The MG 131 is a German aircraft machinegun used widely in German military aircraft throughout World War II. It is a recoil-operated, short recoil, open-bolt machinegun which fires at 900 rounds per minute. The MG 131 is chambered in 13x64mm, a medium velocity cartridge designed to fire HEHC Shell, known for the Germans as minengeschoß. Many of these machineguns were mounted in fixed positions, as defensive turret guns or in flexible mounts within Luftwaffe aircraft. However, it was relatively unreliable due to its use of plain bearings and cheap lubricants. Compared to other heavy machineguns of a similar calibre such as the Browning M2, the MG 131 is lighter, faster firing and more compact, though it is less powerful and overheats rapidly.
