SD2:SS-s.MG 42

 is a German Support unit in Steel Division II.

Background
A machine-gun emplacement with the MG 42 general purpose machine gun. In German infantry doctrine, the machine gun was the principal element of a platoon, with other troops protecting the gunner, rather than the usual doctrine where the machine gun supported other troops in Allied armies.

The MG 42 has acquired a legendary reputation as one of the finest general-purpose machine guns ever produced. It could lay down effective suppressive fire like no other machine gun at the time (the Allied contemporaries being the Vickers machine gun and the M1919 Browning) and pin down enemy infantry, which was due to its high rate of fire. The development of the MG42 resulted from experiences with the MG34, which was effective but proved to be too expensive. Its unparalleled rate of fire also came at a cost, however, as ammunition was spent fast and the machine gun had a tendency to overheat when used during a prolonged period of time. The MG 42 was intended to replace the MG 34 when it entered service in 1942, but both machine guns saw extensive service until the end of the war.