"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
WEAPON CONCEPT: Lahti AL-43 (Finland / Germany)
PROPOSED ROLE: High-Mobility, Intermediate-Cartridge LMG (RD-44 Counterpart)
PROPOSED BR: Battle Rating V
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Heyoooo, Forum Dwellers!!!
The current Western Axis machine gun arsenal at BR V is heavily defined by raw firepower: massive cyclic rates, full rifle cartridges, and massive belt boxes. However!!! 
This comes at a high cost to tactical movement; all current BR V German MGs suffer from a strict 50% sprint factor.
This suggestion proposes the addition of the Lahti AL-43, a prototype Finnish light machine gun. It provides Western Axis commanders with a nimble, run-and-gun playstyle option that fills the exact same operational niche as the Soviet RD-44, all without power-creeping existing options.
Historical Background & Development (Click to Expand)
Design Philosophy
Designed in 1943 by famed Finnish arms engineer Aimo Lahti, the AL-43 was spurred by early military interest in an “assault rifle/SMG hybrid” concept similar to the German 7.92 Kurz. Lacking state resources for a full military program during wartime, Lahti initiated a private venture using shortened 6.5×55mm SE cases.
Internal Conflict & Cancellation
This private venture sparked severe friction with VKT (Valtion Kivääritehdas ) management, who accused Lahti of misusing company resources. The AL-43 was rejected by the Weapons-HQ of the Finnish Army HQ, with Major General V. Svanström playing a central role in the decision. Lahti continued private efforts until the Allied Control Commission halted all experimental projects at the end of WWII. Only prototypes were built. As late as 1951, the Finnish military still regarded the assault rifle concept as a passing trend, before adopting the Soviet 7.62×39mm in 1956–57. Today, the design is recognized as being remarkably far ahead of its time.
Although the AL-43 was rejected, Lahti continued developing the concept. By the late 1950s he designed the L-51 , a gas-action development based on the AL-43, chambered for experimental 7.62×41mm and 9×41mm cartridges. The Finnish military again showed no interest, and it is uncertain if any L-51 prototype was ever built. This further proves that Lahti was far ahead of his time.
- Country of Origin: Finland
- Overall Length: 39 inches (99 cm)
- Empty Weight: 12 lbs (5.6 kg)
- Magazine weight: 5.3 lbs (2.4) kg fully loaded / 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) empty
- Feed System: 56-round drum magazine
- Fire Modes: Select-fire: semi-automatic and full-automatic
- Cyclic Rate: 800 RPM
- Action: Delayed Blowback / Delayed Recoil
- Production Status: Prototypes only, 1943 - 1944; never mass-produced or issued
Cartridge Mechanics (Click to Expand)
The 7.62×35mm Lahti Intermediate Round
The initial AL-43 prototype utilized a 9×35mm cartridge, but by 1944, Lahti transitioned the platform to 7.62×35mm . Both cartridges used shortened 6.5×55mm Swedish Mauser cases, manufactured by VPT (Valtion Patruunatehdas ) from surplus brass tied to a 1941 Swedish military order. All Lahti AL-43 cartridges carry the VPT 41 headstamp.
Ballistically, the 7.62×35mm Lahti round was directly comparable to the StG 44’s 7.92×33mm Kurz.
Why this matters for Enlisted:
By shifting away from full-powered rifle rounds, the AL-43 avoids competing with the raw stopping power of the MG 42 or MG 15. Instead, it mirrors the damage performance profile of the Soviet RD-44 (7.62×39mm).
- No Artificial Nerfs Required: Using an intermediate cartridge justifies lower recoil and high mobility naturally via internal ballistics.
- Balanced Mobility: Grants the German faction an aggressive assault LMG without breaking weapon-class balancing rules.
In-Game Implementation & Stat Breakdown
- Proposed Battle Rating: BR V
- Primary Playstyle: High mobility, aggressive push, low recoil control.
- Historical note: The AL-43 was an automatic rifle/light machinegun hybrid, proposed here as an LMG for gameplay role parity with the RD-44.
- Total ammunition: 112 rounds (one loaded 56-round drum + one spare drum)
- Obtainability suggestion: Battle Pass Reward
- Gameplay note: Historical muzzle velocity is 670 m/s. If balance requires parity with RD-44, developers may adjust, but the table uses the historical value.
Comparative Performance Matrix
| Metric | Lahti AL-43 (GER) | RD-44 (USSR) | MG 42 / 100 (GER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage (10m / 100m) | 9.6 / 7.5 | 9.9 / 7.9 | 13.2 / 11.9 |
| Muzzle Velocity | 720 m/s | 720 m/s | 750 m/s |
| Capacity | 56 rounds | 100 rounds | 100 rounds |
| Reload Speed | ~3.6s | 5.1s | 5.61s |
| Rate of Fire | 890 RPM | 830 RPM | 990 RPM |
| Recoil (V / H) | 18 / 5 | 16 / 7 | 14 / 15 |
| Dispersion | 0.28 | 0.34 | 0.41 |
| Sprint Speed Factor | 80% | 80% | 50% |
| Weapon Weight | 8.0 kg | 7.4 kg | 14.4 kg |
Reload Logic Note: The 56-round pan/drum magazine allows for a noticeably faster mag swap compared to heavy belt-fed boxes like those on the MG 42. I think it should only have 112 Rounds in total, including the magazine inserted into the gun, similarishly to the current MG34 or MG42.
Strategic Niche
- vs. RD-44 (USSR): Direct counterpart. Slightly less damage, but trades raw belt capacity (56 vs 100 rounds) for a slightly faster cyclic, cleaner reload cycle, dispersion, and handling.
- vs. MG 42 / MG 15 (GER): Trades high raw damage output and suppression for vastly superior sprint mobility (80% vs 50%) and minimal recoil.
Polls Polls Polls - YES! It fills a much-needed mobility gap.
- Nah, current German MGs are sufficient.
- Unsure / Need more testing data.
- Tech Tree Weapon
- BP Reward Weapon
- Event Weapon
- Premium Squad
- Event Squad
- Yes, the 50% sprint speed penalty on high-tier MGs is far too limiting. -iii- is a GENIUS.
- No, Germany’s heavy firepower offsets the mobility penalty, so it’s fine.
- I’m nonchalant and indifferent.
Spasibo for reading!! Please leave any suggestions in the comments, and SMASH that like button!!!
Source 1: https://www.cartridgecollector.net/cartridge/762-x-35-lahti-l-43/
Source 2: https://www.jaegerplatoon.net/ALMOST1.htm
Source 3: https://forum.enlisted.net/t/lahti-al-43-for-germany/174928
Source 4: https://forum.enlisted.net/t/weapons-for-leveling-event-lahti-al-43/155786
Signed, The One & Only, -iii-