What Is the MG 17 and Who Designed and Produced It?
The MG 17 was a German aircraft-mounted machine gun employed during World War II. Designed and manufactured by the renowned arms manufacturer Rheinmetall-Borsig, the MG 17 was an air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun chambered in 7.92×57mm Mauser ammunition
Armament Specifications
- Caliber: 7.92×57mm Mauser
- Type: Air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun
- Weight: Approximately 10.5 kg (23 lb) without ammunition
- Length: 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
- Barrel Length: 550 mm (21.7 in)
- Rate of Fire: Approximately 1,200 rounds per minute.
- Muzzle Velocity: Approximately 755 m/s (2,477 ft/s)
- Effective Range: Up to 1,000 meters (3,280 ft)
- Feed System: Belt-fed, typically using 500-round belts
- Operating Principle: Recoil operated, full-automatic
- Manufacturer: Rheinmetall-Borsig.
Aircraft That Used This Gun
The MG 17 was utilized on various German aircraft during World War II, including:
- Messerschmitt Bf 109: One of the most famous German fighter aircraft of the war, the Bf 109 commonly featured the MG 131 as its primary armament.
- Messerschmitt Bf 110: This twin-engine heavy fighter employed the MG 17 in both offensive and defensive positions, enhancing its firepower against enemy aircraft.
- Junkers Ju 87 Stuka: The infamous dive bomber relied on the MG 131 for defensive firepower during its attacks.
- Heinkel He 111: The He 111 bomber utilized the MG 17 in various defensive positions to fend off enemy fighters during bombing missions.
Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
The Junkers Ju 87 was a German Luftwaffe dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft first flown in 1935 and used during World War II.
Messerschmitt Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was a German twin-engine destroyer fighter-bomber developed in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and used in WW2.
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German airliner and bomber described as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” as it presented solely as a civil airliner.
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German fighter aircraft and the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s force during World War II.
These aircraft, among others, relied on the MG 17 machine gun to provide aircrews with effective armament for engaging both aerial and ground targets during World War II.
A Short History of the MG 17
The development of the MG 17 began in the mid-1930s as the German military sought to equip its aircraft with more reliable and effective machine guns. Rheinmetall-Borsig was tasked with designing a lightweight and compact weapon suitable for aerial combat. The resulting MG 17 entered service in the late 1930s and quickly became a standard armament for various Luftwaffe aircraft.
During World War II, the MG 17 saw widespread use in both offensive and defensive roles. It was mounted on fighters, bombers, and reconnaissance aircraft, providing aircrews with a potent weapon for engaging enemy aircraft and ground targets. Despite its relatively low rate of fire compared to later designs, the MG 17 was praised for its reliability and durability in combat conditions.
As the war progressed, advancements in aircraft technology led to the development of heavier machine guns with increased firepower. The MG 17 was gradually phased out in favor of more powerful weapons such as the MG 131 and MG 151/20.
