This was the version of the MG34 intended for mounting in armored vehicles, particularly tanks, during World War II. The “tankers” MG 34 was fitted with a schwerer Lauf (“heavy barrel”) or Panzerlauf (“armor barrel”). That actual barrel of the tanker-model MG34 was the same weight and thickness of the standard infantry weapon. Instead, the tanker weapon had a heavier Panzermantel in place of the standard barrel jacket. The Panzermantel (Armored Jacket) that distinguished the MG34 tanker model was adopted in February, 1941. The jacket had fewer cooling holes that the standard MG 34 and it was made of relatively thick, tempered steel, to protect the weapon from battle damage putting it out of action too easily. The tankers MG34 did not have the buttstock, sights, and other mountings on it since they interfered with inserting the weapon into the ball mount in the hull of tanks. A set of the parts, including a bipod, bipod mounts, sights, and buttstock, were carried inside the vehicle in the “MG-Zubehör” [Machine Gun – Equipment] box. The parts were in case the MG 34 had to be removed from the tank and converted for infantry or ground use. Ammunition belts were fed from various ammunition containers and belt bags which fit in the particular type of armored vehicle carring an MG34P.
The MG34 Panzerlauf, remained in use on armored vehicles to the end of World War II. The square cross-section of the barrel jacket of the MG42, and particularly the manner in which a hot barrel could be changed, prevented the MG42 from being installed in armored vehicles, particularly tanks. Some 50,000 MG 34 Panzerlauf versions were produced before the end of the war.
