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Maschinengewehr-42
Caliber: 7.92x57 mm Mauser (also known as 7.9mm or 8mm
Mauser)
Weight: 11.5 kg on bipod; 18 kg on light AA tripod; 32 kg on infantry
tripod
Length: 1220 mm
Length of barrel: 530 mm
Feeding: belt, 50 or 250 round
Rate of fire: 1200 - 1300 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity: 710 m/s
When the German army first entered WWII in 1939, it was equipped with the MG-34 as the main machine gun. After orders for the MG-34 were heightened, it was noted that it took to much time, effort, money, and man power to produce it. In 1942 the MG-42 (Maschinengewehr-42) was developed by the German company Metall und Lackierwarenfabrik Johannes Grossfuss AG. It was manufactured in large numbers by companies like the Grossfuss itself, Mauser-Werke, Gustloff-Werke, Steyr-Daimler-Puch, etc. This weapon is noted as the best machine gun of WWII. It had a amazing rate of fire (1200 - 1300 rounds/min), was extremely reliable, easy to produce, didn't cost much money, and didn't take very long to fully assemble one. It was able to be fitted onto the top on many tanks such as the Panther tank, could be fitted on a Bi-pod for advancements, or on a Tripod for defense. It was also noted for being used to shoot down low flying fighter planes with the proper AA mount. In many countries this weapon is still produced, both for the 8mm ammo, and 308. nato rounds.
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