Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: kiravuo@kampi.hut.fi (Timo Kiravuo)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Tanks and Finns (was: Re: Unconventional Warfare)
Message-ID: <7586@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 20 Jun 89 03:46:27 GMT
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Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Computing Center
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From: kiravuo@kampi.hut.fi (Timo Kiravuo)
In article <7512@cbnews.ATT.COM> jmt@ecsvax.uncecs.edu.UUCP writes:

>"In Finland there was a departure from the norm, for in this tiny country
>and in this one alone had an anti-tank rifle of respectable size
>appeared. ... How many of these superbly built guns took
>part in the 1939 Winter War is not known, but some at least played their
>part in holding off the Soviet armoured threat...(p.34)"

I do not know if the Lahti 20mm rifle (also known as "elephant
gun") was in mass production at the Winter War Time. However as
far as I know there were not enough of those to repel the Soviets
alone.  At least thet impression I have received from reading old
books.  I have read the Aimo Lahti's autobiography, but I do not
remember anything specific. I don't have the book at hand now,
since I am writing this in Oslo, Norway (I love this Internet).

Lahti also designed the famous "Suomi" submachine gun. This was
also copied by the Soviets. "Suomi" looks a lot like a Thompson,
but was different. It has a mass lock (I'm not too sure about the
terms) and is very reliable. 

I'm running out about my knowledge about now, but I still want to
mention that Aimo Lahti is considered one of the key persons in
the finnish weapons desingn before and during WWII.

Timo  Kiravuo
Helsinki University of Technology, Computing Center
kiravuo@hut.fi   kiravuo@fingate.bitnet   sorvi::kiravuo
work: 90-451 4328   home: 90-676 076