MG3 machine gun
Country of origin
West Germany
ManufacturerRheinmetall AG, Beretta
The Rheinmetall MG 3 is a German general-purpose machine gun chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. Manufactured by Rheinmetall for the Bundeswehr, designed and derived from the World War II era MG 42 that fired the 7.92×57mm Mauser round.
The MG 3 was standardized in the late 1950s and adopted into service with the newly formed Bundeswehr, where it continues to serve to this day as a squad support weapon and a vehicle-mounted machine gun.
The MG 3 and its derivatives have also been acquired by the armed forces of over 40 countries. Production rights to the machine gun were purchased by Italy (MG 42/59), Greece, Iran (as MGA3) Pakistan (as the MG 1A3), Sudan, Spain, and Turkey.
The MG 3 was standardized in the late 1950s and adopted into service with the newly formed Bundeswehr, where it continues to serve to this day as a squad support weapon and a vehicle-mounted machine gun.
The MG 3 and its derivatives have also been acquired by the armed forces of over 40 countries. Production rights to the machine gun were purchased by Italy (MG 42/59), Greece, Iran (as MGA3) Pakistan (as the MG 1A3), Sudan, Spain, and Turkey.
