Beretta Model 12
| Beretta Model 12 | |
|---|---|
Beretta M12
|
|
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1959–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars |
Vietnam War The Troubles Afghanistan War Libyan Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Beretta |
| Designed | 1950–1959 |
| Manufacturer | Beretta, Taurus, Defence Industries Corporation, MAS, PT Pindad |
| Produced | 1959–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight |
Metal stock:
Wood stock:
|
| Length |
Fixed stock: 660 mm (26.0 in)
|
| Barrel length | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
| Height | 180 mm (7.1 in) |
|
|
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| Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum |
| Action | Blowback |
| Rate of fire | 550 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 380 m/s (1,247 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 100 to 200 m sight adjustments |
| Feed system | 20-, 32-, or 40-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Two-position flip rear aperture, shrouded front post 285 mm (11.2 in) sight radius |
Metal stock:
Wood stock:
Fixed stock: 660 mm (26.0 in)
Folding stock:
The Beretta Model 12 is a 9×19mm Parabellum caliber submachine gun designed by Beretta. The production started in 1962, the first users were the Italian Carabinieri and the Italian State Police even though in limited number, only in 1978 it was widely issued replacing the old Beretta MAB. In 1962 the Italian Army bought a limited number of Franchi LF57 submachine gun, judged better than the M12 but never issued to the troops, and only in 1992 the M12S2 variant was introduced also if in very limited number. The Italian Air Force, instead, bought a large number of M12S and M12S2 for the airport security units. However the weapon had a higher initial success in the Arab countries and South America. Its debut in combat came during the Tet Offensive in 1968 when the Marines guarding the U.S. embassy in Saigon repelled the assault by the Viet Cong using the Beretta M12. It is also used by various South American, African and Asian countries, and made under license in Brazil by Taurus, in Belgium by FN Herstal and in Indonesia by PT Pindad.
In 1959, Beretta weapons designer Domenico Salza revisited an old project, the Armaguerra Cremona OG44 submachine gun, in order to make a new submachine gun to replace the old MAB model 1938. The Model 12 was the final production model, and was followed ten years later by the M12S with differences in the safety and other mechanics.
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