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Maschinengewehr 42 recoiloperated air cooled general purpose machine gun 7,92x57mm Mauser

1.Introduction 00:00
2.Design 01:56
3.Operating mechanism 03:34
4.Barrel 04:47

Introduction:

The MG 42 (short for the German "Maschinengewehr 42" or "machine gun 42") is a German recoiloperated, aircooled generalpurpose machine gun used extensively by the Wehrmacht and WaffenSS during the latter half of World War II. Entering production in 1942, it was designed to supplement and replace the earlier MG 34, which was more expensive and took longer to produce. However, both weapons continued to be produced until the end of the war.
The MG 42 was designed to use the standard German 7.92×57mm Mauser rifle round, be lowcost, and easier to massproduce. It proved to be highly reliable and easy to operate. Its most notable feature was its very high cyclic rate for a gun using fullpower service cartridges, averaging about 1,200 rounds per minute, compared to around 850 for the MG 34 and 450 to 600 for other common machine guns like the M1919 Browning, FM 24/29, or Bren gun. This made it extremely effective in providing suppressive fire, and its distinctive sound led to it being nicknamed "Hitler's buzzsaw."
After the war, the MG 42 was adopted by several armed organizations and was both copied and built under license. Its design lineage continued beyond Nazi Germany's defeat, forming the basis for the nearly identical MG1 (MG 42/59), which was chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO. This subsequently evolved into the MG1A3 and later into the Bundeswehr's MG 3, as well as the Italian MG 42/59 and Austrian MG 74.

Design:

The MG 42 is a 7.92×57mm Mauser, aircooled, beltfed, openbolt, recoiloperated machine gun with a quickchange barrel. It features a 2.5 mm thick stamped sheet metal housing for the receiver and barrel sleeve. Weighing 11.57 kg with its bipod, it is lighter and more portable than the MG 34. The bipod can be mounted near the muzzle or the center of the gun for flexibility.
The shoulder stock is designed for secure gripping with the left hand. The MG 42 was designed for operation in harsh conditions, allowing use with arctic mittens or sticks, which was crucial for preventing frostbite. It also performed well in dusty environments like North Africa and Italy.
Capable only of fully automatic fire, the MG 42's high cyclic rate made single shots difficult, but short bursts of three rounds were standard. It features a recoil booster at the muzzle to improve reliability and rate of fire, also serving as a muzzle flash arrester and guide sleeve for the barrel.
The sidechanging barrel design made the MG 42 unsuitable for internal or coaxial use in WWII German tanks, except for the Jagdpanzer IV. Early versions had two MG 42s, later reduced to one.
The MG 42's beltfeed mechanism inspired the M60 machine gun design, and its trigger mechanism and beltfeed influenced the FN MAG or MAG58.

Operating mechanism:

The MG 42's rollerlocked bolt assembly consists of a bolt head, two rollers, a striker sleeve, a bolt body, and a large multistrand return spring. This return spring pushes the bolt assembly into the locked position and returns it after firing. The bolt assembly locks with the barrel's breech via a prongtype barrel extension. As a recoiloperated, openbolt weapon, it must be manually charged with a sidemounted charging handle.
In operation, two rollers in the bolt head lock into matching tracks in the barrel extension, securing the bolt during firing. Upon firing, recoil and the muzzle booster move the barrel and bolt assembly rearwards. After 7 mm of rearward movement, the rollers retract, unlocking the bolt and allowing it to continue moving rearwards, extracting and ejecting the spent cartridge. The springloaded dust cover opens during firing to eject the cartridge but must be manually closed afterward. The recuperator spring then pushes the barrel forward, while the return spring pushes the bolt assembly forward, chambering a new round.

Barrel:

The barrel unit of the MG 42 consisted of a 530 millimeters (20.9 in) long barrel with a prongtype barrel extension for lockup. Weighing 1.75 kg (3.9 lb), including the locking piece, it could be swiftly changed by the machine gun crew. Barrels could feature traditional rifling or polygonal rifling, the latter developed before World War II for durability and efficiency. Later versions had hardchrome plating for increased durability.
Barrel service life ranged from 3,500 to 8,000 rounds, depending on version and adherence to regulations limiting rapid fire. Excessive overheating from rapid firing could render a barrel useless after about 500 rounds.