Fallschirmjägergewehr

Commander Waffle · #1 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 12:26 AM

Now if my German is is correct (which... its not always), "Fallschirmjägergewehr" means (in German...go figure, right?) "Paratrooper's gun".

Now the Third Reich was always had internal fights over who got what, when they gonna get that, and so on. When the Wehrmach and the SS got the G-34, Göring inisted on getting his paratroopers equiped with a self-loading rifle as well. The Luftwaffe put 6 industries to design one and the result as the Rheinmetall-Borsig prototype. The final product was a modern looking (at the time) assualt rifle. The designers of the rifle were able to pack the mechanism of automatic fire into a volume not much larger than a conventional bolt. First models of FG 42 were of a creative design that included a pistol grip, a strange plastic butt and a bipod on the forestock. It also had room to house a flash eliminator on the muzzle and a folding spike bayonet. Ammunition feed came from a side-mounsted box magazine on the left, and the self-loading mechanism was gas-operated. These individual features existed already in other firearms, but they were put together in an innovative way in the FG 42.

Now the Luftwaffe (of course) loved the new weapon, but it had some draw backs. It was simply to complex to get into the troops hands fast enough. Even when it went under several modifications to reduce production time, it still look a while. Only about 7,000 were produced. Despite, its production proplems, the troops loved it.

Jim O · #2 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 12:58 AM

Thanks for the education Trevor. I have two questions. What year was this gun first put into service? And do you happen to know where the last two photos were taken?

Commander Waffle · #3 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 02:26 AM

Not too sure about where. I do believe that the top one is an SS, but not completely positive on that. The same with the second. It went into service in 1942 (I'm guess thats where the 42 came from).

Pirate-Drakk · #4 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commander Waffle

This foto is at Gran Sasso, Italy. Skorzeny's raid to capture Mussolini. Don't ask me why I know this...

McCoy · #5 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 04:28 AM

The standin' soldier belongs to the first company of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 (I/FJR 7) under Oblt von Berlepsch that was under the command of Otto Skorenzy in the operation Eiche, more commonly known as the Gran Sasso raid were Mussolini was Rescued from his captors.

McCoy · #6 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 04:29 AM

Aww Pirate! You beat me to the punch...

Pirate-Drakk · #7 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McCoy

Aww Pirate! You beat me to the punch...

At least you know what your talking about!

Geek44 · #8 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 10:35 AM

My favourite WW2 era weapon. Hey Trev, you sure that butt was plastic? I think it may have been stamped metal but don't quote me. The Gran Sasso pic sticks out as that for me because of the assault glider. If I'm not mistaken (and I often am) this was one of the few instances they used these.
Great post Trevor, thanks.

Commander Waffle · #9 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 02:19 PM

The orginal butt was plastic, but it was replced with wood to try and reduce the production time. Good call!

Geek44 · #10 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 11:54 PM

Well I'll be hornswaggled (whatever that means). I did not know that plastic had been invented at that time. I do know that during the period, work on plastic was considered 'Top Secret' by the British Government. The Germans are pretty smart folks though...it would not surprise me to learn that they were ahead in this regard.
Peace.