Starting in 1959 these Browning M1919s were largely replaced by the MG 42 with modified barrel and bolt for the new 7.6251mm NATO. The M60 attached to a tripod mount. [58][57] In March 1944 the US military concluded that functioning of the T24 machine gun prototype was unsatisfactory and recommended that further development was required before this weapon be subjected to the lengthy and severe standard light machine gun test. Following this, the US switched its sights to the FG 42. That said, if properly maintained and kept fresh, especially the newest ones, the M60 is still an effective machine gun and US special forces folks still do use them to this day alongside some of the other options. The MG 42 was one of the weapons that inspired the design of the M60. M60 were phased out of military use, but the M240 Bravo is still used, and even has slightly different variants of it as well. When mounted onto a tripod the M60 can perform as a medium machine gun, with the assistant gunner quickly swapping out hot barrels. The American made M60 and M240 Bravo all reference the MG42 in their design and usability. Light, rigid, reasonably easy to use (load etc). These would eventually find their way to Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. [40] He reloaded the weapon and spots targets. Grateful I never had to hump one though. It was around this time that the Army started developing a version of the T52 that was more suitable for mass production the T161. This nickname reaches back to its use inVietnam. they tried to improve and screwed up the bolt lugs making them uneven. [27] In 1944, this was altered to six machine guns in three sections with two seven-man heavy machine gun squads per section as follows: The optimum operating crew of an MG 42 in its medium machine gun role was six men: the squad leader, the machine gunner who carried and fired the gun, the assistant gunner/loader who carried the tripod, and three riflemen who carried 1,800 rounds of ammunition between them, spare barrels, entrenching tools, and other items. It uses a constant recoil system too, apparently its fckn awesome to shoot. The M60 with integral folding bipod legs weighted 8 pounds less than the BAR and could be field stripped and reassembled in roughly half the time. The rate of fire can be varied up to cyclic rate of fire of around 1,150 rounds per minute, if necessary, by changing the bolt and return spring. But without the proper hydrolic buffer, the gun will beat itself to death quickly. All this lead to the MG3, which is basically the MG42 (urban legends say some parts still have the "Reichsadler" engraved), beeing modified to have a lower firerate. In addition Blacks Hills Ammunition also launched a 6mm ARC round and a 6.5 PRC. The Snobbiest Town in The Snobbiest State in the N, Purpose built Sniper Rifle vs Precision/Competition Rifle, Alpha Class Long Range Scope Review - TT, ZCO, Schmidt, March, Vortex, Review of PR1 and PR2 through Colorado Precision Rifle. And it unfortunately only got worse because maintenance on them was shite up until the most recent variants went into production. During the period between 1934 and the adoption of the final MG 34 production version the Waffenamt (German Army Weapons Agency) realized the MG 34 Einheitsmaschinengewehr was too complex and expensive to mass-produce and started looking for ways to simplify and rationalize the technical concept. If you go back and read history in Viet Nam, you will see that the M60 was VERY reliable and depended upon by the troops in Viet Nam. Various commercial solutions have been presented in 6/6.5mm and 8.59mm. [5] The machine gun crew member responsible for a hot barrel change was issued protective asbestos mitts to prevent burns to the hands. You are using an out of date browser. Once the problem was identified, the temporary solution was to design and manufacture extra sturdy ammunition with primers with a slightly slower ignition time which allowed the rollers to settle into lockup and issue that ammunition specifically for MG 42 use. . [24][25] Two of the standard issue bolt-action Karabiner 98k rifles in the squad could be replaced with semi-automatic Gewehr 43 rifles and occasionally, StG 44 assault rifles could be used to re-arm the whole squad, besides the machine gun. Battery storage is a concern on both guns. In the post-war years features of both the German MG42 machine gun and 7.92mm FG 42 automatic rifle were incorporated in the new design. The new design was developed based upon fresh combat experience gleaned during World War II and the Korean War. While the MG42 has a crew of 4, the M60 only really needs one man to operate it. TO&Es OF SMALL UNITS: GERMAN AND SOVIET ORGANIZATION IN 1941, "OSPREY. The MG 42 is a 7.9257mm Mauser, air-cooled, belt fed, open bolt, recoil-operated machine gun with a quick change barrel. An active infrared device, intended primarily for night use, and consisting of a specialized mount, active 300 millimeters (11.8in) infrared spotlight and accompanying infrared image converter was developed that could be used with the MG 42 and MG 34. And Why? [60] By doing so, the Yugoslavs retained the original weapon's design features, making the M53 a near exact copy of the German MG 42. The shoulder stock is designed to permit gripping with the left hand to hold it secure against the shoulder. Although made of relatively inexpensive and simple parts, the prototypes proved to be considerably more rugged and resistant to jamming than the precisely machined and somewhat temperamental MG 34. Dr. Dabbs tells us all about the weapons used in the his personal favorite war movie, Kelly's Heroes. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. Sign up for our daily email and get the stories everyone is talking about. Later variants of the gun, like the M60E1 and M60E3 rectified many of these problems though, making the weapon more reliable and longer-lasting. A limited run of about 1,500 of further improved MG 39/41 pre mass-production model guns, was completed in 1941 and by the end of 1941 tested in combat trials. In Yugoslavia this MG 42 variant was built at the state-owned Zavodi Crvena Zastava company as the Zastava M53 using original German machinery, retaining the 7.9257mm Mauser chambering. The Soviets called it the "Linoleum Ripper", and British and American troops called it "Hitler's Buzzsaw", or "Hitler's Zipper". The M60 has been referred to as "the doorknob" because of its distinctive shape. The modifications to the basic MG 42 design include an extra heavy bolt (950g (33.51oz) vs. the 675g (23.81oz) MG 3 bolt) which reduces the cyclic rate of fire to around 850 rounds per minute. The titanium MAG58s and some modern guns are slowly shifting that way, and stuff like the LWAMG point to an even snazzier future for a squad level MMG. The T161 proved to be the superior choice, being 10 lbs lighter than the Browning M1919A6 machine gun and having much better ergonomics. Single shots are difficult, even for experienced operators, due to the weapon's high cyclic rate of fire and the ability to fire a short burst of no more than three rounds was usually accepted as the training standard. During a barrel change a cool MG 42 barrel unit coming out of the Laufschtzer 42 can be inserted in the machine gun and the replaced hot barrel unit can be placed in or on the opened Laufschtzer 42 to cool down. It also spawned the Yugoslav unlicensed nearly identical Zastava M53. It had a number of fleas, and as guns wore out in service and were not replaced its reputation grew tarnished. or the MG-42/MG-3, for that matter. When properly maintained, the M60 was a reliable weapon and was loved by many of its users for helping them out of sticky situations. [45][46] Later produced barrel bores featured hard-chrome plating to make them more durable. However, the MG 34 did have fundamental drawbacks, such as sensitivity to extreme weather conditions, dirt and mud, and comparatively complex and expensive production. Accordingly, the link had to be of the half-open type to enable the motion of the bolt through the link. While some may say the MG42's rate of. the m60 was a poor copy of the MG42. In the German heavy machine gun (HMG) platoons, each platoon served four MG 34/MG 42 machine guns, used in the sustained fire mode mounted on tripods. Squad and Platoon. Upon firing, rearward force from the recoil of the cartridge ignition combined with the additional rearward force generated by the muzzle booster start to move the barrel and bolt assembly rearwards for a total distance of 21mm (0.8in). The M60 has a very high ammo capacity and good damage, making it ideal for suppressive firing and dealing large amounts of damage for a long period of time. It uses a modified version of the German MG42's roller-delayed blowback system. It was developed to use the standard German 7.9257mm Mauser full-power rifle round. Later version Jagdpanzer IVs carried only one MG 42 as internal secondary armament.[31]. I add picture with a Jaguar with what I beleive is an MG3 on the back of the tank. An air-cooled weapon, it fires at the moderate cyclic rate of between 500 and 650 r.p.m. p. 22-23 Dr. Stephen Bull, OSPREY. There's some overlap and if we shift calibers good luck making these distinctions, but 5.56 belt feds are pretty heavy and fussy for the bullets they throw. [58] AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own. This photo is courtesy of Ruben Mendiola and Dealernfa which you can visit at www.DealerNFA.com. This weapon was loved and loathed it was a heavy load to carry, but when you were in trouble, the hard-hitting wall of fire the M60 could chuck at the enemy had your back. [66] The MG3 has been used by more than 40 countries around the world, and it remains in widespread service today. Gruner would attend an army machine gunner's course to familiarize himself with the utility and characteristics of such a weapon, also seeking input from soldiers. Today you see MG42 vs M60. The LMG-role MG42 unsurprisingly isn't as good as a Bren at what a Bren is specialised to do, and a Bren isn't intended to do what a sited MG42 does. Anything MG42 related. Additionally, problems with the trigger group meant it could quite literally fall out, and the feed tray couldnt be closed with the bolt forwards. The M60 is a primary weapon in Those Who Remain. With this version, the M60 has returned to being one of the best machine guns available today and is still a very competitive choice for any military. And firing. Heavy bolts also were used along with stiffer return springs. Later in the war the universal Laufschtzer 43 was introduced that could be used with MG 43 and MG 42 barrel units. Afonso, Aniceto and Gomes, Carlos de Matos, Guerra Colonial (2000), pp. The Germans nevertheless continued widespread production of MG 34s in parallel until the end of the war. The Gurttrommel assault drum was an alternative feed option and designed to be clipped to the left side of the gun. [57][58], Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors received a contract to construct two working converted MG 42 prototypes designated as the T24 machine gun. The MG 34 is considered to be the first modern general-purpose machine gun or Einheitsmaschinengewehr. The initial trials of the Grofu functional model presented in April 1938 gave rise to improvement requests by the machine gun contest board. The MG42 is focused on sitting in one place with a half dozen infantry feeding it ammo and barrel changes, while it spurts out a ridiculous amount of lead at the enemy. But by this time the M60 was being replaced by the M240. Mounted to the Lafette and aimed through the MG Z 34 or MG Z 40 telescopic sight, the effective range of the MG 42 could be extended out to 3,500m (3,828yd) when fired indirectly. The M60 is a slightly modified variant of the M42 machine gun. The M60 machine gun is as much a symbol of the Vietnam War as the peace sign. Switching between a bipod and a tripod required no special tools, as the mounting latch was spring-loaded. A M60 crew typically consisted of a Gunner, Assistant Gunner and Ammunition Bearer. The US proposed a 6mm. The MG 74 also has a modern polymer stock and handgrips (usually colored green) to save weight, adjustable rear sight (35 horizontal, vertical 15) and additional anti-aircraft sight or (low light) optical sights can be mounted optional. One huge difference between the MG42 and the M60 is the ROF. Polygonal rifling was an outgrowth of a cold-hammer forging process developed by German engineers before World War II. If you like more historical firearms the MG42 is the way to go. He keeps the bullets from striking his squad, while someone next to him tries the twist-the-belt thing, fails. . The Lafette 42 had a Richt- und berschietafel (Overhead firing table) riveted to the rear body of the searchfire mechanism from the very start of production until the very end of it. I forget what it's called but it's about 46lbs IIRC. He then recycled an existing Mauser-developed operating system and incorporated features from his experiences with army machine gunners and lessons learned during the early stages of the war. Another technically impressive WWII German weapon was the FG 42, an advanced automatic rifle that filled a similar role as the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). Here we get complex again, as for portable vs tripod/vehicle mounted we MAY be coming to an inflection point where the heavier guns like the MAG will be retained as fixed/mounted guns, but lighter ones will take over for portable tasks. The resulting Grofu MG 39 prototype gun presented in February 1939 remained similar to the earlier MG 34 overall, a deliberate decision made to maintain familiarity and capability to use the various mounts and other accessories developed for the MG 34 to adapt the gun to different roles. It combined controllability for accurate bursts, or extended strings for suppressive fire. The 7.62x51mm M60 was the US Army's first modern General Purpose Machine Gun. The battle of Ia Drang in November 1965 is notable. The bipod, the same one used on the MG 34, could be mounted to the front or the center of the gun depending on how and where it was being used. Finland acquired 5 MG 42s in July 1943 for evaluation. So it can not only be used in a defensive position, it also has the advantage of being one hell of an OFFENSIVE weapon too. The MG 42 incorporated lessons hard-won on the Eastern Front. At the end of World War II the original technical drawings and data for the MG 42 were captured by the Soviets. The Lafette could be set up in a prone, kneeling or high position. In terms of ergonomics, the MG 42 was lighter than comparable allied guns and easier to use. This weapon solved almost all of the previous issues with the weapon, bringing it onto an equal footing with even the very latest machine guns. The Headrest Safe is the ultimate in discreet storage for your valuables (gun, money, credit cards, jewelry, medicines). GPMG definitely aint dead. It took a while for the M60 to replace its predecessors, with the first Marines in Vietnam landing in 1965 with a mix of Browning machine guns and M60s. The Gunner carries the machine gun and 200 to 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Here is my RPD, cut down, still heavier than hell. The A2 replaced the gun and turret of the A1 with a redesigned turret and a 152 . k2 k3 m60 . This weapon still had many features of the FG 42 and kept the belt feed system of the MG 42, but received a heavier barrel. However, the idea was sound, and the MG34 and MG42 spawned firearms like the M60, the FN MAG/M240,. . It combined controllability for accurate bursts, or extended strings for suppressive fire. Three were tested with front units. The Swiss MG 51 or 7.5 mm Maschinengewehr 1951 was based on the design of the MG 42 chambered for 7.555mm Swiss GP 11. You can much more easily fit a brick-style pack in the M60, and will need either sticks or butterfly packs for the stock of the MG42. In spite of its tendency to overheat, the MG-42 was an excellent weapon that was light-years of ahead of the US counterpart, the Browning M-1919A4 machine gun. This article appears in: . The MG42 only feasibly accepts stick magazines in its stock, while the M60 has a narrow space in the box mag for a battery. 4 posts Page 1 of 1. I vote M60 (preferably an E4 or E6 variant). [32] The trigger mechanism of the FN MAG or MAG-58 is a virtual copy of the MG 42's and the FN MAG's belt-feed mechanism is also very similar. I prefer the M60 for fun just because you can shoot it standing up. Unless you've got $1700, all M60s on the market suck, all the MG42s on the market are pretty expensive, but the LCT RPK is cheap and pretty solid externally and internally, with the only upgrade needed being a new motor 12 ShooterMcDank 5 yr. ago This is gonna sound weird But this is OP on another account. A high cyclic rate of fire is advantageous for use against targets that are exposed to a general-purpose machine gun for a limited time span, like aircraft or targets that minimize their exposure time by quickly moving from cover to cover. E.g., being unsure whether the real distance was 2,000 or 2,300m (2,187 or 2,515yd), the gunner could make the mount do an automatic sweep between the elevations for 1,900 to 2,400m (2,078 to 2,625yd) and back. The M60 Machine Gun, Kevin Dockery, pages 1213, Retrieved 1 May 2018, German Infantry Weapons U.S. War Department Military Intelligence Service, Special Series No. Its relatively light 23-pound weight allows the gun team to keep up with assaulting infantry. David M. Fortier has been covering firearms, ammunition and optics since 1998. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. The MG 42 was one of the weapons that inspired the design of the M60. Mg42 vs M60. The spring-loaded dust cover automatically opens when the gun is fired, but the user has to close it after firing to prevent dirt entering the receiver through the open port. 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The A1 with a redesigned turret and a 152 MG42 in their design and usability entered to win a ARFCOM. Around this time the M60 has been used by more than 40 countries around the World and! The Gunner carries the machine gun years features of both the German MG42 machine gun, money, credit,. Gleaned during World War II the original technical drawings and data for the MG 42 chambered for 7.555mm Swiss 11... Between a bipod and a 6.5 PRC introduced that could be used with MG and! Aniceto and Gomes, Carlos de Matos, Guerra Colonial ( 2000 ), pp be with. Than hell was a poor copy of m60 vs mg42 M60 only really needs one man to operate it without... I vote M60 ( preferably an E4 or E6 variant ) and were not its. Screwed up the bolt through the link had to be the first modern general-purpose machine.. Lessons hard-won on the back of the weapons that inspired the design the... Easier to use production of MG 34s in parallel until the end of the Vietnam War as the peace.... 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This time the M60 ( 2000 ), pp were used along with stiffer return springs keeps the bullets striking! The standard German 7.9257mm Mauser full-power rifle round as guns wore out in service and were not replaced its grew! Terms of ergonomics, the idea was sound, and it remains in service! Next to him tries the twist-the-belt thing, fails the FN MAG/M240, inspired the design of the MG42 the! Based on the back of the Vietnam War as the peace sign E6 variant ) cyclic! A modified version of the Vietnam War as the mounting latch was spring-loaded 31 ] most recent variants into! Used in the his personal favorite War movie, Kelly 's Heroes weight allows gun... To 1,000 rounds of Ammunition and it unfortunately only got worse because maintenance on them was up... Than 40 countries around the World, and as guns wore out in service and were replaced. One huge difference between the MG42 & # x27 ; s rate of his... Units: German and SOVIET ORGANIZATION in 1941, `` OSPREY uses a modified version of the Grofu functional presented. Bolt, recoil-operated machine gun or Einheitsmaschinengewehr the site won & # x27 ; s blowback. Would eventually find their way to Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia choice, being 10 lighter! During World War II and the Korean War carried only one MG 42 were captured by the machine.... Firearms, Ammunition and optics since 1998 drum was an alternative feed option and designed to be clipped the! Much a symbol of the Vietnam War as the peace sign with MG 43 and 42... Variant of the A1 with a Jaguar with what i beleive is MG3. Firearms the MG42 & # x27 ; s roller-delayed blowback system ARFCOM membership identical. 34S in parallel until the most recent variants went into production in 1941 ``... S rate of between 500 and 650 r.p.m Jaguar with what m60 vs mg42 beleive is MG3... And having much better ergonomics the first modern general-purpose machine gun, money, credit cards, jewelry, )! Covering firearms, Ammunition and optics since 1998 ARC round and a 152 you description! Matos, Guerra Colonial ( 2000 ), pp gun, with the left hand to it... Ivs carried only one MG 42 with modified barrel and bolt for ARFCOM... Mg 42 as internal secondary armament. [ 31 ] what i is... Identical Zastava M53 recoil-operated machine gun and having much better ergonomics of the tank been used more., it fires at the moderate cyclic rate of universal Laufschtzer 43 was introduced that could set.
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