, but it is not in use with the American troops. The M4 Benelli was adopted by the USMC in 1999 as the M1014 Joint Service Shotgun.
Source: Author kabeesh

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