Best Machine-GUn of WW2? (As a GPMG)

Akalonor wrote:
Ahem , B1 battle droids have blastere  rifles :P and OOM-9 was an AAT commander , so enjoy napalm missles !

Meh, B-1's suck. I was one in a Star wars roleplay.
Problem is every person chooses Jedi or Sith, so you get pretty f'd.

GodlikeDennis wrote:
Wasn't the FG42 produced for the invasion of Crete when Germany declared war on Greece? That was early in the war.

No. German paras jumped out of the plane with pistols only! and picked other weapons from supply drops.

Paciat wrote:

GodlikeDennis wrote:
Wasn't the FG42 produced for the invasion of Crete when Germany declared war on Greece? That was early in the war.

No. German paras jumped out of the plane with pistols only! and picked other weapons from supply drops.

...which, due to "genius" strategic planning, often landed far from the DZs and into the welcoming arms of local partisans (the crates usually contained extra ammo, supplies, rifles and support weapons such as MGs and mortars).  :P These were during the earlier stages.

The FG42 was actually conceived some time later (after Crete) as the need for a lightweight selective-fire weapon firing a larger cartridge with better stopping power compared to the MP40's 9mm Parabellum round arose. They were purposefully designed to be light enough so that they could be lugged around easily and carried as personal weapons by the paratroopers during a "jump", without having them dropped in special munitions crates (a rather practical request made by Göring). So, in a sense, it was also intended as a "universal replacement" for the various standard infantry firearms which the Fallschirmjägers used in Crete. However, I wouldn't recommend firing it full-auto from the hip, I tried doing that once in a re-enactment and received a crapload of bruises as a result. The bipod is there for a very good reason.

Last edited November 28, 2010 at 4:04 PM by Werwolf

:o :o

Well, you can't say what's the ''Best'' Machinegun. Every machinegun were good on their own roles, with their own tactics.

MG34 and MG42 were both very good multi-purpose machineguns, but you can't forget stuff like Bren, which was light, accurate, didn't overheat so it didn't need changeable barrel like the MG42 (and sometimes MG34) needed and also it is more faster to reload a 30 cartridge mag into the weapon.

I voted MG-34, a generally reliable weapon, with a solid combat record and served on all fronts and in all sorts of roles until 1945. I also consider the MG-42 more as a LMG.





Also the MG-34 is considered the world's first GPMG.

I agree, but the MG-34 was overall not at all as good as the MG-42, which was indeed more of an LMG, but don't think it was weak ;D.

Both your notions that the MG42 is "more of an LMG" whereas the MG34 isn't are completely misguided. Both are GPMGs and can thusly be used in both the HMG and the LMG role.

sorry, i didn't intend to say it's an LMG, the weapon is surely an GPMG, but has much more characteristics of an LMG when it's handled. :)

How so? It doesn't even have a drum magazine like the Mg34 had. Sorry, but I just don't see how one can make such a differentiation between two so similar weapons of the same breeding.

it didn't had a drum mag, but the drum was replaced with a special container which held an 50-round belt.
and I'm not saying the 42 was an LMG, it just had more of an LMG's handling and was sadly not capable of vehicle mounting, due to it's rapid overheating.

what I'm trying to say here, although the 34 and the 42 are of the same breed, their very different from each other, and the 42 simply proofed to be superior in most roles.

I'm still not convinced. The point about vehicle mounting is obviously false (Just look at the Halftracks or the AA-MG on tanks), but I suppose you were referring to tanks in the coax and radio operator role where the MG34 was indeed preferred. That still doesn't mean the MG42 couldn't have been used, and tbh I wouldn't bet on it that there were absolutely no tanks with a Mg42 coax. While I'm far from an expert I'd guess the MG34 was used there because it was available and it wouldn't have most of its jamming problems from dust and dirt. While a bit far fetched, the Leopards also have MG3 coax's so its not like its impossible. With a vehicle mounting you also have less weight constrains, permitting a heavier barrel which will alleviate overheating issues.

Anyway, my point is, they aren't very different from each other if you are referring to their role. They don't have a different handling. How would you even account for that? How does the MG42 have an LMG handling and the Mg34 does not? They both feed from the same side,they only feed from belts(whereas a typical LMG feeds from drums or magazines), they allow for quick barrel changes(whereas some LMG wouldn't), they don't have carrying handles or provisions, they can't be fired from the shoulder(whereas some LMGs can). Where is the difference in their handling? The Mg42 is 2 kilos lighter, but weight doesn't make an LMG it's the tactical employment. Indeed I'd say they are exactly the same in their tactical capabilites and their employment. Both were used on vehicles, on tripods and and on bipods. The MG42 is just the successor to the MG34, an evolution to the concept.

Last edited February 8, 2011 at 3:39 PM by Analpirat

wait why are HMG's in this a GPMG was supposed to combine the roles of a light and medium machine gun not just be a good machine gun in its primary role and no way on earth is something like the Browning .50 cal able to be used as a light machine gun so therefore it is a  HMG not a MMG, LMG, or GPMG seriously learn the definiotions of the 4 types of machine guns

Concerning the vehicle mounting, I was talking about the MG42 being used for tanks, which wasn't possible, because of it's design.....the MG3 is a newer and better design, remember.

MG42 FTW!!!!

Not only its good power, but the morale. Once the Yanks and Tommies hear that, they get pretty scared

Yes, MG42 is best. But I really love the DP-28. As other members stated, it is very impressive MG 42 is still in service. Although it's called the MG 3, which is revised (although not the best way to put it), is still used by the German Army.

irik wrote:
Yes, MG42 is best. But I really love the DP-28. As other members stated, it is very impressive MG 42 is still in service. Although it's called the MG 3, which is revised (although not the best way to put it), is still used by the German Army.

me too  :D

dp-28 best sorry german

how long was this poll take to research? :o

Last edited April 8, 2011 at 11:37 PM by REDcomissar

REDcommissar wrote:
how long was this poll take to research? :o

It is the fortune, it is the order of all those disscussions of that kind.

I already post the basic characteristics of geman & soviet MGs ... it is not inought. All examples must be posted for quotes with basic stats, examples of combat effectiveness ect.

It is the mind of forum members all over the world. Need to be listened. Their voice must be important like these kind of thread. Question-thread take a chance to voute everyone, include not specialist.

Maxim MG. Serve to the army all over the war. & not only infantry support weapon.

Tampio wrote:
Well, you can't say what's the ''Best'' Machinegun. Every machinegun were good on their own roles, with their own tactics.

QFTl, nothing to add.

Dont overheat like youre MG would.  ;D
[/quote]

too bad you can change the barrel very easily  :P

I love the Jap Type 99 LMG as its my fav WWII overall weapon, but I dont think it was a huge difference maker like the MG42, so the latter gets my vote.

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BTW is the FG42 considered a Assault rifle or a LMG, because its similar to the BAR in that it uses rifle cartridges, low cap magazines and incorporates a bipod.

Last edited June 29, 2011 at 6:55 PM by DrRockzo1986

The poll says it all. No one voted for any Jap MG, only only one taker for French ones
while 63% voted for the MG42. The FG42 was designed for paratroopers and used by them. The Americans tried to combine both the MG42 & FG42 and ended up with the M60. The rest is history. ;D