Difference between revisions of "MG3A1 (7.62 mm)"

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{{AutoWeapon-Card
 
{{AutoWeapon-Card
−
|image = File:Weapon_MG_3A1_7.62mm.jpg
+
| image = File:Weapon_MG_3A1_7.62mm.jpg
−
|title = {{PAGENAME}}
+
| title = {{PAGENAME}}
−
|MG-calibre = 7.62
+
| MG-calibre = 7.62
−
|Belt-capacity = 1,000
+
| Belt-capacity = 1,000
−
|RoF = 1,200
+
| RoF = 1,200
−
|MG-velocity = 835 - 853
+
| MG-velocity = 835 - 853
−
|MG-max-pen = 10
+
| MG-max-pen = 10
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== 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. Make an air or ground vehicles list on which this weapon is installed in our 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 7.62mm machine gun it is largely ineffective against all but the most weakly armoured, or open cabin, vehicles.
+
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.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
 
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' -->
 
{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
 
{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
−
{{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_2k}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a5}}
+
 
−
{{Navigation-Line|RakJPz}}{{Specs-Link|germ_raketenjagdpanzer_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_raketenjagdpanzer_2_hot}}
+
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Light tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|germ_begleitpanzer_57}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_ru251}}
−
{{Navigation-Line|Other (Germany)}}{{Specs-Link|germ_begleitpanzer_57}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_kanonenjagdpanzer}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_kpz_70}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_mkpz_m48a2ga2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_ru251}}
+
 
−
{{Navigation-Line|Other (USA)}}{{Specs-Link|us_xm_803}}
+
{{Navigation-Line|'''Medium tanks'''}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_I}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_I_a1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_a1a1_120}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2k}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_leopard_2a5}}
 +
{{Navigation-Line|}}{{Specs-Link|fr_amx_30_super}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_kpz_70}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_mkpz_m48a2ga2}}
 +
 
 +
{{Navigation-Line|'''Tank destroyers'''}}{{Specs-Link|germ_kanonenjagdpanzer}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_raketenjagdpanzer_2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|germ_raketenjagdpanzer_2_hot}}
 +
 
 
{{Navigation-End}}
 
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== 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 [[MG 42 (7.92 mm)|MG 42]] the MG 3A1 performs almost identically to it.
  
−
=== Available shells ===
+
=== Available ammunition ===
−
<!-- Describe the shells that are available for the cannon 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).'' -->
−
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.
+
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.
  
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
−
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
+
! colspan="7" | Penetration statistics
 
|-
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
−
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
+
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 90° (mm)'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
! 10m
+
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
−
! 100m
 
−
! 500m
 
−
! 1,000m
 
−
! 1,450m
 
−
! 1,500m
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| AP || 10 || 9 || 7 || 4 || 1 || 0  
+
| AP || 10 || 9 || 7 || 4 || 0 || 0
 
|-
 
|-
−
| T || 5 || 4 || 2 || 1 || 0.1 || 0  
+
| T || 5 || 4 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 52: Line 51:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
−
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
+
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
−
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
+
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
−
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
+
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
−
''in m:''
+
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
−
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
+
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
−
''in mm:''
+
! rowspan="2" | Normalisation at 30°<br>from horizontal
−
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
+
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
−
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 
−
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
! 0%
+
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
−
! 50%
 
−
! 100%
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| AP || 853 || 0.0108 || N/A || N/A || N/A || ??° || ??° || ??° || ??°
+
| AP || 853 || 0.0108 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +2.0° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 +
|-
 +
| T || 835 || 0.0095 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +2.0° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
|-
 
|-
−
| T || 835 || 0.0095 || N/A || N/A || N/A || ??° || ??° || ??° || ??°
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
−
<!-- Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns, that have firepower equal to these type of weapons. -->
+
<!-- ''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 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.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
<!-- Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against the main 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 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.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
<!-- Summarize and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list. -->
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' -->
  
 
'''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 MG 42
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
 
 
* Low penetration makes it ineffective against armour
 
* Low penetration makes it ineffective against armour
−
* Low Damage
+
* Low damage
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
<!-- Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(weapon-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. -->
+
<!-- ''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 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 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 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.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==
−
<!-- Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
−
 
+
* ''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)]]
 
* [[MG 42 (7.92 mm)]]
  
 
== 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 weapon;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''
−
* ''other literature.''-->
+
* ''other literature.'' -->
−
 
 
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheinmetall_MG_3 Wikipedia - Rheinmetall MG 3]
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheinmetall_MG_3 Wikipedia - Rheinmetall MG 3]
 
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=183 Military Factory - Rheinmetall MG 3 (Maschinengewehr Modell 3)]
 
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=183 Military Factory - Rheinmetall MG 3 (Maschinengewehr Modell 3)]

Revision as of 18:51, 3 August 2019


Description

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.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

Vehicles equipped with this weapon
Light tanks  Begleitpanzer 57 · Ru 251
Medium tanks  Leopard I · Leopard A1A1 · Leopard A1A1 (L/44) · Leopard 2K · Leopard 2A4 · Leopard 2A5
  AMX-30 Super · KPz-70 · M48A2 G A2
Tank destroyers  JPz 4-5 · RakJPz 2 · RakJPz 2 (HOT)

General info

Being a derivative of the MG 42 the MG 3A1 performs almost identically to it.

Available ammunition

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.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 90° (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
AP 10 9 7 4 0 0
T 5 4 2 1 0 0
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
Mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive Mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Normalisation at 30°
from horizontal 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
AP 853 0.0108 N/A N/A N/A +2.0° 47° 60° 65°
T 835 0.0095 N/A N/A N/A +2.0° 47° 60° 65°

Comparison with analogues

The MG 3A1 performs almost identically to the 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.

Usage in battles

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.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Extremely high rate of fire
  • Very good belt capacity, especially compared to the earlier MG 42

Cons:

  • Low penetration makes it ineffective against armour
  • Low damage

History

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 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 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.

Media

An excellent addition to the article would be a video guide, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

See also

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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