| MG 17 machine gun | |
|---|---|
 . | |
| Type | Aircraft machine-gun |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1934 |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall-Borsig |
| Produced | 1934-1944 |
| No. built | At least 24,271 (including those modified for infantry use) |
| Variants | Modular design |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10.2 kg (22 lb) |
| Length | 1,175 mm (46.3 in) |
| Barrel length | 600 mm (24 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.92×57mm Mauser |
| Caliber | 7,9 (7,92+0,04) |
| Action | Recoil operated, firing from closed bolt |
| Rate of fire | 1,200 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | from 885 m/s (2,900 ft/s) (Phosphor "B" round ) to 905 m/s (2,970 ft/s) (Armor Piercing Tracer "SmK L'spur" round) |
| Feed system | 500-round belt |
| Sights | Various types |
The MG 17 was a 7.92 mm machine gun produced by Rheinmetall-Borsig for use at fixed mountings in many World War II Luftwaffe aircraft, typically as forward-firing offensive armament.[1] The MG 17 was based on the older MG 30 light machine gun, as was its defensive flexible-mount counterpart, the MG 15 machine gun.