Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

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YAN
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Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#1

Post by YAN » 11 Mar 2011, 23:00

Hi, anyone got a nice picture of the Italian Breda 13.2mm Modello 31 gun, I have the stats but no photo.

Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

SPECIFICATIONS.
TYPE = Heavy Machine Gun
CALIBRE = 13.2mm
ELEVATION = 0 to +90.
TRAVERSE = 360.
WEIGHT = 370 kg.
RATE OF FIRE = 500 r.p.m.
MUZZEL VELOCITY = 790 m/s.
AMMUNITION = 0.125 kg (30 round magazine).
CREW = 3.
MAXIMUM RANGE (GROUND TARGETS) = 2.500m
MAXIMUM CEILING = 1.600m
ARMOUR PENETRATION = 29mm @ 100m.

Thanks Yan.

Alien 61
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#2

Post by Alien 61 » 12 Mar 2011, 13:13

Hello, Yan!
I have found two interesting pictures: the double-barrelled Breda M31 in the AA version used on the torpedo-boats "Classe Navigatori" (1) and the normal version for infantry used by the Regio Esercito (2)
(1)
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Breda ... o-1976.jpg
(2)
http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/ ... 1Machi.htm

Greetings
Andrea


Dili
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#3

Post by Dili » 12 Mar 2011, 14:01

I am not aware of 13.2 employed by Regio Esercito, link doesn0t work. It was employed by Navy in ships and naval base defenses.

Alien 61
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#4

Post by Alien 61 » 12 Mar 2011, 14:35

Dili,
the Breda M31 was used principally on the torpedo-boats "Classe Navigatori", but it was also used from the Regio Esercito on the tanks M14-41 and in some cases by the infantry as a heavy machine gun (you can read this information on the book "Armi portatili artiglierie e semoventi del Regio Esercito Italiano 1900-1943", G. Benussi, Intergest, Milano, 1975).

Dili
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#5

Post by Dili » 12 Mar 2011, 17:50

Command tank yes. I forgot about that.
Does the book says in what Infantry unit TOE was it employed? I am not aware of any.

YAN
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#6

Post by YAN » 12 Mar 2011, 18:46

Thank you for the links Andrea, so was this weapon a rare site when used by Italian troops in a AA/AT role.

Alien 61
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#7

Post by Alien 61 » 12 Mar 2011, 21:38

Dili,
as I wrote, the Breda M31 was also employed in the Regio Esercito by some patrol units (in slang called "camionettisti") that operated in the Lybic desert to contrasting the Long Range Desert Group's actions.
In fact, the fast Fiat-SPA 43 AS42 "Sahariana" was armed with the Breda M31 (13,2 mm) or with the Breda M35 (20mm).

Greetings,
Andrea

Dili
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#8

Post by Dili » 13 Mar 2011, 13:27

Ok but that is not infantry.

Alien 61
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#9

Post by Alien 61 » 13 Mar 2011, 14:23

Dili,
I disagree: the units employed in patrol operations in the Lybic desert to contrasting the Long Range Desert Group's actions and equipped with the Fiat "Sahariana" (vehicle armed with the Breda M31) were infantry units.

YAN
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#10

Post by YAN » 13 Mar 2011, 19:46

I have tried to pin down all the different types of guns & howitzers the Italian army used on all the various trucks ect, and it was a daunting task.

Alien 61
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#11

Post by Alien 61 » 13 Mar 2011, 21:08

Good luck, Yan! :D

Dili
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#12

Post by Dili » 14 Mar 2011, 02:31

We have to agree to disagree for me it is Cavalry, Scouting.

YAN
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#13

Post by YAN » 14 Mar 2011, 12:07

I think these were the more common ones,

Autocannone Fiat SPA 35 with Breda 20/65 A.A.
Autocannone 65/17 on Morris CS 8
Autocannone Ceirano 50 with 75 C.K.
Autocannone 75/27 on SPA TL 37
Autocannone 76/30 on Lancia RO
Autocannone 90/53 on Lancia 3 RO
Autocannone 100/17 on Lancia 3 RO

I think the crews were smaller then there ground fired cousins but the mounts were the same (I think) so the ranges are the same.

Alien 61
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#14

Post by Alien 61 » 14 Mar 2011, 14:54

Dili wrote:We have to agree to disagree for me it is Cavalry, Scouting.
Dili, you can’t say that the “Camionettisti” units employed to contrasting the Long Range Desert Group's actions in the desert and equipped with the fast Fiat "Sahariana" armed with the Breda M31, in your opinion, were not Infantry units, but Cavalry units: it isn’t historically correct…
In fact, Dili, the “Camionettisti” units were grouped in the “X° Reggimento Arditi” that was an Infantry unit: in particular, the actual 9th Regiment “Col Moschin” (an Infantry paratrooper regiment), is the direct descendent of the 1st Battalion “Incursori” (Raiders) of the “X° Reggimento Arditi” that grouped the “Camionettisti” units and that was an Infantry unit and not a Cavalry unit.

Greetings,
Andrea

Dili
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Re: Breda 13.2mm Modello 31

#15

Post by Dili » 14 Mar 2011, 17:01

X Regg. Arditi was special force assault/recon unit. It had a swimmer, and parachutist and a truck raider/patrol “Camionettisti" company in each of battalions, the last one made combat mounted in their vehicles. Like i said we have to agree to disagree.

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