The MG 15 was of a generally simple appearance, utilizing a tubular receiver housing the action. The trigger unit was slung under the receiver in the usual way with a large, oblong trigger ring suitable for gloved hands (two trigger-finger grooves). The pistol grip was solid and ergonomically-shaped though there was no shoulder stock for additional support. Ahead of the trigger group was the feed mechanism to which the drum magazine was a saddled over along both sides of the receiver. The receiver then tapered some to shroud the barrel in a heavily perforated heat jacket. Sights were affixed at the jacket. Aboard German bombers, ammunition drums were stored within reach of the machine gun station and could be quickly changed out as the combat situation warranted. In practice, the guns proved their worth and their long design allowed for much of the recoil action to be absorbed, making them suitable full-automatic weapons against incoming enemy aircraft.
Despite its roots as an aircraft gun, the weapon was utilized in a ground support role when the dire German situation required it - particularly following the shortages of 1944. The MG 34 was already in widespread use at the time but available stocks of MG 15s meant that, they too, could be slightly modified for a similar land-based support role. Modifications added a single-strut shoulder stock at the end of the receiver, a bipod assembly just aft of the barrel, revised iron sights for ground-based firing and a simple carrying handle ahead of the drum magazine. Overall, the major design elements of the airborne machine gun remained which, of course, made it an overly long, cumbersome and heavy weapon in practice do infantry. It saw limited issue and was not a well-liked ground support machine gun for Axis troops. It's one strong quality was its "straight-line" configuration which aligned the shoulder stock with the action and barrel, inherently lowering "muzzle climb" which made them accurate at range. The action remained faithful to the original airborne version which proved reliable in the heat of battle.
The MG 15 series was eventually superseded by larger-caliber systems coming online around 1941 but the German war-time need still pressed the weapon into service due to available stocks. The weapon was adopted by the Japanese military and given the designation of "Type 98".
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