Breda Model 31 (13.2 mm)
Contents
Description
The 13.2 mm Breda Model 31 is a heavy machine gun, used by the Italian Army in the Second World War. It was used by the Regia Marina (Navy), Regio Esercito (Army) and Regi Sommergibili (submarines).
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
- Ground vehicles
- Naval vessels
General info
As a heavy machine gun, the Breda Model 31 is capable of dealing with lightly armoured targets and torpedo boats. The presence of incendiary components in the M14/41 (47/40)'s belt also makes it quite effective against aircraft.
Available ammunition
- Default (M14/41 (47/40)): AP · AP-T
- Universal (Naval vessels): AP-T · AP · T · AP
| Penetration statistics | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | |
| Default | 28 | 25 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Universal | 27 | 27 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 14 |
Comparison with analogues
For the M14/41 (47/40) the ammo count is very low in comparison with other nations' counterparts, like American M4s' M2HB (12.7 mm) heavy machine gun. Compared with the Japanese Type 93 (13.2 mm) heavy machine gun, the Italian one has poor ammo belts choice, with only one option for every vehicle.
Usage in battles
In battle the Breda Model 31 has to be used only against light armoured vehicles, trucks, open top vehicles or motor torpedo boats, since at best it can provide 24/27 mm of penetration. It also needs to be fired carefully to save ammo in the M14/41 (47/40).
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Reasonable penetration
Cons:
- Low ammo count on M14/41 (47/40)
- Only one choice of ammo belt
History
During the rebuilding of the Regia Marina, the Italian's anti-air machine gun armament for the ships was the French 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun.[1] However, a domestic firearms production was desired and so a request was sent by the Italian Navy in 1929 to replace the Hotchkiss with an Italian production model. Breda responded with a license acquired in 1929, with a license-production model beginning production in 1931 as the Model 1931 (Italian full name: Mitragliatrice Antiaerea "Breda" calibro 13.2mm Tipo R. Marina).[2] However, a shift in naval priorities caused a lack of interest in the 13.2 mm Breda Model 1931, with the Italians opting for armaments chambered in 8 mm or 20 mm, though the Model 1931 still saw use in anti-aircraft mounts in both naval and land applications.
The Regia Marina used the Model 1931 in single or dual mounts of various configurations. On merchant ships or auxiliary cruisers, there was a "lightweight" single, free-swinging mount or a "heavyweight" twin, hand-worked mount for the Model 1931. On submarines, a twin, disappearing, free-swinging mount was available.[3][4]
The Breda Model 31 saw use on land as vehicle mounts, replacing twin-machine gun mountings on vehicles such as the L3 tankette,[2] the M14/41 and M15/42 medium tank, or being the primary armament of command tanks.[5]
Improving the armament caliber, Breda would produce the 20 mm/65 Breda Model 1935 that was derived from the Model 1931 design.[1][6]
Media
- Images
The Breda Model 31 barrel outside of the M14/41 (47/40)
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Campbell, John. 1985. Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.
- Cappellano, Filippo and Pier Paolo Battistelli. 2012. Italian Medium Tanks 1939-45. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing.
- DiGiulian, Tony. 2016. "20 mm/65 Models 1935, 1939 and 1940 (Breda)." NavWeaps. Last modified October 30, 2016. Website (Archive)
- DiGiulian, Tony. 2021. "13.2 mm/75.7 (0.52") AA MG Model 1931." NavWeaps. Last modified May 18, 2021. Website (Archive)
- Friedman, Norman. 2013. Naval Anti-Aircraft Guns & Gunnery. Great Britain: Seaforth Publishing.
- Popenker, Maxim. n.d. "Breda Modelo 1931 M1931 heavy machine gun (Italy)." Modern Firearms. Accessed March 10, 2022. Website (Archive)
| Tank machine guns | |
|---|---|
| USA | |
| 7.62 mm | M37 · M60D · M73 · M240 · M1919A4 · Mk.52 |
| 12.7 mm | FN M3P · M2HB · M80 · M85 |
| Germany | |
| 5.56 mm | MG4 |
| 7.62 mm | C6 · MG3A1 |
| 7.92 mm | MG13 Dreyse · MG34 · MG37(t) · MG42 |
| 12.7 mm | S.MG.50 |
| USSR | |
| 7.62 mm | DT · PKMB · PKT · PKTM · RP-46 · SGMT |
| 12.7 mm | DK · DShK · 6P49 · NSVT |
| 14.5 mm | KPVT |
| Britain | |
| 7.62 mm | Browning MG4 · L3A1 · L8A1 · L8A2 · L37A1 · L37A2 · L94A1 |
| 7.7 mm | Vickers |
| 7.92 mm | BESA |
| 12.7 mm | L21A1 |
| Japan | |
| 6.5 mm | Type 91 |
| 7.62 mm | Type 74 |
| 7.7 mm | Type 97 |
| 12.7 mm | Type 60 (B) |
| China | |
| 5.8 mm | QJT |
| 7.62 mm | Type 55 · Type 59 · Type 86 |
| 12.7 mm | QJC88A · Type 54 |
| 14.5 mm | QJG02 |
| Italy | |
| 7.62 mm | Beretta MG42/59 · FN MAG 60-40 |
| 8 mm | 34/40M · Breda Mod. 38 |
| 13.2 mm | Breda Model 31 |
| France | |
| 7.5 mm | AAT-52 · MAC 31 |
| 7.62 mm | A-A-F1N |
| 8 mm | Hotchkiss Mle 1914 |
| Sweden | |
| 6.5 mm | ksp m/14-29 |
| 7.62 mm | ksp 39 C · ksp 58 · ksp 94 |
| 8 mm | ksp m/36 · ksp m/39B |
| 12.7 mm | ksp 88 |
| Naval machine guns | |
|---|---|
| USA | |
| 7.62 mm | M73 |
| 12.7 mm | AN-M2 |
| Germany | |
| 7.62 mm | MG-3 |
| 7.92 mm | MG08 pattern 1908 · MG15 · MG34 |
| 13.2 mm | Hotchkiss |
| 15 mm | MG M38(t) |
| USSR | |
| 7.62 mm | Maxim |
| 12.7 mm | DShK |
| 14.5 mm | KPV |
| Britain | |
| 7.62 mm | FN MAG |
| 7.7 mm | Lewis 1916 · Vickers GO No.5 |
| 12.7 mm | Vickers Mk.V |
| Japan | |
| 6.5 mm | Maxim · Type 38 pattern 1907 |
| 7.7 mm | Type 89 · Type 92 |
| 13.2 mm | Type 93 |
| Italy | |
| 6.5 mm | Breda Mod.30 · Fiat Model 26 |
| 12.7 mm | Breda-SAFAT |
| 13.2 mm | Breda Model 31 |
| France | |
| 7.7 mm | Darne M1922 |
| 7.92 mm | Hotchkiss pattern 1914 |
| 13.2 mm | Browning · Model 1929 Hotchkiss |
