Also known as: MG42
The MG42 (Maschinengewehr 42) is a German World War II-era open-bolt Machine Gun that fires the 7.92×57mm Mauser round. It supplanted the earlier MG34 in 1942 due to lower manufacturing cost thanks to dominant stamped metal parts. Due to its highest cyclic rate of fire that measures up to 1200 RPM, the Weapon gained the nickname Hitler's Buzzsaw.
The MG42 is recognizable by its Barrel Shroud with squared-off profile and larger perforations. It is belt-fed and also accepts Dual Drum Magazines.
For the post-WWII counterpart with some modernized features and synthetic furniture instead of a wooden buttstock, use MG3.
Examples
- Original MG42 (top).
- Comparison with the MG3.