““The MG 34 has been justifiably described as revolutionary, being the first mass-issue weapon that could realistically fulfil virtually any task expected of a machine gun. In design terms points of interest included a relatively light weight of just over 12kg; an ability to use either ammunition belts or drums; the options of firing from a tripod, pintle, anti-aircraft mount, or lightweight bipod; and a brisk rate of fire averaging a maximum cyclic rate of well over 800 rounds per minute.””