MG 3 machine gun

The Rheinmetall MG 3 is a German general-purpose machine gun chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. Manufactured by Rheinmetall for the Bundeswehr, designed and derived from the World War II era MG 42 that fired the 7.92×57mm Mauser round.

The MG 3 was standardized in the late 1950s and adopted into service with the newly formed Bundeswehr, where it continues to serve to this day as a squad support weapon and a vehicle-mounted machine gun.

The MG 3 and its derivatives have also been acquired by the armed forces of over 40 countries. Production rights to the machine gun were purchased by Italy (), Greece, Iran (as MGA3) Pakistan (as the MG 1A3), Sudan, Spain, and Turkey.

History

thumb|Soldiers of the [[West Germany|West German Bundeswehr on exercise in 1960. Pictured is the predecessor to the MG 3—the MG 1A3 variant. The soldier on the right is carrying a G3 battle rifle. In the rear stands a SPz 11-2]]

At the end of World War II, the original technical drawings and data for the 7.92×57mm Mauser–chambered MG 42 were captured by the Soviets. These would later be taken to Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Rheinmetall had to reverse engineer the first postwar machine guns from an original MG 42 machine gun.

Production of the first postwar variant of the MG 42 chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition (designated the MG 1) was launched in 1958 at the Rheinmetall arms factory as requested by the Bundeswehr. Shortly thereafter, the machine gun was modified, receiving a chrome-lined barrel and sights properly calibrated for the new round; this model would be named the MG 1A1 (also known as the MG 42/58).

The MG 1A2 (also known as the MG 42/59) is a further development of the MG 1A1, which has a heavier bolt ( for a slower 700–900 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire, compared to ), and a new friction ring buffer made suitable for using the heavier bolt. The MG 1A2 added new bolt-bounce preventing bolt catches to the action to resolve the ammunition ignition timing sensitivity of the preceding variants and was adapted to use both the standard German non-disintegrating Patronengurt DM1 ammunition belt and the American M13 disintegrating belt. The MG 1A3 features further improvements to the muzzle device, bipod and bolt.

Simultaneously, wartime 7.92×57mm Mauser chambered MG 42 machine guns that remained in service were converted to the standard 7.62×51mm NATO chambering and designated MG 2.

In 1968, the MG 3 was introduced and entered production. Compared to the MG 1A3, the MG 3 features an improved feeding mechanism with a belt retaining pawl to hold the belt up to the gun when the top cover plate is lifted, an added anti-aircraft sight and a new ammunition box. MG 3s were produced for Germany and for export customers by Rheinmetall until 1979. The preceding non–MG 3 variant machine guns in the Bundeswehr inventory were gradually converted to the MG 3 standard. Some additional production of the MG 3 in Germany was carried out by Heckler & Koch. The MG 3 and its variants all share a high level of parts interchangeability with the original MG 42.

MG 3s continue to be produced in Turkey and Pakistan. In 2019 there were plans in Germany to produce several thousand new MG 3 receivers to keep using vehicle mounted MG 3s in the low level anti-aircraft (designated MG 3A0A1) and turret mounted (designated MG 3A1A1) roles in the near future.

Deployment

The MG 3 is still used as the standard secondary weapon of most modern German armoured fighting vehicle designs (e.g. Leopard 2, PzH 2000, Marder), as a primary weapon on light/non-armoured vehicles (e.g. LKW 2to, MAN gl-trucks, ATF Dingo) and as an infantry weapon on light bipods as well as different tripods. Since 2015, the German Armed Forces have supplemented the MG 3 with the Heckler & Koch MG5.

Reliability

In 1974, the US Army tested German made MG 3s alongside eight other contemporary GPMG designs to replace the then-in-service M219 Tank Machine Gun, which was considered unacceptably unreliable by the US Army. The MG 3 had worse results in mean rounds between failure (where it was the third worst entrant), mean rounds between stoppage (where it was the fourth worst entrant), cookoff rate (where it was the worst entrant), and accuracy (where it was the worst entrant) than the M60 and FN MAG. The only categories in which the MG 3 outperformed both the M60 and FN MAG were in ease of training, ease of changing barrels, and safety. The MG 3 was overall sixth of nine candidates in an unweighted ranking, and it was considered that no reasonable combination of attribute rankings existed in which it would be the winner of the contest.

Operational use

thumb|German soldier and U.S. Marine training with an MG 3

The German military instructs that sustained fire must be avoided at all costs. In the bipod mounted light machine gun role, MG 3 users are trained to fire short bursts of three to five rounds and strive to optimize their aim between bursts fired in succession. In the tripod mounted medium machine gun role, MG 3 users are trained to fire both short bursts and longer bursts of 20 to 30 rounds and strive to optimize their aim between successive bursts. The Bundeswehr trains soldiers to replace the barrel of the MG 3 after 150 live rounds (or 100 blank rounds) after sustained heavy fire, with a new, cooler one; only once the barrel is hand-warm (able to be held with the bare hand for 30 seconds) can a barrel be reused. Replacing the barrel is a simple procedure on the MG 3. Non-observance of this technical limitation renders the barrel prematurely unusable. Care must be taken when replacing the barrel as after extended cyclical fire, the barrel can be dangerously hot, potentially approaching white hot. The machine gun crew member responsible for a hot barrel change is issued protective asbestos gloves or a cloth to prevent burns to the hands. Some other machineguns have thermally insulated grips attached to their quick-change barrel, at least going back to the ZB vz. 26 design of 1926.

Design details

The MG 3 has an automatic-only trigger mechanism and a cross-bolt safety in the form of a button that is operated by the shooting hand (in its "safe" position the bolt release is disabled). The MG 3 fires from an open bolt. The cyclic rate can be altered by installing different bolts and recoil springs. A heavier bolt uses more recoil energy to overcome inertia, thus slowing the action. On MG 3 machine guns, two types of bolts are available, with standard weight (about ) for the standard 1,000–1,200 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire and with extra weight (about ) for a slower 800–950 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire. Those bolts also are used along with different return springs. DM1 belts are preloaded at ammunition factories in 50-round connectable belt lengths and can be linked to any length necessary. Spent cartridge cases are ejected downwards, and the emptied links are transported to the right.

Alternatively, the MG 3 can also be fed by disintegrating metal M13 link belts (designated DM60 by Germany) used by many NATO member states. M13 links are also used on the Dillon M134D Minigun, M60, FN MAG, HK21 and MG5 machine guns among others. The disintegrating metal belt is fed from the left side. Ejection of empty M13 links is to the right side, and spent cartridge cases are ejected downwards. The inexpensive M13 links are considered disposable.

Both belt types are of the push-through type and use a metal lip that is arrested in the rim of the cartridges to correctly position and fix the cartridges in place. The feeding system is based on the direct push-through of the cartridge out of the belt link into the gun's chamber. Feed is performed in two steps by a pawl-type feeding mechanism that continues to move the belt during both the rearward and forward cycles of the reciprocating bolt, producing a smooth belt flow.

For field use, there are several ammunition containers available. The Gurttrommel (belt drum) contains a 50-round DM1 or DM60 belt. The Gurttrommel is not a true magazine but holds a curled 50-round belt preventing it from snagging, twisting and getting stuck during mobile assaults. The steel DM2 ammunition box contains a 250-round DM1 belt and the smaller plastic DM40004 ammunition box contains a 100-round DM1 belt or a 120-round DM60/M13 belt. The German military tends to use non-disintegrating DM1 belts for general use and disintegrating DM60/M13 belts in vehicle or aircraft fixed MG 3 mountings that allow for collecting the ejected link pieces for reuse.

File:Method of joining metallic-link ammunition belts.jpg|Method of joining German non-disintegrating metallic-link ammunition machine gun belts

File:Strēlniekiem 100 (20258195621).jpg|Non-disintegrating metal DM1 belt

File:MG3 Zerfallgurt.jpg|Disintegrating metal M13 link belt (designated DM60 by Germany)

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Sights

The open-type iron sight line has a relatively short radius and consists of a "∧-type" height adjustable front sight on a folding post and a leaf rear sight with an open V-notch sliding on a ramp, graduated from in increments. A flip-up anti-aircraft sight is attached to the receiver top just in front of the normal rear sight element.

Danish C79 LMG Optic

As an iron sighting line alternative, the Danish military uses a 3.4×28 optical sight mounted on top of the receiver which can be set from in increments on their MG 3 (designated as M/62) and later M/60E6. What sets the Danish C79 LMG Optic designated as M/98 apart from the standard C79 optical sight is its unique reticle of a chevron with a height of 12,5 TS and two TS line left and right with a length of 7,5 TS beginning 2,5 TS away from the tip of the chevron. The sight designated as M/99 is also available in a night vision configuration.

Bipod and tripod

right|thumb|MG 3 seen here in the stationary, heavy machine gun role, mounted on a stabilized Feldlafette tripod and fitted with an optical Zielfernrohr 4 × 24 periscope sight

For the light machine gun role, the MG 3 is equipped with a synthetic polymer stock and a folding bipod.

In the stationary, heavy machine gun role, the MG 3 is mounted on a buffered Feldlafette ("field tripod") that also features storage containers for accessories like the Zielfernrohr 4 × 24 periscope-style telescopic sight. This direct fire sight is also mounted on the Feldlafette and is graduated from in increments. The Zielfernrohr 4 × 24 reticle can be illuminated by an external unit. It can also be used with the FERO-Z 51 night sight.

MG 42/59: Italian variant produced by Beretta, Whitehead Motofides and Franchi, since 1959, Chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO. The bolt weight was increased to ) for a reduced 800 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire. Used mainly mounted on vehicles and has largely been phased out by the FN Minimi.
Ksp m/94: Swedish variant chambered with the 7.62×51mm NATO round. Mainly used as secondary armament in Stridsvagn 122.

Derivatives

The Rheinmetall RMG 7.62 is a mounted machine gun based from the Rheinmetall MG 3 with three rotating barrels (to reduce barrel erosion and overheating) is under development as a vehicle weapon. Only one barrel is active at a time: after one barrel overheats, it is rotated out for a cool one.

The MG14z is a double barrel derivative of the Rheinmetall MG 3 with two MG 3 receivers paired together. The MG14z enhances the firepower of military units that still issue the MG 3 or other MG 42 derivatives. It has been developed by the Tactics Group GmbH company as "a low-cost alternative to Miniguns".

Users

thumb|Map with MG 3 users in blue

thumb|[[Austrian Armed Forces|Austrian Army soldiers with an and a Steyr AUG during the 2014 Combined Resolve II training exercise]]

thumb|Italian soldier with an produced by Beretta

thumb|Italy employs the MG 42/59 primarily on vehicles and rotary-wing aircraft. Seen here mounted on the [[B1 Centauro wheeled tank destroyer]]

thumb|A pintle-mounted MG 3A1 on a Norwegian Leopard 1 armoured recovery vehicle

thumb|MG 3 manufactured under license by [[Pakistan Ordnance Factories]]

thumb|[[Spanish Marines with an MG 3 manufactured by General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas]]

thumb|[[Ukrainian Naval Infantry with an MG 3 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine]]

: Used by the Mujahideen and Taliban
: Used by the Albanian Army.
: Used by the Argentine Army.
: Uses the which is a variant licensed from Beretta and manufactured by Steyr Mannlicher. The 's cyclic rate of fire is 850 rounds per minute.
: The Military of Azerbaijan acquired a small quantity of MKEK MG 3s from Turkey.
: MG 3 and MG 3A1 are used by the Brazilian Army at the Leopard 1A5 BR.
: Only used on 20 Leopard 2A6M CAN tanks acquired from Germany. Leopard 2s acquired from other sources will continue to use the FN MAG.
: Used on Dingo 2.
: designated M/62 in Danish service.
Designated as MG 3. MG 1A3 version with the anti-aircraft sight.
: As the 7.62 KK MG 3. Used with the Leopard 2 tanks and NH90 helicopters.
: Used by the Bundeswehr.
: License production.
: Peshmerga of Iraqi Kurdistan autonomous region, 40 MG 3s supplied by Germany and 100 by Italy.
: License production of the by Beretta with parts made by Whitehead Motofides and Luigi Franchi; while largely replaced in squad support weapon role by the Belgian FN Minimi, it still sees widespread mounted use on ground-based vehicles and helicopters. Prior to the procurement of the Minimi, the Stabilimento Militare Armi Leggere (SMAL) at Terni has developed a kit to adapt the Italian Army's existing machine guns to accommodate 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. The kit comprises a new barrel, bolt head, feed opening and cover, recoil-enhancing element and a lighter bolt. The weight of the modified 5.56 mm machine gun remains unchanged from the original version.
: used by the Latvian Land Forces.
: License produced by SEDENA in Mexico.
: Used by the Philippine National Police.
: On Leopard 2 tanks and support vehicles. Intended to be replaced by UKM-2000 and WKM-B.
: Made under license.
: As the KSP m/94. Used with the Leopard 2 tanks.
: Used on Commando V-150 APC.
: Made by MKEK in Kırıkkale under license since 1974
: Ukrainian armed forces have been given MG 3 to aid them in the Russian invasion of 2022. At least 130 MG 3 have been provided by Germany.
: pro-Saudi forces and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Non state users

22px Provisional IRA

Former users

: The MG 3 was used between 1976 and 2007 as an anti-aircraft weapon on the Australian Army's Leopard AS1 MBT.

Conflicts

Myanmar Conflict (1948–present)
Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970)
The Troubles (Late 1960s–1998)
Bangladesh Liberation War (1971)
Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990)
Kurdistan Workers Party Insurgency (1978 - present)
Afghan Conflict (1978–present)
Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988)
Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005)
Somali Civil War (1988–present)
Afghan Civil War (1992–1996)
Kargil War (1999)
Iraqi Conflict (2003–present)
Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2004–present)
Boko Haram insurgency (2009–present)
Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
Myanmar Civil War (2021–present)

References

Citations

External links

Bimbel.de—MG 3 disassembled
Bimbel.de—MG 3 on mount
MG 3 video
Machine Gun MG 3 (MG1A3)
ZDv 3–14 Das Maschinengewehr
Das Maschinengewehr MG 3