MG 42 Machine Gun Team

The MG 42 Machine Gun Team is a Wehrmacht heavy machine gun (HMG) weapons team unit. In skirmishes, it is available from the .

The Wehrmacht HMG team functions the same as any other HMG team. It requires setting up before being able to fire, and can only fire within its arc of fire once set up. As with all weapons crew their larger target size means it is easier for them to be hit for enemy fire. This, combined with their set up nature, makes them vulnerable to flanking and artillery.

As with any other HMG, infantry units it fires upon will quickly become suppressed, and if sustained fire is continued, those units can eventually become pinned.

The Wehrmacht MG42 is arguably the best HMG in the game assuming one values their overall utility for suppression. Compared to other factions and their equivalent HMG teams, it fires by far the greatest rounds per minute, allowing it to suppress the fastest. In terms of damage per second (DPS) performance, it falls behind the UKF , but otherwise lands safely as second place in the DPS department, generally out-damaging the USF and DAK .

Unlike the Allied HMGs, both Axis HMGs also feature greater arc of fire, making them slightly more forgiving in terms of positioning and ease of use.

At veterancy level 1, this unit gains the White Phosphorus Rounds ability. When activated, it forces the crew to reload the HMG and load WP rounds (prevents firing during reload process). For the duration of the ability the HMG gains significantly increased penetration, as well as gaining increased accuracy and damage against units in cover.

Similar to other HMGs, they also have a Reload ability that simply forces them to reload their HMG, disabling their ability to fire for a few seconds. CoH features a reload mechanic for every weapon in the game, which essentially is a cooldown on attacking. This ability allows a player to ensure the HMG is ready to fire a full burst, instead of potentially reloading immediately after firing for a second or less. While not necessary to make use of HMG teams, it can be helpful for those who can keep up with additional micromanagement of units on the field, as it can prevent awkward situations where an HMG does not suppress fast enough due to reload timers.

Overall, the Wehrmacht HMG team is a cornerstone of the faction. Due to how the faction is designed, few players will want to ignore using the awesome power of the MG42, as it brings a lot more power and ease of use compared to other equivalent HMG teams. As such, it is recommended to make use of these almost every match, though like any other weapons team it will need support on the battlefield. The MG42 is fantastic for holding the line and keeping map control, especially in the early game where they can be difficult to counter. However, it is very important to position them properly and protect them from flankers and artillery.

Once they level up, this unit has a rather interesting veteran ability that enhances its ability to fight off light vehicles and units in cover. While the increased penetration sounds impressive, it overall it still quite tiny penetration values (ex. at long range it becomes less than 5), and one must keep in mind it is not actively suppressing infantry if shooting at a different target. Use it to unexpectedly deal more damage to light vehicles but do not expect it to replace anti-tank weapons. On the other hand, it also allows the HMG to better fight units in cover, essentially nullifying some of their cover bonuses. The awkward forced reload can make using the veteran ability difficult, so ideally it is best timed before engaging enemies.