MG42 German Machine Gun in Afghanistan

[Warden]

Hello everyone

I found this clip on U tube

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JqV9r46TciA

Question is what is it doing out in Afghanistan? In the clip description it says all sorts of weapons turn up.

What do you guys think, Excuse my ignorance but where they used by any armies post war?

Harry

 

[David Conwill]

I can think of a few explanations as to how this piece might have gotten there, some more plausible than others. The Soviets had a reputation for never throwing anything away, and certainly captured a lot of German equipment in WWII, so it's possible that when the Soviet Afghan government was set up, they were equipped with hand-me-down German stuff.

Also, the Yugoslav government had a lot of ex-German equipment hanging around, and even continued to produce 8mm Mauser rifles and ammunition for many years. With the break up of Yugoslavia, I'm sure a lot of that stuff isn't accounted for any longer, and people with access to stockpiles of weapons and ammunition are willing to sell it to the highest bidder.

Finally, there was a big chunk of WWII fought in North Africa, including Libya. It's possible some of the more radical elements in that part of the world have helped to equip some of the more radical elements in Central Asia. Although I consider that one of the more remote possibilities.

Finally, I'm pretty sure the post-war German Army in the 1950s used a lot of WWII-style stuff with slight tweaks to the design (P38 pistols, MG42 machine guns, etc.) and different names (P1 pistols, MG3 machine guns, etc.).

-Dave

 

[David Conwill]

Perhaps I should have watched the video first. That's not an MG42, it is in fact the aforementioned MG3. Same design, but with a heavier bolt, chambered for the 7.62 NATO round, and a few other tweaks. I usually don't watch YouTube videos, and if I had, I would have noticed that this isn't a captured piece, but one in service with the deployed German forces in Afghanistan.

-Dave

 

[Story]

The MG-3 (and G-3 rifle, for that matter) are used by the Pakistani Defense Forces and made under license by Pakistan Ordnance Factory. Don't be surprised if you see bandits, Taliban or Al Qaeda lugging them around.

 

[Speedster]

The MG3 is based on the WWII German MG42 and is still in use by the Danish Army who is present i Afghanistan. The Danish name for the machine gun is M/62.

 

[db5zx]

It in fact is a German MG3. It's a great weapon. I used it quite a bit while doing my service in the German army in 1999. It's still in service as far as I know...

 

[DutchIndo]

Probably an MG3 the West Germans were using them for awhile. They are now in .308 instead of the 8mm. I read some place that the Americans toyed around with the MG42 in 30-06. They came up with the M-60 which looks vaguely similar. The M-60 was a POS from what I read and from some Veterans that I talked to. Now they are using the 240 Gulf (GPMG MAG 58) a Belgian made MG. The Brits also use the MAG 58 after howling over the loss of their beloved Vickers Gun.

 

[David Conwill]

The M60 is like a hybrid of the MG42 and the FG42. I don't think it's quite so bad as it gets made out to be, but it wasn't the resounding success the '42 was.

Still, I'd probably rather deal with an M60 than a BAR or an M1919A6.

-Dave

 

[thunderw21]

Nearly every firearm imaginable has been found in Iraq and Afghanistan.

M-1s, G3s, Enfields, Mausers, SKSs, PPSHs, Stens: you name it, they've got it.
Even old Martini-Henrys.

 

[jeep44]

The Iraqi Army uses them,also. Somewhere I have a photo of my son holding one-he served on a MiTT team with them.
He found plenty of other old weapons over there,though-Mausers, Enfields,STENs,-They are unable to bring any of them back as souvenirs, so they were all destroyed. One of the other members of his team found a STEN and kept it in the turret of his Humvee. My son found an M3 greasegun, but the bolt was rusted shut (It had been hidden),and he had to smash it-he was going to keep it in his vehicle if he could have gotten it running.

 

[Chrome]

It seems that true identity is found already, but here still is a link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheinmetall_MG3

 

[DutchIndo]

I totally understand why they destroy weapons. It's a shame that all that history is being destroyed though.

 

[_RAGNAR_]

I've handled MG1's in 7.62x51 that were reworked MG42s with wwii marking still in use by Pakistani peacekeepers.

It'a great gun, no reason to stop using it.

somewhere i have a picture of me with it.

 

[cloudspotter]

MG3

yes, it is said to be one of the best ones. german authorities were using original wehrmacht issues until 1960ies, only the markings updated/wiped out. i used it regularly during my service time. we made a sport out of giving only three shots at a time - it's really a challange! post-war models are artificially slowed down in motion by muzzle brake adjustments; the WWII issues were able to fire 1800 to 2000 shots per minute (depending on the ammo). one short burst sounding like one boom and your tray was empty!

 

[Unlucky Berman]

Probably an MG3 the West Germans were using them for awhile.

Ten years ago, I was trained with that one in our army, so [huh] They still use it today, e.g. on trucks and dingos and the like.
Besides many of these guns, like MG3 and G3 were also sold to other countries, you can find them also in africa. I have seen some documentation about some of the recent events in Kongo and they showed some "Soldiers" (actually it were childrens with guns) and one of them had a MG3, others normal G3 and most the usual AKs.

 

[Lt GUSTL]

Servus from Vienna,

the MG42 with some modification is still used in Europe by some military forces. It is called MG74.
I saw some of these pieces (they had even the "eagle" inspection mark on it).

kindest regards

 

[Harp]

Still, I'd probably rather deal with an M60 than a BAR...

-Dave

The Bar was my baby, but luggin' an M60 builds character. lol
...rather have a SAW today.