Is this a German MG42?

[Riesstiu IV]

Recently a friend of mind in Iraq cam across this gun...

I found this (I think) It's a German MG42 in the blown up bunker. We also found AK47s, 30mm anti-aircraft guns, and US 50 cals. We had to sneak it back to camp so I could only take one thing so I took this.

 

[privatehudson]

It certainly seems to be yes, though it could concievably be a post-war copy because so many nations used it afterwards

The middleast is full of such things, both Arabs and Israelis bought whatever they could get their hands on after WWII and all sorts of weird planes and tanks ended up there. Somewhere in Israel at least there is a number of Panzer IV tanks that they pinched off the Syrians (who'd been using them on the Golan heights) and Syria also made use of early war French armour that had been left behind after the French left the area. It's also been alleged (though personally I think it's a little stretched) that Israel acquired small numbers of Tigers and Panthers just after independance, panthers being in special abundance because France manufactured them for some time. Apparently Spain bought a whole pile of ex-german equipment after the war, ME109s, HE111's, tigers, panthers, you name it. Some of the planes in the Battle of Britain film were ex-spanish issue, they were literally about to scrap them when the filmaker bought the lot

Oh and Israel also used a watered down version of the ME109 using a less powerful engine that (IIRC) was manufactured in Czechslovakia after the war.

 

[joespaniel]

The third picture is a M-249 SAW.

 

[privatehudson]

I think he knows that

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Yeah, I know. I just wanted to add picture that makes him look cool. Also, do you think that the MG42 could've been left over from the Iraqi rebellion of 1941? I heard that the 3rd Reich supplied the rebels with German weapons like MP40's and Mauser bolt action rifles. They were hoping that the rebels would be successful in creating a pro-Axis government.

 

[privatehudson]

Possible, though it could be stretching things a little to expect it to still be in some form of working order for all this time unless in regular use and kept regularly clean. It was a decently built weapon though, and beggars can't be choosers I guess

 

[joespaniel]

I just mentioned that because I carried a SAW for a couple years.

I doubt the MG-42 is of WWII vintage. As PvtHudson already said, many countries made copies of that gun long after the end of WWII. Most guns in military service don't last that long because even under peacetime training conditions they get beat up.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Well, thanks for the answers. It was surprising to see such a weapon still around in an Iraqi bunker. I can't imagine a MG42 being used as an effective weapon nowadays. With the easy availability of cheap assault weapons like the AK47, the MG42 would be obsolete.

BTW, he sent me some more pictures if you'd like to see them just ask.

 

[Zeekater]

Cooool, wish I had one to hang in my room

 

[privatehudson]

Germany still, or until extremely recently used a slightly moddified version of the gun to my reccollection, and of course the M60's design was heavily influenced by it also. Given it's extensive use it could either be a copy bought from one of the post-war makers of the gun, or a slightly more modern version of the gun. Kind of hard to say without examining it and knowing the changes the West Germans and others made to the design after the war. It certainly looks like WWII vintage design though

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Cooool, wish I had one to hang in my room

Would that be legal in Belgium?

 

[Zeekater]

BTW, he sent me some more pictures if you'd like to see them just ask.

Please do
I wonder what this baby would bring in on Ebay

 

[Zeekater]

Would that be legal in Belgium?

Yes, as long as it isn't in an operational status, you have to have some 'block' in the barrel, but I'm not so sure
Besides, no policeman would take it away from me, that is something they aren't too fussy about

 

[MarineCorps]

The site where I got the first picture from has more pictures, but I don't think the mods will be pleased with me posting the pictures considering what the women holding the guns are wearing(or lack there of. )


http://www.gunsworld.com/mgp/mg42.htm

 

[privatehudson]

And I'd certainly like to see more pictures, shall I PM you with my e-mail?

On it's usage, it depends, if it's the modern altered design, it is quite useful due to it's versatility. Plus I guess you have to look at things from the point of view that any gun is better than no gun at all, and inside a bunker, machine guns are more helpful than assault rifles, especially belt fed machine guns.

One other thing though is that I very much doubt it is still the same calibre as the old MG42, I think they had to change it slightly to conform to the standard NATO ammunition, so you could date it by that to some degree.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Here's a before and after picture... the Bunker was hit with a 500 pound bomb but luckily no one was inside. He found the MG42 in the bunker along with a few other weapons.

Edit: sorry guys I don't have anymore images of the gun but he did send me some other stuff.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Here he is with various Iraqis and a picture of his Hummer.

 

[Zeekater]

Looks like your friend is doing good over there

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Yes, he's doing well. My friend is stationed near a small village and almost everybody knows each other. Not much happens where he is... at least compared to Baghdad or Falujjha (spelling?).

He's more worried about camel spiders instead.

 

[Esckey]

Man I would love to have that gun on my mantle. I do think it would still be very practicle in this day and age, it is a gun after all