Breda 38

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Breda Modello 38
Type	Tank Machine Gun
Place of origin	Kingdom of Italy
Service history
In service	1938-
Used by	Kingdom of Italy
Wars	World War II
Production history
Manufacturer	Breda Meccanica Bresciana
Specifications
Weight	33 7/8 lbs
Length	35 1/2 in
Barrel length	23 in
Cartridge	8x59mm RB Breda
Action	Gas operated
Rate of fire	600 rounds/min
Feed system	24-round vertical box magazine

The Breda 38 was an Italian tank-pattern machine gun used in World War II. It was able to fit on the available tanks: the 6 1/2-ton Light (1940), the 11-ton Medium (1939), and the 13-ton Medium (1940).

[edit] Development

The Italians have also adapted it for use as an infantry machine gun. For this purpose the gun is mounted on a machine-gun tripod (as shown in an accompanying sketch) by means of an adapter, and is 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. These temporary open sights take the place of the optical sight used when the gun is tank-mounted.

[edit] 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 (9 7/8 pounds) to enable it to fire a large number of rounds in quick succession without overheating.

Italian firearms and light weapons of World War II
Side arms
Beretta M1934 | Beretta M1935 | Glisente M1910
Rifles & carbines
Fucile di Fanteria Mo.1891 Moschetto Mo.91 da Cavalleria | Moschetto per Truppe Speciali Mo.91 | Mo. 1938
Submachine guns
Beretta 1918 | MAB 38 | OVP | FNAB-43 | TZ-45
Machine guns & other larger weapons
Fiat-Revelli M1914 | Fiat Revelli M1935 | Breda M1930 | Breda M1937 Breda M1938 | Brixia M1935
Cartridges used by the Italian Army during World War II
.32 ACP | .380 ACP | 6.5 x 52 Mannlicher-Carcano | 7.92x57 mm Mauser | 9 mm