FG42 / FjG42 (Fallschirmjagergewehr 42)

The Fallschirmjagergewhr FG42 (sometimes FjG42) was a meshing of old-world ammunition with new world small arms engineering. Regarded as one of the best designs of small arms during the Second World War, the FG42 served well with the airborne Luftwaffe paratroopers it was assigned with. The FG42 featured semi-automatic and full-automatic modes of fire. The weapon was designed in a now common straight-line method where the butt, body and barrel of the gun all line up and featured built-in systems such as a bipod and bayonet.

Lightweight and highly effective, the FG42 was a precursor to modern assault rifle and light machine gun design. The ammunition consisted of the older but powerful 7.92x57 Mauser-type and fed the weapon through a 20-round detachable box magazine mounted on the left side of the trigger area. The FG42-2 features a less-slanted pistol grip, sleeker exterior design and minor refinements as necessary. The FG42, overall, was a very expensive system to produce in wartime, limiting production to just over 7,000 units.

FG42's were first fielded into action by German Special Forces Operatives in the dramatic (and successful) rescue of Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini. After that, the system suffered when used by paratroopers in the battles for Crete and thusly faded away as frontline compact weapon systems. Never fully developed, the system had the potential to become one of the best small arms of the Second World War.

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Last Updated: 1/15/2009