Soviet machine guns of World War 2. Hitler's Saw: The Second World War Machine Gun Used To This Day

The Maxim machine gun arr. 1910 was a modernized version of the British Maxim machine gun converted to the 7.62x54 mm cartridge and was produced from 1910 to 1939 and from 1941 to 1945. In 1930, the next modernization of weapons was carried out ... A folding butt plate was installed on the weapon, a new fuse located on the trigger, the sight was changed. A buffer holder for the shield was attached to the casing of the machine gun. The filling hole was enlarged and a tap for the drain hole was made. The machine gun received the name 7.62 heavy machine gun of the Maxim system, model 1910/30.In October 1941, the machine gun underwent final modernization, during which it was equipped with a simplified sighting device with one aiming bar instead of two, which were previously replaced depending on the shooting of light or a heavy bullet. In the barrel water cooling jacket for quick water change, the small diameter water filling hole was replaced by a wide mouth. Soldiers often removed the armor shields from the machine gun, thereby trying to increase maneuverability and achieve less visibility. For camouflage, in addition to camouflage, covers were put on the casing and shield of the machine gun. In winter, "Maxim" was installed on skis, sledges or on a drag boat, from which they fired. Machine guns were also attached to light Jeeps "Willis" or GAZ-64.

The machine gun was an automatic weapon with a water-cooled barrel. The barrel casing is steel, most often corrugated. Automatic machine gun used the recoil of the barrel with its short stroke. The shell casings were thrown from the weapon forward, under the barrel. The cartridges were fed from the tape, from right to left. The machine gun allowed only automatic fire from a closed bolt. To control the fire, the machine gun had a pair of vertical handles placed on the butt plate of the receiver, and a trigger located between the handles. The machine gun was standardly equipped with a rack-mount sight, and additionally with an optical sight with a magnification of 2x. For the machine gun, a wheeled machine of the Sokolov system was used, equipped with a steel protective shield (weighing about 11 kg). The machine allowed firing only at ground targets. Captured machine guns were used in Bulgaria, Poland and Finland. The machine guns captured by the Wehrmacht were used under the designation "MG 216 (r)". In total, 48 thousand machine guns of the 1910 model and 627 thousand of the 1910/1930 and 1941 models were produced. Performance characteristics: caliber - 7.62 mm; length - 1067 mm; barrel length - 721 mm; stroke width - 505 mm; weight on the machine without water - 66 kg; weight of a box with 250 cartridges - 9.88 kg; muzzle velocity - 740 m / s; casing capacity - 4 liters; rate of fire - 600 rounds per minute; firing range - 3.9 km.

The machine gun was created on the basis of the Maxim machine gun and was produced in 1925-1928. It differed from the prototype by the presence of air cooling, bipods and a wooden stock. A total of 2,450 units were produced. TTX machine gun: caliber - 7.62 mm; length - 1330 mm; barrel length - 655 mm; weight - 12.9 kg; ammunition - tape for 100 or 250 rounds 7.62x54 mm; muzzle velocity - 800 m / s; rate of fire - 600 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 2 km.

The installation was a quad version of the "Maxim" model 1910 and was produced since 1931. From the usual "Maxim" it has a device for forced circulation of water and a larger capacity of machine-gun belts - for 1000 rounds instead of the usual 250. Using anti-aircraft ring sights, the installation was is able to conduct effective fire on low-flying enemy aircraft (at an altitude of up to 1400 m at a speed of up to 500 km / h). Paired installations are also known. M-4 was used as a stationary, self-propelled and naval anti-aircraft gun, installed in the bodies of cars, armored trains, railway platforms, on the roofs of buildings. The M-4s were often used to support the infantry. TTX installation: weight - 64.3 kg; length 1067 mm; barrel length - 721 mm; rate of fire - 1 200-2000 rounds per minute.

Air-cooled PV-1 machine gun was developed in 1926-1927. on the basis of "Maxim obr. 1910" and produced in 1927-1940. It differed from the prototype in the absence of water cooling, armor shields, and also had a shortened barrel. The machine gun was installed, both in single and twin versions, on aircraft: I-2, I-3, I-4, I-7, I-14, I-15, I-16, R-5, TB-1, U-2 and others. Since 1940, machine guns began to be used in Tokarev's built-in anti-aircraft installations (626 pcs.). In addition, machine guns unused in aviation were installed on wheeled machines (3 thousand units). A total of 18 thousand units were produced. TTX machine gun: length - 1150 mm; barrel length - 721 mm; weight - 14.5 kg; muzzle velocity - 800 - 865 m / s; rate of fire - 750 rounds per minute; effective firing range - 1.4 km, ammunition - tape for 200 - 600 rounds of 7.62x54 mm.

The machine gun was put into service in 1939 under the name "DS-39". Automatic machine gun worked by diverting powder gases into the gas chamber. The gas piston had a long stroke. The gas chamber had a branch pipe. The original feature of the machine gun was a double rate of fire - it reached 600 rounds per minute for ground targets, and 1200 rounds per minute for air targets. The replaceable machine gun barrel was equipped with a conical flash suppressor and transverse ribbing. A folding handle on the barrel served to carry the machine gun and to facilitate changing the barrel. The machine gun was equipped with a folding frame sight with scales for heavy and light bullets. The controls were the trigger lever and two butt pad handles, made like the Maxim machine gun. Degtyarev's tripod folding machine which allowed firing only at ground targets. Shooting was carried out from kneeling or prone positions. An armored shield with a window for using an optical sight could be installed on the machine. There was a special machine for anti-aircraft fire. In July 1941, the production was discontinued due to the impossibility of eliminating many design errors. The machine guns captured by the Wehrmacht served under the designation MG-218 (r). A total of 10.3 thousand machine guns had been fired by the beginning of the war. TTX machine gun: caliber - 7.62 mm; total length - 1440 mm; machine gun length - 1170 mm; barrel length - 723 mm; number of grooves - 4; machine gun weight - 14.3 kg; machine weight - 28 kg; ammunition - tape for 250 rounds of 7.62x54 mm; muzzle velocity - 860 m / s; rate of fire - 600 or 1200 rounds per minute; sighting range - 3 km.

The DP light machine gun (Degtyareva, infantry) was put into service in 1927. It had a quick-change barrel, partially hidden by a protective casing and equipped with a removable conical flame arrester. The ammunition was supplied from flat disk magazines, in which the cartridges were located in one layer, with bullets towards the center of the disk. This ensured a reliable supply of cartridges and at the same time had a number of disadvantages: high dead weight of the magazine, inconvenience in transportation and the tendency of the magazines to be damaged in battle. The machine gun only allowed automatic fire. There was no conventional fuse; instead, an automatic fuse was located on the handle, which turned off when the butt neck was covered with the hand. The fire was conducted from non-removable folding bipods. In 1944, the machine gun was modernized and designated as DPM. The main differences of the DPM were the return spring transferred to the rear of the receiver, the pistol grip for controlling the fire, a conventional non-automatic safety catch and a more durable bipod with a modified attachment to the barrel casing. The machine gun could be installed on M-722 motorcycles. The machine guns captured by the Wehrmacht served under the designation "7.62-mm leichte Maschinengewehr 120 (r)"). A total of 795 thousand machine guns of both modifications were produced. TTX machine gun: caliber - 7.62 mm; length - 1266 mm; barrel length - 604 mm; weight without magazine - 8.4 kg; weight with a loaded magazine - 11.3 kg; magazine capacity - 47 cartridges 7.62x54 mm; muzzle velocity - 840 m / s; rate of fire - 600 rounds per minute; sighting range - 1.5 km, maximum - 2.5 km.

The DT tank machine gun was adopted in 1929 and was a modification of the DP-27 light machine gun. The tank machine gun is the main automatic small arms tanks, armored vehicles and self-propelled unitsused for shooting at ground targets. Instead of a wooden stock, a retractable metal stock was installed. The machine gun was mounted on a ball mount, which made it easy to aim the machine gun in the horizontal and vertical planes. Also, the machine gun was supplied with a canvas sleeve catcher. The machine gun is powered during firing from a specially designed three-row magazine with a capacity of 63 rounds. The DT machine gun relied on 15 stores. DT had a removable bipod, so that it was often used by crews of destroyed armored vehicles as a light machine gun. There are known cases of arming them and line infantry units. Also, the diesel fuel was popular in the airborne units for its more compact dimensions and lighter weight. In 1944, the reciprocating combat spring was modified and the machine gun received the designation DTM. The machine gun was installed on all types of armored vehicles. In total, about 345 thousand units were produced. TTX machine gun: caliber - 7.62 mm; barrel length - 1250 mm; barrel length - 604 mm; weight - 10 kg; rate of fire - 600 rounds per minute.

Aviation machine gun DA (Degtyarev Aviation) was developed in 1928 on the basis of the DP machine gun. The casing was removed from it, and the butt was replaced with two handles - an upper wooden one with a rubber pad, which was attached with two screws to the tail brace of the rear trigger frame, and a lower metal pistol-type, welded to the rear frame. In 1930, the DA-2 coaxial aircraft machine gun entered service. In fact, these were two YES machine guns connected together with minor changes. Machine guns were installed on R-5, U-2, TB-3 aircraft. The weight of the coaxial machine gun with loaded magazines was 25 kg. The distance between the axes of the barrel bores is 193 mm. Installation length - 1140 mm, width - 300 mm, magazine capacity - 60 rounds. In total, about 1200 machine guns were fired.

The large-caliber machine gun was developed on the basis of the "DK" machine gun removed from service in 1934. In 1937-1938 the prototype was modified and in 1939 was adopted under the designation "12.7-mm heavy machine gun model 1938 DShK ( Degtyareva-Shpagin large-caliber).

Automatic machine gun operated by removing powder gases. Along the entire length of the barrel, ribbing is made for better cooling, a single-chamber muzzle brake of the active type is attached to the muzzle of the barrel. Initially, the barrel was equipped with a "parachute" muzzle brake of the active type, later - a flat shape. The trigger mechanism allowed only automatic fire. The tape feeding device was made in the form of a drum with six open chambers. A folding frame sight was used for firing at ground targets, and an anti-aircraft ring sight for aircraft. The machine gun was used from the universal machine tool of the Kolesnikov system. The machine was equipped with removable wheels and a steel shield, and when using a machine gun as an anti-aircraft wheel, they were removed, and the rear support was spread, forming a tripod. In addition to the machine, the machine gun was used in tower installations, on remotely controlled anti-aircraft installations, on naval pedestal installations, both in a single version, and in a twin version, and in a triple version. The machine guns captured by Germany were used under the designation MG-286 (r). Until the end of the war, 46.1 thousand machine guns were produced. TTX machine gun: caliber - 12.7 mm; machine gun length - 1625 mm; machine gun length on the machine - 2600 mm; barrel length - 1070 mm; machine gun weight - 33.5 kg; weight with belt on the machine (without shield) - 148 kg; rate of fire - 500 - 600 rounds per minute; ammunition - tape for 50 rounds 12.7x108 mm; muzzle velocity - 870 m / s; armor penetration - 16 mm at a distance of 500 m; effective firing range - 2 km; sighting range - 3.5 km; the height of the shelling zone - 1.8 km; calculation - 2 people.

The machine gun was developed in 1943 at the Kovrov Machine Gun Plant under the designation “7.62mm heavy machine gun designed by Goryunov arr. 1943 "or SG-43. He had a quick-change barrel with a handle. Conducting intensive firing in bursts is possible up to 500 shots, after which it was necessary to replace or cool the barrel. On the SG-43 machine guns, the barrel is smooth outside, on the SGM machine guns - with longitudinal valleys to facilitate and improve heat transfer. The machine gun was used from a wheeled machine designed by Degtyarev, and later from an infantry tripod machine.

An angle sight could be installed on the machine gun. The following options were produced: SGM - modernized easel, installed on a wheeled or tripod machine; SGMB - armored personnel carrier, installed on the front, side or rear arm of the armored personnel carrier; SGMT - tank, installed inside the tank turret on the cannon cradle bracket and equipped with an electric trigger. Until the end of the war, over 80 thousand units were produced. TTX machine gun: caliber - 7.62 mm; machine length - 1300 mm; length - 1150 mm; barrel length - 720 mm; number of barrel grooves - 4; machine gun weight - 13.8 kg, 36.9 kg - on a wheeled machine, 27.7 kg - on a tripod machine; ammunition - tape for 200 or 250 rounds of 7.62x54 mm; muzzle velocity - 800 - 865 m / s; rate of fire - 500-700 rounds per minute; sighting range - 2 - 2.3 km.

The ShKAS machine gun (Shpitalny-Komaritskiy aviation rapid-fire) was put into service in 1932 and was produced in three versions: turret, wing and synchronous. The turret version was installed on the Il-4, Pe-8, TB-4, TB-3, Er-2, DB-3, SB, U-2, R-5 and others. The wing version was installed on I-16 fighters and Il-2 attack aircraft, and the synchronous version was installed on I-16, I-153, LAGG-3, Yak-1, and Yak-7 fighters. Machine guns were also installed on the G-5 and D-3 torpedo boats. The machine gun automatics operated on part of the powder gases. The trigger provides only continuous fire. The machine gun was equipped with a flag-type fuse. The cartridges were powered from a metal detachable link strip. The high rate of fire in the machine gun was obtained due to the short stroke of the moving parts of the automation and the combination of a number of reloading operations. Special aviation cartridges were made for the machine gun. In 1936, a mechanical pair of ShKAS machine guns was developed, in which the total rate of fire of two machine guns was brought to 6 thousand rounds per minute. In 1939 an UltraShKAS turret machine gun with a rate of fire of 2800 - 3000 rounds per minute was created. A total of 151.5 thousand units were produced. TTX machine gun: caliber - 7.62 mm; length - 1200 mm; weight - 9.8 - 2.6 kg; ammunition - tape for 250 rounds of 7.62x54 mm; muzzle velocity - 775 - 880 m / s; rate of fire - 1650 - 1800 rounds per minute.

The ShVAK machine gun (Shpitalny-Vladimirov large-caliber aviation) was developed on the basis of the ShKAS machine gun and was adopted for service in 1934. The machine gun was manufactured in wing, turret, synchronous and motor versions. A total of 92 units were produced and in 1936 production was discontinued. TTX machine gun: caliber - 12.7 mm; length - 1726 mm; barrel length - 1246 mm; the number of rifling in the barrel - 8; weight - 40 kg; ammunition - 12.7x108 mm; muzzle velocity - 810 - 830 m / s; rate of fire - 700 - 800 rounds per minute; armor penetration at a distance of 350 m - 20 mm.

The UB machine gun (universal Berezina) was put into service in 1941 and was produced in three modifications, depending on the installation location: UBS (synchronous - for firing through the plane of rotation), UBK (wing), UBT (turret). The main parts and mechanisms of all three variants of the machine gun were the same, with the exception of the trigger and percussion mechanisms, in which some changes were made related to the specifics of their use. The synchronous machine gun was installed on the I-15, I-153BS, Yak-1b, Yak-3, Yak-7b, Yak-9, MiG-3 and LaGG-3 fighters. The stern machine gun was installed on the Pe-2 bomber and the UTI MiG-15 training aircraft. The Berezin turret machine gun was installed on SB, Pe-2, Er-2, Il-2, Tu-2, Il-4 and Pe-8 bombers. The automatic machine gun worked due to the energy of gases discharged from the barrel. To ensure the reliability of the tape feed, the return spring was made multi-core. A total of 131.3 thousand machine guns were produced. TTX machine gun: caliber - 12.7 mm; length - 1347 - 1397 mm; weight - 21 kg; muzzle velocity - 700 - 1050 m / s; rate of fire - 814 - 850 rounds per minute.

During the Second World War, many interesting weapons were created in Germany. German products are regularly ranked as "best" in their class. The legendary “bone cutter” machine gun MG 42 was no exception. A weapon that terrified infantrymen on all fronts and was naturally one of the most beloved trophies.

History of appearance

At the start of World War II, the Wehrmacht used the MG 34 as the main machine gun, which was created in the early 30s of the XX century. With all its many advantages, this weapon had two significant disadvantages. First, the machine gun turned out to be very sensitive to pollution. Secondly, its production was notable for its labor intensity and cost. The latter did not allow adequately to meet the significantly increased demand of the German army against the backdrop of unfolding events.

The MG 42 machine gun model was born thanks to the then little-known enterprise of Johannes Großfuß in Döbeln called "Metall-und Lackwarenfabrik Johannes Großfuß". The new machine gun was put into service in 1942. It turned out to be so successful that it was released in an amount of 360 to 400 thousand copies.

Design and features

The MG 42 machine gun fully met the requirements of the army: simple, reliable, with high firepower and very cheap to manufacture. Machine gun parts were made by milling, welding and stamping. The total number of parts in the MG 42 was about 30% less than in the MG 34 and amounted to 200 pieces. At the same time, the metal consumption of the weapon fell by 50%.

This "death machine" works on the principle of barrel recoil (short stroke). The weapon consists of a barrel with a receiver, a bipod, a casing, a butt plate with a butt, a feed, a locking and trigger mechanisms. The latter has a striker type and is located in the bolt. The MG 42 machine gun could only conduct continuous fire. The mechanisms for switching fire modes were abandoned in favor of the idea of \u200b\u200breducing the cost of production. An important feature was the ability to combine two or more machine-gun belts into one.

One more interesting feature machine gun can be considered its cooling system. Like the MG 34, the muzzle of the new machine gun was carried out by replacing it. Depending on the experience of the machine gunner, this procedure took 20 to 30 seconds.
Sighting range of the weapon is 1000 meters. The machine gun can be adapted to different calibers, however, 7.92 × 57 mm is considered "canon". The full length of the machine gun is 1220 mm, and the weapon weighs 11.58 kg. The rate of fire, depending on the shutter used, can be 1200-1550 rounds per minute.

Weapon legend

The German MG 42 machine gun was recognized as one of the best examples of a single weapon for the army in principle. It is important that here we are talking not only about the history of World War II, but also in the context of modern military affairs. For its high efficiency in battle among soviet soldiers and the soldier of the Allied armies MG 42 earned a dismal reputation. What are the nicknames invented for this machine gun: "Widowmaker", "Bonecutter", "Hitler's Saw", "Emga", "Krestovik".

It is important to say that production of the MG 42 was closed in 1945. Despite this, the machine gun continues to appear in armed conflicts around the world. Moreover, since the 1960s, the German army has been armed with a single MG 3 machine gun, which is a modification of the legend of the Second World War.

The sound every WWII infantryman knew:

Machine gun shooting:

Would you like to know about even more interesting weapons developed in Germany? How about seeing with your own eyes a dedicated service.

The MG 42 (an abbreviation from the German Maschinengewehr, which literally translates as "mechanical rifle") is a general-purpose 7.92 mm Mauser machine gun, developed in Nazi Germany and adopted by the Wehrmacht in 1942.

He supplemented, and in some cases replaced, the MG 34 general-purpose machine gun in all branches of the German armed forces, although both machine guns continued to be produced and used until the end of the war.

The MG 42 is known for its reliability, durability, simplicity and ease of use, but its main feature is its rate of fire. The MG 42 has one of the highest rates of fire for single-barreled portable machine guns, ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 rounds per minute, with an impressive muzzle flash.

MG 42

There were other designs of automatic weapons with similar firepower. These are such machine guns as the French Darne, the Hungarian tank Gebauer, the Russian aviation 7.62-mm ShKAS and the British Vickers K. However, the feed from the belt and the MG 42 quick barrel change system allows for a longer firing compared to the aforementioned machine guns ...

Production of the MG 42 continued after the defeat of Nazi Germany. On its basis, an almost identical MG1 (MG 42/59) was created, which was then improved in MG1A3, and it, in turn, in MG 3. Also, MG 42 became a model for the Swiss MG 51, SIG MG 710-3 machine guns, Austrian MG 74 and for the Spanish light 5.56-mm machine gun Ameli.

Many structural elements of the MG 42 were borrowed from the development of the American M60 and the Belgian MAG. After the war, many military formations adopted the MG 42 machine gun, it was both produced under license and copied.

Automation MG-42 works on the principle of recoil with a short barrel stroke. The shutter is locked by two rollers. MG 42 is designed for automatic fire only. Due to the high rate of fire, it is difficult to fire single players even for experienced shooters. Usually, the goal of training was to acquire the skill of shooting in bursts of no more than three shots.

The machine gun has a recoil magnifier at the end of the muzzle, which increases the functional reliability and rate of fire. MG 42 fires from an open bolt, that is, the bolt (and not just the firing pin) is in the rear position when the trigger is not pressed. Pressing the release releases the shutter, of which the firing pin itself is a part.

How the MG42 works YouTube

Another unique feature of the German machine guns of World War II (which the German Bundeswehr continued to use afterwards) was the Tiefenfeuerautomat (depth-of-fire assault rifle). If you choose this function, then the barrel of the machine gun will begin to perform wave-like movements up and down with a certain frequency. For example, if the shooter is sure that the target is at a distance of 2000 and 2300 m, then he can adjust the machine gun so that aiming will be carried out from 1900 to 2400 meters and back. These fluctuations in a given range (Tiefenfeuer) continue as long as the machine gun fires.

American and British doctrine of the time was built around the rifleman, with the machine gun playing a supporting role. German doctrine was the opposite: the machine gun in starringand the rifle is in the background. That is, the German army had much more machine guns than the Allies, and when attacking a German position, soldiers almost always faced the firepower of the MG 42.

The MG 42 shooter could create a continuous fire barrier, which was interrupted only to replace the barrel. This allowed MG 42 to stop the advance of the overwhelming number of opponents. Both the Americans and the British trained their soldiers to hide from MG 42 fire and attack the position only during the barrel change (approximately 7 seconds).

The weapon was so intimidating that the United States Army even produced instructional films on how to assist soldiers who were traumatized by MG 42 fire. American soldiers called this machine gun "Hitler's circular saw", the Soviet - "lawn mower". The German soldiers called him Hitlersäge (Hitler's Saw).

Despite the high rate of fire of the MG 42, by decree of the German army (1940) it was forbidden to use more than 250 rounds in one burst, and constant speed firing should not exceed 300-350 rounds per minute in order to reduce overheating and barrel wear.

After watching this video, you can roughly imagine what it means to be under fire from MG 42.

MG-42 full auto

After the First World War (1914-1918), he prohibited the Germans from developing or producing any weapons, including tanks, submarines, and rearmament for a new world war. By this time, German military strategists had developed the concept of a light, portable multipurpose machine gun.

Air instead of water

For some time, this decision was MG-13. Introduced in 1930, it was a reimagining of the World War I Dreyse Model 1918 water-cooled machine gun, modified to be airborne. It was powered by a 25-round magazine or 75-round drum and was adopted by the German army as the standard machine gun. Ultimately, the machine gun was installed on Luftwaffe tanks and aircraft, but in general it turned out to be costly to manufacture and allowed to fire at a speed of only 600 rounds per minute. Therefore, this model was withdrawn from service in 1934 and sold out or placed in storage.

Swiss version

The relative setback that befell the MG-13 required additional tests. The Rheinmetall-Borsig company, which has been manufacturing weapons since 1889, organized the creation of the shadow company Solothurn in neighboring Switzerland to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles and continued work on a new air cooling. During the First World War, machine guns were usually water-cooled, which made them difficult to maintain and transport. Tests took place from the early 1930s and soon culminated in the creation of an improved model.

It was the Solothurn MG-30, created in 1930. The machine gun was used in neighboring Austria and Hungary, as well as in Germany, but the German authorities wanted a more convenient and portable weapon, prompting the development of the line to continue. Soon the MG-15 was produced, which proved to be very useful as a defensive aircraft weapon and received large orders after the official adoption of the Luftwaffe.

Maschinengewehr 34

Further evolution of this line gave birth to the legendary MG-34 - a machine gun, also known as the Maschinengewehr 34, which combined the best qualities of all previous models, including the MG-30 and MG-15. The result was so revolutionary that it became the first true single machine gun - a multipurpose military weapon capable of performing multiple functions without changing its basic design. The gunsmith engineer Vollmer was named its creator.

The new machine gun was quickly approved, and it was put into service during the 1936 year. It was originally manufactured by Mauserwerke AG, but soon merged with Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and Waffenwerke Brunn. In total, 577,120 units were manufactured from 1935 to 1945.

Main characteristics

In the basic configuration, the dimensions of the MG-34 machine gun are very impressive: its length is 1219 mm with a standard barrel of 627 mm, and its weight is 12.1 kg. It uses a unique short stroke with the rotation of the sliding bolt from the recoil pulse of the muzzle recoil amplifier. MG-34 is a machine gun, the caliber of which was specially selected for the proven 7.92x57 Mauser rifle cartridge. These early models had a rate of fire of 600-1000 rounds per minute with a choice of single or automatic firing. starting speed reached 762 m / s, which made it possible to hit the target at distances of up to 1200 m. This distance could be increased using a specially designed machine for using weapons as a heavy machine gun. The sight is standard, with a step of 100 m up to 2000 m.

Ergonomic design

MG-34 has a linear design in which the shoulder support and the barrel are on the same imaginary line. This is done to provide more stable shooting, but not only. The stock is an ergonomic extension on the back of the box, while the box itself is a bit “humped” with a thin profile. The feed and discharge ports are easily visible from the front and the handle is lowered in the usual way. At the front of the box is a perforated casing that encloses the barrel inside it. There is a conical flame arrester on the muzzle. When used as an infantry support weapon, a folding bipod is attached under the casing, which can be extended at the junction. A machine gun of this length requires frontal support, especially when the shooter is in the prone position.

Air cooling

This type of weapon has one drawback - the dependence on the natural circulating around the barrel during firing. Therefore, the barrel is placed inside a perforated casing for this cooling to take place, but this solution does not allow for continuous fire, which is essential for support or suppression weapons. Short controlled bursts were the rule for these machine guns. Every 250 shots the barrel had to be changed, and its total service life was 6000 shots. To facilitate its change, German engineers have provided for the possibility of unlocking the receiver and "turning" it out of the casing. The shooter accessed the barrel inside the casing through the open rear of the assembly and could remove it for replacement. Then a new cold barrel was inserted, and the fire resumed as usual.

Shooting modes

The fire opens when you pull the trigger, which consists of two parts. The upper section is marked with the letter E (Einzelfeuer) and is responsible for single shots, while the lower section is marked with the letter D (Dauerfeuer) and is designed for automatic fire. Thus, the fighter can control the stock of ammunition and the heating of the barrel.

Ammunition supply

The MG-34 was also fed special attention... In a stationary state, the weapon is usually powered by a 50-round round drum or a 75-round saddle-type double drum (inherited from the MG-15 design). To lighten the load when used as a portable support weapon, a 50-cartridge belt was used. If necessary, it could be connected to other tapes up to a full charge of 250 rounds. However, the use of the tape puts a load on the mechanism and reduces the rate of fire.

Machine gun crew

After the MG-34 was tested in practice, various parts of the German army were armed with it - from special troops to the infantry. One machine gun served the crew, which consisted of at least two people. One fired and carried weapons in combat, while the other was in charge of ammunition, helping with ribbons and dealing with delays. If necessary, they could be helped by additional team members - to carry additional barrels, machines or additional ammunition.

Handyman

Structurally, the MG-34 is a machine gun so tactically flexible that it quickly took over all possible combat functions. But his main purpose was to support the infantry. For this, the machine gun was equipped with a bipod, and the soldiers used 50-charge belts. Speed \u200b\u200bof fire has always been a weapon's strong point, but shooters preferred single shots or very short bursts for greater accuracy.

A high rate of fire was necessary when the MG-34 machine gun (its photo is in the review) performed the function of an anti-aircraft gun to destroy low-flying enemy aircraft. For this, a machine with an anti-aircraft rack, front and rear anti-aircraft sighting scopes were attached.

A heavy MG-34 machine gun (see photo in the article) was attached to the Lafette 34 machine for continuous fire. This assembly included a built-in buffer mechanism that stabilized it during firing. In addition, an optical sight was installed on the receiver for better tracking and hitting the target at a distance.

MG-34 is a machine gun, the device of which allows its quick disassembly in the field, which makes it possible to clean, lubricate and repair it in a short time. The exact mechanics of the device could be damaged by any debris on the battlefield, so it was so important to strictly adhere to the maintenance regime in order to clear the weapon of anything that could potentially lead to its stop at the most inopportune moment.

Fatal perfectionism

Another disadvantage of the MG-34 was a common problem with all pre-war firearms: production to high quality standards that require a lot of time, cost and effort. This led to the fact that the MG-34 combat machine gun was constantly in short supply throughout the war, since it was necessary for all German services on all fronts. In the end, five factories were forced to manufacture it, and additional resources, time and energy were spent creating add-ons to fulfill their various functions. Good weapon proved to be too gentle in harsh military conditions, which led to the development of a simplified version - the equally legendary MG-42 from 1942.

Modifications

MG-34 - machine gun, work on improving which was carried out during the war. The MG-34m was distinguished by a heavy casing, since it was supposed to be used as an anti-personnel weapon, installed on many German armored vehicles. The prototype MG-34s and its final version MG-34/41 received shortened barrels (about 560 mm) to increase the rate of fire in the role and fired only automatic. The MG-34/41 was supposed to replace the MG-34, but this did not happen thanks to the emergence of the effective MG-42 series. MG-34/41 was never officially adopted for service, although it was produced in some quantity.

MG-34 Panzerlauf served as a tank machine gun. These models used a heavier casing with much fewer holes. The stock has been removed for a more compact profile in the limited space inside German armored vehicles. Nevertheless, a conversion kit was carried on board, which made it possible to quickly convert the Panzerlauf into a ground light machine gun in case the vehicle had to be abandoned. The set includes a bipod, a stock and a sight.

One of the latest modifications of the MG-34 is the MG-81 machine gun, a defensive anti-aircraft weapon that replaced the outdated MG-15. MG-81Z (Zwilling) became an offshoot of this line, essentially linking two MG-34s with a common trigger. The design was redesigned to allow the machine gun to be powered from both sides. Its rate of fire reached an impressive 2800-3200 rounds per minute. Production of this series was limited, as MG-34s were more needed in other areas.

Despite the fact that the MG-34/42 machine gun appeared in 1942, production of the MG-34 was not interrupted until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. Although the MG-42 was intended to replace the MG-34 as a front-line weapon, it was and failed to achieve its fairly high performance and, ultimately, played the role of a complement to the classic design of the 1930s.

Worldwide recognition

The German MG-34 machine gun was used not only by Germany and not only during the Second World War. Its counterparts quickly spread throughout the world. Among the countries whose armies took it into service are Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Finland, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Korea, North Vietnam, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and Turkey. The machine gun was used during (1946-1950), the Arab-Israeli conflict (1948), the Korean War (1950-1953), in Vietnam (1955-1975). It can still be found in remote places where it is legendary weapon still joins the fight.

The Second World War left in memory not only tragic events and the death of millions of people. The conflict pushed the development of technology forward. Some examples have become revolutionary, and almost all can be found in museums.

But there are weapons, with minor changes, that are still in use. A single MG-42 machine gun, a visiting card of the Wehrmacht. Adopted by the troops as the main type of infantry support weapon in 1942, it is still relevant today due to the qualities described below.

History of creation

The First World War showed that a new, powerful player appeared on the battlefields - the machine gun. The first examples of machine guns were bulky and heavy. They performed well in defense, but it was difficult to attack with a 60-kilogram colossus.

The difference between light and heavy machine guns, as well as models for technology, led to confusion and problems with personnel. The Germans unraveled this tangle quickly and wittily. In the 1930s, the development of a single combined-arms machine gun began, which led to the creation and adoption of the MG-34 by the commissions.

The resulting car was extremely successful.

Excellent performance at a relatively low weight, the ability to mount on the machine and in the turrets and caponiers made this machine gun indispensable for the Wehrmacht.

But at the same time, serious shortcomings were revealed. The price of the machine gun was 327 marks, while the Volkswagen Zhuk was sold for 990 marks.

Many parts were created using milling, which increased creation time and increased cost. Inspection on the battlefields also revealed design defects.

The parts that were fitted to each other were afraid of dirt, there were problems with unnecessary complexity when assembling, disassembling and replacing parts. However, even before the adoption of the MG-34 into service, work began on the creation of a more technologically advanced model, which became known as the MG-42.

The design of the new machine gun

Several German design bureaus received an order for a new machine gun. The designers of Rheinmetall coped with the task best of all. The designers made numerous changes to the circuit, among which the following were the most important:

• replacement of milling with stamping for a number of parts;
• replacing screw connections with riveting or soldering;
• reduction in price due to the use of lower quality metal;
• reduction of parts by 200 pieces;
• changing the buttstock from wooden to plastic.

The mechanics of the machine gun are based on the recoil of the barrel with a short stroke. Shooting began with cocking the long bolt handle, with the ability to put on a safety catch if necessary.

The percussion mechanism consisted of a reciprocating mainspring. The rear sear provided a shot. Pressing the trigger lowered the whisper nose, the spring straightened and sent the bolt. The bolt, in turn, removed the cartridge from the tape and sent it to the chamber. The shot was fired in the open position of the bolt.

The barrel is locked by two rollers in the combat cylinder. This was quite a revolutionary decision. The parts not only ensure smooth shooting, but also reduce friction. The trigger mechanism is installed in the pistol grip, there is also a fuse.

It was possible to conduct only automatic fire.

Aiming was carried out through open sight, consisting of front sight and rear sight. The scale was broken in steps of 100 meters, with the possibility of shooting from 200 to 2000 meters. The collar of the aiming bar moved with a click. It could be displayed with closed eyes or in complete darkness.

The barrel is cooled from overheating by means of air masses. The casing is in the form of a rectangle, with large cutouts on the body. On one side, I made a hole for a quick barrel change.

According to the recommendations of the engineers, this part had to be changed every 150 rounds to prevent overheating. The main advantage of MG-42, and at the same time the main headache is the rate of fire. 1200 rounds per minute guaranteed and quickly killed the barrel.

The second number of the crew had a set of interchangeable barrels and an asbestos mitt with them so as not to burn their hand. The machine gunner carried out the replacement of the overheated barrel in an average of 5-8 seconds. The charter prescribed to shoot in short bursts of no more than 250 rounds to preserve the barrel. Experienced fighters could fire a burst of 3-5 shots.

Comparative characteristics of MG-42

A complete picture of the weapon can be obtained by looking at the closest competitors. At this time, the most common infantry light machine guns were the English Bran and the Soviet DP-27.

• the mass indicator of MG-42 is the largest, 12.6 kg, while the Englishman weighs 11.5 kg, and the DP - 10.6 kg;
• the length of the weapon is 121, 9 cm, the same indicator for Bran and the DP of 115 cm and 127.2 cm, respectively;
• the bullet flies out of the barrel at a speed of 750 m / s, in analogues 745 and 840 m / s;
• rate of fire 1200 rounds per minute, British model 660, Soviet 600;
• ammunition from a tape packed in a "snail" for 50 or from a box for 250 rounds, Bran with a magazine for 30, DP has a disc for 47 rounds;
• cartridges, respectively, 7.92 × 57 for MG-42, 7.7 × 56 (.303) for Bran and 7.62x53R for DP.

The analysis shows that against the background of competitors, the German MG-42 surpasses the analogues of the opposing countries in many respects. Coupled with cheapness and good ergonomics, this made the German a formidable adversary both tactically, on the battlefield, and in the strategic battle of economies.

Application on the battlefield

After testing prototypes in the winter of 1941-1942, the sample was taken into service under the MG-42 designation. The appearance did not go unnoticed soviet intelligence made conclusions about the coming to an end the resources of Germany, not suspecting that the Germans had developed a greatly simplified and cheaper machine gun before the war.

The troops liked the new weapon. The machine gun immediately acquired several nicknames, mainly associated with a circular saw. The sound of the car shooting really resembled a woodworking machine.

The allies gave MG-42 a ominous nickname - "widowmaker". The gloomy name did not prevent the use of a formidable weapon as a trophy, despite the provision on the surrender of captured weapons to special detachments.

The fire of German machine guns created a solid barrier, through which it was almost impossible for the enemy infantry.

Only during the change of the barrel was it possible to make dashes or maneuvers. This factor inflicted severe psychological damage on those who had to storm the positions of MG-42.

Produced from the fall of 1942, MG-42 served its owners faithfully until April-May 1945. After the end of the war, many units of these weapons were in service with underground gangs, as well as in the countries of the third world.

Stopping the production of machine guns

After the collapse of Nazi Germany, the production of machine guns was stopped. The Allies dealt with the legacy of victory, one of which, of course, was the development of German gunsmiths to improve the MG-42.

Literally a few years later, work on the improvement of the German machine gun, and on the creation of prototypes in Western countries were continued.

The design turned out to be so successful that this machine gun is still in service with the Bundeswehr, though modernized for the standard NATO cartridge 7.62x51 mm. Now it is under a new name - MG-3. Besides Germany, this machine gun is used in some European countries as the main one.

Culture footprint

The second world War found wide reflection in the artistic culture. The image of a German soldier trying to conquer the world for his Fuhrer is known in all corners of the earth.

Not a single serious film or book could ignore the theme of MG-42.

The merciless "saw", firing at both soldiers going on the attack and at civilians, is found in hundreds artistic descriptions last war.

If we remove emotions, then there will remain a wonderful example of weapons, a machine gun, which served as the progenitor of the direction of uniform machine guns, which is used to this day.

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