MG.42 in Stalingrad?

[Panzerass]

I am relaxed, mate... 8) cool down

Btw, I have fired a modern MG3 which comes very close to the MG42 of WW 2.

[Mr Holmes]

hey man,


What's the recoil on one of those things. Does it kick into your shoulder alot?

[Cool-E]

hey man,


What's the recoil on one of those things. Does it kick into your shoulder alot?

Yes it does. The very high rate of fire and the recoil make it feel like a jackhammer hitting your shoulder. The key is to hold the stock very firmly into the shoulder to avoid being beaten to death.

[Panzerass]

Well, if you are liing down behind the machine gun firmly with your whole body weight pressed against the shoulder piece of the MG then it is not that bad...but it shakes your jaw a lot.

[Andreas]

Official adoption date of the MG42 was Oct 12, 1943.

I don't think that is correct. Lexikon der Wehrmacht puts the official introduction into early 1942 and ISTR that the history of 21.ID mentions that the MG42 arrived when the division was changed to the 6-battalion organisation in early 1942. What is your source for that statement?

All the best

Andreas

[Cool-E]

Official adoption date of the MG42 was Oct 12, 1943.

I don't think that is correct. Lexikon der Wehrmacht puts the official introduction into early 1942 and ISTR that the history of 21.ID mentions that the MG42 arrived when the division was changed to the 6-battalion organisation in early 1942. What is your source for that statement?

All the best

Andreas

"The official date of adoption of the MG42 as the new machinegun for the German Army was October 12, 1943." from page 129 of "MG34-MG42 German Universal Machineguns" by Folke Myrvang. According to the book, there were prototype units made with Hitler ordering 1500 units to be delivered "in the shortest possible time" in December 1941 (same book page 125). The book states that by the time of the official adoption date, thousands of units were in service. Keep in mind that the official adoption date came after many months of field trials and many thousands of units being produced. Several important changes were made from the pre-adoption to post-adoption guns, including the cocking handle.

[Andreas]

Hmmm... Then what exactly is meant by 'official adoption'? But in any case, references I have seen put the introduction into 1942, regardless of its official adoption, so it is quite possible that units fighting in Stalingrad were equipped with it.

Production numbers from Lexikon der Wehrmacht are:

MG 42
1942 17.915
1943 116.725

MG34/41 (Prototype MG42)
1942 1.705

MG 34
1942 63.163
1943 48.802

Are those in line with the ones in Myrvang's book?

All the best

Andreas

[Mr Holmes]

@Panzerass and Cool-E

So it's like when humming out loud and you pound your chest (like Tarzan)? I've never been in military service so I would not know the ferocity of the recoil produced.

[Cool-E]

Hmmm... Then what exactly is meant by 'official adoption'? But in any case, references I have seen put the introduction into 1942, regardless of its official adoption, so it is quite possible that units fighting in Stalingrad were equipped with it.

Production numbers from Lexikon der Wehrmacht are:

MG 42
1942 17.915
1943 116.725

MG34/41 (Prototype MG42)
1942 1.705

MG 34
1942 63.163
1943 48.802

Are those in line with the ones in Myrvang's book?

All the best

Andreas

The prototype for the MG42 was the MG39/41. It was a stamped sheet metal gun that is described as being almost identicle to the MG42. The MG34/41, or MG34S is also in the book as was an attempt to increase the rate of fire of the MG34. It was still a machined firearm and not really a prototype for the MG42. The first stamped mg was the MG39. There is one known example of this gun and pics of it are in the book. The book is excellent and I would highly recommend it. You can even get a signed copy from the author: his e-mail is folkem@online.no

[Willi Von Kreiger]

Interesting, My Grandfather, was in a MG squad in the war. He didnt get the MG42 until 44

[Cool-E]

Hmmm... Then what exactly is meant by 'official adoption'? But in any case, references I have seen put the introduction into 1942, regardless of its official adoption, so it is quite possible that units fighting in Stalingrad were equipped with it.

Production numbers from Lexikon der Wehrmacht are:

MG 42
1942 17.915
1943 116.725

MG34/41 (Prototype MG42)
1942 1.705

MG 34
1942 63.163
1943 48.802

Are those in line with the ones in Myrvang's book?

All the best

Andreas

The Myrvang book has production figures on pp 443-445.

MG34
1939 44,181
1940 59,224
1941 85,156
1942 67,363
1943 51,045
1944 62,051
1945 19,647


MG42

1942 15,999
1943 119,875
1944 215,207
1945 42,494


MG34/41
1942 1,707

[Willi Von Kreiger]

The Myrvang book has production figures on pp 443-445.

MG34
1939 44,181
1940 59,224
1941 85,156
1942 67,363
1943 51,045
1944 62,051
1945 19,647


MG42

1942 15,999
1943 119,875
1944 215,207
1945 42,494


MG34/41
1942 1,707

Intresting figures, thanks...

[Andreas]

Thanks for posting the figures Cool-E.

All the best

Andreas

[Taikouchi]

They were rare in Stalingrad, but the few that made it there were prized. Waffen-SS units were issued equipment and firearms before the Heer and usually got the good stuff. Actually thinking about it, I remeber reading someplace that most Waffen-SS units were decently equiped for the winter with wool tunics and greatcoats.

[Andreas]

They were rare in Stalingrad, but the few that made it there were prized. Waffen-SS units were issued equipment and firearms before the Heer and usually got the good stuff. Actually thinking about it, I remeber reading someplace that most Waffen-SS units were decently equiped for the winter with wool tunics and greatcoats.

I am not aware of any Waffen-SS units being involved either inside Stalingrad, or in operation Wintergewitter. Which ones were they then?

Also, from what I have found through Google (always highly suspect), the first MG42 seem to have gone to North Africa - no Waffen-SS there.

All the best

Andreas