MGs
As you all probably know there are three MGs in the game for the purposes of this guide the Axis MG34 and Allied .30 Cal can be treated as virtually identical with the Axis MG42 needing a little extra guidance to use. The MG class carries nothing other than their MG and ammo, not even a knife or pistol; this means that you have to rely on your team mates pretty heavily.
The MG 34 and .30 cal have some accuracy over point blank range but very little even when you are crouch. The MG42 on the other hand has huge recoil and unless you're at point blank range you will only get the odd random hit (due mainly to the huge rate of fare). The other two can be used to some extent for defence but unless at point blank range the MG42 is useless. Even at point blank distances the 42 still seems to have the ability to miss an enemy. This means that as an undeployed MG you are highly vulnerable and it is up to your team mates to provide support and suppressive fire for long enough to allow you to deploy.
You should learn where all the deployable locations are on the maps so that you know where to get to and exactly which views they cover. You can either deploy at a set location like a window, sandbag bunker or piece of rubble (you’ll see the icon if you can) or you can go prone and deploy virtually anywhere. Also note that you can only reload when you are deployed so make sure you deploy and reload out of the action is you have to rather than waiting until it's too late. Once you're in position deploy the bipod then make sure you have full range of motion there is nothing worse than finding you can't traverse to a certain position and watching an enemy stand there and take aim while you frantically try to undeploy. Once you're sure you have the full range of motion just sit and wait for the enemy to come to you.
Let you team know where you are and that you're in position, the last thing you want is a friendly fire incident. Especially when you've worked hard to get into a good location, it'll also make it easier to get ammo dropped to you by your team mates if they know your location. You are now responsible for all the area you can see - you are expected to guard it by your team.
Keep your eyes peeled and don't fire at anything that moves, fire only at enemy soldiers. As an MG you'll lose your team's support if you keep shooting them. Don't waste ammo or you'll end up in a scenario rather like Saving Private Ryan (The battle for Ramelle at the end), where they have two .30 Cal machine guns with no ammo and a squaddy with their ammo elsewhere. So maintain strict fire discipline fire until they're dead and fire when you see something but don't randomly spray bullets. Also reload when you get below 30 rounds as that is unlikely to be enough for most assault.
Lastly a note about the MG42. This gun has a phenomenally high rate of fire and because of this it will rapidly overheat. So keep your bursts short and don't spray. The allies attacking you will be waiting to hear you fire a long bursts and then go silent because that means it's safe to show themselves and fire at you as you'll be unable to return fire.
FG42
There are two models of this gun the Scoped and the Bipod versions. First make sure that you have read the MG, Sniper and STG44/BAR sections to learn how to use these modes in general then come back to this section to learn how this gun differs. Done that now? Good then I shall proceed
Axis sniper in prone position in second story window giving him a prime field
of fire. Also note the camouflage pattern of his clothing which is ideal in
outdoor maps with any foliage
The FG42 is a rather odd weapon basically a cross between an MG and an assault rifle but with one version fitted with a scope. The recoil is very heavy so keep firing down to no more than 2-3 bullets in a go, preferably 1 at a time for any real hope of accuracy. Basically use it like you would an assault rifle at medium to long range at all times.
The bipod version works just like an MG apart from a couple of simple things. Firstly you don't have to be deployed to reload meaning you can just crouch behind the barricade or run away when you run out of bullets. This brings me to the second item which is you have to do this far more regularly as you have only a small clip. So use shorter bursts than normal when in MG mode and reload whenever you can.
As a sniper rifle the accuracy is fairly low but it makes up for that in rate of fire you can pepper a long range target with pretty high accuracy in next to no time. I'll admit I have only minor experience with this model of the gun but it is one most people seem to generally avoid, if anyone out there has anything further to add to this gun or their own guide feel free to submit it as I'm the first to admit it is not one I have much knowledge of.
Follow these rules and practice and you to will be able to have your name
at the top of the scoreboard
