now there's a typically myopic american viewpoint. pound for pound, the best soldiers of the 20th century were (and maybe still are) our Australian infantry. ever since the Anzac (Australian and New zealand Army Corp)forces hit the beaches at Gallipolion this dayin 1915 we have fought well above our weight division, and almost always with distinction. The Gallipoli campaign, Poziere's, Fromelle,Paeschendaele, Menin Road, Bullecourt, mont st quentin -during the first war, australians became the "go-to" men for accomplishing the near impossible ( the canadians were also magnificent in WW1).
likewise in WW2, where the Australian 6th division (again volunteers) gave the SS divisions a bloody nose in the ill-fated greek campaign(and drew the praise of the previously untouchable german elite), or throughout the African campaign where we clung on to tobruk when all was lost (and had rommel lamenting if only he had some australians on his side), then played vital roles in cracking the german kernal at 1st and 2nd El Alamein. then cross to the pacific where australians inflicted the 1st japanese land defeats at Milne Bay and kokoda (aided greatly by the americans hammering the japanese in the Battle of the Coral Sea, of course), then the bitter fighting on the north coast of New Guinnea.
in korea, the 3rd RAR (royal australian regiment) saved the situation at Kapyong ( it has been said that the whole campaign rested on the actions of 4 members of 3RAR 'B' company who held a defensive postion against multiple waves of chinese assault) and won an American Pesidential Citation.
i won't comment on Australiansoldiers opinions of American troops during vietnam -i don't wish to cause offence- but suffice tosay that your nations heart was not in it, and this became reflected in your troops.
sorry about the history lesson, but since today is a public holiday (Anzac Day) to commemorate those who gave the ultimate gift to serve this country, i had to put our viewpoint across. the american boys were not the best. they are behind us, and probably the German SS lads, in the "best" awards.

what you guys did have, though, were large amounts of good quality manpower and a heavy industry capacity that dwarfed all other nations.

best weapons?russia's T34 tank was the decisive tank of the war, although the german Tiger was the most feared (but too complicated and costly to produce in large numbers).the P-51 mustang was a great aircraft and would be top for long range work. the spitfire get's my vote as the best pure "fighter" of the war though. the Me262 was going to be a cracking invention, but fortunately hitler demanded it be used for bombing - it could have caused havoc amongst the allied bombing fleets. the mg42 was a great outfit. the british Lee-enfield bolt action could achieve semi-auto like rates of fire. the russian ppsh was brilliant for close quarter street fighting. the stuka was a terrifying pyschological weapon early, although it became a sitting duck when enemy fighters got on the job.the russian IL2 sturmovich proved almost indestructible.russia's katyusha rockets (Stalins organ) mixed terror with destructive effect.and of couse the american atomic bomb. the war effectively wasterminally decided on july 16, 1945 in New Mexico.