Welcome to at this time’s Photograph of the Day! Maschinengewehr 13 additionally referred to as the MG 13 was a light-weight machine gun of German origin, developed within the late Nineteen Twenties by changing the Dreyse Mannequin 1918 water-cooled machine gun to an air-cooled design. It was Germany’s normal gentle machine gun as much as 1935 when it was changed with different designs. Options together with a closed bolt operation, journal feed (25-round field or 75-round drum), folding inventory, and a novel double-crescent set off allowed select-fire with out utilizing a separate selector change. The MG 13 was first made by Simson in Suhl then later by Berlin-Schuler Waffenwerke earlier than being exported to Spain and Portugal making it internationally acknowledged. It additionally discovered utilization amongst Chinese language Nationalist forces. Whereas formally changed by the MG34, MG13s have been nonetheless utilized in World Battle II as rear-echelon weapons by some German models. This weapon went past simply infantry use and could possibly be put in in Panzer I tanks and allegedly Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers too. The MG 13 represented a bridge from World Battle I period designs to extra superior machine weapons and performed an essential function in German army growth through the interwar interval.
“It is a very scarce instance of a late pre-WWII MG-13 machine gun as manufactured by the Berlin-Schuler Waffenwerke (BSW) circa 1937/38. This uncommon MG was manufactured beneath a business contract for the nation of Portugal as it’s accurately stamped on the suitable facet of the receiver with the big Portuguese Crest/1938, which was the mannequin variety of the Portuguese model. Little early historical past is know in regards to the MG-13 because it was produced at a time when Germany was beneath the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty (put up WWI). The design was an improved/transformed model of the unique WWI Dreyse Mannequin 1918, water cooled heavy machine gun. This improved mannequin was mainly an air-cooled model of the Mannequin 1918. It was initially produced by the Simpson manufacturing unit after WWI after which later within the mid to late Thirties by the BSW (Berlin-Schuler Waffenwerke) manufacturing unit. The redesign made it gentle weight and simple to deal with within the discipline. It was initially fitted with a single facet mounted 25 spherical journal, and a saddle or double-drum journal was additionally developed just like the MG-34s, which was the following German machine gun to exchange this one. It had a folding bipod completely hooked up to the barrel jacket, with a novel facet folding buttstock. It has a rotating carrying deal with that made it simple to move and was fitted with a folding entrance sight with tangent rear sight graduated from 100-2000 just like the K98 rifle and a protracted vary folding sight.”
Lot 746: German MG-13 Gentle Machine Gun – Uncommon Pre-World Battle II German MG-13 Class III/NFA “SALES SAMPLE” Gentle Machine Gun with Equipment. (n.d.-z). Rock Island Public sale Firm. {photograph}. Retrieved June 28, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/76/746/german-mg13-light-machine-gun.
