Difference between revisions of "MG3A1 (7.62 mm)"

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[[File:Weapon_MG_3A1_7.62mm.jpg|thumb|400px]]
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[[File:MG3A1.png|thumb|500px|The MG3A1 (7.62 mm) on top of the Leopard 2A4]]
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' -->
−
The '''MG 3A1''' is a German 7.62 mm General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG). The MG 3A1 is a post-war derivative of the [[MG 42 (7.92 mm)]] machine gun, re-chambered to take the 7.62×51 mm NATO round, and featuring other improvements. The weapon is primarily found as the co-axial or commander's machine gun on post-war German tanks. Being only a 7.62 mm machine gun it is largely ineffective against all but the most weakly armoured, or open cabin, vehicles.
+
The '''MG3A1''' is a German 7.62 mm General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG). The MG3A1 is a post-war derivative of the [[MG42 (7.92 mm)|MG42]] machine gun, rechambered for the 7.62 × 51 mm NATO round and featuring other improvements. The weapon is primarily found as a co-axial or pintle-mounted machine gun on post-war German tanks. Being only a 7.62 mm machine gun it is largely ineffective against all but the most weakly armoured or open cabin vehicles.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
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{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
 
{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
  
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Light tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|germ_begleitpanzer_57}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_radpanzer_90}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_ru251}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Light tanks'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Marder}}{{Specs-Link|germ_begleitpanzer_57}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_marder_1a1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_marder_1a3}}
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{{Navigation-Line|SK-105}}{{Specs-Link|germ_sk105_a2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fr_sk105_a2}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Other}}{{Specs-Link|germ_radpanzer_90}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_ru251}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_vilkas}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Medium tanks'''}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Leopard 1}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_I}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_I_a1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_a1a1_120}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_1a5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sw_leopard_1a5no}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_erprobungstrager_3_achs_turm}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Leopard 2}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2k}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2_pt14}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2av}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a4_pzbtl_123}}{{-}}[[Leopard 2A4 (Italy)]]{{-}}[[Leopard 2A4 (Sweden)]]{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sw_strv121b_christian2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2pl}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a5_pso}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a6}}{{-}}[[Leopard 2A6 (Sweden)]]{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a7v}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_leopard_2a7_hungary}}
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{{Navigation-Line|M48}}{{Specs-Link|germ_mkpz_m48a2ga2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_mkpz_super_m48}}
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{{Navigation-Line|Other}}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_30_super}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_kpz_70}}
  
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{{Navigation-Line|'''Medium tanks'''}}
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{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Tank destroyers'''}}{{Specs-Link|germ_kanonenjagdpanzer}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_m109g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_raketenjagdpanzer_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_raketenjagdpanzer_2_hot}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_wiesel_1_tow}}
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{{Navigation-Line| }}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_30_super}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_kpz_70}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_mkpz_m48a2ga2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_mkpz_super_m48}}
 
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{{Navigation-Line| }}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_I}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_I_a1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_a1a1_120}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_1a5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|it_leopard_1a5}}
 
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{{Navigation-Line| }}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2k}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a6}}
 
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{{Navigation-Line|'''Tank destroyers'''}}{{Specs-Link|germ_kanonenjagdpanzer}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_raketenjagdpanzer_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_raketenjagdpanzer_2_hot}}
 
  
 
{{Navigation-End}}
 
{{Navigation-End}}
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== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' -->
−
Being a derivative of the [[MG 42 (7.92 mm)|MG 42]] the MG 3A1 performs almost identically to it.
+
Being a derivative of the MG42, the MG3A1 performs almost identically to it.
  
 
=== Available ammunition ===
 
=== Available ammunition ===
 
<!-- ''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).'' -->
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The MG 3A1 can only be equipped with one ammo belt consisting of one Armour-piercing (AP) bullet, followed by one Tracer bullet. Neither bullet has much penetration (maximum of 10 mm), however the AP bullet performs much better than the tracer bullet.
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The MG3A1 only has access to one default ammo belt consisting of Armour-piercing (AP) and Tracer (T) bullets, which has at most 13 mm of penetration.
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}
−
! colspan="7" | Penetration statistics
+
 
−
|-
+
{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|AP, T}}
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Belt
 
−
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
 
−
|-
 
−
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
−
|-
 
−
| Default || 10 || 9 || 7 || 4 || 0 || 0
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
<!-- ''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
−
The MG 3A1 performs almost identically to the [[MG 42 (7.92 mm)|MG 42]], but has a significantly higher belt capacity at 1,000 rounds instead of 150. Like the MG 42, the MG 3A1 has an extremely fast rate of fire compared to other machine guns at 1,200 rounds per minute.
+
The MG3A1 performs almost identically to the MG42 but has a significantly higher belt capacity at 1,000 rounds instead of 150. Like the MG42, the MG3A1 has an extremely fast rate of fire compared to other machine guns at 1,200 rounds per minute.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.'' -->
−
Due to the very low penetration this weapon it is largely ineffective against enemy armour (although you may be able to penetrate some vehicles with extremely thin armour). The gun is primarily useful for incapacitating exposed crew members in open topped vehicles (although there are few such vehicles at the battle ratings this gun is found at). The gun can also be used for ranging on some vehicles, as well as marking enemy vehicles and obscuring the view of enemy players (shooting at their gun sight). You can use the gun against aircraft however it does minimal damage, and being co-axially mounted on most tanks can often not be brought / kept on target against aircraft. Clearing trees and bushes is another use.
+
Due to the very low penetration of this weapon, it is largely ineffective against enemy armour (although you may be able to penetrate some vehicles with extremely thin armour). Instead, it can be used to incapacitate exposed crew members in open-topped vehicles, though they are rather rare to meet in the vehicles it is equipped on. The gun can also be used for ranging HESH and HE rounds as they have similar velocities marking enemy vehicles and obscuring the view of enemy players (shooting at their gun sight), and knocking down terrains like bushes and fences. As most tanks equipped with the weapon also have it in a pintle mount, it can also be used to defend against aircraft and helicopters.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
 +
 
* Extremely high rate of fire
 
* Extremely high rate of fire
−
* Very good belt capacity, especially compared to the earlier MG 42
+
* Very good belt capacity, especially compared to the earlier MG42
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
 +
 
* Low penetration makes it ineffective against armour
 
* Low penetration makes it ineffective against armour
 
* Low damage
 
* Low damage
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== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' -->
−
The MG 3A1 is a German General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) chambering the 7.62×51 mm NATO round, the weapon is derived from the war-time [[MG 42 (7.92 mm)|MG 42]] and bears close resemblance to its predecessor. After WW2 Germany was looking for a new machine gun to equip the Bundeswehr (the German Army) and Rheinmetall was contracted to produce a new version of the highly successful MG42, from the Second World War. The original design plans for the MG42 were captured by the Soviets in the aftermath of WW2, and so Rheinmetall had to reverse engineer existing MG42s in order to re-create the design.
+
The MG3A1 is a German General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) chambered for the 7.62×51 mm NATO round, the weapon is derived from the war-time [[MG42 (7.92 mm)|MG42]] and bears a close resemblance to its predecessor. After WW2, newly founded West Germany was looking for a machine gun to equip the Bundeswehr (West German armed forces) and Rheinmetall was contracted to produce a new version of the highly successful MG42 from the Second World War. Since the original design plans for the MG42 were captured by the Soviets in the aftermath of WW2, Rheinmetall had to recreate the design by reverse engineering existing MG42s.
  
−
The new Weapon entered service in 1958 as the MG 1, a reverse engineered MG42, re-chambered for the NATO standard 7.62×51 mm, and with other minor differences. While MG1s were being produced existing stocks of MG42s were re-chambered from the 7.92 × 57 mm Mauser round to NATO ammunition and designated MG 2. Throughout it's service the MG1 was upgraded with MG 1A1, A2, and A3 variants being produced. In 1968 the MG 3 entered service as an improved version of the MG 1A3. The MG 3A1 is a variant of the MG 3 modified for use on armoured vehicles. The MG 3 family of weapons is still in service with the Bundeswehr and several other armed forces to this day.
+
The new weapon entered service in 1958 as the MG1, rechambered for the NATO standard 7.62×51 mm and with other minor differences. While MG1s were being produced, existing stocks of MG42s were rechambered from the 7.92 × 57 mm Mauser round to NATO ammunition and designated the MG2. Throughout its service, the MG1 was upgraded with the MG1A1, 1A2, and 1A3 variants being produced. In 1968 the MG3 entered service as an improved version of the MG1A3. The MG3A1 is a variant of the MG3 modified for use on armoured vehicles. The MG3 family of weapons is still in service with the Bundeswehr and several other armed forces to this day.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Images
 +
<gallery mode="packed-hover"  heights="200">
 +
File:Weapon MG 3A1 7.62mm.jpg|<small>A pintle-mounted MG3A1 on the Leopard 2A4</small>
 +
</gallery>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
 
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
 
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' -->
−
* [[MG 42 (7.92 mm)]]
+
 
 +
* [[MG42 (7.92 mm)]]
 +
 
 +
'''MG3 variants:'''
 +
 
 +
* [[Beretta MG42/59 (7.62 mm)]] - Italian variant
 +
* [[Ksp 94 (7.62 mm)]] - Swedish variant
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''
 
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 +
 
* [[wikipedia:Rheinmetall_MG_3|[Wikipedia] Rheinmetall MG 3]]
 
* [[wikipedia:Rheinmetall_MG_3|[Wikipedia] Rheinmetall MG 3]]
 
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=183 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> Rheinmetall MG 3 (Maschinengewehr Modell 3)]
 
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=183 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> Rheinmetall MG 3 (Maschinengewehr Modell 3)]

Latest revision as of 05:47, 26 June 2024

The MG3A1 (7.62 mm) on top of the Leopard 2A4

Description

The MG3A1 is a German 7.62 mm General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG). The MG3A1 is a post-war derivative of the MG42 machine gun, rechambered for the 7.62 × 51 mm NATO round and featuring other improvements. The weapon is primarily found as a co-axial or pintle-mounted machine gun on post-war German tanks. Being only a 7.62 mm machine gun it is largely ineffective against all but the most weakly armoured or open cabin vehicles.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

Vehicles equipped with this weapon
Light tanks 
Marder  Begleitpanzer 57 · Marder A1- · Marder 1A3
SK-105  JaPz.K A2 · SK-105A2
Other  Radkampfwagen 90 · Ru 251 · Vilkas
Medium tanks 
Leopard 1  Leopard I · Leopard A1A1 · Leopard A1A1 (L/44) · Leopard 1A5 · Leopard 1A5NO2 · Turm III
Leopard 2  Leopard 2K · PT-16/T14 mod. · Leopard 2AV · Leopard 2A4 · Leopard 2 (PzBtl 123) · Leopard 2A4 (Italy) · Leopard 2A4 (Sweden) · Christian II · Leopard 2 PL · Leopard 2A5 · Leopard 2 PSO · Leopard 2A6 · Leopard 2A6 (Sweden) · Leopard 2A7V · Leopard 2A7HU
M48  M48A2 G A2 · M48 Super
Other  AMX-30 Super · KPz-70
Tank destroyers  JPz 4-5 · M109G · RakJPz 2 · RakJPz 2 (HOT) · Wiesel 1A2

General info

Being a derivative of the MG42, the MG3A1 performs almost identically to it.

Available ammunition

The MG3A1 only has access to one default ammo belt consisting of Armour-piercing (AP) and Tracer (T) bullets, which has at most 13 mm of penetration.

  • Default: AP · T

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
AP 13 12 7 3 2 0
T 5 4 2 1 0 0
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
AP 853 0.01 - - - 47° 56° 65°
T 835 0.01 - - - 47° 56° 65°

Comparison with analogues

The MG3A1 performs almost identically to the MG42 but has a significantly higher belt capacity at 1,000 rounds instead of 150. Like the MG42, the MG3A1 has an extremely fast rate of fire compared to other machine guns at 1,200 rounds per minute.

Usage in battles

Due to the very low penetration of this weapon, it is largely ineffective against enemy armour (although you may be able to penetrate some vehicles with extremely thin armour). Instead, it can be used to incapacitate exposed crew members in open-topped vehicles, though they are rather rare to meet in the vehicles it is equipped on. The gun can also be used for ranging HESH and HE rounds as they have similar velocities marking enemy vehicles and obscuring the view of enemy players (shooting at their gun sight), and knocking down terrains like bushes and fences. As most tanks equipped with the weapon also have it in a pintle mount, it can also be used to defend against aircraft and helicopters.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Extremely high rate of fire
  • Very good belt capacity, especially compared to the earlier MG42

Cons:

  • Low penetration makes it ineffective against armour
  • Low damage

History

The MG3A1 is a German General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) chambered for the 7.62×51 mm NATO round, the weapon is derived from the war-time MG42 and bears a close resemblance to its predecessor. After WW2, newly founded West Germany was looking for a machine gun to equip the Bundeswehr (West German armed forces) and Rheinmetall was contracted to produce a new version of the highly successful MG42 from the Second World War. Since the original design plans for the MG42 were captured by the Soviets in the aftermath of WW2, Rheinmetall had to recreate the design by reverse engineering existing MG42s.

The new weapon entered service in 1958 as the MG1, rechambered for the NATO standard 7.62×51 mm and with other minor differences. While MG1s were being produced, existing stocks of MG42s were rechambered from the 7.92 × 57 mm Mauser round to NATO ammunition and designated the MG2. Throughout its service, the MG1 was upgraded with the MG1A1, 1A2, and 1A3 variants being produced. In 1968 the MG3 entered service as an improved version of the MG1A3. The MG3A1 is a variant of the MG3 modified for use on armoured vehicles. The MG3 family of weapons is still in service with the Bundeswehr and several other armed forces to this day.

Media

Images

  • A pintle-mounted MG3A1 on the Leopard 2A4

See also

MG3 variants:

External links


Tank machine guns
USA 
7.62 mm  M37 · M60D · M73 · M240 · M1919A4 · Mk.52
12.7 mm  FN M3P · M2HB · M80 · M85
Germany 
5.56 mm  MG4
7.62 mm  C6 · MG3A1
7.92 mm  MG13 Dreyse · MG34 · MG37(t) · MG42
12.7 mm  S.MG.50
USSR 
7.62 mm  DT · PKMB · PKT · PKTM · RP-46 · SGMT
12.7 mm  DK · DShK · 6P49 · NSVT
14.5 mm  KPVT
Britain 
7.62 mm  Browning MG4 · L3A1 · L8A1 · L8A2 · L37A1 · L37A2 · L94A1
7.7 mm  Vickers
7.92 mm  BESA
12.7 mm  L21A1
Japan 
6.5 mm  Type 91
7.62 mm  Type 74
7.7 mm  Type 97
12.7 mm  Type 60 (B)
China 
5.8 mm  QJT
7.62 mm  Type 55 · Type 59 · Type 86
12.7 mm  QJC88A · Type 54
14.5 mm  QJG02
Italy 
7.62 mm  Beretta MG42/59 · FN MAG 60-40
8 mm  34/40M · Breda Mod. 38
13.2 mm  Breda Model 31
France 
7.5 mm  AAT-52 · MAC 31
7.62 mm  A-A-F1N
8 mm  Hotchkiss Mle 1914
Sweden 
6.5 mm  ksp m/14-29
7.62 mm  ksp 39 C · ksp 58 · ksp 94
8 mm  ksp m/36 · ksp m/39B
12.7 mm  ksp 88

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