[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department Technical Manual, TM-E 30-451: Handbook on German Military Forces published in March 1945. — Figures and illustrations are not reproduced, see source details. — As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. — Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.] CHAPTER VII. WEAPONS Section IX. OTHER WEAPONS 3. Aircraft Armament a. GENERAL. The aircraft armament described in this section is limited to weapons such as machine guns and cannon which form an integral part of aircraft. The numerous types of bombs and mines which are carried in and dropped from aircraft do not form part of the standard attached armament and are not included here. There has been an increasing tendency to use aircraft machine guns on ground mounts, as illustrated by the use of the M.G.15 as a light machine gun and the M.G.151/15 and M.G.151/20 as triple, self-propelled, antiaircraft weapons. (See Section II, Small Arms, for details on use of aircraft machine guns in ground roles.) b. 7.92-MM MACHINE GUN (M.G.15). (1) General description. This was the standard, rifle-caliber, free gun until superseded by the M.G.81. It also is used by the infantry, with bipod and shoulder rest. The design is Solothurn. The gun fires only automatically. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   7.92 mm (0.312 inch). Length over-all   . . . . .   42 inches. Weight (without mount)   . . . . .   15.75 pounds. Operation   . . . . .   Recoil and residual gas pressure from muzzle blast. Feed   . . . . .   75-round saddle magazine. Cocking   . . . . .   Manual. Firing   . . . . .   Percussion. Rate of fire   . . . . .   1,000 rounds per minute. Muzzle Velocity:     AP Incendiary   . . . . .   3,000 feet per second. c. 7.92-MM MACHINE GUN (M.G.17). (1) General description. This is the fixed gun version of the M.G.15. It fires only automatically. Non-disintegrating, sectionally disintegrating, and full-disintegrating ammunition belts are used with the gun. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   7.92 mm (0.312 inch). Length over-all   . . . . .   47.7 inches. Weight (with control mechanism)   . . . . .   27.69 pounds. Operation   . . . . .   Recoil and residual gas pressure from muzzle blast. Feed   . . . . .   Metal link belt. Cocking   . . . . .   Pneumatic, electrical control with mechanical interruption for synchronized firing. Rate of fire:     Unsynchronized   . . . . .   1,100 rounds per minute.     Synchronized   . . . . .   1,000 rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity:     AP Incendiary   . . . . .   3,000 feet per second. d. 7.92-MM MACHINE GUN (M.G.81). (1) General description. This gun has superseded the M.G.15 as the standard, rifle caliber, free gun. The high rate of fire of this gun, which is automatic only, precludes its use as a ground weapon. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   7.92 mm (0.312 inch). Length over-all   . . . . .   35 inches. Weight   . . . . .   13.88 pounds. Operation   . . . . .   Recoil and residual gas pressure from muzzle blast. Feed   . . . . .   Disintegrating metal link belt. Cocking   . . . . .   Cable with finger pull at rear. Firing   . . . . .   Percussion. Rate of fire   . . . . .   1,200 to 1,500 rounds per minute. e. 13-MM MACHINE GUN (M.G.131). (1) General description. This gun is compact and very light. Since it is electrically fired, there is no firing pin, and fire interruption or synchronization are facilitated greatly. The gun fires only automatically. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   13 mm (0.512 inch). Length over-all   . . . . .   46 inches. Weight   . . . . .   40 pounds. Operation   . . . . .   Recoil and residual gas pressure from muzzle blast. Feed   . . . . .   Disintegrating metal link belt. Cocking   . . . . .   Manual. Firing   . . . . .   Electric. Rate of fire   . . . . .   900 rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity:     HE Tracer and Incendiary Tracer   . . . . .   2,370 feet per second. (3) Ammunition. The gun fires tracer, high explosive tracer, high explosive incendiary tracer, and armor-piercing tracer projectiles. f. 15-MM MACHINE GUN (M.G.151/15). (1) General description. This Mauser-designed gun is percussion fired by solenoid control and is cocked electrically. It is basically identical in design with the M.G.151/20. This gun, which fires only automatically, has been triple mounted on a half-tracked vehicle and employed in a self-propelled antiaircraft role. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   15 mm (0.591 inch). Length over-all   . . . . .   75.5 inches. Weight (including electrical control)   . . . . .   84 pounds. Operation   . . . . .   Recoil. Feed   . . . . .   Disintegrating metal link belt. Cocking   . . . . .   Electrical. Firing   . . . . .   Percussion (electrical solenoid, manually operated trigger). Rate of fire:     With AP   . . . . .   750 rounds per minute.     With HE   . . . . .   680 rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity:     AP Tracer   . . . . .   2715 feet per second. (3) Ammunition. This gun fires tracer, armor-piercing tracer, and high explosive incendiary tracer. g. 20-MM MACHINE GUN (M.G.151/20). (1) General description. This is the 20-mm version of the Mauser M.G.151 design. It is only slightly different from the 15-mm gun. Barrels of the 15-mm and 20-mm models are not interchangeable. This gun also is issued in an electrically fired version, with a spring-loaded contact instead of a firing pin. Two types of ground mounts exist for the M.G.151/20, and there is a self-propelled antiaircraft version on a half-track. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   20 mm (0.791 inch). Length over-all   . . . . .   69.75 inches. Weight (including electrical control)   . . . . .   93.5 pounds. Operation   . . . . .   Recoil. Feed   . . . . .   Disintegrating metal link belt. Cocking   . . . . .   Electrical. Firing   . . . . .   Percussion (electrical solenoid, manually operated trigger). Rate of fire:     Unsynchronized   . . . . .   AP, 800 rounds per minute.     HE, 750 rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity:     HE Incendiary   . . . . .   2,650 feet per second.     AP Incendiary and APHE   . . . . .   2,300 feet per second. (3) Ammunition. Projectiles fired in this gun include high explosive, incendiary tracer, armor-piercing incendiary, armor-piercing high explosive, and high explosive incendiary. h. 20-MM MACHINE GUN (Oerlikon F.F. and F.F.M.). (1) General description. This is the German air force version of the standard Oerlikon design. It is chambered to fit the short German 20-mm round, and the recoiling parts have been redesigned accordingly. The M.G.F.F. is a fixed gun. The M.G.F.F.M., a later version, is mechanically identical, but may have a cooling cowling and hand firing device for use as a free gun. Both models fire only automatically. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   20 mm (0.791 inch). Length over-all   . . . . .   52.75 inches. Weight:     Pneumatic cocking   . . . . .   60 pounds.     Hand cocking   . . . . .   55.75 pounds. Operation   . . . . .   Recoil. Feed   . . . . .   60-round drum, 20-round drum, or 15-round clip. Cocking:     Fixed gun   . . . . .   Pneumatic, electrical control.     Free gun   . . . . .   Manual. Firing   . . . . .   Percussion. Rate of fire (operation)   . . . . .   400 rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity   . . . . .   1,900 feet per second. (3) Ammunition. Ball tracer, high explosive, high explosive tracer, high explosive incendiary tracer, and armor piercing projectiles are fired from this gun. i. 30-MM MACHINE GUN (Mk.101). (1) General description. This heavy machine gun is of Rheinmetall Börsig design. It may be fired single shot or automatically. Two heavy coiled springs around the barrel are necessary to check recoil. This 30-mm machine gun is being replaced by the Model 108. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   30 mm (1.18 inches). Length over-all   . . . . .   96 inches Weight   . . . . .   394 pounds. Operation   . . . . .   Recoil. Feed   . . . . .   10-round box magazine. Cocking   . . . . .   Pneumatic. Firing   . . . . .   Percussion, electrical solenoid operated. Rate of fire (estimated)   . . . . .   400 rounds per minute. j. 30-MM MACHINE GUN (Mk. 108). (1) General description. The Model 108 is the latest 30-mm machine gun to be employed in aircraft and is replacing the Model 101. (2) Characteristics. Caliber   . . . . .   30 mm (1.18 inches). Length over-all   . . . . .   3 feet 6 inches. Weight   . . . . .   265 pounds. Operation   . . . . .   Blowback. Feed   . . . . .   60-round disintegrating link belt. Cocking   . . . . .   Compressed air. Firing   . . . . .   Electrical (sear is actuated by compressed air). Rate of fire   . . . . .   500 rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity   . . . . .   1,650 feet per second. (3) Ammunition. The high explosive tracer projectile fired from this gun weighs 11.22 ounces. Incendiary tracer projectiles are also fired. k. 21-CM ROCKET. Single engine German fighters carry two of these rockets, while twin engined fighters carry four. The projectiles, 42.44 inches long and weighing 248 pounds, are projected from open end tubes 50.31 inches long. The rockets are fired by electricity. The launching tubes may be jettisoned by electrical detonator charges.

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