The MG 42, possibly the best machine gun ever created, originated as a replacement for the German Army’s standard machine gun, the MG 34, which first came into service in 1936.

Designed by Louis Stange of the Rheinmetall-Borsig AG (referred to simply as Rheinmetall) located at Sommerda, the MG 34, at the start of World War II, was the Third Reich’s preferred general purpose machine gun (GPMG) and was intended to replace the heterogeneous collection of automatic infantry weapons then in service as befitted the new German “one-gun-fits-all” philosophy.

The MG 42 could also be used with a heavyduty tripod, the Lafette 42, to create a powerful sustained firing platform. The Lafette weighed 45 pounds and incorporated a telescopic sight to allow closer shot groupings over longer distances ranging from 200 to 2,200 yards.

The tripod also gave the MG 42 some small measure of antiaircraft capability. The shoulder stock was made of wood with a deep curved butt and another significant curve at the front to allow the gunner, using his left hand, to pull the weapon into his shoulder for better fire control.

Some of the MG 42 accessories included an enlarged trigger guard for a gunner wearing thick gloves and a device with a periscope sight to allow firing from behind parapets when the gun was mounted on a tripod.

The MG 42 fired a 7.92mm round. With a muzzle velocity of 2,480 feet per second the MG 42’s effective range was nearly 1,100 yards. The gun used a 50-round flexible metal belt feed, or, alternatively, a 75-round snail drum magazine. A full 50-round belt of ammo would be depleted in a 21/2-second burst; the 75 round drum in 31/2 seconds.

To permit longer fire bursts, MG 42 crews normally linked together several 50 round belts. Ammunition boxes (weighing 22 pounds each) held five separate belts totalling 250 rounds per box. A good crew could shoot 250 rounds in 12½ seconds of continuous fire, or 20-30 seconds by firing quick bursts.

The MG 42 fired a 7.92mm round. With a muzzle velocity of 2,480 feet per second the MG 42’s effective range was nearly 1,100 yards. The gun used a 50-round flexible metal belt feed, or, alternatively, a 75-round snail drum magazine. A full 50-round belt of ammo would be depleted in a 21/2-second burst; the 75 round drum in 31/2 seconds.

To permit longer fire bursts, MG 42 crews normally linked together several 50 round belts. Ammunition boxes (weighing 22 pounds each) held five separate belts totaling 250 rounds per box. A good crew could shoot 250 rounds in 12½ seconds of continuous fire, or 20-30 seconds by firing quick bursts.

Unlike what you almost always see on the tabletop, and as see in this team, the authorized crew for each MG 42 was six men, who had these duties:

Crewman No. 1 was a junior NCO who acted as the gunner. His primary personal weapon was a pistol.
Crewman No. 2 was a loader who assisted the gunner by feeding the gun ammunition. He carried a pistol.
Crewman No. 3 carried spare machine gun barrels and ammunition and acted as the gun team’s spotter.
Crewman No. 4 transported the tripod and was armed with an MP 40 submachine gun.
Crewman No. 5 carried entrenching tools, additional ammunition, and a bolt-action Karabiner 98k rifle.
Crewman No. 6 brought along gun-cleaning materials, more ammunition, and was armed with a Karabiner 98k rifle.