Введение
Немецкая автоматическая парашютистская винтовка
FG 42 (нем. Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, «парашютистская винтовка 42») — автоматическая винтовка калибра 7,92×57 мм Mauser с возможностью ведения огня одиночными выстрелами и очередями. Оружие было разработано специально для использования воздушно-десантной пехотой Fallschirmjäger в 1942 году и использовалось в ограниченном количестве до конца войны. Оно сочетало в себе характеристики и огневую мощь легкого пулемета в облегченной конструкции, немного короче (но значительно более громоздкой и тяжелой), чем стандартная пехотная винтовка Karabiner 98k. Считается одним из самых передовых образцов стрелкового оружия Второй мировой войны, FG 42 оказала влияние на послевоенную разработку стрелкового оружия, и многие особенности ее конструкции, такие как общая форма, стиль приклада, работа автоматики с газовым вращающимся затвором (скопированная с пулемета Lewis) и использование штампованных металлических и пластиковых деталей, были заимствованы армией США при разработке пулемета M60. История
German automatic paratrooper rifle
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
Во время битвы за Крит (операция «Меркурий») немецкие Fallschirmjäger (парашютная пехота) были вооружены тем же ассортиментом стрелкового оружия, что и Heer, имея при себе только пистолеты калибра 9×19 мм Parabellum и ручные гранаты во время десантирования, а пистолеты-пулеметы калибра 9×19 мм Parabellum, винтовки калибра 7,92×57 мм Mauser и тяжелое вооружение перевозились отдельно в контейнерах, сбрасываемых с десантного самолета. Немецкая парашютная система RZ, с одним плечевым упором и двумя лямками, крепившимися к телу, заставляла десантника приземляться на руки и колени в кувырок вперед, что не позволяло безопасно переносить тяжелое снаряжение, такое как винтовки и пулеметы, во время десантирования. На Крите огонь из винтовок и пулеметов со стороны обороняющихся войск Содружества нанес тяжелые потери немецким десантникам на ранних этапах сражения, когда они пытались достать свое оружие из контейнеров, разбросанных по всему полю боя. Этот боевой опыт показал необходимость в винтовке, которую десантник мог бы нести во время десантирования. Классификация разработок и производственных вариантов (Ausführungen) следующая:
Тип A – Первый проект
Тип B – Пересмотренный прототип
Тип C – Прототип "LC 6"
Тип D – Первый Fallschirmjägergewehr; прохождение испытаний
Тип E – Первый серийный Fallschirmjägergewehr (иногда называемый Modell I – «Тип I»)
Тип F – Первый Fallschirmjägergewehr со штампованной ствольной коробкой
Тип G – Финальный серийный Fallschirmjägergewehr (иногда называемый Modell II – «Тип II»)
German automatic paratrooper rifle
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
Разработка
В 1941 году немецкие ВВС (Luftwaffe) запросили автоматическое оружие с возможностью ведения огня одиночными выстрелами и очередями для десантников. Старший секретарь штаба Оссенбах в GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6 – Отдел разработки вооружения Люфтваффе в Тарневице близ Висмара) был неофициально привлечен к разработке этого нового специального оружия. Однако, из-за больших потерь, понесенных десантниками во время операции «Меркурий», Гитлер пересмотрел свою точку зрения на целесообразность воздушных десантов, и планы были отменены. В то время как Krieghoff представил прототип с подъемным затвором, который также был быстро отклонен. Проект, разработанный Луисом Штанге из Rheinmetall Borsig в Зёммерде, ранее работавшим над MG 34, оказался удовлетворительным и прошел военные испытания, проведенные на испытательной станции GL/C E 6 в Тарневице в середине 1942 года. Тип "A" не был произведен в качестве серийного образца, но базовая компоновка конструкции была сохранена для дальнейшей разработки. После принятия основных характеристик LC 6 последовала серия модификаций. В переработанном варианте "Ausführung "B"" металлическая накладка на ствол была заменена на волокнистый материал, пропитанный смолой, который обеспечивал защиту от нагрева и лучший хват во влажных условиях. Первое боевое применение
German automatic paratrooper rifle
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
Оружие впервые было использовано в ходе рейда на Гран-Сассо (Unternehmen Eiche) в сентябре 1943 года, когда немецкие десантники и коммандос Waffen-SS освободили итальянского диктатора Бенито Муссолини из плена – от 200 хорошо вооруженных карабинеров. Однако во время всей операции (которая была лично санкционирована Гитлером) ни один выстрел не был произведен. Производство
German automatic paratrooper rifle
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
После того, как Krieghoff произвел около 2000 единиц FG 42, поставки марганцевой стали, из которой ковались ствольные коробки, были перенаправлены на другие нужды; это потребовало перепроектирования с использованием штампованного листового металла. Сообщения с поля боя о том, что легкая винтовка недостаточно прочна для использования патронов штатной мощности в автоматическом режиме, заставили инженеров Krieghoff разработать Type G. Улучшения включали: перемещение двуноги с передней части накладки на ствол к дульному срезу для уменьшения рассеивания; изменение угла наклона пистолетной рукоятки почти к вертикальному; увеличение накладки на ствол и замену стальной ложи на деревянную для минимизации перегрева, увеличение веса затвора и увеличение его хода для снижения темпа стрельбы. Также был установлен четырехпозиционный регулятор газоотвода, затвор и возвратная пружина были заменены на пружины витой формы, был установлен отражатель гильз и изменены дульный тормоз и крепление для штыка. Эти изменения, особенно изменение пистолетной рукоятки и перемещение двуноги, отчетливо видны на поздних моделях FG 42. Серийные модели также имели простое откидывающееся колющее орудие под стволом, скрытое двуногой. В более поздней версии штык был укорочен с примерно до примерно. FG 42 в достаточном количестве не было поставлено для вооружения большинства Fallschirmjäger, как планировалось изначально, однако большая часть использовалась на Западном фронте после событий дня «Д», особенно во время битвы за Карентан и в Фалезском котле (почти четверть всех произведенных FG 42 находились на вооружении 2-й парашютной дивизии).
German automatic paratrooper rifle
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in very limited numbers until the end of the war. It combined the characteristics and firepower of a light machine gun in a lightweight form slightly shorter (but considerably bulkier and heavier) than the standard issue Karabiner 98k bolt action infantry rifle. Considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II, the FG 42 influenced post war small arms development, and many features of its design, such as general shape, stock style, gas rotating bolt operation (itself copied from the Lewis gun) and sheet metal and plastic construction were copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 machine gun. History
At the time of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury), German Fallschirmjäger (parachute infantry) were equipped with the same assortment of small arms as the Heer, carrying only 9×19mm Parabellum chambered pistols and hand grenades on them during parachute jumps, with 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns, 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered rifles, and crew served weapons stored separately in containers that were dropped from the wing of the exit craft. The German RZ parachute harness, with one single riser and two straps attached to the body, making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely carried during airborne jumps. At Crete, long range rifle and machine gun fire from dug in Commonwealth defenders inflicted heavy casualties on the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they attempted to retrieve their support weapons from containers scattered all over the battlefield. These combat experiences demonstrated the need for a rifle that could be carried by the paratrooper during a drop. The classifications of the development and production Ausführungen (types) are as follows:
Type A First design
Type B Revised model prototype
Type C "LC 6" prototype
Type D First Fallschirmjägergewehr; acceptance trials
Type E First production Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell I ("Type I")
Type F First stamped receiver Fallschirmjägergewehr
Type G Final production model Fallschirmjägergewehr (sometimes called the Modell II ("Type II")
Development
In 1941, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) requested a selective fire hand held weapon for the paratroopers; Senior Staff Air Secretary Ossenbach at the GL/C Erprobungsstelle 6 (GL/C E 6—the Luftwaffe Weapons Development Branch at Tarnewitz near Wismar) was approached informally to develop this special new weapon. However, due to the high casualties sustained by the paratroopers during Operation Mercury, Hitler changed his mind about the usefulness of airborne assaults and the plans were terminated. while Krieghoff presented a rising block prototype, which too was quickly dropped. A design credited to Rheinmetall Borsig's Louis Stange of Sömmerda who had previously worked on the MG 34 proved satisfactory and underwent military trials conducted by the GL/C E 6 test station at Tarnewitz in mid 1942. The type "A" was never produced beyond model form, but the basic design layout was retained for further development. With the basic characteristics of the LC 6 accepted, a series of modifications followed. The revised 'Ausführung "B"' replaced the sheet metal handguard with a resin impregnated fiber type that provided protection against heat and a better grip when wet. First operational use
The weapon saw first operational use during the Gran Sasso raid (Unternehmen Eiche) in September 1943 when German paratroopers and Waffen SS commandos rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his captors – 200 well equipped Carabinieri guards. However, during the whole airborne operation (which was personally ordered by Hitler) not a single shot was fired. Deployment
After approximately 2,000 FG 42s had been produced by Krieghoff, supplies of the manganese steel from which the receivers were forged were diverted to other needs; this meant a redesign was required to use stamped sheet metal in its place. Field reports that the lightweight rifle was not sturdy enough to handle full power rifle ammunition in cyclic mode made Krieghoff engineers design the Type G. Improvements were: relocating the bipod from the front of the handguard to the muzzle to reduce shot dispersion; changing the pistol grip angle to near vertical; enlarging the handguard and changing the stock from stamped steel to wood to minimize overheating, adding weight to the bolt and lengthen its travel to reduce the cyclic rate of fire. Also a four position gas regulator was fitted, the bolt and recoil spring were changed to wound wire, a case deflector was fitted and the muzzle brake and the bayonet mount was changed. These changes, particularly the pistol grip change and the bipod relocation, are clearly visible on late model FG 42s. Production models also had a simple flip out spike bayonet under the barrel hidden by the bipod. In the later version the bayonet was shortened from around to around There were never enough FG 42s to arm most Fallschirmjäger'' as originally intended, however most were employed in the western front following the events of D Day, with the particular use of FG 42 during the Battle of Carentan and the Falaise Pocket (nearly a quarter of all FG 42 produced were in the hands of the 2nd Parachute Division).
Общая конфигурация/размещение
FG 42 был оружием с выбором режима огня и воздушным охлаждением, и одним из первых, в котором была реализована схема отката "прямой линией". Эта компоновка, в сочетании с боковым магазином, располагала как центр тяжести, так и упор для плеча почти на одной линии с продольной осью ствола, что повышало управляемость при стрельбе очередями или автоматическим огнем. Верхняя часть ствольной коробки FG 42 была специально обработана для установки длинной базы типа "ласточкин хвост", предназначенной для крепления оптических прицелов. Крепление прицела оснащалось фиксирующими рычагами, позволявшими быстро устанавливать и снимать оптический прицел в зависимости от конкретной боевой ситуации – общего боя или выполнения задач снайпера в ограниченном масштабе. На FG 42 использовались оптические прицелы ZFG42 или ZF4. Дефицит и непомерная стоимость оригинальных FG 42 в современных кругах коллекционеров огнестрельного оружия привели к появлению индустрии по производству реплик винтовок в стиле FG 42 компаниями в США и Германии.
The FG 42 was a select fire air cooled weapon and one of the first to incorporate the "straight line" recoil configuration. This layout, combined with the side magazine, placed both the center of gravity and the position of the shoulder stock nearly in line with the longitudinal axis of the bore, a feature increasing controllability during burst or automatic fire. The top of the receiver of the FG 42 was specifically machined with a long dovetail type base designed to accept telescopic sight mounts. The scope mount featured locking lever(s) that allowed quick installation and removal of a telescopic sight depending on the specific combat scenario; general combat or in a limited sniping role. The telescopic sights used on the FG 42 were the ZFG42 or ZF4. The empty weight of the long 10 round magazine is and of the long 20 round magazine
The scarcity and prohibitive cost of genuine FG 42s in contemporary firearms collecting circles has brought about an industry of reproduction FG 42 style rifles by manufacturers in US and Germany.
The scarcity and prohibitive cost of genuine FG 42s in contemporary firearms collecting circles has brought about an industry of reproduction FG 42 style rifles by manufacturers in US and Germany.
Пользователи
Нацистская Германия: Применялся во время Второй мировой войны. Разрабатывался для использования всеми немецкими десантными войсками, но так и не был произведен в достаточном количестве для широкого применения. : Ограниченное использование войсками Северного Вьетнама; вероятнее всего, захваченные образцы, поставленные СССР.
Nazi Germany: Used during World War II. Intended for use by all German airborne troops, but was never produced in sufficient numbers for standardized use. : Limited use by North Vietnamese forces; most likely captured models supplied by the USSR.