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MG 34

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Maschinengewehr 34
MG 34 in theSwedish Army Museum.
TypeGeneral-purpose machine gun
Place of originNazi Germany
Service history
In service1936–1945 (officially, German military)
1936–present (other militaries)
Used bySeeUsers
WarsSpanish Civil War
World War II
Guerrilla war in the Baltic states
Greek Civil War
Chinese Civil War
First Indochina War
1948 Arab–Israeli war
Korean War
Portuguese Colonial Wars[citation needed]
Algerian War
Cuban Revolution
Suez Crisis[1]
Biafran War
Vietnam War
Rhodesian Bush War
Angolan Civil War
Six-Day War
The Troubles
Yugoslav Wars
Syrian Civil War[2]
Production history
DesignerHeinrich Vollmer
Designed1934
ManufacturerRheinmetall-Borsig AG Soemmerda, Mauserwerke AG, Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Waffenwerke Brünn
Unit cost312ℛ︁ℳ︁(1944)
1260EURcurrent equivalent
Produced1935–1945
No.built577,120[3]
Specifications
Mass12.1 kg (26.7 lb)
32 kg (70.5 lb) (with tripod)
Length1,219 mm (48.0 in)
Barrellength627 mm (24.7 in)
Cartridge7.92×57mm Mauser
ActionRecoil-operated,openedrotating bolt
Rate of fire800–900 rounds/min
Early versions: 600–1,000 rounds/min selectable on pistol grip
MG 34 "S": 1,500 rounds/min.
MG 34/41: 1,200 rounds/min.
Practical: 150 rounds/min[4]
Muzzle velocity765 m/s (2,510 ft/s) (s.S. Patrone)
Effective firing range200–2,000 m (219–2,187 yd) sight adjustments
3,500 m (3,828 yd) with tripod and telescopic sight
Maximum firing range4,700 m (5,140 yd)
Feed system50/250-roundPatronengurt 33, 34, or 34/41 model belt,50-round drum, or 75-round drum magazine with modification
SightsIron sights,antiaircraft sight ortelescopic sights

TheMG 34(shortened from German:Maschinengewehr 34,or "machine gun 34" ) is aGermanrecoil-operated air-cooledgeneral-purpose machine gun,first tested in 1929, introduced in 1934, and issued to units in 1936. It introduced an entirely new concept in automatic firepower – theEinheitsmaschinengewehr(Universal machine gun) – and is generally considered the world's first general-purpose machine gun (GPMG).[5][6][7][8]Both the MG 34 andMG 42were erroneously nicknamed "Spandau" by Allied troops, a carryover from the World War I nickname for theMG 08,which was produced at theSpandau Arsenal.[9]

The versatile MG 34 was chambered for thefully-powered7.92×57mm Mauserrifle cartridge and was arguably the most advanced machine gun in the world at the time of its deployment.[10]The MG 34 was envisaged and well-developed to provide portablelightandmedium machine guninfantry cover, anti-aircraft coverage, and even sniping ability. Its combination of exceptional mobility – being light enough to be carried by one man – and high rate of fire (of up to 900 rounds per minute) was unmatched.[10]It entered service in great numbers from 1939. Nonetheless, the design proved to be rather complex for mass production and was supplemented by the cheaper and simplerMG 42,though both remained in service and production until the end of the war.

History

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Before World War I

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Even beforeWorld War I,the German military was already looking forward to replacing the heavy machine guns which proved to be such a success in that war. TheMG13was one of the first developments toward a goal of producing a weapon that could perform multiple roles, rather than just one. The MG13 was the result of reengineering the Dreyse Water-cooled machine gun to fit the new requirement.[11]The twin-barreledGast gunwas developed with the goal of providing a high cyclic rate of fire weapon for anti-aircraft use and was reported to have reached cyclic rates of fire as high as 1,600 rounds per minute.[11]

TheEinheitsmaschinengewehrconcept required that the operator could radically transform the machine gun for several purposes by changing its mount, sights and feed mechanism. One of theEinheitsmaschinengewehrroles was to provide low-level anti-aircraft coverage. A highcyclic rate of fireis 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. For targets that can be fired on by a general-purpose machine gun for longer periods than just a few seconds, the cyclic firing rate becomes less important.

After World War I

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After World War I the German military faced restrictions imposed by theTreaty of Versailles.The treaty restricted the GermanReichswehr(Realm Defence) to maximally stockpiling 792 heavy (bulky hard-to-maneuver water-cooled) machine guns and 1,134 light machine guns and actual production of machine guns and development of sustained fire weapons were prohibited. From 1933 Nazi Germany was committed to repudiating the Treaty of Versailles and its restrictions. As part of a (clandestine) military revitalization program the German military sought avenues to get around restrictions imposed by the treaty by resorting to innovative weapon design and engineering, German arms designers working abroad and other foreign assistance.

Development of the MG 34

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In 1932 theReichswehrministerium(Ministry of the Reichswehr) ordered several companies, includingRheinmetall,to develop a newEinheitsmaschinengewehr(Universal machine gun) to replace several role specific machine guns then in German use. The following specifications for the gun were set:

  • light weight
  • simplified operation
  • quick-change barrel
  • single-shot capability as well as two (fast and slower) cyclic rates

The MG 34 was based on a 1930 Rheinmetall design under the direction of Louis Stange atRheinmetall'sSömmerdaoffice, theMG 30.The Swiss and Austrian militaries had both licensed and produced the MG 30 from Rheinmetall shortly after it was patented and the gun started to enter service in Switzerland. The technical challenges in meeting theReichswehrministeriumspecifications were broader than the gun development itself. It also encompassed various mounts and other accessories that had to adapt that gun to different roles. The MG 30 design was adapted and modified byHeinrich VollmerofMauserIndustries. Vollmer originally designed the feed mechanism to acceptMG 13/MG 15inspired 75-roundPatronentrommel 34spring-loadedsaddle-drummagazines. ThePatronentrommel 34was a rather complex magazine for which a filling device had to be used and requiring ordnance personnel and a special tool to optimize the spring tension for reliable feeding. Users were ordered not to adjust the drum spring tension.[12] The result, the multiple role capable MG 34, wherein Rheinmetall's Sömmerda plant had a significant influence, reflected theReichswehrministeriumspecifications.[3]

MG 34 with insertedGurt 34reusable non-disintegrating metal ammunition belt

In 1937 the feed was redesigned to use reusable non-disintegratingGurt 33andGurt 34metal belts and a 50-roundGurttrommel 34(belt drum). The feeding system was based on the direct push-through of the cartridge out of the link into the gun's chamber. Accordingly, the link had to be of the half-open type to enable the motion of the bolt through the link. Vollmer also increased the rate of fire.[10][13]The MG 34'sdouble crescent triggerdictated either semiautomatic or fully automatic firing modes. The capability to use the previous 75-roundPatronentrommel 34saddle-drum magazines (with a required change of the feed cover for aTrommelhaltermagazine holder) was retained.

As the MG 34 was technically based on and featured design elements of several other machine guns, the German arms industry under the guidance of theWaffenamt(German Army Weapons Agency) negotiated and worked out complex royalties and patents matters regarding the MG 34 to every involved side's satisfaction.

Before large scale production commenced, 2,300 MG 34s in two main early versions, slightly more complex and different from the final design, were produced between 1935 and 1939. At the time it was introduced, it had a number of advanced features and the general-purpose machine gun concept that it aspired to was an influential one.[14]A little-known feature of these first 2,300 weapons was a device that could be used to change the rate of fire of the weapon. This cadence regulator, which was designed as a flick-force brake, was located in the grip of the weapon. The designer of the MG 34, Louis Stange, was granted the corresponding patent (No. 686 843) at the end of 1939.[15]

During the period between 1934 and the adoption of the final version theWaffenamtrealized the MG 34Einheitsmaschinengewehrwas too complex and expensive tomass-produceand started looking for ways to simplify and rationalize the technical concept. In 1937, theWaffenamtrequested three companies to submit new more economicalEinheitsmaschinengewehrdesigns.

Adoption of the MG 34 and nextEinheitsmaschinengewehrgeneration

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The final version of the MG 34 was eventually adopted for main service on 24 January 1939.[14] The MG 34 was the mainstay of German Army support weapons[16]from the time of its first pre large scale production issue in 1935 until 1942, when it was supplanted by the nextEinheitsmaschinengewehrgeneration Maschinengewehr 42 orMG 42.Although the MG 34 was reliable when competently maintained, it was sensitive to extreme weather conditions, dirt, and mud. Its dissemination throughout the German forces was hampered due to its elaborately milled precision engineering with tight tolerances and use of high-quality metal alloys, which resulted in high machine time, skilled labor requirements, production costs and a relatively slow rate of production.[10]MG 34 production during the war amounted to over 350,000 units (12,822 units in 1939, 54,826 in 1940, 80,952 in 1941, 63,163 in 1942, 48,802 in 1943, 61,396 in 1944, and 20,297 in 1945).[3]Attempts to incrementally improve the fundamental drawbacks of the basic MG 34 design failed.[17]For its successor, the faster firing, less complex, sensitive and cheaper MG 42, the Germans instead used mass production techniques similar to those that created theMP 40submachine gun.[16]In 1943, MG 42 production surpassed MG 34 production and continued to do so until the end of the war. The Germans nevertheless continued widespread production of MG 34s in parallel until the end of the war.[18]

Combat use

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German soldiers with an MG 34 using a 50-roundGurttrommel

In the field, the weapon could operate in offensive or defensive applications. The offensive model, with a mobile soldier, used either a 50-roundGurttrommelor a 75-roundPatronentrommel 34.In a stationary defensive role, the gun was mounted on a bipod or tripod and fed by a non-disintegrating metal ammunition belt. Belts were carried in boxes of five. Each belt contained 50 rounds. Belt lengths could be linked for sustained fire. During sustained fire, barrels would have to be changed at intervals due to the heat generated by the rapid rate of fire. If the barrels were not changed properly, the weapon would misfire. Changing barrels was a rapid process for the trained operator and involved disengaging a latch and swinging the receiver to the right for the insertion of a new barrel into the barrel shroud. Accordingly, stationary defensive positions required more than one operator.[10]The weapon was cocked by a non-reciprocating charging handle located at the bottom right of the receiver.

Europe

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The MG 34 was used as the primary infantry machine gun, and remained as the primary armored vehicle defensive weapon as it took limited space to change barrels inside a vehicle. The MG 34 was intended to replace theMG 13and other older machine guns, but these were still being used in World War II as demand was never met.[19]It was intended to be replaced in infantry service by theMG 42,but there were never enough MG 42s, and MG 34s continued to be used in all roles until the end ofWorld War II.[20]

It was the standard machine gun of theKriegsmarine(German Navy)[21]and was also used as a secondary weapon on most German tanks and other armoured vehicles used during World War II.[20]

East Asia

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MG 34s captured by the British and Soviet armies were sent to bothChinese NationalistandChinese Communistforces during World War II and theChinese Civil War.[22]The French army sent captured MG 34s toIndochinaduring theIndochina War.[23]Some models captured from the Germans by the Soviets or manufactured in Czechoslovakia post-WWII were supplied to thePeople's Liberation Army/People's Volunteer Army,[22]PAVNand theViet Congduring the Cold War.[24]Several hundred more MG 34s that were in use with these groups were taken from either French or other Western nations fielding captured German weapons fighting against them in colonial wars or anti-communist conflicts.

Small arms doctrine

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A Wehrmacht infantry squad with the MG 34 in the light machine gun role

The German tactical infantry doctrine of the era based a (10-manGruppe)squad's firepower on the general-purpose machine gun in the light machine gun role.[25]The advantage of the general purpose machine gun concept was that it added greatly to the overall volume of fire that could be put out by a squad-sized unit.[26][27] It was possible for operating crews to lay down a non-stop barrage of fire, pausing only when the barrel had to be replaced. This allowed the MG 34 to tie up significantly larger numbers of enemy troops than was otherwise possible. The Americans and the British trained their troops to take cover from the fire of an MG 34, and assault the position during the small time window of barrel replacement.[28]

The German military instructed that sustainedcyclic ratefire must be avoided at all costs. In the bipod-mounted light machine gun role, MG 34 users were trained to fire short bursts and strive to optimize their aim between bursts fired in succession.[4]According to comparative tests by the US military under battle conditions, 7 to 10 rounds bursts with 15 bursts in a minute were most effective.[29]For its medium machine gun role, the MG 34 was matched to the newly developedLafette 34tripod. In the tripod-mounted medium machine gun role, general-purpose machine gun users were trained to fire short bursts and bursts of 20 to 50 rounds and strive to optimize their aim between bursts fired in succession.[4]As a consequence of factors like the time spent reloading, aiming, changing hot barrels if necessary to allow for cooling, the MG 34's practicaleffective rate of firewas 150 rounds per minute.[4][29]

TheAllied nations' infantry doctrines of World War II based a squad's/rifle section's firepower centered on the rifleman and/or a magazine fed light machine gun (BAR, Bren, DP-27/DPM, FM 24/29), and they utilised weapons withcyclic fire ratesof typically 450–600 rounds per minute.

Light machine gun fire support role

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Machine gun team with MG34 at the Eastern Front

A German infantryGruppe(squad) at the start of the war consisted of ten men: a non-commissioned officer orUnteroffiziersquad leader, deputy squad leader, a three-man machine gun team (machine gunner, assistant gunner/loader and ammunition carrier) and five riflemen. The riflemen carried additional ammunition for the machine gun,hand grenades,explosive charges or a machine gun tripod as required and provided security and covering fire for the machine gun team.[30][31]A fullGruppe(squad) carried 1,800 rounds of ammunition for the machine gun between them.[32]

Medium machine gun fire support role

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MG 34 general-purpose machine gun mounted on aLafette 34tripod

In the Germanheavy machine gun(HMG)platoons,each platoon served four MG 34/MG 42 machine guns, used in the sustained fire mode mounted on tripods.[33]In 1944, this was altered to six machine guns in three sections with two seven-man heavy machine gun squads per section as follows:

  • Squad leader (NCO)MP40
  • Machine gunner (private) MG 34/MG 42 andWalther P38
  • Assistant gunner (private) pistol
  • Three riflemen (privates) rifles
  • Horse leader for horse, cart and trailer (private) rifle

The optimum operating crew of an MG 34 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.[34]

To enable the machine gun for its long-rangedirect fireandindirect firesupport roles, optical sights could be added to aZielfernrohrhalter(optical sight mounting bracket) on thetripod,allowing operating crews to continue using advanced planned and unplanned firing methods developed during World War I, thoughplunging fireorindirect firemethods were not as commonly used by machine gunners during World War II as they were during World War I.[35]

Design details

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Operating system

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The MG 34 fires from anopen boltand this format both keeps the barrel open at both ends after firing ceases, allowing airflow through it and helping it to cool faster, and meanwhile retains the next unfired bullet outside the chamber until the trigger is squeezed again; and thus the cartridges are protected from the risk ofcook-offsfrom high chamber temperatures after long bouts of sustained automatic fire. The firearm was designed with arotating boltoperated byshort recoilaided by amuzzle booster.When the firearm is ready to fire the bolt is pulled back to the rear and is held back by thesear.With the pull of the trigger the sear disengages sending the bolt forward under pressure from the recoil spring. A cartridge is stripped from the magazine or belt and the round is pushed into the chamber. As the bolt moves forward into battery the bolt rotates engaging the locking lugs and chamber locking the bolt to the barrel. Thestrikerstrikes and ignites the primer and the round is fired. The recoil causes the barrel and bolt to move backwards a short distance. The rearward movement of the barrel causes the rotating bolt to rotate back disengaging the locking lugs and unlocking the bolt from the barrel. The barrel returns to its forward position while the bolt recoils to its rear position. The spent cartridge case is ejected downward through an ejection port normally covered by a spring-loaded dust cover at the bottom of the receiver, just in front of the trigger group and the cycle can begin anew.[36]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.[37]

Sights

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Spiderweb-type anti-aircraft sight to enable the MG 34 for its low level anti-aircraft defense role

The MG 34 came with a standardiron sightline consisting of a notched 'V' sight mounted to a post in the rear and a single blade at the front. The sight came calibrated for ranges between 200 and 2,000 m (219 and 2,187 yd) in 100 m (109 yd) meter increments.[38]The standard sight line had a 530 millimeters (20.9 in) sight radius.

The MG 34 could accept a variety of different sighting systems, such as a spider web-type anti-aircraft sight[39]or telescopic sights for use in specialty roles.

Anactive infrareddevice, intended primarily for night use, and consisting of a specialized mount, active 300 millimeters (11.8 in) infrared spotlight and accompanying infrared image converter was developed that could be used with the MG 34 and MG 42. In the later stages of World War II the bulkyFahr- und Zielgerät FG 1250(driving and aiming deviceFG 1250) active infrared unit was paired onSd.Kfz. 251/1Falkehalf-track armored personnel carriers to some MG 34 and MG 42 machine guns.[40][41]

Feeding

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Method of joining German non-disintegrating metallic-link ammunition machine gun belts

The MG 34 could usenon-disintegrating metallic-link belts,which have links that wrap around the cartridge case and are linked by a coiling wire on each side. The belts are intended for multiple reuse. Operation through the feed block is in one step by a feed arm housed in the feed cover. According to U.S. Ordnance Department tests, performed in 1942, the MG 34 was capable of lifting 75 rounds of belted ammunition during firing.[42]The feeding system was based on the direct push-through of the cartridge out of the link into the gun's chamber. Accordingly, the link had to be of the half-open type to enable the motion of the bolt through the link. During World War II theGurt 34/41-belt family was introduced.Gurt 34/41belt links and wire spirals were made of thinner material — theGurt 34links were made of 0.7 mm (0.028 in) andGurt 34/41links of 0.5 mm (0.020 in) thick stamped steel sheet metal — that saved ⅓ of metal and counterintuitively yielded improved performance. Belts were supplied in a fixed length of 50 rounds, but could be linked up to make longer belts for sustained firing. Ammunition boxes contained 250 rounds in five 50-round belts. A 250-roundPatronengurt 33belt was also issued to machine guns installed in fixed emplacements such as bunkers.Patronenkasten 34andPatronenkasten 41ammunition boxescould hold up to 300 belted rounds. ThePatronenkastencould contain anEinführstückbelt starter-segment.[13][43][44]
The 50-roundGurttrommelassault drum designed to be clipped to the left side of the gun was an alternative feed option. It was not a true magazine but held a coiled 50-round belt and correspondingEinführstückstarter-segment preventing it from snagging, twisting and getting stuck during mobile assaults. TheGurttrommelbelt container was commonly used until the end of World War II, with the MG 34 and MG 42.[45]
The 75-roundPatronentrommel 34"double drum" magazine was the original pre-redesign feed method. This double drum or saddle magazine type was introduced on theMG 13,but the MG 13 magazine andPatronentrommel 34were not interchangeable. After the MG 34 redesign, that enabled the MG 34 to use belted ammunition, thePatronentrommel 34became a rare alternative feed option. ThePatronentrommel 34could be used only together with aTrommelhaltermagazine holder that substituted the normal feed cover, thereby switching the gun from belt feeding toPatronentrommel 34"double drum" magazine feeding. It contained 75 loose rounds in two spring-powered spirals twisting in opposite direction, feeding the chamber from opposite sides in turn. ThePatronentrommel 34was rather complicated and inconvenient to (re)load, adjust to work reliably, and in use.[12]It had to be loaded by a specialTrommelfüller 34drum filler machine. This drum filler machine could be stored and carried in aPatronenkasten 34ammunition box. An MG 34 configured to use the 75-round magazine could not be returned to belt-feed mode without substituting theTrommelhaltermagazine holder for the normal feed cover.[46]By the end of 1938 thePatronentrommel 34and its accessories were officially withdrawn. This induced thatPatronentrommel 34use by infantry had ceased by 1941, with some mainly in the low level anti-aircraft role remaining in use on armoured vehicles. The MG 34 tended to fire at a somewhat higher cyclic rate when fed by a 75-roundPatronentrommel 34than when fed by a standard belt, due to the spring loading of the former.[47]

Barrel

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The barrel of the MG 34 could be quickly changed to avoid overheating during sustained fire by the machine gun crew and weighed 2 kg (4.4 lb). The service life of an MG 34 barrel was about 6,000 rounds assuming the barrel was used according to the regulations, which prohibited rapid or sustained fire beyond 250 rounds. In cases of emergency therapid rateof a barrel was limited to 400 rounds. During a barrel change, the operator would disengage a latch on the left side of the receiver which held the receiver to the barrel sleeve. The entire receiver section could then pivot off to the right on its latitudinal axis, allowing the operator to pull the (hot) barrel out the back of the sleeve. A new cool(er) barrel would then be put in the back of the sleeve, and the receiver rotated back in line with the barrel sleeve and latched. The machine gun crew member responsible for a hot barrel change was issued protectiveasbestosmitts to prevent burns to the hands. The entire process took 10 to 15 seconds when performed by a well-trained crew, causing minimal downtime in battle.[46]

For carrying and protecting spare barrel units, consisting of a barrel and its locking piece, aLaufschützer 34(barrel protector) was used as a field accessory. When closed theLaufschützer 34looked like a tubular container with mountings at its ends to attach a carrying/shoulder strap. During a barrel change a cool MG 34 barrel unit coming out of theLaufschützer 34can be inserted in the machine gun and the replaced hot barrel unit can be placed in or on the openedLaufschützer 34to cool down. Later in the war the universalLaufschützer 43was introduced that could be used with MG 43 and MG 42 barrel units.[48]

Trigger

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MG 34 double-crescent trigger, E= "Einzelfeuer," semi-automatic fire; D= "Dauerfeuer," full automatic fire

A notable feature of the MG 34 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.[47]Though considered innovative at the time, the feature was eliminated due to its complexity on the MG 34's successor, the MG 42.[49]The lower section has a restrictor built in the trigger allowing it to be pulled further back if pressed by the user. The safety switch has a secure double safety requiring the user to push in the notch and sliding over until it locks in place in safe/fire modes. Trigger groups on examples used on the eastern front used aluminium grip panels as bakelite tended to crack in the cold.[citation needed]

In the light machine gun role, it was used with a bipod and weighed only 12.1 kg (26.7 lb). In themedium machine gunrole, it could be mounted on one of two tripods, a smaller one weighing 6.75 kg (14.9 lb), the largerLafette 3423.6 kg (52.0 lb).

Lafette 34tripod

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MG 34 mounted on aLafette 34tripod with MG Z 34 4× telescopic sight

For the medium machine gun role a larger tripod, the MG 34Lafette 34,included a number of features, such as recoil absorbing buffer springs, aZielfernrohrhalter(optical sight mounting bracket) for mounting an MG Z 34 or MG Z 40 periscope-type 4× powertelescopic sightcontaining special sighting equipment forindirect fireor the late World War II MG Z 44, designed for direct fire only.[50]Fitting such an optical sight enabled the machine gun to deliver direct fire out to 3,000 m (3,281 yd). An accessory to lengthen these sights' periscope was available, allowing the use of them behind cover. TheLafettecould be set up in a prone, kneeling or a high position and weighed 20 kg (44.1 lb) on its own. The legs could be extended with aLafetteaufsatzstückto allow it to be used in the low level anti-aircraft role, and when lowered, it could be placed to allow the gun to be fired "remotely" while it swept an arc in front of the mounting with fire. Mounted to theLafetteand aimed through the MG Z 34 or MG Z 40 telescopic sight the effective range of the MG 34 could be extended out to 3,500 m (3,828 yd) when fired indirectly. The indirect firing method exploits thes.S. Patroneuseful maximum range, that is defined by the maximum range of a small-arms projectile while still maintaining the minimum kinetic energy required to put unprotected personnel out of action, which is generally believed to be 15 kilogram-meters (147 J / 108 ft⋅lbf).[51]TheLafette 34tripod also had a bolt box to store a (spare) bolt.[52][53]

Another unique feature of German World War II machine guns was theTiefenfeuerautomatfeature on theLafette 34tripod. If selected, this feature mechanically controlled the rise and fall of the gun, elevating the gun for five rounds and then depressing it for four rounds. It lengthened thebeaten zoneby walking the fire in wave like motions up and down the range in a predefined area. The length of the beaten zone could be set on theTiefenfeuerautomat.E.g., being unsure whether the real distance was 2,000 or 2,300 m (2,187 or 2,515 yd), the gunner could make the mount do an automatic sweep between the elevations for 1,900 to 2,400 m (2,078 to 2,625 yd) and back. This sweeping of a selected beaten zone continued as long as the gun fired. TheLafette 34had aRicht- und Überschießtafel(Overhead firing table) riveted to the rear body of the searchfire mechanism from the very start of production until the very end of it. In the later stages of World War II ballistic correction directions were added for overshooting friendly forces withS.m.E. –Spitzgeschoß mit Eisenkern(spitzer with iron core)ammunition of which the external ballistic behaviour started to significantly deviate from 1,500 m (1,640 yd) upwards compared to thes.S. Patrone(s.S. ball cartridge).[54][55][56]A trigger handle, which enabled the operator to fire the gun without affecting the stability of the gun's point of aim, was attached to theTiefenfeuerautomatsearchfire unit. On theLafette 34it could be adjusted for both semi-automatic firing and full-automatic firing mode, although some simplified late-war mounts had the trigger configured for full-automatic firing mode only.[57]

There were numerous other specialist mounts for the MG 34. TheDreibein 34,for example, was a simple high-standing tripod for mounting the gun in anti-aircraft mode. There were also mounts for bicycles, motorcycle sidecars, tanks and armoured vehicles (ball and pintle mounts), fortress positions, boat decks and even assault gliders. MG 34s were mounted in multiple-gun arrangements, particularly on vehicles, for low level anti-aircraft defence.[58]

The MG 34 butt-stock could be easily removed to reduce the space occupied when mounted inside a vehicle.[59]It was produced in various wood and bakelite versions.

Variants

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MG 34 based improvement attempts

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As the first war experiences in the beginning of World War II proved that a higher cyclic fire rate generates more dispersion of the bullets, MG 34 based prototype guns like theMG 34Swere requested. The MG 34S had a shortened and lightened barrel, a stiffer multi strands recoil spring and a better recoil booster to increase the rate of fire. The prototype weapons were developed into the very similar further improvedMG 34/41,that could cope with a cyclic firing rate of 1,200 rounds per minute, but its components became highly stressed. The effort to simplify the basic MG 34 and reduce production effort and costs consisted mainly of discarding the possibility of semi-automatic fire, using a trigger group containing many stamped parts, and eliminating some complex machining operations during production. Technically, the ejector assembly was enlarged and strengthened, and the feed mechanism was modified to provide a more secure grip on the cartridge.[60]The weight of the MG 34/41 was 14 kg, slightly more than the original MG 34 version.[citation needed]A limited run of MG 34/41 model guns, was completed and tested in combat trials at the Russian front.[20]These guns exhibited durability problems, which is why the development of MG 34 based incrementally improved guns was discontinued. Instead, the German military preferred the technically fundamentally differing also combat trailed MG 39/41 gun. In early 1942 a further improved model of the MG 39/41 was officially accepted and designated as the MG 42.[20]

MG 34 Panzerlauf

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Barrel shroud and recoil booster of an internalKugelblende(ball mount) mounted MG 34 protruding out of the sloping upper glacis plate of aTiger IIheavy tank

Most German tanks and other armoured vehicles used during World War II used theMG 34 PanzerlauforMG 34 Panzermantelfor secondary armament, theJagdpanzer IVtank destroyer being the exception.[61]The MG 42 was ill-suited for enclosed secondary or coaxial mounting due to the method of barrel change. The MG 42's barrel had to be removed and replaced by sliding the barrel out at an angle such that, when mounted on a tank/armoured vehicle, armour and space would have to be compromised to fit the weapon. Although the MG 34 was older than the (arguably) improved MG 42, its barrel could be swapped in-line with the gun, meaning that the MG 34 was favoured because it was simpler to design mountings for the gun. The MG 34 was also more versatile to feed, for instance using a 75-roundPatronentrommel 34double drum magazine or being select-fire.[62]

The main difference of theMG 34 Panzerlaufand the regular MG 34 was the heavier, almost solidPanzermantelarmored barrel shroud, almost completely lacking the ventilation holes of the regular MG 34.[63]Further theMG 34 Panzerlauffeatured bipod clamps for attaching a bipod and lacked the anti-aircraft sight bracket. When mounted inside the generally limited space inside an armored vehicle, the MG 34 user detachable butt-stock was taken off.[59]A kit for quick conversion to ground use in the light machine gun role was carried inside the tank containing a butt-stock and a combined bipod and front sight assembly.[63][64]About 50,000MG 34 PanzerlauforMG 34 Panzermantelwere produced.[61]

MG 81

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The MG 34 was also used as the basis of a new aircraft-mounted machine gun, theMG 81 machine gun.For this role, the breech was slightly modified to allow feeds from either side, and in one version, two guns were bolted together on a single trigger to form a weapon known as theMG 81Z(forZwilling,German for "twin" as in twin-mounted). Production of the MG 34 was never enough to satisfy any of its users, and while the MG81 was a significant improvement over the earlier MG 30-based MG 15 andMG 17guns, these guns were used until the end of the war. As the Luftwaffe lost the battle for air superiority and declined in priority in the German war effort, MG 15s and MG 81s, which were designed as flexibly mounted aircraft machine guns, were modified and adapted for ground use by infantry, with varying degrees of success.

MG34F1 and MG34F2

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Norway used and first converted the MG 34 in the 1950s to.30-06 Springfielddesignated as the MG34F1 and later to7.62×51mm NATOdesignated as the MG34F2. These converted MG 34's were used by theHeimevernet(Norwegian Home Guard)until the mid 1990s.[65]

TNW MG34

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The TNW MG34 is a closed bolt, semi automatic only version of the MG34 made by TNW firearms, marketed towards civilian collectors, and was manufactured due to the high cost and rarity of the full auto versions. Although they stopped production in 2018, they continue to make part kits for the semi automatic variant of the MG34.

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  • US War Department instruction video on the MG 34 from 1943
  • MG 34 bipod and Lafette 34 tripod mounts
    MG 34 bipod andLafette 34tripod mounts
  • A Gurttrommel attached to the receiver of an MG 34 on its bipod during a reenactment
    AGurttrommelattached to the receiver of an MG 34 on its bipod during a reenactment
  • Lafette 34 tripod mounted MG 34 setup for its anti-aircraft role
    Lafette 34tripod mounted MG 34 setup for its anti-aircraft role
  • Dreibein 34 (a simple high-standing anti-aircraft tripod) mounted MG 34
    Dreibein 34(a simple high-standing anti-aircraft tripod) mounted MG 34
  • Zwillingssockel 36 mounted MG 34s
    Zwillingssockel 36mounted MG 34s
  • Zwillingssockel 36 mounted MG 34s on a Maschinengewehrwagen 36
    Zwillingssockel 36mounted MG 34s on aMaschinengewehrwagen 36
  • Zwillingssockel 36 with one mounted MG 34, notice the removed butt-stock
    Zwillingssockel 36with one mounted MG 34, notice the removed butt-stock

Users

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See also

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References

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  1. ^Russell, Lee; Katz, Sam (April 1986).Israeli Defense Forces, 1948 to the Present.Uniforms Illustrated 12. Olympic Marketing Corp. p. 15.ISBN978-0-85368-755-9.
  2. ^ab"Syrian Civil War: WWII weapons used".WWII After WWII.June 27, 2017.[self-published source]
  3. ^abcMyrvang 2002,p.[page needed].
  4. ^abcd"German Views on Use of the MG 42".Intelligence Bulletin.II(9). May 1944.Retrieved17 February2017– via Lonesentry.com.Under battle conditions the MG 42 can fire about 22 bursts per minute—that is, about 154 rounds. Under the same conditions, the MG 34 is capable only of about 15 bursts per minute, at a rate of 7 to 10 rounds per burst, totalling about 150 rounds. Thus the MG 42, used as a light machine gun, requires a slightly higher ammunition expenditure.
  5. ^Bishop 2002,p. 246.
  6. ^Hogg, Ian & Gander, Terry (2005).Jane's Guns Recognition Guide.HarperCollins. p. 375.
  7. ^Hogg, Ian V. & Weeks, John S. (2000).Military Small Arms of the 20th Century(7th ed.). Iola, WI: Krause Publications. p. 326.ISBN978-0-87341-824-9.
  8. ^Bishop 2002,pp. 245 & 246.
  9. ^McNab 2012,p. 62.
  10. ^abcdeHaskew 2012,p. 92.
  11. ^abSmith 1973.
  12. ^ab"Filling and Adjusting the PT34".Bergflak's Lounge.
  13. ^abLegendre, Jean-François (March 2005)."Feeding the Tiger: Ammunition Belts for German MG 34 and MG 42 Machine Guns".Small Arms Review.8(6).
  14. ^abMcNab 2012,p. 13.
  15. ^Geckeler, Alexander.Waffen-Anatomie: Das Maschinengewehr 34,page 66 et seq. (https://buchshop.bod.de/waffen-anatomie-das-maschinengewehr-34-alexander-geckeler-9783758331329)
  16. ^abHaskew 2012,p. 146.
  17. ^Smith 1973,pp. 437–442;McNab 2012,p. 17.
  18. ^Haskew 2012,p. 85.
  19. ^Smith 1973,p. 137.
  20. ^abcdMcNab 2012,p. 17.
  21. ^McNab 2012,p. 61.
  22. ^abcdefMcNab 2012,p. 69.
  23. ^Ezell, Edward Clinton (1988).Personal firepower.The Illustrated history of the Vietnam War 15. Bantam Books. pp.34,41.ISBN978-0-55334-549-0.OCLC1036801376.
  24. ^abcdMcNab 2012,p. 70.
  25. ^SMALL UNITS GROUND WAR. TO&Es OF SMALL UNITS: GERMAN AND SOVIET ORGANIZATION IN 1941
  26. ^Hogg, Ian V. & Weeks, John (1977). "US Rifle, Caliber.30in ('Garand'), M1-M1E9, MiC, M1D, T26".Military Small-Arms of the 20th century.London, UK: Arms & Armour Press. p. 183.ISBN978-0-88254-436-6.
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  28. ^McNab 2012,p. 33.
  29. ^abMcNab 2012,pp. 35.
  30. ^Bull, Stephen (2004).World War II Infantry Tactics: Squad and Platoon.Osceola, WI: Osprey. pp. 22–23.ISBN978-1-84176-662-1.
  31. ^Military Intelligence Service, U.S. War Department (December 25, 1943)."The German Squad In Combat"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on December 22, 2017 – viaUSACAC.
  32. ^McNab 2012,pp. 43.
  33. ^Murray, Dave (January 2013)."The Men Behind the Counters: The German Infantry Platoon".Avalanche Press.Retrieved18 February2017.
  34. ^McNab 2012,pp. 39.
  35. ^"How The Machine Gun Changed Combat During World War I".Norwich University Online.October 15, 2020.
  36. ^McNab 2012,pp. 14–15.
  37. ^McNab 2012,p. 44.
  38. ^McNab 2012,p. 42.
  39. ^McNab 2012,p. 56.
  40. ^McCollum, Ian (23 November 2013)."Vintage Saturday: Night Vision".Forgotten Weapons.Retrieved8 August2021.
  41. ^The Last Panther in Pomerania by Rhodes Williams IR Solutions
  42. ^Iannamico, Frank (June 2006)."The MG 34 light machine gun: U. S. Ordnance Department Tests".Small Arms Review.9(9).
  43. ^"German Uniforms and Equipment: Ammunition Can 34 and 41 (Patronenkasten 34 u. 41)".mp44.nl.
  44. ^"MG 34/42 ammunition box – Patronenkasten 41 – bdk 4".FJM44.November 3, 2016.
  45. ^"Patronentrommel 34".Bergflak's Lounge.
  46. ^abMcNab 2012,p. 15.
  47. ^abMcNab 2012,p. 14.
  48. ^"MG34/42 Spare Barrel Carrier (Laufschützer)".The Collector's Guild.
  49. ^McNab 2012,p. 20.
  50. ^"Cased MG34/42 ZF34 Optical Sight (Zielfernrohr 34/42 mit Kasten)".The Collector's Guild.
  51. ^Kjellgren, G. L. M."The Practical Range of Small Arms"(PDF).The American Rifleman.pp. 40–44.Archived(PDF)from the original on 5 March 2015.
  52. ^McNab 2012,pp. 49–51.
  53. ^"Lafette 34 & 42".Bergflak's Lounge.
  54. ^"The evolution of the Lafette 34".Bergflak's Lounge.
  55. ^"Maschinengewehr 34, Teil 2, MGLafette 34, Beschreibung, Handhabung und Behandlung vom 5.3.43"(PDF)(in German) – via Forgottenweapons.com.
  56. ^"The Überschießtafel".Bergflak's Lounge.
  57. ^McNab 2012,p. 50.
  58. ^McNab 2012,pp. 16–17.
  59. ^ab"Maschinengewehr Modell 34 (MG34)".Militaryfactory.com.
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  61. ^abMcNab 2012,p. 57.
  62. ^McNab 2012,p. 58.
  63. ^abMcNab 2012,p. 59.
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  72. ^Brnardic, Vladimir (17 November 2016).World War II Croatian Legionaries: Croatian Troops under Axis Command 1941–45.Men-at-Arms 508. Osprey Publishing. p. 5.ISBN978-1-47281-767-9.
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  74. ^McNab 2012,pp. 69–70.
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Sources

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[edit]
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