×
Home Intro People Events Equipment Places Maps Books Photos Videos Other Reference FAQ About
     

World War II Database

Schwarzlose machine gun file photo [22880]

Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 Machine Gun

Country of OriginAustria
TypeMachine Gun
Caliber8.000 mm
Capacity250 rounds
Length945.000 mm
Barrel Length530.000 mm
Weight20.000 kg
Rate of Fire400 rounds/min
Muzzle Velocity625 m/s

Contributor:

ww2dbaseSchwarzlose M.07/12 water-cooled medium machine guns, designed by German engineer Andreas Wilhelm Schwarzlose, were the standard machine guns of the Austro-Hungarian Army up to the end of WW1. They could often be recognized by the distinctive flash eliminators on the muzzles. These weapons made use of fabric belts each containing 250 rounds of ammunition, and they were typically mounted on tripods. Unlike their contemporaries, these weapons fired from an unlocked breech, a property typically seen in submachine guns of a later era. While mainly wielded by infantry, they were also mounted on aircraft, generally as forward-firing synchronized guns; on occasion they were mounted for aircraft observers, which was an ill-suited role for the heavy Schwarzlose machine guns. Despite the dated design, their simplicity and their reliability meant a long production life that encompassed a long list of variants using different caliber ammunition. They were employed by the armies of Greece, the Netherlands, Sweden, Britain, Italy, and others. Production of these weapons did not stop until 1939. During WW2, they saw limited front line service with the Italian Army in the early phases of the fighting in North Africa, mainly as anti-aircraft weapons against low-flying fighters and with the colonial units loyal to Italy as the standard infantry machine guns. In Germany, examples takens from Czechoslovakia and Austria were deployed to second line units; most of these weapons were used only for training purposes, but a small number did see combat in the final days of the war out of necessity.

Sources:
John weeks, "Machine Guns 1914-1918", War Monthly magazine
Wikipedia
ww2dbase

Last Major Revision: Feb 2015

Photographs

Austro-Hungarian Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 medium machine gun crew in the Tyrolean region of Austria, 1914-1918Polish Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 machine gun crew at the Battle of Radzymin, Poland, Aug 1920
See all 4 photographs of Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 Machine Gun



Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds


Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Change View
Desktop View

Search WW2DB
Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 Machine Gun Photo Gallery
Austro-Hungarian Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 medium machine gun crew in the Tyrolean region of Austria, 1914-1918Polish Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 machine gun crew at the Battle of Radzymin, Poland, Aug 1920
See all 4 photographs of Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 Machine Gun


Famous WW2 Quote
"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, 16 Mar 1945


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!