MG 34 and MG 42 Machine Guns (Weapon, 21) - Softcover

McNab, Chris

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1780960085 ISBN 13: 9781780960081

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2012

Synopsis

With the MG 34, the German Wehrmacht introduced an entirely new concept in automatic firepower - the general-purpose machine gun (GPMG). In itself the MG 34 was an excellent weapon: an air-cooled, recoil-operated machine gun that could run through belts of 7.92mm ammunition at a rate of 850rpm, delivering killing firepower at ranges of more than 1,000m. Yet simply by changing its mount and feed mechanism, the operator could radically transform its function. On its standard bipod it was a light machine gun, ideal for infantry assaults; on a tripod it could serve as a sustained-fire medium machine gun; aircraft or vehicular mounts turned it into an air defence weapon; and it also served as the coaxial machine gun on numerous tanks.

During World War II, the MG 34 was superseded (although it remained in combat use) by a new GPMG - the MG 42. The MG 42 was more efficient to manufacture and more robust, and had a blistering 1,200rpm rate of fire. Nicknamed 'Hitler's buzzsaw' by Allied troops, it was arguably the finest all-round GPMG ever produced, and alongside the MG 34 it inflicted heavy casualties on Allied soldiers on all European and North African fronts. Such were its qualities of firepower and usability that it became the foundation of an entire series of postwar machine guns, including the MG 1 and MG 3 - the latter is still in production and service to this day.

Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and drawing upon numerous technical manuals and first-hand accounts, this study explores the technological development, varied roles and lasting influence of the revolutionary MG 34 and MG 42 machine guns and their postwar successors.

About this title

About the Author

Chris McNab is an author and editor. To date he has published over 25 books, including A History of the World in 100 Weapons, Hitler's Armies and The Uzi Submachine Gun for Osprey. Chris has also written extensively for major encyclopedia series, including African-American Biographies (2006), USA 1950s (2006) and Reformation, Exploration and Empire (2005), and has contributed to The Times on the war in Iraq.

Review

“The MG 42 was actually a revolutionary approach to machine gun design, and was nicknamed 'Hitler's buzzsaw' by the Allied forces. It's still in use some seventy years later. This examination of the pioneering machine gun will appeal to military and weaponry collections alike, offering vintage black and white photos of wartime experiences throughout.” ―James A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review (January 2013)

“Dozens of excellent photos and informative drawings illustrate this handy handbook. And heavy reliance on primary sources -- coupled with abundant annotations -- confirms its value as a reliable reference.” ―David L. Veres, www.cybermodeler.com (November 2012)

About this edition

• Publisher: Osprey Publishing
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1780960085
• ISBN 13: 9781780960081
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 80
• Illustrator: Bujeiro Ramiro, Gilliland Alan