MG 81 machine gun

Infobox Weapon
name=MG 81


caption=MG 81 (upper) and MG 81 Z (in box)
origin=flagcountry|Nazi Germany
type=Machine gun
is_ranged=yes
service=
used_by=Nazi Germany
wars=World War II
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants=MG 81 Z
weight=kg to lb|6.5|sp=us|abbr=on|precision=2|wiki=yes
length=mm to in|965|abbr=on|precision=1|wiki=yes (with flash hider)
part_length=mm to in|475|abbr=on|precision=1|wiki=yes
cartridge=7.92x57mm Mauser
caliber=
action=Recoil-operated
rate=1,400-1,600 rounds/min
velocity=convert|790|m/s|0|lk=on|sp=us|abbr=on
range=
max_range=
feed=Belt-fed
sights=

The MG 81 was a belt fed 7.92 mm machine gun for fixed or flexible installations in World War II Luftwaffe aircraft, replacing the older drum magazine fed MG 15.

The MG 81 was developed by Mauser as a derivative of their successful MG34 infantry machine gun. Development focus was to reduce production cost and time and to optimize for use in aircraft. Developed in 1938/1939, it was in production from 1940 to 1945.

A special twin-mount MG 81 Z ("Zwilling"-twin) was introduced in 1942, which paired up two of the weapons on one mount, to provide even more firepower with max 3200 rounds/min without requiring much more space than a standard machine gun.

Applications

The MG 81 Z found itself used in some unique installations in the Luftwaffe. Some of the more known ones is a pair of MG 81 Z's installed in the hollow tail cone of the Dornier Do 217. Designated R19 (R for Rüstsätze) for the factory designed field kit, it allows the pilot of the 217 to shoot at pursuers with a hail of bullets. Another application was the "Watering can", an externally mounted pod with 3 sets of guns and ammo meant to be attached to a Junkers Ju 88 and used to strafe ground targets.

pecifications

;MG 81
*Weight : 6.5 kg
*Length : 915 mm (965 mm with flash hider)
*Muzzle velocity: 705 m/s (sS ammo), 760, 785 or 790 m/s, depending on ammo type
*Rate of fire: 1400 - 1600 rpm (sS ammo)

;MG 81 Z
*Weight: 12.9 kg
*Length : 915 mm (965 mm with flash hider)
*Muzzle velocity: 705 m/s (sS ammo), 760, 785 or 790 m/s, depending on ammo type
*Rate of fire: 2800 - 3200 rpm (sS ammo)

ee also

*List of firearms
*List of secondary and special-issue World War II infantry weapons

External links

* [http://www.airwar.ru/weapon/guns/mg-81.html Airwar.ru (non English)]
* [http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/mg81.htm Luftwaffe39-45 (non English)]

=External

* [http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/data/500/MG-81_Jimpy.jpgImage 1] , [http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/data/500/MG-81_GPMG.jpgImage 2] , [http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/data/500/MG-81Z.jpgImage 3] , [http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/data/500/MG-81Z_2.jpgImage 4] , [http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/data/500/MG-81_2.jpgImage 5] , [http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/data/500/MG-81.jpgImage 6]