Beretta Model 38
| Beretta Modello 38 | |
|---|---|
Moschetto Automatico Beretta Modello 1938
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| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin | Kingdom of Italy |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1935 |
| Variants | 1938A 1938/42 1938/43 1938/44 1938/44 Special - Model 1 1938/49 - M2, M3 & M4 Model 5 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | MAB 38A: 4.2 kg (empty) MAB 38/42: 3.27 kg (empty) MAB 38/49: 3.25 kg (empty) |
| Length | MAB 38A: 946mm MAB 38/42: 800mm MAB 38/49: 798mm |
| Barrel length | MAB 38A: 315mm MAB 38/42: 213mm MAB 38/49: 210mm |
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| Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum |
| Action | Blowback |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 429 m/s (1,407.1 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 250 m (273.4 yd) |
| Feed system | 10, 20, 30, or 40-Round Detachable Box Magazine |
The MAB 38 (Moschetto Automatico Beretta Modello 1938), Modello 38, or Model 38 and its variants were a series of official submachine guns of the Royal Italian Army introduced in 1938, and used during World War II. The guns were also used by German, Romanian, and Argentine armies of the period.
Originally designed by Beretta's chief engineer Tullio Marengoni in 1935, the Moschetto Automatico Beretta (Beretta Automatic Musket) 38, or MAB 38, was developed from the Beretta Modello 18 and 18/30, derived from the Villar Perosa light machine gun of World War I fame. It is widely acknowledged as the most successful and effective Italian small arm of World War II, and was produced in large numbers and in several variants. Italy's limited industrial base in World War II was no real barrier toward the development of advanced and effective small firearms since at the time most weapons did require large amounts of artisanal and semi-artisanal man-hours to be fine-tuned and made reliable by default. At this, Italian specialized workers excelled and the initial slow production ratio meant that the MAB 38 only became available in large numbers in 1943, when the fascist regime was toppled and Italy split between allied-aligned co-belligerent forces in the south, and German collaborationists of the Italian Social Republic in the north.
The MAB 38 was developed by Beretta in order to compete in the rich market of machine and sub-machine guns; it was a well-made and sturdy weapon, introducing several advanced features, to be suitable for police purposes and special army units. Presented to Italian authorities in 1939, its first customer was the Italian Ministry of Colonies, which purchased several thousands MABs to be issued as standard firearm of the Polizia dell'Africa Italiana (Italian Africa Constabulary), the government colonial police force. However, army orders were slow to come: although impressed by excellent overall qualities and firepower of the weapon, Italian military did not feel the MAB could be suited for standard infantry combat. It was judged ideal for police and assault units, though, and in the beginning of 1941 small orders were placed for Carabinieri (military and civilian police), Guardie di Pubblica Sicurezza (national state police), and paratroopers. The Italian Army requested minor changes to reduce production costs, notably the changed shape recoil compensator and the removal of the bayonet and its catch. The weapon so changed was named MAB 38A. This was the standard army variant, used throughout all the war, and issued to the most elite Italian units: paratroopers, Alpini "Monte Cervino" assault battalion, 10th Arditi Regiment, "M" Battalions of MVSN, military police etc.
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