Item:
ONSV9642

Original German WWII Rheinmetall Romanian ST-61 MG 15 Air Cooled Display Gun with Doppel Trommel Magazine

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. During the WWII period, the German War Machine was in full swing, producing all manner of weapons. The allies of Germany also had access to much of the same weaponry, made under contract. These were usually marked with an export contract number, which usually had the prefix "ST" in front of it. For example, the ST 63 was the MG 17 Machine gun, and the ST 51 was the 2 cm Flak 30. In this way they would ensure that their allies were well armed to protect their flanks. 

The German MG15, originally developed in 1932 for Aircraft use, was given the Export designation ST 61, and many ST 61 and MG 15 marked guns were sent under contract to Romania for using during the War, and they also continued to use them afterwards. While no longer considered effective aircraft weapons, they were fine for use on the ground when equipped with a special bracket and bipod. The 75 Round double Drum magazine provided ample capacity.  Many were later converted to a Water Cooled configuration in Romania, however this fine example was not.

This is the fine rare German made Romanian Contract ST 61 MG 15 non-firing display gun, marked with the RHEINMETALL BORSIG logo, over serial No 1736.. Additionally the right side of the receiver is dated 1942, and various components have a "40" suffix on their part number, so they may have bee made earlier. It is complete with an original butt stock, original receiver (compliant to BATF specifications with 6 inches of new made solid aluminum), new made aluminum ventilated jacket bracket and a 1943 dated MG-34 bipod, which attaches to the jacket bracket for ground use. It is fitted with Aircraft Sights, and also a very rare DT-15 Doppel Trommel Magazine, with a canvas strap. This is marked wa 42 for 1942 production by  Hasag, Hugo Schneider AG, Abteilung Lampenfabrik in Leipzig. 

There are multiple Luftwaffe-style Weimar Eagle Waffenamt proofs on the gun, as well as part numbers and other markings worthy of research. A wonderful wartime produced ST 61 MG15 Display gun, the first one that we have had in quite some time!

The MG 15 was developed from the MG 30 which was designed by Rheinmetall using the locking system invented by Louis Stange in the mid to late 1920s. Though it shares the MG 15 designation with the earlier gun built by Bergmann, the MG 15nA (for neuer Art, meaning new model having been modified from an earlier design) has nothing in common with the World War II gun except the model number. The World War I gun used a tipping lock system while the WWII aircraft gun uses a rotating bolt/lockring. The World War II MG 15 was used in nearly all Luftwaffe aircraft with a flexible-mount defensive position.

It was a modular design with various attachments that could be quickly attached or removed. Operation was easy and the bolt remained in the cocked position after expending the 75 round double drum (also called a "saddle drum") magazine, negating the need to re-cock once a fresh magazine was installed.

The MG 15 fires from an open bolt, meaning that the bolt stays back when the gun is ready to fire, and also making it nearly impossible for "through the propeller" synchronized forward firing on a fuselage mount. Pulling the trigger releases the bolt and allows it to go forward, stripping a round from the magazine. The bolt continues pushing the round into the chamber and locks up when the lock-ring rotates and locks the bolt and barrel extension together. At this point the trip lever releases the firing pin and the gun fires. Recoil pushes the barrel, lock and bolt backwards until the lock-ring hits a cam that rotates it unlocking the bolt and barrel. Inertia carries the bolt backwards until the base of the fired case hits the ejector flinging the empty out of the receiver. If the trigger is held down the cycle will continue. If the trigger is released the bolt will remain in the rearward position.

The 75 rounds of ammunition was evenly distributed in each side of the magazine with a central feed "tower" where the ammunition is fed to the bolt. Various methods where used to secure the magazines in the aircraft, while a carrier of 3 mags each were used on ground. The drums were preloaded prior to takeoff so that the gunner did not waste time loading (however reloading could be done as quickly as 6 seconds).[citation needed] Ammunition was fed by a spring forced spiral double-drum containing 75 rounds total (not 150 as is often mistaken). This combined with a firing rate of 1000+ rpm means it could empty the magazine in 4.5 seconds or less. Typical practice was to provide at least 10 reloads for each gun on the aircraft, not including the magazine on the gun.

Starting in late 1940 the MG 15 was replaced by the Mauser 7.92 mm MG 81, MG 81Z (twin-MG 81), MG 131 13 mm machine guns, or MG 151/20 20 mm cannons. Many MG 15s were modified for infantry use as heavier weapons replaced them on Luftwaffe aircraft. There are a number of pictures showing the guns, both aircraft and ground versions, with 25-round magazines from the MG 13 but the magazines don't actually work with the MG 15. Official numbers of conversions was about 17,648 by January 1, 1944, although additional conversions may have been done as well.

The MG 15 was used in the Japanese aircraft as the Type 98 flexible-mounted machine gun and as the Type 1 in the Imperial Japanese Navy.

  • This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey, and Washington

    This product is not available for international shipping.
  • Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Cash For Collectibles