The Maschinengewehr 3, or MG3, is a modernized version of the Maschinengewehr 42 general-purpose machinegun. It was manufactured by Rheinmetall GmbH for the West German Bundeswehr after that nation's rearmament in the 1950's. The MG3 was used universally by the German federal armed forces and was widely exported and made under license by several nations. The MG3 is chambered for the NATO standard 7.62x51mm (.308) round. In contrast the MG42 used the 8x57mm IS (.320) cartridge in German service since 1905.