13.2mm HMGs

Discussions on the small arms used by the Axis forces.
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YAN
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13.2mm HMGs

#1

Post by YAN » 04 Feb 2013, 17:57

Hi, I have come across four types of 13.2mm Heavy Machine Guns, all based on the Hotchkiss version I think, (not counting the ones mounted in AFVs), but all have slightly different data stats;

French; Hotchkiss 13.2mm mle 1930.
Calibre: 13.2mm
Barrel length: 1.670mm
Elevation: -10° to +90°
Traverse: 360°
Weight in action: 37.5 kg
Shell weight: 0.52 g
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Muzzle velocity: 700 m/s
Rate of fire: 450 rpm
Max range vertical: 1.250m
Max range horizontal: 6.500m

Romanian; 1.3cm M.1931.
Calibre: 13.2mm
Barrel length: 1.670mm
Elevation: -10° to +90°
Traverse: 360°
Weight in action: 37.5 kg
Shell weight: 51 g
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Muzzle velocity: 700 m/s
Rate of fire: 300 rpm
Max range vertical: 2.500m
Max range horizontal: 6.500m

Greek; 13.2mm M.1930.
Calibre: 13.2mm
Length of Barrel; 1.650mm
Elevation: -10° to +90°
Traverse: 360°
Weight in Action: 37.5 kg
Shell Weight: AP 0.52 kg
Magazine capacity; 15 x Round Strip
Muzzle velocity: 800 m/s.
Rate of Fire: 450 r.p.m.
Max range vertical: 4.500m
Max range Horizontal; 6.500m

Japanese; 13.2mm Type 93.
Caliber: 13.2mm
Barrel Length: 1.300m
Elevation; -15° to 58°
Traverse: 360°
Weight in Action: 42 kg
Shell Weight: ?
Magazine: 30 rounds
Muzzle Velocity: 800 m/s
Rate of Fire: 450 rpm
Max range vertical: 4.500m
Max range Horizontal; 6.500m

Italian; Breda Modello 1931.
Caliber: 13.2mm
Barrel Length: ?
Elevation; ?
Traverse: ?
Weight in Action: 47.5 kg
Shell Weight: ?
Magazine: 20-30 rounds
Muzzle Velocity: ?
Rate of Fire: 450 rpm
Max range vertical: ?
Max range Horizontal; ?

It’s fair to say that each nation used a different type of ammo and a different type of feed (strip, belt or magazine), but things like barrel length and elevation should be similar.
Can anyone help me find out if they all should be identical or not.
Yan.

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Jay Felsberg
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Re: 13.2mm HMGs

#2

Post by Jay Felsberg » 19 Jul 2013, 00:32

Greetings Yan!

1. As near as I can tell the French and Romanian models are just about the same gun, same ammunition. In fact, the Romanians may have manufactured the French gun under license.
2. The Japanese gun is probsbly a close copy of the French gun, as Hotchkiss designs (25mm AA and 8mm HMG) were used by the Japanese.
3. Not sure about the Italian gun.

This has me interested so let me check!


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Jay Felsberg
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Re: 13.2mm HMGs

#3

Post by Jay Felsberg » 19 Jul 2013, 00:43

As suspected the Japanese gun is a license copy principally used by the Navy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13.2_mm_Ho ... achine_gun

Romania is not listed as a user but this is Wikpedia so let me check a bit more...

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Jay Felsberg
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Re: 13.2mm HMGs

#4

Post by Jay Felsberg » 19 Jul 2013, 00:49

The Breda was apparently an Italian design and was used on many types of waships (both Italian and export)

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNIT_132-757_m1931.htm

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Jay Felsberg
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Re: 13.2mm HMGs

#5

Post by Jay Felsberg » 19 Jul 2013, 00:58

Tony Williams posted above that Romania had also used the 13.2mm round which it is very true. => During WW2 the 13.2X99 Hotchkiss Long rimless cartridge [0.52-inch] was used by the Romanian anti-aircraft 13.2mm Hotchkiss heavy machine-guns. Romanian-built fighter aircraft (IAR-80B, IAR-81A and some IAR-81 models) from WW2, were armed with Browning FN 13.2mm heavy machine-guns firing the 13.2X99 round.

Italy also supplied Japan with 13,2 Ammo, both Italian-made and also "captured" French made ammo. (also after June 1940). Apparently the Italian guns also used the Hotchkiss round.

http://www.iaaforum.org/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6052

http://www.iaaforum.org/forum3/viewtopi ... nds#p97544

Hope this helps

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JTV
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Re: 13.2mm HMGs

#6

Post by JTV » 20 Jul 2013, 12:55

There were also Finnish 13.2-mm machinegun prototypes, which used more powerful 13.2 mm x 118 B and 13.2 mm x 120 B ammunition:
http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/AT_RIFLES1.htm

These prototypes were all designed by Aimo Lahti for Valtion Kivääritehdas (State Rifle Factory / VKT) and not directly based to any other machinegun design.

Jarkko

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tom!
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Re: 13.2mm HMGs

#7

Post by tom! » 10 Aug 2013, 12:53

Hi.

There was also a tank armament version of the japanese Type 93 13,2 mm Machine Cannon using the barrel and a new mount (afaik designated Type 92 13,2 mm Tank Gun). It was used as bow gun of the Type 92 Heavy Armoured Vehicle.

Image

Yours

tom! :wink:

YAN
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Re: 13.2mm HMGs

#8

Post by YAN » 12 Aug 2013, 13:16

Hi Tom, that photo is a classic shot, the Type 92 had a crew of three so that I would think would be the commander firing the MG mounted on a pivot, I wonder why he would expose himself to enemy fire when he had a perfectly good MG mounted in his turret, unless it is posed shot of course.

That would make three Tanks which carried the 13.2mm MG as their main weapon;

Type 92 (Japan)
T-15 (Belgium)
Carro Commando (Italy)

Can anyone think of anymore?

Yan.
Last edited by YAN on 12 Aug 2013, 20:43, edited 1 time in total.

SVaaka
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Re: 13.2mm HMGs

#9

Post by SVaaka » 12 Aug 2013, 13:38

Well other belgian Reneult ACG - 1 carried also Hotchkiss...

Just remembered...it did actually not....SORRY :roll:

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tom!
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Re: 13.2mm HMGs

#10

Post by tom! » 15 Aug 2013, 16:44

Hi.

Well, I´m almost sure that it´s a posed pic. The AA-mount should provide minimal air and ground defence capacity during stops using one of the MGs mounted inside the tank, here the turret MG. And it looks like the soldier uses a standard infantry Type 11 lMG not a Type 91 Tank MG as the mounts for the optics are missing.

Image

In addition there was not really enough space inside the vehicle for a reserve MG.


And another vehicle for your list:
- Type 4 Special Motor Launch Ka-Tsu (standard armament 2 single Mount Type 93 13,2 mm Machine Cannons)

The Experimental Amphibious Tank SR-III was also suggested to use the Type 92 13,2 mm Tank Gun but the whole Project was cancelled before the final decision.

Yours

tom! :wink:

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