German machine guns

Armed conflicts in the history of humanity from the ancient times to the 20th Century.
paul.mercer
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German machine guns

Post by paul.mercer »

Gentlemen,
What was the difference between the German MG 34 and the MG 42?
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frontkampfer
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Re: German machine guns

Post by frontkampfer »

MG 42 was made up of stampings with much less machining & looser tolerances. It had a huge rate of fire. Both were very good!
"I will not have my ship shot out from under my ass!"
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marcelo_malara
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Re: German machine guns

Post by marcelo_malara »

A little late for answering! The mechanisms are different. The MG-34 has a turning bolt, that locks to the barrel extension with a quarter turn, D4 is the rotating part.

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The MG-42 has a lug locking system, the two cylindrical pieces (one of them has a 2 stamped) are pushed to a recess on the barrel extension for locking;

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Barrel changing is simplified too. In the MG-34:

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This is how this was made in the MG-42:

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Byron Angel
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Re: German machine guns

Post by Byron Angel »

..... And the MG42 design still proudly soldiers on in the 21st century.

Byron
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