MG08 Go Back to Heavy Machine Gun Weapon: MG08Type: Heavy Machine GunCountry of Origin: GermanyYear Adopted: 1908Caliber: 7.92x57mmAction: Fully Automatic - RecoilOverall Length (mm): 1200.0Weight (kg): 63.00Effective Range (m): 2000The MG08 was the standard German heavy machine gun during World War I, based on the Maxim machine gun. Chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, it was water-cooled and belt-fed, capable of delivering sustained fire over long periods. It became one of the most iconic weapons of trench warfare. Adopted by the German military in 1908, the MG08 played a key role in Germany's defensive strategies, particularly during battles such as Verdun and the Somme. Its high rate of fire and ability to be mounted on tripods or carts made it a formidable weapon against advancing infantry. After World War I, the MG08 remained in limited service during World War II and was used by German forces, though it was largely replaced by lighter, air-cooled machine guns. The MG08 is remembered as one of the defining weapons of World War I and a symbol of the industrialization of warfare.Related Weapons: PM1910 Machine Gun MG08/15 Vickers .303 Machine Gun 1-inch Pom-Pom Maxim MG 11 MG 18 TuF GalleryRelevant Articles: From Grapeshot to BAR'sA Firsthand View of the Trenches: Rommel's Infantry AttacksWeapons of Imperial Germany Part 2Videos: Empire of Innovation - Imperial German Weapons Part 2: Handguns and Machine GunsMG 08 8MM Water cooled, belt fed machine gun.