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Encyclopedia > Rheinmetall MG3
MG3

MG3
Type General purpose machine gun
Place of origin Flag of West Germany West Germany
Service history
In service 1969–present
Used by See Users
Production history
Designed 1966
Manufacturer Rheinmetall
License-built by: Beretta, MKEK, Ellinika Amyntika Systimata, DIO, Military Industry Corporation, Pakistan Ordnance Factories, General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas
Produced 1968-present
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight 11.5 kg (25.35 lb)
27.5 kg (61 lb) (mounted on tripod)
Length 1,225 mm (48.2 in)
1,097 mm (43.2 in) (without stock)
Barrel length 565 mm (22.2 in)
Cartridge 7.62x51mm NATO
Action Recoil operated, roller locked
Rate of fire 1,150 rounds/min (+/- 150)
Muzzle velocity 820 m/s (2,690 ft/s)
Effective range 200 to 1,200 m sight adjustments
Maximum range 800 m (bipod)
1,200 m (tripod mounted)
Feed system 50-round non-disintegrating DM1 belt (can be combined in a drum); 100-round disintegrating DM6/M13 belt
Sights Open-type sights with rear sliding tangent

The MG3 is a German air-cooled, belt-fed general purpose machine gun chambered in the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. The design traces back to World War II era MG42 machine gun that fired the 7.92x57mm Mauser round.[1] The MG 34 - the first Universelles Maschinengewehr forerunner of the modern GPMG, shown here in two different mountings. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defense company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. It has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces. ... Logo of Pietro Beretta This article is about a firearm manufacturer; for the car, see Chevrolet Beretta. ... The Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu (The Machinery and Chemical Industry Institution, or MKEK) was a reorganization in 1950 of a Turkish government-controlled group of factories that supplied the Turkish Army with supplies, munitions, and equipment. ... The Defense Industries Organization (DIO), (Iranian name: Sasadjah (Sazemane Sanaye Defa)), is a conglomerate of state run Iranian companies whose function is to provide Iran with the necessary military manufacturing capacity and technical abilities. ... We dont have an article called Pakistan Ordnance Factories Start this article Search for Pakistan Ordnance Factories in. ... The MG3 is a German air-cooled, belt-fed general purpose machine gun chambered in the 7. ... Kg redirects here. ... Look up pound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The 7. ... 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. ... Recoil operation is a type of locked-breech firearm actions used in automatic firearms. ... (for paintball markers also)Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. ... A guns muzzle velocity is the speed at which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. ... Metre per second (U.S. spelling: meter per second) is an SI derived unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector), defined by distance in metres divided by time in seconds. ... Feet per second is a unit of speed; it expressses the number of feet traveled in one second. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A disintegrating belt feeding into an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, from a United States Army training manual A non-disintegrating belt feeding into a . ... The MG 34 - the first Universelles Maschinengewehr forerunner of the modern GPMG, shown here in two different mountings. ... The 7. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The MG42 (shortened from German: Maschinengewehr 42, or Machine Gun 42) was a machine gun that was developed for and entered service with Nazi Germany in 1942, during World War II. The 7. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... The 8mm Mauser cartridge next to a United States nickel. ...

Contents

Development

A German soldier demonstrates the features of the MG3 in 1988.
A German soldier demonstrates the features of the MG3 in 1988.

Production of the first postwar variant of the MG42 chambered in a standard NATO caliber (designated the MG1) was launched in 1958 at the Rheinmetall arms factory as requested by the Bundeswehr. Shortly thereafter the machine gun was modified, receiving a chrome-lined barrel and sights properly calibrated for the new round and became the MG1A1 (known also as the MG42/58).[1] The MG42 (shortened from German: Maschinengewehr 42, or Machine Gun 42) was a machine gun that was developed for and entered service with Nazi Germany in 1942, during World War II. The 7. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defense company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. It has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces. ... The Bundeswehr (German for Federal Defence Force;  ) is the name of the unified armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities. ... REDIRECT [[ Insert text]]EWWWWWWWWWWWWW YO General Name, symbol, number chromium, Cr, 24 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 6, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 51. ...


A further development of the MG1A1 was the MG1A2 (MG42/59), which had a heavier bolt (950 g, compared to 550 g), a new friction ring buffer and was adapted to use both the standard German continuous DM1 ammunition belt and the American M13 disintegrating belt. Further improvements to the weapon's muzzle device, bipod and bolt resulted in the MG1A3. An M240B in the hands of a U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division Soldier in Iraq September 2006; The rounds and feed system use the M13 Link An M60 machine gun aboard a Navy patrol craft. ... A bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with only two legs. ...


Simultaneously, wartime MG42 machine guns that remained in service were reworked to chamber the standard 7.62x51mm NATO round. These machine guns would become the MG2.[1] The 7. ...


In 1968, the MG3 was introduced and entered production. Compared to the MG1A3, the MG3 features an improved feeding mechanism, an added anti-aircraft sight and a new ammunition box. The MG3 and its variants all share a high level of parts interchangeability with the original MG42.[1]


The MG3 and its derivatives have been in use with the armed forces of over 30 countries. Production rights to license-build the machine gun were acquired by Italy and Spain (MG42/59), Pakistan (MG1A3), Greece, Iran, Sudan and Turkey.


Design details

A partially disassembled MG3 of the German Army.
A partially disassembled MG3 of the German Army.

The MG3 is an automatic short recoil operated firearm. It features a roller locked bolt mechanism that consists of the bolt head, a pair of rollers, the striker sleeve, bolt body and return spring. The bolt is locked securely by a wedge-like striker sleeve, which forces two cylindrical rollers contained in the bolt head outward, and into corresponding recesses in the extension of the breech of the barrel. On firing, both the barrel and barrel extension recoil to the rear compressing both rollers as they are cammed inward and out of their sockets by fixed cams, unlocking the bolt head. The bolt carrier and bolt then continue to the rear guided by fixed guides while the barrel and barrel extension return to battery. Upon return of the bolt, the impact of the rollers with the camming surfaces on the breech carry the rollers from their seats, and, together with the surfaces on the bolt head, force the rollers outward, locking the bolt head into the barrel extension and ensuring a complete lock. The bolt also houses a spring-loaded casing and the ejector. Ejection is carried out when the ejector strikes the buffer head, sending a push forward through the ejector bar, which hits the ejector pin. This pin pushes the top of the base of the cartridge, which is still held by the extractor at the base, causing the empty casing to rotate and eject downward through the ejection port. The German Army (German: [1], [IPA: heɐ]  ) is the land component of the Bundeswehr (Federal Defence Forces) of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... Recoil operation is a type of locked-breech firearm actions used in automatic firearms. ...


The machine gun has an automatic-only trigger mechanism and a cross-bolt safety selector in the form of a button that is operated by the shooting hand (in its "safe" position the bolt release is disabled). The weapon fires from an open bolt.


The MG3 feeds from the left side through a feed block using metal, 50-round continuous-link DM1 ammunition belts (which can be combined by cartridge) or disintegrating-link M13 or DM6 belts. In the light machine gun role, the MG3 is deployed with a 100-round belt fitted inside a synthetic ammunition drum that is attached to the left side of the receiver. The feed system operates through a feed arm that is housed in the feed cover. Two feed pawls are linked to the front end of the arm by an intermediate link and move in opposite directions, moving the belt in two stages as the bolt moves back and forward during firing. An M240B in the hands of a U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division Soldier in Iraq September 2006; The rounds and feed system use the M13 Link An M60 machine gun aboard a Navy patrol craft. ... The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, one of the most popular modern 5. ...


The MG3 has a quick-change, chrome-lined barrel with 4 grooves and a rifling twist rate of 305 mm (1:12 in). The barrel assembly is integrated with the barrel breech. Both the receiver housing and ventilated barrel guard are made from pressed sheet steel. A muzzle device is mounted at the end of the barrel and it acts as a flash suppressor, muzzle brake and recoil booster. Close-up of the flash suppressor on a Sig 550. ... The muzzle brake of the 105 mm gun on an AMX 10 RC fighting vehicle. ...


The machine gun is equipped with a synthetic polymer stock, a folding bipod and open-type iron sights (sliding rear notch sight with range settings from 200 to 1200 m). A flip-up anti-aircraft sight is also provided. Looking down the iron sight of an ArmaLite M15A4 Carbine (a civilian copy of the M4 Carbine) Rear diopter-type iron sight of an Rk 62 assault rifle. ...


In a stationary, heavy machine gun role the MG3 is mounted on a tripod called a Feldlafette and is used with a periscope sight.


Variants

The MG3 seen here in the stationary, heavy machine gun role, mounted on a stabilized "Feldlafette" tripod fitted with an optical sight.
The MG3 seen here in the stationary, heavy machine gun role, mounted on a stabilized "Feldlafette" tripod fitted with an optical sight.
  • MG1: Rheinmetall variant of the MG42, most notably rechambered to fire 7.62x51mm NATO.
  • MG1A1 (MG42/58): As MG1, but with sights properly calibrated for the new round. Sights refitted to existing MG1s.
  • MG1A2 (MG42/59): MG1A1 variant; product improved with longer ejection port, heavy bolt and friction ring buffer.
  • MG1A3: MG1A2 variant; product improvement of all major components.
  • MG1A4: MG1 variant; for fixed mount armor use.
  • MG1A5: MG1A3 variant; MG1A3s converted to MG1A4 standard.
  • MG2: Designation for all wartime MG42s rechambered to 7.62x51mm NATO.
  • MG3: MG1A3 variant; product improved with AA rear sight.
  • MG3E: MG3 variant; reduced weight model (roughly 1.3 kg lighter), entered into late 1970s NATO small arms trials.
  • MG3A1: MG3 variant; for fixed mount armor use.

Current deployment

The MG3 is still used as the standard secondary weapon of most modern German armoured fighting vehicle designs (e.g. Leopard 2, PzH 2000, Marder (IFV)), as a primary weapon on light/non-armored vehicles (e.g. LKW 2to, ATF Dingo) and as an infantry weapon on light bipods as well as different tripods. An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, protected by armour and armed with weapons. ... The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr. ... The Panzerhaubitze 2000 (English. ... Marder is a German infantry fighting vehicle operated by German Army from the 1960s through the present day. ... ATF Dingo of the German Army KFOR task force in Kosovo The ATF Dingo is a German armored military truck based on a Unimog chassis, produced by the company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. ...


Users

US and German soldiers training with the MG3.
US and German soldiers training with the MG3.
German soldiers with an MG3
German soldiers with an MG3

NATO

A pintle-mounted MG3 on a Norwegian armoured vehicle

This article is about the military alliance. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Estonia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Latvia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... EAS (Ellinika Amyntika Systimata, or Hellenic Defense Systems) is the company formed by the merger in 2004 of the Greek state Defense Companies EBO and Pyrkal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iceland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Logo of Pietro Beretta This article is about a firearm manufacturer; for the car, see Chevrolet Beretta. ... The FN Minimi is a squad automatic weapon — the name coming from Mini-mitrailleuse (French: mini-machine gun. It is a 5. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lithuania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Portugal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Location of Kırıkkale Province Kırıkkale is a recently created province of Turkey. ...

Non-NATO

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Leopard (or Leopard 1) is a German designed and produced main battle tank that first entered service in 1965 and was used as the main battle tank for Germany, several other European countries, Australia, Canada, Brazil and Chile. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bangladesh. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cyprus. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr. ... The NHI NH90 is a twin-engine, ten-ton multi-role helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries, a company established by Agusta, Eurocopter and Stork Fokker Aerospace. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iran. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malta. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Myanmar. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... We dont have an article called Pakistan Ordnance Factories Start this article Search for Pakistan Ordnance Factories in. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sudan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... V-100 (XM706) Armored Car w/ a turret featuring a minigun advertisement The V-100 Commando is an amphibious APC built by Cadillac Gage. ...

See also

The MG 34 - the first Universelles Maschinengewehr forerunner of the modern GPMG, shown here in two different mountings. ...

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Woźniak, Ryszard. Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej - tom 3 M-P. Bellona. 2001. pp106-107.
  2. ^ Eesti Kaitsevägi - Tehnika - Kuulipilduja MG-3
  3. ^ 7.62 mm MG3.
  4. ^ SOJ.lt. Retrieved on April 2, 2008.
  5. ^ http://www.mkek.gov.tr/english/foUrunDetaylari.aspx?iKodUrun=90&iKodUrunKategorisi=107
  6. ^ 7.62 KK MG 3. Retrieved on April 2, 2008.
  7. ^ KARAR 7.62x51mm. Retrieved on April 2, 2008.

References

  • Ezell, Edward C. (1988). Small Arms Today 2nd Edition. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books. 
  • (Polish) Woźniak, Ryszard (2001). "p. 106-107", Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej - tom 3 M-P. Warsaw, Poland: Bellona. ISBN 83-11-09311-3. 

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
MG3 - The real meaning from Timesharetalk wikipedia (1240 words)
The MG3 is a German air-cooled, belt-fed general purpose machine gun chambered in the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge.
The MG3 feeds from the left side through a feed block using metal, 50-round continuous-link DM1 ammunition belts (which can be combined by cartridge) or disintegrating-link M13 or DM6 belts.
In the light machine gun role, the MG3 is deployed with a 100-round belt fitted inside a synthetic ammunition drum that is attached to the left side of the receiver.
Rheinmetall Defence - Rheinmetall's historical collection at Unterlüß: Study objects bear witness to ... (1581 words)
Although Rheinmetall did not thrive on the M88 projectile – this happened a few years later with the invention of the first barrel recoil system for a field gun – the company would never have been founded without this order.
For Rheinmetall's centenary, however, the newly created central archives did not yet play a decisive role; the company's chronicle of 1989 was almost exclusively based on the documents in the archives of Rheinmetall GmbH.
The central archives of the Rheinmetall group which have been existing in its present form since 1992 in their present form and the archives of the military study collection that (unlike the exhibition) was transferred to Ratingen and not to Unterlüß in 1992 existed alongside each other without any organizational ties for many years.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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