Maschinengewehr 42

The German Maschinengewehr 42 , more known under its code of nomenclature MG42 , is regarded as one of best the Mitrailleuse S of the Second world war. The first weapons arrived in the units during the year 1942. It was largely used by the infantry of the Wehrmacht, during second half of the Second world war and its modern derivatives, confined into 7,62 NATO, are still in service in many countries.

History

The German army launched the design of the MG42 to mitigate the principal defect of its preceding machine-gun, MG34. This one, although very effective and general-purpose, had too high manufacturing costs for a nation in war, and required many materials and of specialized labor because it integrated a big number of parts requiring a Usinage precision. Metall und Lackierwarenfabrik Johannes Grossfuss AG , of the specialists in pressed metal, was in charge of the development of the new weapon in 1939. The principle of the short recoil of the gun already in force on the MG34 was preserved with an accelerator of retreat also acting as flash-concealer in end of gun. But the mechanism of locking of the cylinder head was reconsidered by using the patent of the Polish Edward Stecke. It used two rollers located in the head of cylinder head which were thorough against the gun to lock the unit. During the retreat they were drawn aside, separating the gun and cylinder head. The charger of attack of his predecessor and his fixing were abandoned to simplify the unit. The manufacturing method took as a starting point that by MP-40, with an important recourse to the Estampage and the welding joining, the assembly being realizable in standard workshops of mechanics (according to a mode of production already implemented for the Chauchat). The model created, called MG39 , was still rather similar to the MG34 but its construction required twice less time (75 hours instead of 150) and less metal. Its cost price was of 250 Reichsmark against 327. The study was continued to still improve the weapon, the selector of shooting was him also given up and still simplified construction. This version was officially adopted by the Wehrmacht under the name of MG42. At least four companies were in charge of the mass production: Grossfuss, Mauser-Werke, Gustloff-Werke and Steyr-Daimler-Puch. As of 1942: 17915 specimens were built: 116725 followed in 1943: 211806 in 1944 and: 61877 in 1945.

One of its most appreciated characteristics was its rate of shooting, of: 1200 with: 1400 blows per minute. It made the various detonations indistinguishable for the human ear and the noise of its shooting resembled a tear in fabric. It was also less sensitive to dust and lighter with 11,6 kg in configuration bipod. Its rate of shooting caused a fast heating of the gun whose exchange was realizable into 6 to 10 seconds, and two or three were provided with each weapon, which guaranteed a rate of shooting practices rather high. The MG42 could be gone up as well on the tripods intended for the MG34 as on the new model drawn especially for it, the Lafette 42 , heavy 20,5 kg. Its employment on the armoured tanks was limited however enough because the MG34 gave satisfaction in this role, its gun heavier heated less quickly.

The Mauser company created a Maschinengewehr 45 or MG42V , which used not a locked cylinder head but the delayed opening. Only ten specimens were produced before the fall of the Nazi regime but its system of opening delayed by roller became the base of the weapons of the company Heckler & Koch.

The MG42, all at the same time not very expensive, easy to produce in series, functional calculus and robust, revolutionized the universe of the machine-guns so much so that certain captured specimens were used by American during the war. The possibility of assembling it on bipod, tripod or on vehicle as its dismountable gun made of it a more general-purpose weapon and mobile which the allied machine-guns, its very high rate of shooting was also a pledge of effectiveness. It thus was abundantly adopted and will cause inspiration after the conflict.

The Germany still nowadays uses a version rechambrée in 7,62 NATO, produced after the war under the name of MG3 by Rheinmetall. The Yugoslavia used a copy with the original gauge, the Zastava SARAC M53 , that other countries also adopted. Its feeding system was used as model with the M60 and the " MINIMI" FN Herstal ; its system of relaxation was taken again almost with identical (the parts are interchangeable) on the French machine-guns " AA52 " and " AANF1 ".

Versions

MG39 first prototype, still equipped with a selector of shooting and resembling to the MG34.
MG42 principal series during the Second world war
MG45 development by Mauser with cylinder head with delayed opening, 10 specimens.
MG42/58 rechambrée in 7,62 NATO. Manufactured by FAO (arsenal of Oviedo) for the Spanish Army.
MG42/59 rechambrée into 7,62 NATO. Manufactured in Greece (Hellencic Arms), in Iran (Defense Industries) and in Italy (Beretta and Crossed).
MG1 first version for the Bundeswehr, rechambrée in 7,62 NATO . Manufactured in Pakistan ( MG1A3 P ).
MG2 second version for the Bundeswehr, rechambrée in 7,62 NATO.
MG3 third version for the Bundeswehr, rechambrée in 7,62 NATO . Also produced under license in Turkey (MKEK)
MG74 Austrian version.
Yugoslav M53 version in 8 mm Mauser (proposed in .30-06 and 7,62 NATO for export).

Original features MG42

Locking: by rollers

Operation: by short recoil of the gun (direct action of the gas vein)

Ammunition: 7,92 mm x57 (7,92mm Mauser)

Food: bands of 50 and 250 blows.

Overall length: 1219 mm

Length of the gun: 533 mm

Stripes of the gun: 4 towards the line

Mass: 11,5 kg on bipod, 18 kg on anti-aircraft light tripod, 32 kg on tripod of infantry

initial Speed: 710 m/s

theoretical Rate of shooting: 1200 to 1800 blows/min

Characteristics of the MG3 in 7,62 NATO

Gauge: 7,62 X 51 mm NATO
Rate of shooting: 1.200 blows/min.
Effective range: 600 m
Capacity of the charger: detachable bands M13 from 50 to 250 cartridges
Length: 1225 mm
Empty weight: 11,5 kg

External bonds

http://www.dday-overlord.com/mg_42.htm

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/histoire-militaire/infanterie/mg42.htm
http://www.nazarian.no/wep.asp?id=163&group_id=13&country_id=120&lang=0
on the MG-42

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