FG 42

The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") its a automatic rifle was produced in limited numbers for the German Luftwaffe's Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) units during the Second World War. The slim in-line design, coupled with the side mounted 20 round magazine made it one of the more distinctive designs of its era. Early models had a sharply angled pistol grip (the idea of which was to allow paratroopers to fire while descending, though it is unclear how successful this was in practice) and plastic furniture, while later models had a standard grip and wooden furniture. In addition the weapon could also be fitted with a ZF4 or ZFG42 scope. Both versions also featured an integral bipod and bayonet, the bayonet permanently mounted and deployed in a manner similar to that on the French MAS-36.

The FG42 was intended to be a universal weapon, merging the capabilities of a submachine gun, machine gun and precision rifle; designers complained they were being asked to make an "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" (a egg-laying woolly dairy pig) and the Heer refused to participate in the program, stating that a gun meeting the Luftwaffe's requirements could only be found in utopia. In practice, the light weight of the FG42 coupled to use of a full-sized rifle round and offset magazine made fully-automatic fire extremely hard to manage and could severely damage the lightweight operating mechanism, and practical use was largely restricted to semi-auto. Captured FG42s were studied after the war by the US military, with one called T44 converted to belt feed using a side-mounted MG42 feed cover and used to gather data which would ultimately be used to design the M60 Machine Gun.

Semi-auto only copies are produced by HZA Kulmbach GmbH, known as BD-42/I (a copy of the early model) and BD-42/II (late model).

• FG 42/I - It is characterized by a metal butt and a curved pistol grip.
  

-Type E - First serial production - 50 units
-Type F - Second serial production - 2000 units

• FG 42/II - It is characterized by a wooden butt and a simple pistol grip.
  

-Type G - Third serial production - 5000 units

In both models, the bipod was standard equipment. In the FG 42 / I it was folded to the front of the weapon, in the FG 42 / II it was folded to the rear.

FG 42/I

FG 42/I - 7.92x57mm Mauser‎

FG 42/I with ZFG42 scope - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Specifications

(1941–1942) (prototype)

(1942 – 1942) (FG 42/I)

• Number built: ~2050

• Type: Battle Rifle

• Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser‎

• Weight: 9.1 lbs (4.2 kg)

• Length: 37 in (94 cm)

• Barrel length: 19.8 in (50.2 cm)

• Feed System: 10, 20 round box magazine

• Rate of Fire: 900rpm

• Muzzle velocity: 685 m/s

• Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto

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The FG 42/I and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
The Eagle Has Landed		German Fallschirmjäger		1976
Memorial Day		German soldier		2011

Anime

Title	Character	Note	Date
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade	Kerberos members		1998

Video Games

Title	As	Mods	Note	Date
Battlefield: 1942		FG 42/I	Added with "Secret Weapons of WWII" expansion pack	2002
BloodRayne	"Blitzgewehr 32"	FG 42/I	Incorrect magazine placement	2002
Commandos 3: Destination Berlin		FG 42/I		2003
Call of Duty 3		FG 42/I		2006
		FG 42/I with ZFG42 scope
Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45		FG 42/I	With deployable bipod	2006
Alliance of Valiant Arms	"FG42"	FG 42/I		2007
Call of Duty: Roads to Victory		FG 42/I		2007
Call of Duty: World at War		FG 42/I		2008
		FG 42/I with ZFG42 scope
Men of War				2009
Call of Duty: Black Ops				2010
Company of Heroes 2		With ZF4 scope		2013
Heroes & Generals	Fallschirmjägergewehr 42	FG 42/I		2016
		FG 42/I with ZFG42 scope
Sniper Elite 4	FG 42	FG 42/I	Iron sights only	2017
Day of Infamy	FG 42	FG 42/I		2017
		FG 42/I with ZFG42 scope
Enlisted		FG 42/I		2021

FG 42/II

FG 42/II - 7.92x57mm Mauser.

FG 42/II with ZF4 scope - 7.92x57mm Mauser.

Specifications

(1942 – 1945) (FG 42/II)

• Number built: ~5000

• Type: Battle Rifle

• Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser‎

• Weight: 11 lbs (5 kg)

• Length: 38.4 in (97.5 cm)

• Barrel length: 19.7 in (50 cm)

• Feed System: 10, 20 round box magazine

• Rate of Fire: 680rpm

• Muzzle velocity: 685 m/s

• Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto

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The FG 42/II and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Anime

Title	Character	Note	Date
Najica Blitz Tactics		.	2001

Video Games

Title	As	Mods	Note	Date
Return to Castle Wolfenstein	"FG42 Paratroop Rifle"	FG 42/II with ZF4 scope		2001
Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory		FG 42/II with ZF4 scope		2003
Call of Duty		FG 42/II with ZF4 scope		2003
Day of Defeat	Fallschirmjägergewehr 42	FG 42/II		2003
		FG 42/II with ZF4 scope
Forgotten Hope		FG 42/II		2003
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood		FG 42/II		2005
		FG 42/II with ZF4 scope
Civilization IV		FG 42/II with ZF4 scope		2005
ÜberSoldier		FG 42/II		2006
Company of Heroes	"FG42 Assault Rifle"		Used by the "Fallschirmjäger Squad", added with Opposing Fronts (2007)	2006
Forgotten Hope 2		FG 42/II		2007
		FG 42/II with ZF4 scope
Combat Arms		FG 42/II		2008
Karma Online	"FG42"			2011
World War II Online: Battleground Europe				2012
Enemy Front	FG42	FG 42/II		2014
World of Guns: Gun Disassembly	FG 42	FG 42/II	scope and bayonet	2014
Star Wars Battlefront II	Valken-38X	FG 42/II	FG 42/MG 42 hybrid	2017
Call of Duty: WWII		FG 42/II		2017
		FG 42/II with ZF4 scope
Post Scriptum		FG 42/II	introduced in Day of Days update	2018
Battlefield V		FG 42/II		2018
		FG 42/II with ZF4 scope
Enlisted		FG 42/II		2021
		FG 42/II with ZF4 scope
Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront				2021