The 13.2 mm Breda Model 31 was a widely used Italian heavy machine gun produced by Società Italiana Ernesto Breda and used by the Italian Navy and Italian Army during World War II. At sea it was employed as a light anti-aircraft gun, while on land it was mounted on armored command vehicles where it was used as a heavy machine gun. After World War II it remained in use aboard the patrol boats of the Guardia di Finanza.
| Breda Model 31 | |
|---|---|
 Swedish 13.2 mm Breda model 1931 (13,2 mm ksp M/It) | |
| Type | Heavy machine gun Anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1931-1950 |
| Used by | Italy Swedish navy |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Hotchkiss |
| Designed | 1929 |
| Manufacturer | Breda |
| Produced | 1931 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 47.5 kg (105 lb) |
| Length | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Barrel length | 1 m (3 ft 3 in) L/76 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Shell | 13.2×99mm Hotchkiss Long[1] |
| Shell weight | Cartridge weight: 112–120 g Shell weight: 42–51 g |
| Caliber | 13.2 mm (0.52 in) |
| Elevation | -6° to +85° |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire | 400 rpm (cyclic) 200-250 rpm (sustained) |
| Muzzle velocity | 805 m/s (2,640 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 2 km (1.2 mi) at +45° 3.98 km (13,100 ft) at +80° |
| Maximum firing range | 6 km (3.7 mi) at +45° 4.2 km (14,000 ft) at +80°[2] |
| Feed system | 30-round box magazine |
History
editThe Breda Model 31 was a license built copy of the French Hotchkiss M1929[3] machine gun. Breda acquired a production license in 1929, but it did not enter production until 1931. The Model 31 was often mounted on single and twin mounts aboard surface ships and on a disappearing twin mount aboard submarines.[4] The Model 31 was intended to provide close-range air defense, but like its counterparts in other nations, these small-caliber guns were found incapable of defending against low-level torpedo-bombers or high altitude level-bomber attacks because their bullets were too light and short ranged.[5] Although a reliable gun with good performance, it was later replaced by the Breda 20/65 Mod. 1935.
Construction
editThe Model 31 was a gas-operated, air-cooled machine gun with a tilting bolt action. It was fed by top mounted, semi-circular, thirty round magazines, with cooling air drawn through the sleeve to fins along the barrel.[6]
Naval use
editShip classes that carried the Breda Model 1931 include:
Italy
edit- Adua-class
- Archimede-class
- Argo-class
- Balilla-class
- Brin-class
- Cagni-class
- Calvi-class
- Ciclone-class
- Conte di Cavour-class
- Curtatone-class
- Flutto-class
- Foca-class
- Folgore-class
- Freccia-class
- Giussano-class
- Glauco-class
- Liuzzi-class
- Maestrale-class
- Marcello-class
- Marconi-class
- Navigatori-class
- Oriani-class
- Orsa-class
- Perla-class
- Sauro-class
- Sella-class
- Soldati-class
- Spica-class
- Squalo-class
- Trento-class
- Turbine-class
- Zara-class
Sweden
edit- T11 torpedo boat
- T14 torpedo boat
Users
edit
Italian Navy
Swedish navy – designated 13,2 mm kulspruta M/It (13,2 mm ksp M/It)[7]
Notes
edit- ^ "13,2x96 Hotchkis Short / MUNICION.ORG". www.municion.org. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony. "Italy 13.2 mm/75.7 (0.52") AA MG Model 1931 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony. "France 13.2 mm (0.5") Model 1929 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
- ^ Campbell, John (2002-01-01). Naval weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0870214594. OCLC 51995246.
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony. "Italy 13.2 mm/75.7 (0.52") AA MG Model 1931 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
- ^ Campbell, John (2002-01-01). Naval weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0870214594. OCLC 51995246.
- ^ Amregister Fl, Ammunitionsregister för flottan, 1947 års upplaga. Stockholm: Ammunitionssektionen vid marinförvaltningens artilleribyrå. 1947.
References
edit- Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
- La mitrailleuse Browning FN, kapitel XII. Les munitions F.N. calibre 13,2 mm