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 rifleGerman paratrooper with FG 42 rifle, France, Jun 1944
See all 6 photographs of FG 42 Rifle



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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?

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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 6 photographs of FG 42 Rifle


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