MG 13
| MG13 | |
|---|---|
 Maschinengewehr 13 | |
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin | Weimar Republic |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1930–1945 (Germany) |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | Spanish Civil War World War II Second Sino-Japanese War Chinese Civil War Portuguese Colonial War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1928 |
| Produced | 1930–1934 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 13.3 kg (29 lb) |
| Length | 1,443 mm (56.8 in) |
| Barrellength | 718 mm (28.3 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.92×57mm Mauser |
| Action | Short recoil,fired fromclosed bolt |
| Rate of fire | 600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 890 m/s (2,900 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 2,000 metres (2,200 yd) |
| Feed system | 25 round box magazine, or 75 round saddle drum, 5 round stripper clip |
TheMG 13(shortened from GermanMaschinengewehr 13) is a Germanlight machine gundeveloped by converting the Dreyse Model 1918 heavy water-cooled machine gun into an air-cooled version.[1]
History
[edit]Dreyse Model 1918 Machinegun: In 1907Louis SchmeisserofErfurtpatented a machine-gun named in honor of the inventor of the needle gun by the heads of the factory where it was made which was founded byDreyse.The Dreyse machine-gun was a heavy, usually tripod mounted, belt-fed and water cooled machine-gun.
The 1907 model was succeeded by the 1912 and later 1918 models. It was ordered the Model 1918 to be modernized by the companySimsonin Suhl. It became the MG13.[1]
Usage
[edit]
The MG 13 was introduced into service in 1930, where it served as the standard light machine gun until 1935.[1]It was superseded by theMG 34and then later theMG 42.
An unusual feature of the MG 13 was its double-crescent trigger, which providedselect firecapability without the need for a fire mode selector switch. Pressing the upper segment of the trigger producedsemi-automaticfire, while holding the lower segment of the trigger producedfully automaticfire. It also fired from aclosed bolt.
MG 13s were sold to Spain where they retained the designation of MG13 and to Portugal which used them into the late 1940s as theMetralhadora 7,92 mm m/1938 Dreyse.[1]Those MG 13's that were not sold but rather were placed into storage later saw use in World War II by second line German units. As it was easy to handle and reload, many second line troops could use the MG 13 with efficiency.
On later examples a 75-round saddle drum was also used. It was equipped with a folding butt stock and a carrying handle.[2]It was used in the turret of thePanzer Itank.[3]
TheChinese NationalistGovernment also imported the MG 13 with the Panzer I Ausf A. tanks from Germany in 1936. The MG 13 was also used against theJapanese Imperial Armyduring theSecond Sino-Japanese War.[citation needed]Portugal used it as asquad automatic weaponduring thePortuguese Colonial War,under the namem/938.[4]
TheBundeswehr Museum of German Defense TechnologyinKoblenzhas one of this specimen in its collection.
Users
[edit]
Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany
Norway:Norwegian Policereceived ex-German MG-13s after WWII and converted them to MG-13k.[5]
Portugal
Republic of China
Spanish State
References
[edit]- ^abcdSmith, Joseph E. (1973).Small Arms of the World(10th ed.). Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Company. p. 137.
- ^"MG 13 'Dreyse' machine gun (Germany)".World.guns.ru.27 October 2010.Retrieved4 December2013.
- ^"Panzerkampfwagen I".Achtungpanzer.com.Archived fromthe originalon 5 April 2018.Retrieved4 December2013.
- ^Abbott, Peter; Rodrigues, Manuel (1998).Modern African Wars 2: Angola and Mozambique 1961-74.Osprey Publishing. p. 18.
- ^Myrvang, Folke (December 2012)."MG34 and MG42 in Norway, Post WW2".Small Arms Review.Vol. 16, no. 4.
External links
[edit]
- Turrión, Matias V. (1945).Manual del Fusil Ametrallador 13 Dreyse(in Spanish). Madrid: Editorial Gran Capitan.(Manual for the MG 13)
- "Maschinengewehr 13 kurz Dreyse MG13 k".Militärische Bodenfund Originale(in German). 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 18 January 2016.(Photo gallery)