The MG 42 (shortened from German: Maschinengewehr 42, or "machine gun 42") is a German recoil-operated air-cooled general-purpose machine gun used extensively by the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS during the second half of World War II.

In spite of its tendency to overheat, the MG-42 was an excellent weapon that was light-years of ahead of the US counterpart, the Browning M-1919A4 machine gun. Germany produced roughly 400,000 MG-42s during the war, some of which are still in active service.

Mar 26, 2021 · The MG42 survived World War II to continue service in the West German Bundeswehr. Rechambered so it would fire the NATO 7.62-millimeter cartridge, the Germans designated the weapon the MG3 – but it still kept its blistering rate of fire and basic design.

Oct 3, 2022 · Germany’s MG-42, a Mauser general-purpose machine gun, was one such development that was introduced to the battlefield while fighting was in full swing. Development of the MG-42 Germany developed the MG-42 to replace the earlier and more costly MG-34 general-purpose machine gun.

Oct 22, 2017 · The German Maschinengewehr 42, or MG42, was one of the best machine-guns of the war, both in combat and in ease of production. It set the standard for machine-guns in the years that followed, and as such was the most important machine-gun of the war.

Feb 6, 2025 · For American combat troops, the MG42 was a deadly problem, from their first encounters with the gun in Tunisia to the last day of the war in Europe. While its predecessor, the MG34, cycled fast...

The MG 42 was the Third Reich’s preferred general purpose machine gun in the second half of World War II. The MG 42 could also be used with a heavyduty tripod, the Lafette 42, to create a powerful sustained firing platform.

German machine gun MG42, the deadliest infantry weapon of WW2. History, development, service, specifications, statistics, pictures, video and 3D model. MG42 Type: light or heavy machine gun. A German mountain troops MG42 gunner is engaging a …

During World War II, the MG42 machine gun was a reliable and powerful symbol of German engineering. This article takes an in-depth look at this iconic firearm, covering its design, historical significance, operational capabilities, and its lasting impact on modern warfare.

MG42 machine guns had an optimum operating crew of six: one officer, one non-commissioned officer, one gunner, and three ammunition carriers/loaders. For defense, the first two usually carried pistols, while the latter three were armed with rifles. As the war became more demanding on bodies, MG42 machine guns were often manned by as few as three.