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MG 81
The MG 81 was a German belt-fed flexible-mount machine gun, generally replacing the MG 15 as a defensive aircraft weapon. The MG 81 was developed by Mauser as a derivative of their successful MG 34 infantry machine gun; developed in 1938/1939, it was in production from 1940 to 1945. Some were setup for infantry use later in the war.
MG 81
Specifications
(1940 - 1945)
- Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser
- Length: 38 in (96.5 cm) with flash hider
- Barrel Length: 18.7 in (47.5 cm)
- Weight: 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg)
- Rate of Fire: 1400-1600 rounds per minute
- Capacity: Belt-fed
The MG 81 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Battle of Stalingrad (Stalingradskaya bitva), Part I | Mounted on Ju 88 A; documentary footage | 1949 | ||
| Into the White | Mounted in a Heinkel He 111 bomber | 2012 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Note | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden & Dangerous 2 | MG 81 | Mounted on plane | 2003 |
| Call of Duty: WWII | MG 81 | Added in "Operation Shamrock & Awe" update, converted for ground usage | 2017 |
| Enlisted | 2021 |
MG 81Z
The twin-mount MG 81Z (the Z suffix stands for Zwilling, meaning "twin") was introduced in 1942. It paired up two of the weapons on one mount to provide even more firepower with a maximum rate of fire of 3200 rounds per minute, without requiring much more space than a standard machine gun. The MG 81Z was also used in several rather unique setups, such as the Giesskanne ("watering can") gunpod used on Ju 87s and Ju 88s, which featured three guns (six barrels) per pod, thus with two gunpods (twelve barrels) giving a combined rate of fire of 19200 rounds per minute.
Specifications
(1942 - 1945)
- Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser
- Length: 38 in (96.5 cm) with flash hider
- Barrel Length: 18.7 in (47.5 cm)
- Weight: 28.4 lbs (12.9 kg)
- Rate of Fire: 2800-3200 rounds per minute
- Capacity: Belt-fed
The MG 81Z and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders of the Lost Ark | Karen Allen | Marion Ravenwood | Fitted with non-typical flash hiders and MG 15 Doppeltrommel saddle drum and sights. | 1981 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Note | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | Mounted in various planes | 2021 |