StG 45

MKb Gerät 06 (early model) with 10 round magazine - 7.92×33mm Kurz

MKb Gerät 06H with 10 round magazine - 7.92×33mm Kurz

StG 45(M) - 7.92×33mm Kurz

The Sturmgewehr 45(M) ("Assault Rifle 45 (Mauser)"; abbreviation StG 45(M)) was a German prototype assault rifle developed in the final stages of World War II by Mauser in an attempt to augment and potentially replace the Sturmgewehr 44, whose production costs were considered too excessive for speedy wartime production. The original prototype was the Maschinenkarabiner Gerät 06 ("Machine Carbine Device 06"; abbreviation MKb Gerät 06) which used a roller locked short stroke gas system (the locking portion of which was inspired by the roller locked recoil opperated MG42).

During development, it was discovered that the gun would occasionally fire slightly out of battery but the partially engaged roller locking bolt would be enough to retard the opening of the action by a safe amount. The gas system was removed and the bolt geometry was altered and the Maschinenkarabiner Gerät 06 Halbverriegelt ("Machine Carbine Device 06 Half-locked"; abbreviation MKb Gerät 06H) was created (this roller-delayed blowback operation would go on to be used in an experimental version of the MG42 known as the MG42(V) or MG45). Due to the absence of a gas system the rifle was cheaper than the StG 44 by a large enough margin that the Army became interested, and gave the weapon the StG 45(M) designation and ordered a number for live troop trials. The StG 45(M) was essentially the Gerät 06 with some minor modifications (different stock and higher profile sights being the most obvious) however parts for only 30 rifles were complete before the end of the war, only one of which was ever assembled into a complete firearm after the war (some of the parts of which were never originally made and had to be recreated from factory schematics).

The StG 45(M) was the first rifle to utilize a roller-delayed blowback system, and after the war the StG 45(M) was improved upon to create the CETME series of rifles, and subsequently the incredibly successful Heckler & Koch G3 family.

NOTE: Although intended to be used in combat with a 30 round magazine, the vast majority of available images of the Stg 45(M) and its prototypes feature a short 10 round magazine. This is due to the fact that for testing purpose the rifle was easier to use with the more compact 10 round magazine.

Specifications

(1944 - 1945)

• Type: Assault Rifle

• Caliber: 7.92×33mm Kurz

• Weight: 8.8 lbs (4 kg)

• Length: 37 in (94 cm)

• Barrel length: 16.5 in (41.9 cm)

• Feed System: 10 or 30-round box magazine

• Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto

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The StG 45 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Anime

Title	Character	Notes	Date
Agent Aika	Delmo Corps, Rion Aida, Gusto Turbulence	Guns in use combine characterstics from the StG 45 and its Gerät 06 prototype	1997-1999

Video Game

Game Title	Appears as	Note	Release Date
Karma Online	StG45	Gerät 06H	2011

See also

• Sturmgewehr 44
• MG42