The Mauser Selbstlade-Karabiner, aka the FliegerkarabinerThe Mauser Selbstlade-Karabiner was an earl

The Mauser Selbstlade-Karabiner, aka the FliegerkarabinerThe Mauser Selbstlade-Karabiner was an early experimental semi-automatic design.  Unfortunatly it was found not to be reliable enough for regular combat, with dust and mud causing chronic functioning problems.  However as World War I ground on it would eventually find its place.In the early years of World War I airplanes were used simply as reconnaisance tools and for artillery spotting.  The concept of dogfighting and aerial combat had not yet been formulated.  Usually an aircraft crew consisted of two, a pilot and an observer/photographer.  Then something strange happend, air crews began taking shotguns, pistols, and rifles with them in an attempt to shoot down opposing enemy aircraft. The German Air Corps decided that they needed to up the ante, by providing their air crews with a rifle that was compact yet had adequate firepower for air combat.  One of the rifles chosen was the Mexican designed, SIG built, Mondragon rifle.  The other was the Mauser Selbstlade-Karabiner.  As a result both rifles were called the Fligerkarabiner (fliegercarbine).Chambered for 8mm, the Fliegerkarabiner featured a twenty or thirty round detachable box magazine.  The Fliegerkarabiner would have a short service history, however, as Allied forces responded by mounting light and later heavy machine gun to their aircraft.  The dawn of air warfare had begun. -- source link

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