You must sign in to add this item to your wishlist. Please sign in or create an account
With the MG 34, the German Wehrmacht introduced an entirely new concept in automatic firepower – the general-purpose machine gun (GPMG). In itself the MG 34 was an excellent weapon: an air-cooled, recoil-operated machine gun that could deliver killing firepower at ranges of more than 1,000m. Yet simply by changing its mount and feed mechanism, the operator could radically transform its function. On its standard bipod it was a light machine gun, ideal for infantry assaults; on a tripod it could serve as a sustained-fire medium machine gun. During World War II, the MG 34 was superseded by a new GPMG – the MG 42. More efficient to manufacture and more robust, it had a blistering 1,200rpm rate of fire. Nicknamed 'Hitler's buzzsaw' by Allied troops, it was arguably the finest all-round GPMG ever produced, and alongside the MG 34 it inflicted heavy casualties. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and drawing upon numerous technical manuals and first-hand accounts, this study explores the technological development, varied roles and lasting influence of the revolutionary MG 34 and MG 42 machine guns and their postwar successors.
Published | 20 Oct 2012 |
---|---|
Format | Ebook (Epub & Mobi) |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 80 |
ISBN | 9781782003090 |
Imprint | Osprey Publishing |
Illustrations | 35 b/w; 24 col |
Series | Weapon |
Short code | WPN 21 |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Visit our exclusive member's website to see artwork, maps, and more from this book.
Tell us what titles you would like to see published by Osprey, then vote for your favourites in our monthly book vote!
Free UK delivery for orders £30 and over
Your School account is not valid for the United Kingdom site. You have been logged out of your account.
You are on the United Kingdom site. Would you like to go to the United States site?
Error message.