Breda 38 - Misplaced Pages

(Redirected from Breda M38) Tank machine gun

Mitragliatrice Breda cal. 8 mod. 38 per carri armati
A Breda Mod 38 at display at the Forte di San Leo
Type	Tank machine gun
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1938–1943
Used by	Italy Portugal
Wars	World War II Portuguese Colonial War
Production history
Manufacturer	Breda Meccanica Bresciana
Specifications
Mass	16.3 kg (36 lb)
Length	897.5 mm (35.33 in)
Barrel length	600 mm (24 in)

Cartridge	8×59mm RB Breda 7.92×57mm Mauser
Action	Gas-operated
Rate of fire	550 rds/min theoretical, 350 rds/min practical
Muzzle velocity	770 metres per second (2,500 ft/s)
Effective firing range	300 m (330 yd)
Feed system	24-round vertical box magazine

The Mitragliatrice Breda calibro 8 modello 38 per carri armati was an Italian tank-pattern machine gun used in the Second World War on the Fiat L6/40, the Fiat M11/39 and the Fiat M13/40. It was also adapted to act as an infantry machine gun. The M38 is based upon the Breda M37. The Breda 38 received the German identification code Kampfwagen-Maschinengewehr 350(i).

Development

It was also adapted for use as an infantry machine gun. For this purpose the gun was mounted on a machine-gun tripod by means of an adapter, and was fitted with a temporary rear sight on the right of the body and a temporary front sight on the right of the barrel at the muzzle. The temporary open sights took the place of the optical sight used when the gun was tank-mounted.

Design details

The gun is air-cooled, gas-operated, and magazine-fed, and has a quick-change barrel. Its operational features are simple, and it is extremely easy to field-strip or disassemble completely. The barrel is sufficiently heavy (4,5 kg) to enable it to fire a large number of rounds in quick succession without overheating.

References

^ Pignato, p. 43.
U.S. Military Intelligence Service (June 3, 1943), "Italian 8-mm Breda Machine Gun, Model 38, WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 26", lonesentry.com, retrieved 6 October 2015

Pignato, Nicola (1978). Armi della fanteria italiana nella seconda guerra mondiale (in Italian). Ermanno Albertelli Editore.

External links

Breda Model 38 Variant

v t e Italian firearms and light weapons of World War II
Side arms	Beretta M1923 Beretta M1934 Beretta M1935 Roth–Steyr M1907 Steyr M1912 Glisenti M1910 Bodeo Model 1889
Rifles and carbines (fucili e moschetti)	Fucile da Fanteria Mod. 1891 Moschetto Mod. 91 da Cavalleria Moschetto per Truppe Speciali Mod. 91 Fucile Mod. 1938 Armaguerra Mod. 39 rifle Moschetto Automatico Revelli-Beretta Mod. 1915
Submachine guns	MAB 38 Onorati Carabinetta Automatica O.V.P FNAB-43 OG-43 TZ-45
Machine guns and other larger weapons	Fiat-Revelli Mod. 1914 Fiat Revelli Mod. 1935 SAFAT M1926 Breda-SAFAT Breda Mod. 1930 Breda Mod. 5C Breda Mod. 1937 Breda Mod. 1938 Solothurn S-18/1000 Fucile Controcarro 35(P)
Grenades	OTO Mod. 35 OTO Mod. 42 SRCM Mod. 35 Breda Mod. 35 Breda Mod. 42 L Type P Bomb
Mortars (mortai)	Brixia Model 35 81/14 Model 35 Mortar
Cartridge	.32 ACP .380 ACP 6.5×52mm Mannlicher-Carcano 7.35×51mm Carcano 8×57mm IS 8×59mm Rb Breda 9×19mm Glisenti 9×19mm Parabellum 20×138mmB

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