FG 42 file photo [11169]

FG 42 Rifle

Country of OriginGermany
TypeRifle
Caliber7.920 mm
Capacity20 rounds
Length937.000 mm
Barrel Length502.000 mm
Weight4.500 kg
Rate of Fire900 rounds/min
Muzzle Velocity760 m/s

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe WW2-era German paratroopers, limited by their harnesses, could only carry light weapons. As a result, after they jumped into Crete, Greece, they were at a disadvantage in terms of firepower. Head of the German Luftwaffe Hermann Göring thus demanded a better weapon for the paratroopers to address this problem. The Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 (FG 42) automatic rifles, designed by Louis Stange of Rheinmetall-Borsig, were the answer. Manufacturing contracts were awarded to six manufacturers in 1942. Once in service, they were welcomed by the paratroopers, though some complained that, while in fully-automatic mode, muzzle rise greatly reduced accuracy of the FG 42 automatic rifles. Across all variants, only 6,397 were built between 1942 and 1945 as they were made for paratrooper use only.

Source: Wikipedia. ww2dbase

Last Major Revision: Mar 2008

FG 42 Rifle Interactive Map

Photographs

German glider trooper posing with a FG 42 rifle before a DFS 230 C-1 glider, Gran Sasso, Italy, 12 Sep 1943German paratroopers with FG 42 rifle and MP 40 submachine gun in Italy guarding a cache of captured weapons, 1943A German general inspecting troops at San Felice Circeo, Italy, 26 Dec 1943; note FG 42 rifleA German paratrooper defending a position with his FG 42 machine gun, Italy, circa 1944; note MP 40 submachine gun nearby
See all 7 photographs of FG 42 Rifle



Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds


Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
14 Dec 2009 05:04:06 PM

i have a fg 42 parts kit for sale that my father brought back and i was wandering what it was worth?

bunghodio@yahoo.com
2. Anonymous says:
8 Feb 2010 04:54:30 PM

Why would you even sell it? Its family history! You can sell them for about $600
3. tommy gun says:
12 Feb 2010 11:30:30 AM

i will buy it and give you a good price call me tom 203-640-8962
4. Anonymous says:
8 Mar 2010 09:01:45 AM

the kit is wourt many tousand dollars.
5. Anonymous says:
9 Mar 2024 01:26:55 PM

I have an original FG-42 that’s fully functional. Willing to sell it off piece by piece. Anyone interested?

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.
Search WW2DB
News

FG 42 Rifle Photo Gallery
German glider trooper posing with a FG 42 rifle before a DFS 230 C-1 glider, Gran Sasso, Italy, 12 Sep 1943
See all 7 photographs of FG 42 Rifle


Current Site Statistics

Famous WW2 Quote
"All that silly talk about the advance of science and such leaves me cold. Give me peace and a retarded science."

Thomas Dodd, late 1945


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!