| MG-13 | |
|---|---|
Maschinengewehr 13 |
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| Type | Machine gun |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1930-1945 |
| Used by | Germany, Portugal |
| Wars | Spanish Civil War, World War 2, Portuguese Colonial War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1928 |
| Produced | 1930-1934 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 13.3 kg (29 lb) |
| Length | 1,443 mm (56.8 in) |
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| Cartridge | 8x57mm IS |
| Caliber | 7.9mm |
| Rate of fire | 600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 890 m/s (2,900 ft/s) |
| Maximum range | 2,000 m (2,200 yd) |
| Feed system | 25 round box magazine, or 75 round saddle drum |
The MG 13 (shortened from German Maschinengewehr 13) was a German general-purpose machine gun obtained by rebuilding a World War I water-cooled machine gun into an air-cooled version.
The MG 13 was introduced into service in 1930, where it served as the standard light machine gun. It was superseded by cheaper, faster firing models: the MG 34 and then later the MG 42. It was officially withdrawn from service in 1934; most of the machine guns were sold to Portugal, where they were used into the late 1940s as the Metralhadora 7,92 mm m/938 Dreyse. Those MG 13s that were not sold were placed into storage, and these later saw use in World War II by second line German units.
The MG 13 was designed to work with either a 25 round box magazine or a 75 round saddle drum. It was equipped with a folding butt stock and a carrying handle. It was used in the tail gunner's position in the Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber and in the turret of the Panzer I tank.
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