MG 42 Picture Manual for the Glass Slide Instruction Series - WW2 Military Issue
Bildheft 142a, Bildheft 142b, Bildheft 142c, Das M.G. 42 - Picture Book 142a, 142b, and 142c, The M.G. 42. This is three manuals combined into one volume, showing the main assemblies of the gun, what happens inside the gun during loading and shooting, and how to inspect the MG in preparation for shooting. Originally issued as three separate manuals, each had the same format of two captions on the left page as the book lays open, with the corresponding pictures (no line drawings) on the right page (two captions with pictures for each pair of pages).
Shortly after the adoption of the MG42, a muzzle brake (replacing the flash suppressor) was issued for it. The muzzle brake was delivered in very limited quantities, and nobody seems to have one today, but Bildheft 142a from 1943 has clear pictures of the muzzle brake on the MG42, and a great close-up exploded-view picture showing how it's made, attached, and what's inside.
The Germans had a sets of slides they'd show to the troops for training on the MG42. These manuals were made to go along with the A, B, and C series of the training slide show sets, and are about the same as the slide show except on paper.
The picture on page 19 (below) shows the muzzle brake on the MG. Page 15 (not below) shows a close-up of the brake disassembled. I first translated manual 142a of this series, and since then I have found volumes 142b and 142c.
Book - Reprint
