Beretta Model 38/42
Beretta · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1942
Also known as: MAB 38/42, Moschetto Automatico Beretta 38/42, Modello 1938/42, MP 739(i)
Overview
The Beretta Model 38/42 is an Italian submachine gun designed by Tullio Marengoni as a simplified, mass-production variant of the MAB 38 for wartime service. Introduced in 1942, it dispensed with the perforated barrel cooling jacket and bayonet mount of the original, used a fluted barrel for cooling, a shortened wooden stock, stamped sheet-steel components, and a fixed firing pin machined onto the face of the bolt. Chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum and fed from box magazines, it retained the highly regarded dual-trigger system (front trigger for semi-automatic, rear for full-automatic). Valued for its reliability and controllability, it was used widely by Italian and German forces in World War II.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3270 g (115.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 800 mm (31.50") |
| Barrel Length | 210 mm (8.27") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Dual Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 40 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 420 m/s (1378 fps) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Grip Handling
- Features: Fluted Barrel, Fixed Firing Pin, Dual Trigger Select Fire, Wooden Full Stock
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Royal Italian Army · adopted 1942
- Nazi Germany · adopted 1943 · as MP 739(i)
- Kingdom of Romania
Conflicts
- World War II (1942-1945)
Production
Production years: 1942-1944
Produced as the simplified wartime model before being further simplified into the Model 38/44
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Designer: Tullio Marengoni
Discontinued: 1944
Notes
Sources differ on barrel length: roughly 210 mm (8.25 in) for the shortened 38/42 barrel, versus the longer ~315 mm barrel of the original Model 38. The dual-trigger select-fire arrangement was carried over from the MAB 38.
Background
The MAB 38 family designed by Tullio Marengoni was prized by both Axis and Allied troops who captured them; the dual-trigger select-fire layout and excellent build quality made the Beretta submachine guns among the most respected of the war.