The Maschinengewehr 13 (MG13) came into service in 1930, when it served as the standard light machine gun of the German Army. It was replaced by the MG 34 and officially withdrawn from service in 1934; most of the MG 13's were sold to Portugal (of which our example shown here is one), where it was known as the Metralhadora 7,92 mm m/938 Dreyse.
Those not sold went into storage and would be used in WWII, officially by second-line German units; however, due to the lack of available MG34's, the MG13 still saw frontline main service in early WWII including the Battle of France.
The MG 13 also saw service as the rear gun on the Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber and in the turret of the Panzer I.
Left hand side of the Mg13. Key features to note are the open magazine recieving port, fire selection trigger and rudamentray stock.
Right hand side of the MG13.
The 25-round magazine for the MG13
For the accessories for the MG13 click here.
Back