| MG 17 machine gun | |
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| Type | Aircraft machine-gun |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Germany |
| Wars | WW2 |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1934 |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall-Borsig |
| Produced | 1934-1944 |
| Number built | 24.271 |
| Variants | Modular design |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 10.2 kg (22 lb) |
| Length | 1,175 mm (46.3 in) |
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| Cartridge | 8x57mm IS |
| Caliber | 7.9mm |
| Action | Recoil |
| Rate of fire | 1.200 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | from 855 m/s (2,810 ft/s) (Phosphor "B" round ) to 905 m/s (2,970 ft/s) (Armor Piercing Tracer "SmK L'spur" round) |
| Feed system | 500 round belt |
| Sights | Various types |
The MG 17 was a 7.92 mm machine gun produced by Rheinmetall-Borsig for use at fixed mountings in many World War II Luftwaffe aircraft.
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A mainstay fixed machine gun in German built aircraft (many of which were sold to other countries) well before World War II, by 1940 it was starting to be replaced with heavier caliber machine gun and cannons. By 1945 very few if any aircraft mounted the MG 17.
The MG 17 was installed in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Messerschmitt Bf 110, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Junkers Ju 87, Junkers Ju 88C Nightfighter, Heinkel He 111, Dornier Do 17/215 Nightfighter, Focke-Wulf Fw 189 and many other aircraft. Many MG 17s were later modified for infantry use as heavier weapons replaced them on Luftwaffe aircraft. Official numbers of conversions was about 24,271 by January 1, 1944, although additional conversions may have been done as well[1].
Dimensions