Breda Modello 38
Breda Meccanica Bresciana · Machine Gun · Discontinued · 1938
Also known as: Breda M38, Breda 38T, Kampfwagen-MG 350(i)
Overview
The Breda Modello 38 was the tank and armored-vehicle machine gun of the Breda family, a derivative of the strip-fed Breda M37 heavy machine gun re-engineered for AFV use. Gas-operated and air-cooled with a quick-change barrel, it fed from a top-mounted 24-round detachable box magazine instead of the M37's metal feed strips and was fitted with an optical sight in the tank mount. It armed the standard Italian WWII tanks of the M-series and could be dismounted onto a tripod for infantry use.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 16300 g (575.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 898 mm (35.35") |
| Barrel Length | 600 mm (23.62") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Magazine Capacity | 24 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 770 m/s (2526 fps) |
| Effective Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
Calibers
- 8x59mm RB Breda · primary — also known as 8mm Breda, 8x59mm Breda
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Features: Air Cooled, Quick Change Barrel, Top Mounted Box Magazine, Optical Sight Tank Mount, Dismountable For Infantry Use
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Royal Italian Army · adopted 1938 · as Mod. 38
- Wehrmacht (captured) · as Kampfwagen-MG 350(i)
- Portuguese Armed Forces
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Portuguese Colonial War (1961-1974)
Production
Production years: 1938-1943
Production totals not published; manufactured by Breda Meccanica Bresciana during WWII
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Notes
Distinct from the 7.35mm Breda Modello 38 carbine. Fiat M13/40 medium tanks could carry as many as four Mod. 38 guns. Sources differ on empty weight (~16.3 kg per dbpedia vs ~15.4 kg per US wartime intel) and rate of fire (~550/350 vs ~600 rpm).
Background
The Fiat M13/40 medium tank, Italy's WWII mainstay, carried as many as four Breda Mod. 38 machine guns; its modest weight and easy field-stripping meant crews could pull a gun from the mount and redeploy it on a tripod as an infantry weapon.