| Rheinmetall MG3 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Manufactured: | 1960 |
| Industry: | Rheinmetall |
| Barrel Length: | 18 in (460 mm) |
| Region of Origin: | West Germany |
| Users: |
|
| Cartridge: | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Range: | 1,000 m (tripod mounted) |
| Rate of Fire: |
1000-1300 rpm |
| Action: | Recoil-operated, roller locked |
| Years Active: | 1960's-Present |
The MG3 is a German general-purpose machine gun chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. The weapon's design is derived from the World War II era MG 42 universal machine gun that fired the 7.92x57mm Mauser round.
The MG3 was standardized in the late 1950s and adopted into service with the newly formed Bundeswehr, where it continues to serve to this day as a squad support weapon and vehicle-mounted machine gun. The weapon and its derivatives have also been acquired by the armed forces of over 30 countries. Production rights to the machine gun were purchased by Italy (MG 42/59), Spain, Pakistan (MG 1A3), Greece, Iran, Sudan and Turkey.
History[]
Production of the first postwar variant of the MG 42 chambered in a standard NATO caliber (designated the MG 1) was launched in 1958 at the Rheinmetall arms factory as requested by the Bundeswehr. Shortly thereafter, the machine gun was modified, receiving a chrome-lined barrel and sights properly calibrated for the new round; this model would be named the MG 1A1 (known also as the MG 42/58).
A further development of the MG 1A1 was the MG 1A2 (MG 42/59), which had a heavier bolt (950 g, compared to 550 g), a new friction ring buffer and was adapted to use both the standard German continuous DM1 ammunition belt and the American M13 disintegrating belt. Further improvements to the weapon's muzzle device, bipod and bolt resulted in the MG 1A3.
Simultaneously, wartime 7.9mm MG 42 machine guns that remained in service were converted to chamber the standard 7.62x51 mm NATO round and designated MG 2.
In 1968, the MG3 was introduced and entered production. Compared to the MG1A3, the MG3 features an improved feeding mechanism with a belt retaining pawl to hold the belt up to the gun when the top cover plate is lifted, an added anti-aircraft sight and a new ammunition box. MG3s were produced for Germany and for export customers by Rheinmetall until 1979. Some additional production of the MG3 in Germany was carried out by Heckler & Koch.[4] The MG3 and its variants all share a high level of parts interchangeability with the original MG 42.
Trivia[]
- Before The MG.42, The MG.3 was the Main Heavy machine Gun for Echo Park...
- The MG3, was known as the Main Heavy Machine Gun for Echo Park since 2006, but was not officially used by the Militia until the First Nero War...
- Though this was believed to have been debatable, as during the First Nero War, the MG3 has only been used in only about 14 battles during the War, many of them being used against the Kara Legion, but a majority of the MG3 would be used as a primary role by the final 3 days of the war in 2008, despite being used prior as far as the middle days of the Militia War...
- The MG3 would become widely used on all fronts during the events of the Second Nero War...
- The MG3 was known to be used even as far as 2033, following the events of the Third Nero War, revealing that the MG was still cherished and used by the Remnants of Echo Park, following the fall of the Private Military Corporation in 2030...
- Its Unknown if it will still be the main MG for the newly Revived Echo Park Auto Militia that same year in 2033...
- Despite being used mainly by Echo Park, it was revealed that during the end of the Second Nero War, that the Kara Legion had captured and confiscated some MG3's during the time of the militia war's end, as it was revealed by 2029, that some Kara Legion PMC soldiers have managed to use this during the time of the Third Nero War, in the early months of the Militia Conflict...