What is the MG 42?
Q: What is the MG 42?
A: The MG 42 is a general-purpose machine gun that was created in Nazi Germany and became widely used by the Wehrmacht in 1942.
Q: How did the MG 42 compare to the MG 34?
A: The MG 42 was sometimes used to replace the MG 34, but both weapons were made and used until the end of the war. The MG 42 was known for being reliable, simple, and easy to use, and had a much higher rate of fire.
Q: Why did the Germans call the MG 42 "Hitlersäge"?
A: The Germans called the MG 42 "Hitlersäge" or "Hitler's saw" because of its very high rate of fire.
Q: What other automatic weapon designs had similar firepower to the MG 42?
A: Other automatic weapon designs with similar firepower to the MG 42 include the French Darne, the Hungarian-Gebauer, the Russian 7.62mm ShKAS, and the British Vickers K machine gun.
Q: What made the MG 42 stand out from these other weapons?
A: The MG 42 was able to fire for longer periods of time than these other weapons because it got its ammunition from a belt and its barrel was easy to change.
Q: What new weapons were created from the MG 42 after Nazi Germany surrendered?
A: The MG1 (MG 42/59) was nearly exactly the same as the MG 42, and became the basis for the MG1A3 and eventually the MG 3. Other weapons designed from the MG 42 include the Swiss MG 51, SIG MG 710-3, Austrian MG 74, and the Spanish 5.56mm Ameli light machine gun. The M60 and Belgian MAG also copied some features.
Q: Was the MG 42 still in use after the war?
A: Yes, the MG 42 was still used by many armed groups after the war.
