Rheinmetall MG3 (Maschinengewehr Modell 3) General Purpose Machine Gun (1968)
The German Army MG3 is based on the World War Two-era MG42, which is further based on the earlier MG34.
The MG3 became an improved version of the initial MG1 offering and was built to fire either the DM1 or DM13 (continuous and disintegrating respectively) belts. A chrome-bore lining was added to the barrel a the system was also designed to accept a 100-round detachable drum. The MG3 can be fired from a bipod or tripod system and can be fitted with an optical sight. Along with the modifications listed below per-series, the MG3 was also fitted to fire the NATO-standard 7.62x51mm cartridge as opposed to the wartime 7.92mm cartridge. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.
Specifications for the
Rheinmetall MG3 (Maschinengewehr Modell 3)
General Purpose Machine Gun
Country of Origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall GmbH - Germany
Initial Year of Service: 1968
Overall Length: 1225mm (48.23in)
Barrel Length: 0.00mm (0.00in)
Weight (Empty): 23.15lbs (10.50kg)
Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
Action: Recoil-Operated; Automatic Fire Only
Feed: Various; Metal-Link Belt Fed
Rate-of-Fire: 650 rounds per minute
Variants:
MG1 - Redesignated from the MG42/59 when adopted as the standard GPMG.
MG1A1 - Issued with chromium-plated bore; limited to DM1 link belts; experimental weapon.
MG1A2 - Varying fire from DM1 or M13 link belts; based on the 1A1 variant; experimental weapon.
MG1A3 - Improved muzzle booster addition; based on the 1A1 variant; modifications to feed, trigger and bipod assemblies.
MG2 - Pre-1945 models (MG 42) modified to fire the newly accepted 7.61x51mm NATO standard cartridge.
MG3 - Improved MG1 model redesigned to accept DM1 and DM13 belt feed system types.
MG3A1 - Similar to the MG1A4; rubber shoulder pad.
MG42/59 - Initial Production Market Designation as applied by Rheinmetall.
MG58 - Austrian-converted MG 42 models.
MG74 - Austrian-produced versions similar to MG 42 by Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG.
"Fucile Mitragliatore" / "Mitragliatrice" - Italian-produced variant.
Operators: Germany
BY YEAR:
• 1700 to 1799
• 1800 to 1899
• 1900 to 1909
• 1910 to 1919
• 1920 to 1929
• 1930 to 1939
• 1940 to 1949
• 1950 to 1959
• 1960 to 1969
• 1970 to 1979
• 1980 to 1989
• 1990 to 1999
• 2000 to 2009
• 2010 to 2019
• VIEW ALL
• Compare Guns
BY TYPE:
• Anti-Aircraft Weapons
• Anti-Material Rifles
• Anti-Tank Weapons
• Automatic Rifles
• Bolt-Action Rifles
• Carbine Guns
• Flamethrowers
• Flintlock Guns
• Grenade Launchers
• Hand Grenades
• Lever-Action Rifles
• Machine Guns
• Mortars
• Musket Guns
• Pistols / Handguns
• Recoilless Rifles
• Revolvers
• Rocket Launchers
• Shotguns
• Silenced Guns
• Sniper Rifles
• Special Weapon Systems
• Submachine Guns
• VIEW ALL
SPECIAL:
• 18th Century Warfare
• 3 Soldiers Statue
• Battle of Mogadishu
• Chainmail Armor
• Firearm Types Defined
• French Military Victories
• Medieval Crossbow
• Medieval Longbow
• Vietnam War Casualties
• Vietnam War Memorial
WORLD WAR 2:
• British Guns
• French Guns
• German Guns (ALL)
• German Rifles
• Italian Guns
• Japanese Guns
• Soviet Guns
• US Guns
• US Infantry Regiment-Level Guns
• Machine Guns
• Pistols
• Rifles
• Submachine Guns
• Sniper Rifles
• VIEW ALL
WORLD WAR 1:
• Pistols
• Rifles
• Machine Guns
• Mortars
• US Guns
• VIEW ALL
KOREAN WAR:
• Machine Guns
• VIEW ALL
VIETNAM WAR:
COLLECTIONS:
• Ancient Weapons
• British SAS Weapons
• Civil War Guns
• Colt Guns
• Glock Guns
• GROM Polish Special Forces
• Guns of Libya
• Guns of North Korea
• Guns of Syria
• Guns of WW1 & WW2
• Heckler & Koch Guns
• Kalashnikov Guns
• Modern Russian Guns
• Navy SEAL Weapons
• Spetsnaz Weapons
• Weapons of Desert Storm
• Wild West Guns
• Winchester Guns
HOLLYWOOD/GAMES:
©2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2013 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Site Contact Email: militaryfactory at gmail dot com. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® trademarks and protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws.
Top MF Stuff: 2013 Military Pay Scale | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Kts to Mph | WW1 Aircraft | Automatic Rifles | Aircraft Cockpits | Vietnam War Weapons | Main Battle Tanks | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | French Military Victories
Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use. Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex. Business Consulting by Kyle Williams. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.
