Best Machine-GUn of WW2? (As a GPMG)

[Werwolf]

he's right for about 50%, if a gun is produced in large numbers, it is the best gun a country uses at that moment.
However, the US tried to make a copy of the MG42 themselves, which failed due to a failed design.

Because they tried combining key components from what they thought were the best available German weapons. The mashed-up design which eventually became the M60 was an EPIC FAIL on their part. At least the Soviets got it right with the StG44 >> AK47... the Americans were still using technically the same WW2 firearms in Korea and Vietnam (early Vietnam war). Ironically, the antique MG42s and DshKs used by the NVA and VC outperformed the Americans' M60s, M1919s and Stoner 63 LMGs in the field.

Didn't the M60 actually become rather (or at least somewhat) reliable when they made the E3 version right before it was replaced by the M240?

The M60E3 was an improvement, however the M240 performed better in the field. Honestly, the E3 variant was long overdue IMO.

[Newbie.]

heh, i'd perfer a FN Mimmini to a M240 or M60E3 Anyday.

[loatty]

The M60 wasn't only based on the MG42, it's design was also heavily influenced by the FG42, which is among the most advanced designs of the Second World War.
Unfortunately, the weapon wasn't produced in large quantities, and isn't among the commonly known weapons of its time.

[Seeme]

It was late war, late 1944

[GodlikeDennis]

Wasn't the FG42 produced for the invasion of Crete when Germany declared war on Greece? That was early in the war.

[Newbie.]

was produced AFTEr the germans soo what happend on greece, first used mid-war in the commando raid to rescue Benito Mousolini.

[Seeme]

Am thinking of the lastest version with improved sights, sorry if I added any confusion.

[loatty]

Luckily, the Germans commonly included (like most countries did) the design year in the full description of weapons, so there shouldn't be much confusion about the right years.

[Sturmovik]

Very little information about mass prodused MGs


MG42
Rate of fire
800-1500
Range
1000m
bullet speed
730-740m/s


M2 browning
ROF
450-600
Range
1800
Bullet speed
855=895


DSHK
ROF
600
Range
3500m
Bullet speed
850-870


Goryunov MG
ROF
500-700
Range
2500
Bullet speed
800


Maksim
ROF
300
Range
2700
Bullet speed
800-865



DP
ROF
600
Range
(effective) 800-900
Bullet speed
840

[Paciat]

Where did you get the range stats?
Dou you really belive that MG 42 had less than 3 times range of the DSHK?

[Red_Stinger]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't DshK intended to serve as Anti-Aircraft machine-gun? For that purpose you need a very long effective range to be efficient at least at low altitude.

[GodlikeDennis]

Maybe, but it does seem strange that all the Russian MGs have further ranges than the other guns, especially considering the poster.

[Sturmovik]

DSHK manual & constructors book & 12,5mm MG manual

altitude maximum 2500m
sighting distance 3500m
Ammo 12,7х108 мм
rate of fire (maximum) 600 sh/s
battle rate of fire 125 sh/s

Armor pearsing ammo can penetrate (B-30)
500 m - Steel of 16mm
100 m - Steel of 20mm


Post Merge: September 29, 2010, 06:43:15 AMDS-39 (1939 PRODUSED)

sighting distance with heavy bullet 3000m
sighting distance with light bullet 2500m
Ammo 7,62х54 мм
rate of fire (maximum) 600-1200 sh/s
battle rate of fire 300 sh/s

[SK8ERatWAR]

What i've been wanting to know since the beginning of coh.. why do the americans have the watercooled m1917 in coh instead of the aircooled m1919? wasn't the m1919 used more often? and much more known than the m1917..?

[Newbie.]

m1917 was used heavily just as much as the M1919A6, but i see your point.