Hello. I was wondering if anybody could please tell me if the carrying straps were attached to MG42 and MG34s that were mounted on top of Sd.kfz.250 and 251s? I can't find any pictures that would prove or disprove this as the part of the gun where the strap would be usually is obscured in most photos...

Looks like the MG on this vehicle does have the carrying strap.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Sd.kfz.250/251+MGs&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrkoz8yLDjAhWXG80KHUAYCFgQ_AUIECgB&biw=1464&bih=903#imgdii=48uxSCSCEQBmAM:&imgrc=rTdt4APFvH5-bM:

Mike T.;

You definitely have your choice - at least with the typical MG-34 - on both SdKfz 250 and -251 vehicles.

While perhaps more wartime photos show no evident carry strap on either front / shield or rear - swing/AA mount guns, there are sufficient clear photos that do show a strap was often present.

MG were typically stowed in side bins behind the bench seats in both carriers - these guns were set up to be fully-ready for dismount troops to carry out into action as needed. The strap was standard gear for such guns. While the strap was attached to the gun using spring-loaded clips - for easy disconnect - it is evident that these guns were often set up on the vehicle mounts without anyone bothering to unhook the straps.

You can find plenty of pics showing either configuration - w/ or w/o strap - among mounted guns on both 250 and 251 tracks.

Take a look at the pics on the following site... You'll see a couple of mounted guns with pretty clear look at the strap with connector under the barrel.


https://daviddoylebooks.com/new-products-2/251-half-track-pwwp4


Cheers! Bob

Don't want to answer a question with another question, but doesn't the squad MG go into the front mounting on an SPW when they mount? Not sure about the AA mount at the rear, don't know what goes in there. Or are we saying that the vehicle has two additional MGs of its own? I don't think that's right.If the squad one goes in the front it will automatically have carrying straps on it, can't imagine the gunner removing them every time he enters the vehicle. This is one of those questions that defines actual practice compared to what we see in a kit. I've also read that armoured infantry (Panzergrenadiere) had two MGs per squad; if that's the case, the second one goes on the AA mount?
I know that in heavy companies, the SF MGs had the full "Lafayette" mount, which dispensed with the front shield in the half track.

Standard SPW Sd.Kfz.251 / 250 (without sanitary version) has one MG. This is the front. It is usually without a strap. At the back, one of the MGs is usually mounted in the Panzergrenadiergruppe, which is probably a strap. (According to KStN Panz.Gren.Gru .. there are two MGs).
However, according to K.A.N. the MG has its own belt, located in one of the boxes behind the seats.