I wasnt completly shure how to package it, so i decided to just put the issue and suggestion in here in one big suggestion, as they also kind of fit together.
This is about the Current Mg 131
a possible Infantry Mg 131
and more other HMG Emplacements.
Currently the HMG for German Squads is the 13 mm Mg 131, which is a really cool gun (imo), on the weaker side with penetration, but with 900 rpm basically a MG 34 on steroids.
However when looking through Manuals and Photos, the way it is implemented in game, doesnt appear to be actually true, i saw some other post that it is currently in-game depicted with a Czech Heavy MG mount, which doesnt actually fit the gun.
While IRL the 13mm MG 131 was used in a ground roll, with a shoulder stock (taken from a PzB.39), Bipod and AA Iron Sights.
Picture of BIPOD:(Click to show)
And another Fixed mound i found, which i am not shure wether it is a Test mount, or actually used by the Luftwaffe as a Close Airfield mount/anti Infatry, OR even German.
Picture of Flexible Mount:(Click to show)
Of course the 2nd pic here would in game be quite unprotected, but offer 360° Traverse and greater elevation angles.
While the optimal change would be to just change the current MG 131 model to have a Bipod instead of the funky mount.
But aside from that, i would also generally suggest adding the 13mm MG 131 with Bipod as either a AT Gunner Secondary or MG Gunner Main Armarment, how it was also used IRL, certainly with ballancing in mind, possibly only 50 or 25 round belts and overall only around 125 or 150 rounds in general.
Pictures:(Click to show)
But aside that, there were other Auto Cannons, employed in a “Bodenlafette” (Ground Lafett) / “Erdkampflafette” (Groundfighting Lafett), including the 20mm KwK 38 L/65 as well as 15 and 20mm Mg 151/15 and /20 Auto cannons, with gunshields, which would offer more penetration at lower firerate and could offer a new different kind of emplacement to the MG 131. Or alternatively as they all are Wheeled, implemented how also AT guns are implemented, movable.
The 20mm KwK 38 L/65 would be rather bad (seeing how bad they are on the Pz II and Flakpanzer I, with abysmal damage of HE rounds against Infantry and Abysmal damage of the AP rounds against tanks, modules such as ammo. It would barely be more than a fast fireing (450 rpm) 20 round AT rifle.
However, with Gunshield and only semi movable.
2 cm KwK 38 L/65 in Bodenlafette: (Click to show)
The More effective gun would be the 15mm Mg 151/15 in Bodenlafette, possibly also with H-Pzgr. and more than 51mm penetration at 10m, enove for Rank I tanks, as well as Rank II tanks through the side.
With a fire rate of 700 Rpm it would combine good AP power with fire rate. (Even with standart 72g AP-T ammo at 850m/s as well as 59g AP-I rounds at 960 m/s, both over 3 cm penetration.) (Technically both guns were interchangable, simply by a barrle change, the AP performance of the 20mm Barrle is however subpar, with only 27mm/10m.)
(Source:Vorschrift D.1888/2 “Maschinengewehr 151/20 und Erdkampflafette”)
And others.
