MG42: The Deadliest Machine Gun of the Second World War?

The MG42 – nicknamed Hitler’s Buzzsaw – became one of the most feared weapons of the Second World War. With a blistering rate of fire of 1,100 rounds per minute, it was designed to be the centrepiece of the German infantry squad, laying down devastating firepower while being surprisingly quick to manufacture compared to its predecessor, the MG34.

But was it really as unstoppable as its reputation suggests? James Holland takes a close look at this iconic air-cooled machine gun, its simple barrel-change system, and the tactical doctrine that made it the backbone of German squads. Was it truly the ultimate battlefield weapon, or was its fearsome reputation more myth than reality?

📍 Filmed on location at WW2 Armor’s Valousia Valor Days in Florida: https://www.ww2armor.org/

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00:00 Intro
00:27 MG42 Origins & Design
00:59 History and Predecessor
01:40 Doctrine, Rate of Fire & Overheating
05:25 Barrel Change Demonstration
07:38 Examining the muzzle bearing
08:16 Conclusions on the MG42

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