Weapons · Germany · 1942-1945
FG 42
automatic rifle
Developed for the Fallschirmjager after the heavy casualties of the Crete airborne assault exposed how poorly armed paratroopers were once separated from their heavier weapon containers on landing, the FG 42 packed selective-fire automatic capability and a bayonet into a rifle-length weapon. It was expensive and never produced in large numbers, but influenced later automatic rifle designs.
| caliber | 7.92x57mm Mauser |
|---|---|
| magazine | 20-round side box |
| rate of fire | ~750-900 rpm |
| produced | ~7,000-9,000 |
