MG42- Buzz worse than its Bite?

The Ost batallions were basically pioneer batalions they weren't meant to fight, indeed on D Day a Parachute squad captured a pair of Italian! "OST" batalion troops who had been errecting poles as anti invasion defences, as they were unarmed the Paras let them go directing them toward a M.P station as captives, only to find them later in the day errecting further poles, when asked why they hadn't surrendered they said they were fearful that if the Germans came back they might be shot for desertion.

The Free Polish forces in Normandy found the OST batalions a ready recuiting ground to increase there numbers.

The Static Divisions were what could be best described as 2nd class infantry, the experienced NCOs and older soldiers who in normal circumstances would have been given staff or admin. jobs or discharged from service due to injury or illness, the remainder were troops of poor physical quality who probably would have failed muster in peacetime. They were not trained in normal infantry operations, but were specifically occupation troops- guarding instalations manning the beach defences in time of battle, their purpose was to delay the enemy long enough to allow the regular infantry to engage and stop the attackers and organise a counter attack with armour forces.

The Static infantry were in effect sacrifical and were not meant to blunt an armoured attack (D.day was not a true armoured thrust the tanks were there primarily as beach support). The Statics actually had no Panzerfaust or Shreks and no mobile antitank guns (although they often manned A/T instalations in beach defence). When forced out their defensive position the surviving static troops would fight on as best they could, generally making up losses in the regular infantry until captured killed or eventually taken out of the line for regrouping.

~steve

 

yeah but what happened to the armor on omaha beach did it get sunk

 

Not completely. They forced the Allies to divert troops to guarding them when they surrendered......

 

Do anyone have a photograph of a MG42 or MG34 "FIRED" round? I can find plenty of photos of unfired ammo. I want to see if I can identify a fired round as coming from one of these guns.
Thanks RBH$@

 

The MG42, or rather the MG3(the one i have experience with) is typically fired in short 3-5 round bursts when on bipods.

Due to the high rate of fire, the effect of a burst on target isn't too far off from what you could call a shotgun effect on the target.

A troop using bipods typically fires aimed salvos every 1-4 seconds when putting out fire..and a well trained gunner can place the shots of his burst if needed.

On tripods the MG3 basicly becomes a full auto sniper rifle. The platform is extremely accurate, and very stable no matter if fire 3 round or 50 round burst, and while a true sniper rifle naturally is more precise, the amount of bullets more than enough makes up for the small inaccuracy involved.

Overall, weither used in a bipod role or in the tripod, its a perfect squad weapon - the main downside to it is the unwieldy nature of the weapon, and especially the weight. Its the perfect weapon when in the prone or dug in, but its a bitch to carry around.

 

Are you wanting to see extracted casings to view whether the shoulders have signs of gas floatation or fluted shoulders?

Steve

 

Would that be experience from North of the arctic circle?

 

Nope - I'm not that far north, luckily - The cold would probably kill me.

I'm from Denmark.

 

If you can cope with the cold, the rest is easy.....

 

In a combat situation?

 

No clue on Jaeger, however, Danish troops are using them in Afghanistan both for dismounted and mounted ops.

The fast firing rate appearantly has quite the psycological effect on the taliban, and the weapon is described as a clear battle winner by troops.

It's definately biting as hard as its buzz.

 

Tetrian and Jaeger, do you feel that the prodigious amounts of full caliber ammunition required for the MG3, compared to weapons like the SAW, impedes the infantry (when they are deployed on foot) and the overall combat deployment for the weapon?

 

Being realistic, you would think that its buzz is fair warning of the angel of death that is the MG3/42.

Because with a fire rate like that you know that if you get hit a bullet there are likely 15more following suit.

 

I'd be interested in hearing more about where you got your MG 3 experiance.

 

@Wolfy,

Machinegun ammunition is usually split out on more troops, so the group has no problem carrying a fair amount with them.

With that said, 7.62 ammunition naturally weighs more and fills more compared to 5.56 used in the SAWs and similar weapon systems. Thats one of the main advantages to newer weapons systems, ammo fills less, and weighs less, meaning you can carry more rounds on the same weight, or less rounds for less weight. (naturally a smaller round comes with some heavy drawbacks aswell)

With that said, i have a feeling the issue you are refering to is more related to the firing rate and a massive use of ammunition due to it. In that regard, keep in mind that the MG3 is usually deployed using alot of short quick bursts, where i would expect a minime and other slower firing systems uses longer slower bursts when deployed. Basicly two different methods of attaining the same effect on the target.

However the last part is purely speculation, i have never fired a SAW or M60 or similar.

 

@T. A. Gardner,

The MG3 is the primary light machine gun in the Danish armed forces - Been shooting it more of less regularily since 99'.

 

Light? Are you sure? in Portugal it is the standard GPMG. For light machine guns we're beginning to use the MG36 and the MG 43. We finally realized that a 7.62mm gun has nothing light about it



Cheers...

 

MG42 couldn't be that bad if it is still in use today even if it has been modified MG3

YouTube - The mg3 machine gun

YouTube - MG3 live firing exercise

 

Depends if it a squad support weapon (LMG) or and Platoon or company level weapon (GPMG). IMO A 7.62mm weapon at squad level despite the weight penalty, is usefull especially in open terrain as it gives better range.

~Steve

 

Depends if it a squad support weapon (LMG) or and Platoon or company level weapon (GPMG). IMO A 7.62mm weapon at squad level despite the weight penalty, is usefull especially in open terrain as it gives better range.

~Steve