MG 42
Design details
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As the barrel of the MG 42 is changed through the side of the barrel shroud, rather than directly from the rear as in the MG 34, this made the MG 42 unsuitable for use as internal secondary or co-axial armament on World War II era German tanks or other armored vehicles, with the exception of the [[Jagdpanzer IV]]. Early versions of the Jagdpanzer IV carried two standard (no modification made) MG 42s on both sides of the main gun mantlet/glacis, firing through a [[firing port]] which was protected by an armored cover plate; the MG 42s were retracted when not in use. Later version Jagdpanzer IVs carried only one MG 42 as internal secondary armament.{{cite web |author=Tank Encyclopedia |title=Jagdpanzer IV |url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/jagdpanzer-iv.php |website=Tank Encyclopedia |language=en |ref=CITEREFTank_Encyclopedia}} |
As the barrel of the MG 42 is changed through the side of the barrel shroud, rather than directly from the rear as in the MG 34, this made the MG 42 unsuitable for use as internal secondary or co-axial armament on World War II era German tanks or other armored vehicles, with the exception of the [[Jagdpanzer IV]]. Early versions of the Jagdpanzer IV carried two standard (no modification made) MG 42s on both sides of the main gun mantlet/glacis, firing through a [[firing port]] which was protected by an armored cover plate; the MG 42s were retracted when not in use. Later version Jagdpanzer IVs carried only one MG 42 as internal secondary armament.{{cite web |author=Tank Encyclopedia |title=Jagdpanzer IV |url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/jagdpanzer-iv.php |website=Tank Encyclopedia |language=en |ref=CITEREFTank_Encyclopedia}} |
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The MG 42 belt-feed mechanism inspired the design used in the [[M60 machine gun]].Hogg |
The MG 42 belt-feed mechanism inspired the design used in the [[M60 machine gun]].{{cite book |last1=Hogg |first1=Ian V. |last2=Weeks |first2=John S. |year=2000 |title=Military Small Arms of the 20th Century |edition=7 |publisher=Krause Publications |location=Iola, WI|language=en}} The trigger mechanism of the [[FN MAG]] or MAG-58 is a virtual copy of the MG 42's, and the FN MAG's belt-feed mechanism is also very similar. |
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===Operating mechanism=== |
===Operating mechanism=== |
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