FG42 Model I (top); FG42 Model II (bottom)
Fallschirmjägergewehr 42
Country	Germany
Type	Automatic rifle
Inventor	Louis Stange
Date of design	1942
Service duration	1942-1945
Cartridge	7,92 x 57 mm
Action
Rate of fire	900 (I); 600 (II) rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	761 m/s (2,500 ft/s)
Effective range	~500 m
Weight (unloaded)	Model I - 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) Model II, 4.9 kg (11.2 lb) Image File history File linksMetadata Rifle_FG42_model_1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2223x960, 111 KB) Work by Rama German Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 (FG42) automatic rifle, version FG42n/A File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): FG 42 Metadata This file... An automatic rifle is a term used to describe a full-sized, full-powered military rifle capable of fully-automatic fire; a type of automatic firearm. ... Rimmed, centerfire . ... The 8 mm Mauser cartridge next to a United States 5 cent coin. ... In firearms terminology, an action is the system of operation that the firearm employs to seal the breech (in a breech-loading firearm), and to load consecutive rounds. ... The Rate of fire is the speed at which a specific firearm or artillery piece can operate. ... A guns muzzle velocity is the speed at which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. ...
Length	937 mm (I); 1060 mm (II)
Barrel length	502 mm (19¾")
Feed system	10 or 20 round detachable box magazine
Sights	Diopter Open Sights; ZFG42 Scope (Model I & II); ZF4 Scope (Model III)
Variants	Model I, Model II, Model III
Number built	Model I - 2000; Army - 4,397

The Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 (FG42) was an automatic rifle produced for Germany during World War II. The weapon was developed for paratroopers, who wanted a lighter machine gun after their experiences in the Invasion of Crete. While other nations had fielded large numbers of light machine guns (LMGs), such as the Bren, there was no such weapon fielded by Germany. Paratroopers had to make do with a limited number of MG34s, which, even in their LMG configuration, were significantly heavier than other LMGs, and individual weapons like the K98k and MP40. As a result, the FG-42 was developed. It could fire single shots semi-automatically, but also serve as a light support weapon. Its development was authorized by Hermann Göring. The barrel of a gun or other firearm is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion is released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at great speed. ... An automatic rifle is a term used to describe a full-sized, full-powered military rifle capable of fully-automatic fire; a type of automatic firearm. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... An American Paratrooper using a MC1-B series parachute Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force. ... Combatants Greece New Zealand Australia United Kingdom Germany Italy Commanders Bernard Freyberg Kurt Student Strength 43,000 25,000 Casualties 3,500 dead 1,900 wounded 17,500 captured 6,200–16,100 dead, wounded, or captured The Battle of Crete (German Luftlandeschlacht um Kreta; Greek Μάχη της Κρήτης) began on the morning... The M249 SAW, one of the most popular 5. ... The Bren, usually called the Bren Gun was a series of machine guns adopted by Britain in the 1930s and used in various roles into the 1980s. ... MG34 The Maschinengewehr 34, or MG34, was a German machine gun that was first produced and accepted for service in 1934, and first issued to units in 1935. ... Karabiner 98 Kurz Type Service Rifle Nationality Germany Era WW2 Platform Individual Target Personnel History Date of design 1935 Production period Service duration Operators Germany War service WW2 Specifications Type Calibre Barrel length 600 mm Ammunition 7. ... The MP40 (Maschinenpistole 40) is a submachine gun developed for and used extensively by Germany during World War II. // History The MP40 is descended from the MP38, the differences being in cost-saving alterations, especially the use of more pressed rather than machined parts and an improved safety. ... Hermann Wilhelm Göring (also Goering in English) (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946) was a German politician and military leader known for being second in command of the Third Reich, a leading member of the Nazi party, and commander of the Luftwaffe. ...

Development

After the inception of the G41 and G43 semi-automatic rifles into the German Army (Heer) and the Waffen SS, and the inadequacy of the MP 40 and the Karabiner 98k during the Battle of Crete, Hermann Göring (at the time the commander of all Luftwaffe forces) insisted that his Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) be supplied with an even more advanced self-loading rifle. The requirements were that it be light enough for the individual paratrooper to carry with him on the drop, incorporate fully automatic fire, and serve the role of a rifle when needed. Six manufacturers were given contracts but only a few prototypes are known to have been submitted. The design by Rheinmetall-Borsig designed by Louis Stange was accepted for mass production by Heinrich Krieghoff of Suhl (fzs) and L.O. Deitrich of Altenburg (gcy). The Gewehr 41 (G 41) was a German World War II semi-automatic rifle design. ... Waffen-SS recruitment poster: Volunteer for the Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS (Weapon SS) was the combat arm of the Schutzstaffel. ... Maschinenpistole 40 Nationality Germany Type Submachine gun Inventor Erma Werk Date of design 1938 Service duration 1939-1945 Cartridge 9 x 19 mm Action Blowback Rate of fire 500 rpm Muzzle velocity ~380 mps Effective range ~ 100 m Weight (Unloaded) 3. ... The Karabiner 98k (often abbreviated Kar98k or K98k) was a bolt-action rifle adopted as the standard infantry rifle in 1935 by the Wehrmacht, and was one of the final developments in the long line of Mauser military rifles. ... Combatants Greece New Zealand Australia United Kingdom Germany Italy Commanders Bernard Freyberg Kurt Student Strength 43,000 25,000 Casualties 3,500 dead 1,900 wounded 17,500 captured 6,200–16,100 dead, wounded, or captured The Battle of Crete (German Luftlandeschlacht um Kreta; Greek Μάχη της Κρήτης) began on the morning... Hermann Wilhelm Göring (also Goering in English) (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946) was a German politician and military leader known for being second in command of the Third Reich, a leading member of the Nazi party, and commander of the Luftwaffe. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (German: Air Arm, IPA: [luftvafÉ™]) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... Fallschirmjäger over Rotterdam during the invasion of the Low Countries, May 10, 1940   Fallschirmjäger?, often rendered Fallschirmjager in English, is the German word for paratrooper. ...

Field testing

The FG42 filled a key niche in Germany's arsenal and was somewhat well-received by paratroopers when tested, but it did have its drawbacks. The FG42 had a 20, or sometimes 10, round magazine that was mounted on the left side of the rifle. Though a side-mounted magazine was common in submachineguns, the larger magazine with heavier ammunition of a full-powered rifle tended to unbalance the weapon. In addition, muzzle rise with automatic fire was substantial and controlable bursts were difficult. This made full-automatic fire only marginally useful. The FG42 used a fairly sophisticated muzzle device that did help with recoil and muzzle flash, but blast and noise were much greater than other similar weapons. The US M14 rifle had similar problems and attempts were made to upgrade that rifle the same way with an in-line stock and muzzle device. Both weapons seemed to have failed in that respect. This article or section should be merged with Flash suppressor A flash hider, also known as flash eliminator, is an attachment on the end of the barrel of a weapon that is intended to reduce the amount of flash given off when firing. ... M14 can stand for: Messier object M14, a globular cluster; see Messier 14 a battle rifle; see M14 (rifle) Michigan State Highway 14 M-14. ...

The FG42 fired in semi-automatic mode from a closed bolt; the short lock-time, and little movement in the action during firing meant greater accuracy. When firing in the automatic mode, the gun utilized an open bolt system. This had the advantage of preventing a phenomenon known as "cook-off" where the heat of repeated rounds being fired causes a chambered round to overheat and ignite the powder or primer. A semi or fully_automatic firearm which is said to fire from a closed bolt is one where, when ready to fire, a round is in the chamber and the bolt and working parts are forward. ... A semi or fully-automatic firearm which is said to fire from an open bolt is one where, when ready to fire, the bolt and working parts are held to the rear. ...

Some features, such as the details of the gas-operated bolt selection process, were studied by US Army engineers after the war. These, along with some aspects of the MG42, are commonly reported to have been incorporated in the similarly troubled M60. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Maschinengewehr 42, or MG42 was a machine gun that was developed for and entered service with Germany in 1942, during World War II. The 7. ... Caliber: 7. ...

The American M41 Johnson LMG has many parallels with the contemporary FG42. Both had in-line stocks, fed from the left side, and both fired from the open bolt in automatic mode and closed bolt in semi-automatic mode. Despite these amazing similarities, there is no evidence that either weapon had any effect on the design of the other. They were both seeking to solve similar problems. The M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun was an American recoil-operated light machine gun designed in the late 1930s by Melvin Johnson. ...

Deployment

After approximately 2000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports were also requesting minor improvements, such as: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating. By the time the FG42 Mark II was developed, the war had significantly changed for the worse. Frequent allied bombing raids had crippled Germany, and the only weapons that could be produced were made out of lower-quality materials and subject to poor production methods. In all, only about 5000 of the newer model were produced, and only a limited number found their way into the hands of troops. Commandos under Otto Skorzeny were the first troops to use this weapon during their daring rescue of deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. When spelt with a capital A, Allies usually denotes the countries supporting the Triple Entente who fought together against the Central Powers in World War I and against the Axis Powers in World War II. For more information, see the related articles: Allies of World War I and Allies of... Otto Skorzeny Otto Skorzeny (June 12, 1908 - July 5, 1975) was a Obersturmbannführer in the German Waffen-SS during World War II. He is best-known as the commando leader who rescued Benito Mussolini from imprisonment after his overthrow. ... Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (July 29, 1883 – April 28, 1945) led Italy from 1922 to 1943. ...

Other Weapons in this Category

• Browning Automatic Rifle
• Garand
• Gewehr 43
• Johnson M1941 Rifle
• SVT-40

Heer (   listen?) is the German word for army. ... pistolet wz. ... The vz. ... The ZB vz. ... The karabin przeciwpancerny wzór 35 (kb ppanc wz. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

FG42

• Modern Firearms
• U.S WWII Intelligence Report on FG42
• FG42