FG-42
Overview
FG-42
Replica of an early pattern FG-42 (Ausführung E) resting on its bipod.
Source: Unknown author -
© Copyright lies with original owner
Light machine gun
Louis Stange
Nazi Germany - Heinrich Krieghoff Waffenfabrik
German for "paratrooper rifle 42"
Description
Introduction
The FG-42 is a World War 2 era self-loading rifle and light machine gun of Nazi German origin. It was developed in the early 1940's and saw limited service during the second half of the war. Despite being used in limited numbers the FG-42 is one of the iconic weapons of World War 2. The FG-42 was designed to meet a long list of conflicting requirements and ended up as a remarkable capable design. This was hindered by late war difficulties in setting up a new production process and requiring raw materials with ever greater supply issues.
Design
The FG-42 is a gas operated weapon using a design where the recoil is in line with the shoulder stock. As a multi-role weapon it has certain unique features. Most notable is the closed bolt operation as a semi-automatic rifle and open bolt position for automatic fire. Early pattern FG-42 had a rather angled pistol grip. This mimicked the angle of the Kar-98K bolt-action rifle grip and allowed for a more compact weapon in air droppable cannisters. The layout of the weapon required the box magazine to be feeding horizontally from the left hand side.
Firepower
The FG 42 used the 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge with 20 round magazines. 10 round magazines existed as well. As a semi-automatic rifle it fires from a closed bolt position. Accuracy is similar to a contemporary rifle. With an optical sight it could be used as a makeshift sniper rifle. In the automatic mode it fired from the open bolt. This prolonged the ability for sustained fire, although the barrel could not be swapped. Cyclic rate of fire was 900 rpm in the early models, and 750 rpm in the later models with heavier bolt. Although lacking the weight of a true machine gun, the FG-42 was remarkably controllable in automatic fire.
Users
The FG-42 was used by German paratrooper formations, mostly during the second half of World War 2. The vast majority was employed on the Western front after the D-day landings. Although being one of the better small arms designs of World War 2, the weapon was never issued in the quantities needed to have an impact on the battlefield. Reportedly a limited number was used with North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam war. These were likely supplied by the Soviets as part of a wide assortment of World War 2 era firearms.
Variants
FG-42
Early pattern (top) and late pattern (bottom) FG-42 seen on display in a museum in the Museum of the Brazilian Army.
Source: Fab-pe -
© Public domain
FG-42 production models
The early production pattern FG-42 is the rarest of the the two. This has the composite stock and handguard, steeply angled pistol grip, bipod mounted at the handguard and higher cyclic rate of fire. The Ausführung E is the first production model to enter service. The Ausführung F is a small batch with stamped receiver.
The late pattern FG-42 is a modified design by Kriefhoff for ease of production and requiring less rare raw materials. As such the Ausführung G was the most numerous FG-42 pattern. This design can be identified by the wooden stock and forearm, stamped receiver, regular angle pistol grip, bipod mounted near the muzzle and a longer muzzle device.
Details
Media
FG-42
Propaganda photo of a German Fallschirmjäger with prototype pattern FG-42 in June of 1944.
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-720-0344-11
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
FG-42
German Fallschirmjäger in France in June of 1944 with FG-42 in firing position.
Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-720-0344-09
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
FG-42
Left side view of late pattern FG-42 resting on its bipod and with bayonet folded forwards.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
