CODE – 04-040-938
NAME – MG 81
NAME (NATIVE) – 7,9 mm-Flugzeugmaschinengewehr 81 [7.9 mm Aircraft Machine Gun 81]
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Germany
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1938
CALIBER – 7.92×57 mm
OVERALL LENGTH – 91.5 cm (36.02 in) without flash hider
OVERALL LENGTH – 96.5 cm (38 in) with flash hider
BARREL LENGTH – 47.5 cm (18.70 in)
RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6-Grooves, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 24 cm (9.45 in)
LOAD – s.S. Pointed (Spitzer) Full Metal jacket
BULLET DIAMETER – 8.20 mm (0.323 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 12.83 g (198 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 705 m/s (2313 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 3190 j (2353 ft/lb)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 6.5 kg (14 lb 5 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 14.3 kg (31 lb 8 oz) loaded with 250 rounds
TYPE OF MOUNT – Various aircraft mountings
SIGHTS – Varies according to mount, Aiming by tracer also done
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 800 m (875 yards)
OPERATION – Short recoil with gas booster, fires from open bolt
TYPE OF FIRE – Full automatic
RATE OF FIRE – 300 rpm
CYCLIC ROF – 1600 rpm
FEED DEVICE – Gurt 17/81 disintegrating metallic link belt
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 1.19 kg (2 lb 10 oz) 250 link belt
Patronenkast 15 ammunition can – 2.4 kg (5 lb 4.7 oz)
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 7.8 kg (17 lb 3 oz) with 250 rounds)
Patronenkast 15 ammunition can with 250-round belt – 9.9 kg (21 lb 13 oz)
BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – Two belts (500 rounds)
LOAD WEIGHT – 15.6 kg (34 lb 6 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Mauser-Werke A.G., Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany
STATUS – Obsolescent
SERVICE – German Air Force
