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IN 1932 THE Germans started work on a project to produce a new type of weapon - the Einheitsmaschinengewehr or universal machine-gun. This was a gun that could be used, with a little modification, as both a light and a heavy machine-gun. The result was the MG34.
The MG34 was well-made but not suited to mass production. It's action was extremely complex. It fired 7.92mm ammunition. Unlike the Bren, which was magazine-fed, the MG34 was belt-fed. It had a very high rate of fire. Barrel changes were recommended every 235 rounds. A tripod allowed the weapon to be fired on fixed lines.
In 1942 it was succeeded by the MG42 which had machine stamped components and a much simpler action. A descendent of the MG 34 is still in German service today.
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