FG 42

(Fallschirmjägergewehr 42)
FG42 Model I FG42 Model I
Type	Automatic rifle
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	1942-1945
Used by	Nazi Germany
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Louis Stange
Designed	1942
No. built	2000 (Model I) 4,397 (Army)
Variants	Model I, Model II, Model III
Specifications
Mass	Template:Kg to lb (Model I) Template:Kg to lb (Model II)
Length	Template:Mm to in (Model I) Template:Mm to in(Model II)
Barrel length	Template:Mm to in
Cartridge	7.92x57mm Mauser
Action	Gas operated
Rate of fire	900 rounds/min (Model I) 600 rounds/min (Model II)
Muzzle velocity	760 m/s (2,493 ft/s)
Feed system	10 or 20-round detachable box magazine)
Sights	Diopter open sights all models; ZFG42 scope (Model I and II); ZF4 Scope (Model III)

The Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 (FG42) was an automatic rifle produced in Nazi Germany during World War II. The weapon was developed specifically for the use by paratroopers, who wanted a suitable gun after their experiences in the invasion of Crete. As a result, the FG42 was developed. It could fire single shots semi-automatically, but also serve as a light support weapon. Its development was authorized by Hermann Göring. The FG42 was manufactured and deployed only in small numbers.

Development

At the time of Battle of Crete, the German doctrine was to let Fallschirmjäger (German paratroopers) jump carrying only pistols, submachine guns and hand grenades. The German parachute harness, with a single strap attached to the body making the paratrooper land on his hands and knees in a forward roll, did not allow for heavier equipment such as rifles and machine guns to be safely jumped with, so those weapons were dropped in separate containers. At Crete, long-range rifle-fire from Greek and British defenders decimated the outgunned German paratroopers in the early stages of battle as they were trying to retrieve those containers scattered all over the battlefield. The heavy losses suffered by the paratroopers during the battle of Crete demonstrated the need for a suitable weapon to jump with.

Hermann Göring, at the time the commander of the German air force (Luftwaffe), insisted that his paratroopers be supplied with an advanced self-loading rifle. Friction with the army led to an independent development by the Luftwaffe as the paratroopers were part of the air force and not of the army. The so-called LC-6 specifications mentioned amongst others that the weapon should not exceed one metre in length, should not be significantly heavier than the K98 bolt action rifle, should be able to fire semi-automatic from a closed bolt, and full-automatic from an open bolt from 10 round or 30 round magazines. In spite of the development of the promising 7.92x33mm cartridge (that led eventually to Sturmgewehr 44, the first assault rifle) the full power standard 7.92x57mm Mauser round, used in the K98 bolt-action rifle and the machineguns, was retained.

Six manufacturers were given contracts but only a few prototypes are known to have been submitted. The design by Rheinmetall-Borsig's Louis Stange was accepted for mass production by Heinrich Krieghoff of Suhl and L.O. Dietrich of Altenburg. However, due to design faults, the weapon had to be modified twice, increasing its serviceability but also its weight and cost.

Field testing

The FG42 was intended to fill a key niche in Nazi Germany's arsenal but was produced only in small numbers. It was somewhat well-received by paratroopers when tested, but it did have its drawbacks. The FG42 had a 20, or sometimes 10, round magazine that was mounted on the left side of the rifle. Though a side-mounted magazine was common in submachine guns, the larger magazine with heavier ammunition of a full-powered rifle tended to unbalance the weapon. In addition, muzzle rise with automatic fire was substantial and controllable bursts were difficult. This made full-automatic fire only marginally useful. The FG42 used a fairly sophisticated muzzle device that did help with recoil and muzzle flash, but made blast and noise much greater than on other similar weapons. The US M14 rifle had similar problems and attempts were made to upgrade that rifle the same way with an in-line stock and muzzle device.

The FG42 fired in semi-automatic mode from a closed bolt; the short lock-time, and little movement in the action during firing meant greater accuracy. When firing in the automatic mode, the gun utilized an open bolt system. This had the advantage of preventing a phenomenon known as "cook off" where the heat of repeated rounds being fired causes a chambered round to overheat and prematurely ignite the powder or primer.

Some features, such as the details of the gas-operated bolt selection process, were studied by US Army engineers after the war. These, along with some aspects of the MG42, are commonly reported to have been incorporated in the similarly troubled M60.

The American M41 Johnson LMG has many parallels with the contemporary FG42. Both had in-line stocks, fed from the left side, and both fired from the open bolt in automatic mode and closed bolt in semi-automatic mode. Despite these similarities, there is no evidence that either weapon had any effect on the design of the other. They were both seeking to solve similar problems.

Deployment

After approximately 2000 FG42s 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 were also requesting minor improvements, such as: 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.

Bibliography

Dugelby, Thomas B. and Stevens, R. Blake Death from Above – The German FG42 Paratroop Rifle, ISBN 0-88935-096-5 Bishop, Chris (1998), The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, New York: Orbis Publiishing Ltd, ISBN 0-7607-1022-8

See also

• M60 machine gun
• Sturmgewehr 52

External links

• The German FG42 Archive
• Modern Firearms
• U.S WWII Intelligence Report on FG42
• FG42
• Springfield Armory Collection: GERMAN RIFLE FG42
• Springfield Armory Collection: U.S. MACHINE GUN T44