What Is the MG 81 and Who Designed and Produced It?
The MG 81 was a German machine gun used during World War II, primarily mounted on aircraft. It was designed and manufactured by Mauser, a renowned German arms manufacturer. The MG 81 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 10.7 kg (23.6 lb) without ammunition
- Length: 1,030 mm (40.6 in)
- Barrel Length: 545 mm (21.5 in)
- Rate of Fire: Approximately 1,350 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 50 or 75-round belts
- Operating Principle: Recoil operated, full-automatic
- Manufacturer: Mauser
Aircraft That Used This Gun
The MG 81 was utilized on numerous 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.
- Junkers Ju 88: This versatile bomber employed the MG 81 in various defensive positions to fend off enemy fighters during bombing missions.
- Heinkel He 111: The He 111 bomber utilized the MG 17 in various defensive positions to fend off enemy fighters during bombing missions.
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190: The Fw 190 fighter aircraft sometimes incorporated the MG 81 in addition to its other armaments, providing additional firepower in combat situations.
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.
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a German Luftwaffe twin-engined multirole combat aircraft introduced in 1939 and used widely during World War II.
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft and the backbone of the Jagdwaffe of the Luftwaffe.
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German fighter aircraft and the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s force during World War II.
A Short History of the MG 81
Development of the MG 81 began in the late 1930s as a successor to the MG 15 machine gun. Mauser designed the MG 81 to address the need for a lightweight, reliable, and high-rate-of-fire weapon for aircraft armament. Introduced into service in the early 1940s, the MG 81 quickly became a staple armament for Luftwaffe aircraft.
The MG 81 was praised for its robust construction, ease of maintenance, and relatively high rate of fire, making it effective for both offensive and defensive roles in aerial combat. It saw extensive use on various German aircraft throughout World War II, contributing to the firepower of fighters, bombers, and reconnaissance planes.
As the war progressed, the MG 81 remained in service alongside other machine guns such as the MG 131. Its reliability and adaptability ensured its continued use until the end of the conflict, despite advancements in aircraft armament technology.
