MG 81 machine gun
| MG 81 | |
|---|---|
|
MG 81 (upper) and MG 81Z (in box) | |
| Type | Machine gun |
| Place of origin |
.svg.png){kind=small} Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Variants | MG 81Z |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 6.5 kg (14.33 lb) |
| Length | 965 mm (38.0 in) (with flash hider) |
| Barrel length | 475 mm (18.7 in) |
|
| |
| Cartridge | 7.92 x 57mm Mauser |
| Caliber | 7.9mm |
| Action | Recoil-operated |
| Rate of fire | 1,400-1,600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 790 m/s (2,592 ft/s) |
| Feed system | Belt-fed |
The MG 81 was a German belt fed 7.92 mm machine gun, used in flexible installations in World War II Luftwaffe aircraft, replacing the older drum magazine-fed MG 15.
The MG 81 was developed by Mauser as a derivative of their successful MG 34 infantry machine gun. Development focus was to reduce production cost and time and to optimize for use in aircraft. Developed in 1938/1939, it was in production from 1940 to 1945.
A special twin-mount MG 81Z (the Z suffix stands for Zwilling - meaning "twin") was introduced in 1942. It paired up two of the weapons on one mount to provide even more firepower with a maximum rate of fire of 3200 rounds/minute without requiring much more space than a standard machine gun.
Applications
The MG 81Z was found in many unique installations in Luftwaffe combat aircraft, such as a pair of MG 81Z (for a total of four guns) installed in the hollow tail cone of the Dornier Do 217. Designated R19 (R for Rüstsatz) as a factory designed field conversion/upgrade kit, it allowed the pilot of the Do 217 to shoot at pursuers.
Another application was the Gießkanne, (Watering can), an externally mounted pod with three gun pairs, making a total of six guns and their ammunition. Able to fire 9000 rounds per minute, this was attached to a Junkers Ju 88 and used to strafe ground targets.[1]
Specifications
- MG 81
- Weight : 6.5 kg
- Length : 915 mm (965 mm with flash hider)
- Muzzle velocity: 705 m/s (sS ammo), 760, 785 or 790 m/s, depending on ammo type
- Rate of fire: 1400 - 1600 rpm (sS ammo)
- MG 81Z
- Weight: 12.9 kg
- Length : 915 mm (965 mm with flash hider)
- Muzzle velocity: 705 m/s (sS ammo), 760, 785 or 790 m/s, depending on ammo type
- Rate of fire: 2800 - 3200 rpm (sS ammo)
See also
- ShKAS
- Vickers K machine gun
- List of firearms
- List of secondary and special-issue World War II infantry weapons
References
- ↑ Gordon L Rottman (20 October 2013). SNAFU Situation Normal All F***ed Up: Sailor, Airman, and Soldier Slang of World War II. Osprey Publishing. p. 256. ISBN 978-1-78200-175-1.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to MG 81. |
