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MG 42
Photo: Phanatic · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
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MG42

General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · Germany · 1942
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MG42

MG 42
MG 42 Photo: Phanatic · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Sustained Firepower
95
Effective Range
85
Penetration
80
Reliability
90
Accuracy
85
Barrel Endurance
98
Mount Versatility
75
Controllability
80
Portability
70
Cost-Effectiveness
95
Origin Germany
CategoryGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)
EraWorld War II
In service1942–1945
Operators19 countries
Quantity423,600
Data Quality88%
87
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) MASS Rating
1/16
World War II
3/131
All-Time
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · 10 axes scored
Sustained Firepower
95
Effective Range
85
Penetration
80
Reliability
90
Accuracy
85
Barrel Endurance
98
Mount Versatility
75
Controllability
80
Portability
70
Cost-Effectiveness
95
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category.
01 / Overview
MG 42
Country
Production
1942–1945
Quantity
423,600
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) · WORLD WAR II
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
97
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
87
general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
  • First Production Year1942
  • Service Entry Year1942
  • DesignerWerner Gruner
  • Weight (Empty)11.6 kg
  • Currently In ServiceYes
  • Notable UsersWehrmacht, Waffen-SS, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, East Timor, Finland, France, Hungary, Israel, Italian Social Republic, Romania, Norway
◈Cartridge & Calibre6MOD.6
▣Operation7MOD.7
  • Action TypeRecoil-Operated
  • Fire Modesfully automatic
  • Select FireNo
  • Feed SystemBelt
  • Drum / Belt Capacity50
  • Cyclic Rate of Fire1,200
  • Practical Rate of Fire153
◇Ballistics4MOD.4
  • Muzzle Velocity740 m/s
  • Effective Range (point)2,000 m
  • Maximum Range4,700 m
  • Sighting Range2,000 m
◆Barrel & Sights4MOD.4
  • Barrel Length530 mm
  • Sight TypeIron sights, anti aircraft sight or telescopic sights
  • Optic RailNo
  • Iron SightsYes
▤Construction5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost5MOD.5
  • Total Production423,600
  • Production Start1942
  • Production End1945
  • Unit Cost250 USD
  • Variants6
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1939First deployment: World War II
  2. 1942Production started
  3. 1945Production ended
84
years in service
3
years in production
423,600
units produced
17
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 2 countries retired it.
05 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
MG 42 1942
// DERIVATIVES
06 / Operators
07 / MASS Score
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) RANKING General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · World War II
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a flexible or rigid container (magazine) inserted into the grip or attached externally, feeding rounds into the chamber via a spring or follower.
Integral bipod: a permanently attached, built‑in bipod that provides a two‑point support for a firearm, allowing it to be rested on a surface without separate accessories.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Firearm action type where the energy from firing a cartridge cycles the action via rearward movement of the barrel or slide.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) entry →