The West German MG3 ("Machinengewehr Modell 3") General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) was introduced into service in 1968 under the Rheinmetall brand label and continues in widespread use today (2014). The weapon was developed as a multi-role GPMG, this classification denoting a specialized group of machine gun in military service. These weapons are generally air-cooled designs requiring the changing of the barrel, feed from an ammunition belt (usually of rifle-caliber size) and can be fired from bipods, heavy-duty tripods or as a vehicle-mounted weapon. As such, these versatile weapons are called to cover various battlefield roles - direct infantry engagement, suppression, anti-aircraft defense, etc... The Germans first realized the GPMG concept through their introduction of the MG34 GPMG of 1934 prior to World War 2 (1939-1945). The design was streamlined in 1942 as the MG42 and proved one of the finest machine guns of the war.
The MG3 began life as the "MG1", these essentially continued production of the German wartime MG42. However, with the Western shift to the 7.62x51mm NATO standard rifle cartridge in the decade following the war, the weapon was rechambered to accept the new round, discontinuing support for the 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge of old. To fulfill a West German Army requirement for a modern GPMG, the MG42 was selected in the new cartridge form and design work began in 1958. Several other changes were instituted to the original design to better accept and fire the NATO cartridge in full. The MG1 line was formally introduced in 1960 and, on the whole, the weapon remained faithful to the wartime MG42 - whose original manufacturing plans were lost in the conflict.
After several years of in-the-field use, engineers revisited the MG1 and added a new feed mechanism and anti-aircraft sight device with support for ammunition boxes. These changes begat the MG3 designation to which the product was formally adopted in 1968. The weapon proved a local and global success, exported to a plethora of national armies worldwide as well as entering into local production with a select few powers.
The MG3 was developed from the MG1A2 and also based on the subsequent MG1A3 while given an all-new rear sighting device for improved anti-aircraft functionality. The feed system now accepted continuous and disintegrating belts through an enlarged ejection port and supported a 100-round magazine box. The barrel featured external tapering and was chrome-lined for longevity. The MG3E then became a proposed lightened form of the MG3 for the NATO trials. The MG3A1 became the vehicle-mounted form and the MG3KWS served as an interim solution preceding the adoption of the Heckler & Koch HK121 GPMG of 2010.
Operators of the MG3 and related machine guns have proved plenty - ranging from Argentina and Australia to Togo and Turkey. Key operators also include Brazil, Canada, Finland, Greece, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sweden among others. In its various host countries, the MG3 has earned local designations such as the "MG74" of Austria, the "M/62" of Denmark, the "7.62 KK MG3" of Finland, the "Karar" of Sudan and the "KSP m/94" of Sweden.
The Iranians procured stocks of MG3s during the early 1970s to complement their newly-purchased Heckler & Koch HK G3 battle rifles (using the same ammunition though in magazine form). The MG3 replaced existing stocks of American Browning 0.30 caliber machine guns Czech ZB vz. 30 light machine guns in the same role. They were pressed into combat service during the bloody Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) in considerable numbers and remain in widespread use today. Local license production was also undertaken in Iran.
Pakistan produced the weapon locally under license through Pakistan Ordnance Factories. Additional production occurred in Greece through Hellenic Arms Industry (now Hellenic Defense Systems). SEDENA of Mexico produced the weapon locally as well as did the Military Industrial Corporation of Sudan. General Dynamics (Santa Barbara Sistemas) of Spain. Italian production was through Beretta.
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April 2022 - The MG3 will be part of a weapons support package put together by Germany for the nation of Ukraine in its defense of Russia.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Fire Support
Capable of suppressing enemy elements at range through direct or in-direct fire.
Overall Length
1,225 mm 48.23 in
Empty Wgt
23.15 lb 10.50 kg
Sights
Iron.
Action
Recoil-Operated; Automatic-Fire-Only
(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)
Caliber(s)*
7.62x51mm NATO
Sample Visuals**
Rounds / Feed
Various; Metal-Link Belt Fed
*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources. **Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.
Rate-of-Fire
650 rds/min
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.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.
Images Gallery
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