MG 17 machine gun
Encyclopedia
The MG 17 was a 7.92 mm machine gun
produced by Rheinmetall-Borsig for use at fixed mountings in many World War II
Luftwaffe
aircraft.
The MG 17 was installed in the Messerschmitt Bf 109
, Messerschmitt Bf 110
, Focke-Wulf Fw 190
, Junkers Ju 87
, Junkers Ju 88C Nightfighter
, Heinkel He 111
, Dornier Do 17/215 Nightfighter
, Focke-Wulf Fw 189
and many other aircraft. Many MG 17s were later modified for infantry use as heavier weapons replaced them on Luftwaffe aircraft. Official numbers of conversions was about 24,271 by January 1, 1944, although additional conversions may have been done as well.
Dimensions
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
produced by Rheinmetall-Borsig for use at fixed mountings in many World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
aircraft.
History
A mainstay fixed machine gun in German built aircraft (many of which were sold to other countries) well before World War II, by 1940 it was starting to be replaced with heavier caliber machine gun and cannons. By 1945 very few if any aircraft mounted the MG 17.The MG 17 was installed in the Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
, Messerschmitt Bf 110
Messerschmitt Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Hermann Göring was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten...
, Focke-Wulf Fw 190
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
, Junkers Ju 87
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
, Junkers Ju 88C Nightfighter
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
, Heinkel He 111
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
, Dornier Do 17/215 Nightfighter
Dornier Do 17
The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...
, Focke-Wulf Fw 189
Focke-Wulf Fw 189
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Brown, Capt. Eric . Wings of the Luftwaffe. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1978. ISBN 0-385-13521-1....
and many other aircraft. Many MG 17s were later modified for infantry use as heavier weapons replaced them on Luftwaffe aircraft. Official numbers of conversions was about 24,271 by January 1, 1944, although additional conversions may have been done as well.
Specifications
- Calibre: 7.9 +/- .04 mm
- Cartridge: 8x57 mm IS
- Round weight: 35.5 grams (cartridge 24 grams, bullet 11.5 grams)
- Muzzle velocity: from 855 m/s (Phosphor "B" round ) to 905 m/s (Armor Piercing Tracer "SmK L'spur" round)
- Rate of fire: 1200 rpm
Dimensions
- Length: 1175 mm
- Weight: 10.2 kg
- Action: Recoil
- Feed system: Belt magazine
- Sights Remotely located, various types