Astra machine-pistols in the Civil War?

[mihu]

Was there much use by either side in the Spanish Civil War of the Astra 900 machine-pistol models (901, 902, etc.)? I've usually seen these pistols mentioned for export to countries like China and Germany, so I don't know how much domestic use there was of them. It would be interesting to know.

[Ironmachine]

Short answer, yes. Before the war, they were used by Police unit (the Guardia de Asalto, for example). During the war, they were widely used by both sides, by security forces and at the front by combat units. Adding those in service before the war, those that were confiscated at the factory at the beginning of the conflict, and those manufactured during the war, there were a respectable number of them available.

[mihu]

@Ironmachine Thank you. Is there any information on which models were used in the conflict, or could all variants be seen in service during the war?

[Ironmachine]

Almost all variants were available (though in different numbers): The models 900, 901, 902, 903, and F; quite probably also the model E, which was very similar to the model 903 and was probably included with it (though both models were not fully compatible). Perhaps the only model that was not employed was the 904, but this was an experimental model of which only nine examples were built.

[mihu]

@Ironmachine Thanks for your answers.