Mauser/Gustloff MG42 – 7.92x57mm Mauser

Description

Mauser/Gustloff MG42 – 7.92x57mm Mauser

The vast majority of ‘mid-war’ weapons were designed to save on materials, production costs, and time, and the MG 42 was no different. Its predecessor, the MG 34, was an amazing weapon, unmatched by anything the Allies had, offering an incredible rate of highly accurate suppressive fire.

As the war progressed and Germany found itself fighting on numerous fronts, the German production line was under incredible strain to keep up with relentless demand. The MG 42 helped ease that burden by reducing raw materials by 44% and production man hours by 50%, from the MG 34’s 150 hours down to 75 hours. The inclusion of stamped steel in the design reduced the weight by 0.5 kg, which was beneficial for infantrymen weighed down by heavy equipment.

The MG 42 was feared by Allied troops, not helped by the distinctive noise it made when fired, due to its high rate of fire, which could be heard from miles away. Like its predecessor, it could be fired from either a fixed bipod or with a tripod and optical sight for a sustained/indirect fire role. Barrel swaps were also faster on the MG 42 than the MG 34, allowing for shorter breaks in firing.

Almost half a million MG 42s were manufactured during the war, and it continued to be reproduced in various 7.62 x 51mm NATO formats, such as the Bundeswehr’s MG3 and the Austrian MG74, which remain in service globally today.

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