Figure 1.-- Here a teenage member of the 12th SS Panzer Division carries the MG-42 machine gun over his shoulder. He was part of the Hitler Youth division that played a major role as part of the fighting in Normandy. It was taken during the summer of 1942, probably just before the breakout from the D-Day beaches.

The Germans produced the outstanding machine guns of the War--the MG-42. It was an improved version of the MG-34. Production began in 1942. It was intended to replace the MG 34, which was more expensive and took much longer to produce, but factories could not quickly change production lines. Both weapons were produced until the end of the War. 1942 was midway in the War and only late-1944 were large numbers were in the hands of German units. The MG-42 was probably the premier machine gun of the War. It was made simpler and easier to manufacture. Which is why it was produced in greater numbers than the MG-34. It was christened Spandau by the Allies. It was a belt-fed weapon, capable of 1,200 rounds-per-minute. The MG-42 was a stamped metal weapon and for this reason Hitler did not like it. The MG-42 did not have the feel of a finally crafted weapon which tended to impress Hitler. But stamping allowed the MG-42 to be produced inexpensively and in large numbers. The MG-42 could had a maximum firing rate of 1,550 rpm and averaged about 1,200 rpm. The MG 42 has a proven record of reliability, durability, simplicity, and ease of operation, but is most notable for its ability to produce a high volume of suppressive fire. American GIs called it Hitler's buzz saw. It fired 7.92 millimeter Mauser ammunition and was very reliable. After the War, the American would incorporate features of the MG-42 into a new machine gun for their army. It had serious a weakness--its rapid fire caused it to overheat. The gunner and conditions affected the overheating, but normally the barrel needed to be changed after 200 to 250 rounds. Obviously it did not make sense to create a weapon that could fire 1,550 rpm if you had to pause and change the barrel after only a fraction of that amount. Other World War II automatic machine guns had comparable firepower, however, the MG 42s belt-feed and quick-change barrel system permitted more prolonged firing than any comparable machine gun. The barrel could bed changed very quickly, but still the gunner had to pause. Machine-gun teams would have as many as six spare barrels on hand.

Created: Ceeated: 8:11 PM 3/1/2023
Last updated: 8:11 PM 3/1/2023