Mg34 / Mg42 Hmg

[Taskforce]

Just a question of mine, although it may sound silly.

The MG34 and the MG42 were flexible weapons, with the options of being used as a LMG, MMG and HMG.

It filled the LMG role with the basic bipod and could be transformed into a MMG using the heavier tripod. But what exacly turned it into a HMG?

Was it the addition of a telescopic sight that made all the difference or did the Germans use something else apart for this together with the tripod? And what was it that meant that a fourth crewman was needed to operate the HMG when only three men were needed for the MMG?

Cheers, Taskforce

[Mobhack]

An "HMG" in one army might be a 50 cal, in another it may be a jacketed water cooled MMG, or just a rifle calibre weapon.

You takes your army and whatever designation they give it (or whatever the OOB designer used perhaps based on his nationality) for a tripod MG, really.

Personally I prefer the British (NATO?) designation of "Sustained Fire Machine Gun (SFMG)" for any belt fed tripod mounted weapon, as it ignores calibre, water jackets or whatever Army A uses as against army B, to designate these.

Andy

[DRG]

You're getting the added range from the telescopic sight to make it a "HMG" ( although it's probably only a MMG(+) )and an extra man "just becasue" that's what all other HMG crews get ( except German MG08/18 HMG unit 587 and 791 which only get 3 men but should get 4 "to be fair" and that "issue" has just been corrected in the master OOB )


Don

[Taskforce]

I thought so, thanks for the answers - I've made the changes in my OOB.

I renember reading in a book about WW2 weapons some 20 years ago about the MG42 and it being able to theoreticaly being able to hit targets 3.000 metres away using a special telescopic sight.

Cheers, Taskforce