MG 34 vs MG 42: Why German Tanks Didn’t Use the Better Machine Gun

MG 34 (Maschinengewehr 34) Machinegun - Non-Firing Replica

The MG34 was the predecessor to the more well known MG42. The 34 had a much slower fire rate of about 900 rounds per minute compared to 1400 for the 42. Despite more expensive and complex to produce the MG34 was produced until the war’s end and was a much loved gun by the Wehrmacht. In this video below you see a member of the 211th operating WW2 Armor’s MG34 during the 2020 Mr. Dora Battle Reenactment. This was one of the first events for the group. It’s hard to believe how far we have come! | 3

MG 34 vs MG 42: Why German Tanks Didn’t Use the Better Machine Gun