MG 30 - Variants

Variants

Rheinmetall's Borsig office modified the MG 30 design for use as an aircraft gun, producing the Flugzeugmaschinengewehr 15, or MG 15. The primary changes were the use of a double-drum magazine holding 75 rounds, and the removal of the stock for use inside the cramped quarters of a bomber.

Further modification in 1936 led to the MG 17, which included provisions for belt-fed ammo in addition to the drums, increased the rate of fire to about 1,200 rpm, and was suitable for use with an interrupter gear for shooting through the aircraft's own propellor.

In 1942 aircraft guns had increased dramatically in size, and the 7.92 mm weapons were no longer considered useful by the Luftwaffe. Many were then sent to the army, who started a program to modify them into ground-based weapons by adding a bipod and simple metal stock.