Toy Soldiers:Cold War Historical Weapons - USA

A short, historical description of the US arsenal as featured in the game Toy Soldiers:Cold War.

Please note the author does not intend this guide to glorify war or offer political opinions on any nations in any way.

Please comment and like if you like to see more guides in this style!

USA Machine Guns

Machine Gun level 1

The M2 Browning heavy machine gun, or the "fifty cal" has been in service with the US armed forces since 1933, only beaten for firearm-service-life by the Colt 1911 pistol. The M2 has seen plenty of use as a vehicle and aircraft armament.

Machine Gun level 2

An icon of the Vietnam War, the M60 first saw service in 1957. In Vietnam, the M60 dangled from helicopter doorways, stood guard on bunkers, and accompanied squads into combat. It became the “Hog” or the “Pig” to American soldiers because its report sounded like the grunt of a barnyard hog.

Machine Gun level 3

The M134 Minigun is a 7.62x51 mm NATO, six-barreled machine gun with a rate of fire ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute. The "Mini" in the name is in comparison to designs that use a similar firing mechanism but larger shells and "gun" for a caliber size smaller than that of a cannon. A favorite for close air support strafing runs and quickly turning jungle foliage into mulch. In US service since 1963.

USA Mortars

Mortar level 1

The M29 81mm mortar replaced the M1 mortar in US service from 1952, being lighter and having a greater range. The initial rate of fire of up to 30 rounds over 60 seconds was then ramped back to one round every 15 seconds for fear of overheating causing premature detonation.

Mortar level 2

A British designed mortar, the M252 81mm mortar can provide all manner of support at range. Smoke, HE, illum and infrared illum shells can be lobbed at various ranges by subrtacting from the number of firing charges wrapped around the shell tail. Entered US service in 1987.

Mortar level 3

Whilst the M120 mortar weighs almost 150kg none can deny the effective power of the 120mm HE shell. A range of 7km allows for fire support from well behind friendly lines. The M120 missed out on all of the Cold War action, entering US service in 1991.

USA Anti-tank

Anti-tank level 1

The 66mm HEAT warhead launched by the iconic M72 LAW can penetrate up to 20cm of steel plate. Its small size and limited range also made it useful for close infantry fights and urban breaching. Entering US service in 1963, the weapon has a powerful and dangerous backblast.

Anti-tank level 2

The M40 recoiless rifle first saw use in the Korean War in the 50s. With a range of more than 1km, it was a highly effective direct-fire weapon. A 50.cal spotting rifle sitting on top of the M40 fires a tracing round to assist in aiming before firing.

Anti-tank level 3

The BGM-17 TOW, first introduced 1970, is one of the most widely used guided AT missiles. Firing a projectile weighting in excess of 18kg, the TOW has often been featured as a weapon on IFVs and light vehicles as a powerful anti-tank measure.

USA Artillery

Artillery level 1

The M102 is a light howitzer, if you can call a gun firing 105mm caliber shells weighing 14kg up to 15km "light". Delivery by helicopter made it a very useful infantry support asset during the Vietnam War. Also seen hanging out of the side of many of the AC-130 gunship configurations.

Artillery level 2

Deployed from 1979, the M198 howitzer can fire a HE shell with a 50m blast radius more than 20km every 30 seconds. Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions rain down 88 bomblets per shell, effective against entrenched infantry as well as the deck armour of armoured vehicles.

Artillery level 3

Firing a salvo of 227mm rockets up to 60km over 40 seconds, a single M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System is an entire artillery battery on tracks. The M270 can be used in shoot-and-scoot tactics, firing its rockets rapidly, then moving away to avoid counter-battery fire.

USA Anti-air

Anti-air level 1

The timeless Swedish Bofors 40mm gun has been in use by many nations and in many configurations since the 1930s. Firing 2 pound shells up to 120 times a minute, the cannon easily outpaces the speed at which the loaders can feed it. Also featured sticking out the side of AC-130 gunships.

Anti-air level 2

The MIM-72 Chaparral, introduced in 1969, fires four heat seeking missiles derived from the Sidewinder missile. Needing to face an aircraft until a lock is acquired, the Chaparral is less effective against evasive targets like low flying helicopters.

Anti-airlevel 3

Firing 6 meter long missiles weighing almost a tonne, the MIM-104 Patriot has been "making enemy planes and missiles have a very bad time" since 1981. Capable of shooting down aircraft from 70km away, the complex radar and tracking systems used by the Patriot require their own 15kw generator.

USA Makeshift

Makeshift level 1

The "Flit gun" was used to deliver insecticides (and any other air-dispersible liquid) in an aerosol form in the days before the aerosol spray can. No records exist of the flit gun being used in combat, or of any insecticide brand "Signal".

Makeshift level 2

The ingenious combination of a naked flame and flammable aerosol spraycan was invented sometime in the 20th century, presumably by a man with a spider problem and no ready access to a military grade flamethrower. Banned from combat use by the "United Toy Soldiers (Poseable or Otherwise) League Conventions of Combat Agreement" in 1997.

Makeshift level 3

The Artillery and Catherine Wheel fireworks combination is regarded as one of the most effective modern countermeasures against animated plastic soldiers. Can also be lit and thrown into occupied public toilet stalls for a cheap thrill.

[randyskulmoski1]

For mg lvl 3 it could also be the 20mm M61A1 Vulcan seen on the F-16

[sail64]

Excellent brief descriptions of all the weapons (especially the makeshift')! Love to see one for the soviet weapons and also for the WWI weapons!
Very well done!

[76561198133713426]

can you do the soviet one?

[LightHawk]

Love what you did with the "makeshift" section.

[Virtuous_Sojourner]

good!

[EpicFrostchaserSWF]

Can you do the Toy Soldiers (WW1 Era)
Guide.
And can you make one so Everyone can Identify all the Toy Soldier Complete Vechicles

[Gunny555]

This is a great historical weapons guide. Now I wonder if you will do other ones. Like the Soviet and World war 1 armies.

[sawerin]

Cool! Thanks, bro. You did a great job!

[Beerbryan]

Really liked it, i might do one on enemy and player controlled vehicles.

[Mithranuu]

Good Job!