| Year | April 1942 |
| Weapon Type | Duel Purpose Machine Gun |
| Origin & Designer | Germany/Werke |
| Numbers Produced | 415.000 |
| Crew | 2 - Gunner & Loader (L.M.G.). 6 - Squad Leader, Gunner, Loader & 3 x Ammunition Bearers (M.M.G.). |
| Calibre | 7.92mm (7.92x57) |
| Elevation | [@elevation] |
| Traverse | [@gun_traverse] |
| Cartridge Weight | [@cartridge_weight] |
| Round Weight | 150gr (9.8g) |
| Barrel Length | 627mm |
| Overall Length | 1.219mm |
| Grenade Types | [@grenade_types] |
| Mount | Bi-Pod (L.M.G.). Tri-Pod Mount Lafett |
| Combat Weight | L.M.G.: 12 kg. M.M.G.: 31 kg. |
| Operation | Recoil Operated Fully Automatic |
| Cooling System | Air |
| Sights | Front Blade/Post and V Rear + Telescopic (Lafette-34) |
| Feed | 50 Round Drum or 250 Round Belt |
| Practical Rate of Fire | 250 r.p.m. |
| Maximum Rate of Fire | 900 r.p.m. |
| Blank Cartridge | [@blank_cartridge] |
| Muzzle Velocity | 755 m/s |
| Fuel Capacity | [@fuel_capacity] |
| Minimum Range | [@minimum_range] |
| Effective Range | [@effective_range] |
| Maximum Range | Effective: 600-800m. Direct: 2000m. |
| Armour Penetration | [@armour_penetration] |
| Bayonet | [@bayonet] |
| Traction | [@traction] |
| Variants | [@variants] |
| Notes | The MG.42 served along the MG.34 and but never fully replaced it, as both weapons were in fact produced until end of the war. The MG 42 has one of the highest average rates of fire of any single-barrelled man-portable machine gun, and like the MG.34 It was designed to perform both as a Light Machine Gun and Medium Machine Gun and issued to Infantry Sections (LMG) and Machine Gun Companies (MMG). |