MAS-38
| MAS-38 | |
|---|---|
|
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| general information | |
| Country of operation: | France |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Société Manufacturière d'Armes |
| Development year: | 1938 |
| Manufacturer country: | France |
| Production time: | 1939 to 1949 |
| Weapon Category: | Submachine gun |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 635 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 2.87 kg |
| Barrel length : | 224 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 7.65 x 20 mm |
| Possible magazine fillings : | 32 cartridges |
| Ammunition supply : | Bar magazine |
| Cadence : | 600 rounds / min |
| Fire types: | Continuous fire |
| Number of trains : | 4th |
| Twist : | right |
| Visor : | open sights |
| Closure : | unlocked ground lock |
| Charging principle: | closing blowback loader |
| Lists on the subject | |
The MAS-38 was a French submachine gun developed by the Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS) and officially introduced by the French armed forces . A small number of the weapons were used in the fight against the German Wehrmacht during the western campaign . The weapon became famous because the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was shot by Italian partisans in 1945 with a MAS-38 .
history
In France, the experimental submachine guns STA M1922 and MAS M1924 were manufactured as early as the 1920s. Both weapons were based on the German Bergmann MP 18 and were set up for the 9 × 19 mm Para caliber . However, submachine guns received little attention from the military until the 1930s. Military armament and development in France during the interwar period mainly focused on light machine guns . A prototype called ETVS was used by the French army in small numbers but was not introduced as a standard weapon. The prototype was set up for continuous fire, a magazine capacity of 32 rounds and 7.65 mm caliber . In 1935 a new experimental weapon named MAS-35 and the same caliber was available. When France declared war on the German Reich in September 1939 , the urgent need for submachine guns was recognized. Before that, the foreign Thompson M1928 A1 submachine guns were used in France and the Erma EMP made in Switzerland . Therefore, the MAS-35 prototype was probably introduced immediately with the designation MAS-38 as a standard weapon without major modifications. However, it is also possible that the prototype had already been further developed and production began in 1938. By the time France surrendered in June 1940, only 958 were made. The series production of the submachine guns was continued under the name MP722 (f) on behalf of the German occupiers . During the occupation, 20,000 to 30,000 pieces were produced. After the Second World War , the MAS-38 became the main close combat weapon of the armed forces and continues to be manufactured. The weapon was mainly used by the French Foreign Legion during the Indochina War . The MAS-38 was also used in the French colonies in Africa.
construction
The MAS model 1938 is a closing blowback loader with an unlocked ground lock. The barrel and breech of the weapon do not form a straight line, but are at an angle of approximately 6 ° to each other. This should keep the distance between the weapon and the line of sight small. In addition, this design results in less recoil and a delayed advance of the bolt. What is striking about the weapon is the relatively short and compact design. This construction is made possible because the return spring is located in a cavity in the piston . The clamping lever is located on the right-hand side and, in the front position, also serves as a cover to protect against dirt. If the lever is pulled back to cock the slide, it locks in the rear position and remains there while firing. This ensures that the ejection window is always open while firing. If necessary, the clamping lever including the cover can be closed at any time. The magazine well can also be protected from dirt by a hinged cover. The weapon is secured by simply folding the trigger forward. This fixes the lock in both the closed and the open position. The weapon is easy to dismantle and takes place as follows: A button must be pressed on the underside of the butt to be able to remove it. Then the recoil spring, breech and trigger mechanism can be removed from the weapon.
The MAS-38 is rated as reliable and precise and is said to have been very popular due to its light and handy design. However, the relatively poor performance of the 7.65 × 20 mm ammunition , which is slightly below that of the 9 × 18 mm Makarov , has been criticized. In addition, the milling process was expensive and time-consuming. Therefore the MAS-38 was probably not exported in large numbers and was replaced by the MAT 49 soon after the Second World War . The advantage of the weak cartridge was that the weapon was very easy to control while firing.
The muzzle velocity of the weapon is 350 meters per second, the favorable firing range 150 meters. Two foldable hole sights serve as aiming devices, one for a distance of 100 meters, the other is set for 200 meters.
literature
- Michael Heidler: Submachine guns 1939–1945: Development - Types - Technology . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2019, ISBN 978-3-613-04186-8 .
- Günter Wollert, Reiner Lidschun: Infantry weapons yesterday . (1918-1945). In: Illustrated encyclopedia of infantry weapons from around the world . 3. Edition. tape 1 + 2 . Brandenburgisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1998, ISBN 3-89488-036-8 , weapons, p. 246-248 .
Web links
- MAS-38 (video about MAS-38, last accessed on May 18th "018)