X-Nico

4 unusual facts about MG 81 machine gun


Arado Ar 196

The final production version was the A-5 from 1943, which changed radios and cockpit instruments, and switched the rear gun to the much-improved MG 81Z.

Junkers Ju 188

The sole Ju 88 E-0 was modified with several additional guns, another 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 firing rearward just below the turret, one firing forward through the nose, and the twinned 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 81Z machine guns in the integrated ventral Bola gondola firing rearward.

MG 81 machine gun

Some of the more known applications, are a pair of MG 81Z's installed in the hollow tail cone of the Dornier Do 217.

Another application was the "Watering can", an externally mounted pod with 3 sets of guns and ammo meant to be attached to a Junkers Ju 88 and used to strafe ground targets.



see also