MG 17 machine gun

MG 17 machine gun
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Type	Aircraft machine-gun
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
Used by	Nazi Germany
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designed	1934
Manufacturer	Rheinmetall-Borsig
Produced	1934-1944
No. built	24,271
Variants	Modular design
Specifications
Mass	10.2 kg (22 lb)
Length	1,175 mm (46.3 in)
Cartridge	8x57mm IS
Caliber	7.9mm
Action	Recoil
Rate of fire	1.200 rpm
Muzzle velocity	from 855 m/s (2,810 ft/s) (Phosphor "B" round ) to 905 m/s (2,970 ft/s) (Armor Piercing Tracer "SmK L'spur" round)
Feed system	500 round belt
Sights	Various types

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.

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 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.

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

See also

• List of firearms
• List of uncommon World War II weapons