MG42
Mauser Werke AG · Machine Gun · Discontinued · 1942
Also known as: Maschinengewehr 42, Hitler's Buzzsaw, Hitler's Zipper, Bonesaw
Overview
The MG42 (Maschinengewehr 42, or 'Machine Gun 42') is a German general-purpose machine gun developed in 1942 as an improved and simplified replacement for the earlier MG34. Chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, the MG42 became one of the most feared weapons of World War II, earning the nickname 'Hitler's Buzzsaw' among Allied troops due to its distinctive extremely high rate of fire of 1,200-1,500 rounds per minute. The weapon revolutionized machine gun design through its extensive use of stamped steel construction, which drastically reduced manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining battlefield effectiveness. Its innovative quick-change barrel system allowed barrel replacement in under six seconds, addressing overheating during sustained fire. The MG42 employed a short-recoil operated, roller-locked mechanism firing from an open bolt for optimal cooling. Weighing 11.6 kg and measuring 1,219mm in overall length with a 533mm barrel, the weapon could serve in multiple roles: as a light machine gun on its integral bipod, a medium machine gun on the Lafette 42 tripod mount, or as an anti-aircraft weapon in specialized mountings. Its air-cooled barrel featured distinctive oval cooling slots along its jacket. The MG42's superior design proved so effective that it formed the basis for numerous post-war derivatives, including the West German MG1 and MG3 (chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO), the Italian MG42/59, Austrian MG74, and the Yugoslavian Zastava M53 copy, with over 20 nations eventually adopting variants. Approximately 423,600 units were manufactured between 1942-1945, with peak production reaching 211,806 units in 1944 alone. The weapon remains one of the most influential machine gun designs in history.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 11600 g (409.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1219 mm (47.99") |
| Barrel Length | 533 mm (20.98") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 50 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Belt |
| Muzzle Velocity | 754 m/s (2474 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3700 J (2729 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 1200 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.92x57mm Mauser · primary — also known as 8mm Mauser, 8x57mm IS, 8x57mm JS, 7.92mm Mauser
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Disintegrating Link Belt, Drum Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Crossbolt Safety, Open Bolt System
- Features: Quick Change Barrel, Roller Locked Mechanism, Stamped Steel Construction, Muzzle Booster, Bipod Mount, Tripod Capable, Air Cooled, Oval Cooling Slots, Dual Role Mount, Anti Aircraft Capable
Variants
- MG42V — Experimental
- MG45 — Experimental
- MG1 — Postwar Conversion
- MG1A2 (MG42/59) — Postwar Conversion
- MG1A3 — Postwar Conversion
- MG3 — Modernized
- MG74 — Austrian Variant
- Zastava M53 — Yugoslavian Copy
- MG42/59 — Italian Variant
- MGA3 — Iranian Variant
Service history
Operators
- Nazi Germany Wehrmacht · adopted 1942
- Nazi Germany Waffen-SS · adopted 1942
- Nazi Germany Luftwaffe · adopted 1942
- Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine · adopted 1942
- West German Armed Forces · adopted 1959 · as MG1/MG3
- Yugoslav People's Army · adopted 1953 · as M53
- Italian Armed Forces · adopted 1959 · as MG42/59
- Austrian Armed Forces · as MG74
- Danish Armed Forces · adopted 1962 · as M/62
- Turkish Armed Forces · as MG3
- Pakistani Armed Forces · as MG1A3
- Iranian Armed Forces · as MGA3
- Spanish Armed Forces · as MG3
- Greek Armed Forces · as MG3
- Portuguese Armed Forces
- Finnish Defence Forces · as 7.62 KK MG 3
- Sudanese Armed Forces · as MG3
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 423,600 · Production years: 1942-1945
Peak production of 211,806 units in 1944. Manufactured by Mauser Werke, Gustloff Werke, Grossfuss, and others.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Werner Gruner
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
The MG42's extraordinarily high cyclic rate of 1,200-1,500 rpm was both an advantage and limitation. While it created devastating suppressive fire, it consumed ammunition at extreme rates, requiring frequent barrel changes (recommended every 250 rounds) and substantial logistical support. The quick-change barrel system was essential to its operation in sustained fire roles. The weapon's stamped steel receiver and barrel jacket construction represented a paradigm shift in firearms manufacturing, reducing production time from 150 hours for an MG34 to just 75 hours for an MG42. The roller-locked mechanism with muzzle booster amplified recoil impulse for reliable cycling. Post-war variants like the MG3 introduced variable-rate-of-fire capabilities through interchangeable bolts: a standard 650-gram bolt maintaining the high 1,200 rpm rate, or a heavier 900-gram bolt reducing the rate to 700-900 rpm for improved controllability and reduced barrel wear. The Italian MG42/59 used an even heavier 1,200-gram bolt for approximately 800 rpm. The weapon could be fired from a bipod for the assault role or mounted on the Lafette 42 tripod with optical sights for sustained fire up to 2,000 meters. The MG42's design philosophy of simplicity, reliability, and extreme firepower influenced virtually all subsequent general-purpose machine gun development.
Background
Allied soldiers nicknamed the MG42 'Hitler's Buzzsaw' because its extraordinary 1,200+ RPM cyclic rate created a continuous tearing sound rather than distinct individual shots. The weapon's revolutionary stamped steel construction cut manufacturing time in half compared to its predecessor, the MG34, and its design proved so successful that it formed the basis for virtually every Western general-purpose machine gun developed after the war.