Small to Large Captured Weapons / Special Trophy Weapons Infantry Discussions -- A Gift Horse

CharAznable3 · April 11, 2026, 11:40pm

Captured Infantry Weapons Discussion

German use of a French Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun with a metal ammunition belt (Atlantic Wall) Known by Germany as the 7.5mm Maschinengewehr 116(f)

With the recent infantry testing, I’m putting forward a discussion on captured weapons and special trophy gear everything from special battlefield pickups to rare, modified, or historically significant firearms. Throughout history, nearly every nation has made use of captured equipment, whether out of necessity, convenience, or even preference. These weapons often filled gaps in supply, offered different performance characteristics, or simply became part of a unit’s identity. There is also the example of the use of captured expendable weapons like hand grenades and mines if they where found in large quantities. There is also the use of small artillery like push guns (anti-tank gun)

In some cases, captured weapons were used as-is, while in others they were modified to fit standard ammunition, fitted with new parts, or even integrated into formal systems a good example being Germany in how she organized and re-designated captured gear for regular use. There is also the fact a lot of captured weapons where used for research by there nations in order to see if there was anything valuable to copy an example being Germany copying the sten gun. An other great example being the vast quantity of captured WW2 German weapons sold on after WW2 to other nations like Vietnam by the Russians. On a smaller scale, individual soldiers and units have also shown preferences for certain foreign weapons, such as reports of American forces in Vietnam occasionally using AK-pattern rifles for reliability or other tactical advantages. Beyond standard use, there’s also the idea of “trophy weapons” items captured by notable individuals, customized in the field, or made unique through artistic modifications, markings, or historical significance great for GE, Events, or packs.

For infantry mode, this could open up a wide range of possibilities:

Filling gameplay gaps (e.g., giving a nation access to a weapon type it normally lacks)
Unique or hybrid loadouts mixing different equipment styles
Rare or premium-style weapons tied to specific units, events, or modifications
Visual and historical variety through markings, wear, and customization

Balance would be important captured weapons shouldn’t outclass standard equipment, but rather offer alternative playstyles or niche advantages.

Would you find captured weapons useful for infantry mod?e