| M.A.B. Moschetto Automatico Beretta MOD. 38A |
This weapon was designed after the Villar Perosa. It was a semiautomatic or automatic weapon, and it had 2 different
triggers for selecting the fire. Barrel was fixed and the bolt was recoiled by gases. They could use different loaders:
10, 20 or 40 magazines, and these could be loaded by hand or by specific tools. The first 500 MAB38 had also a bayonet.
The Moschetto Automatico was manufactured in the Beretta factory located at Gardone Valtrompia, Brescia. The muzzle velocity was
420 m/s, the weight was 5 Kg when loaded and fired the same ammo as the Beretta 34 pistol. It was a prized possession
among Allied Forces and German special troops. Until 1943, it was only available to parachute units, Carabinieri and
Polizia Africa Italiana. It became more widespread in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Salò, partisans and Italian
units fighting under Allied command. Its later version, called MAB 38/42 was lighter, shorter and had a higher rate of
fire. It served well into the 1970's with Carabinieri and Police.
Information provided by Gianmaria and Technical data and photo were used with permission from Decima-Mas.net
Differently from the MP40, the Beretta's bolt was to be kept back, with the safe inserted, because a thrust on the stock
could cause its partial recoil for inertia, after which the bolt ran forward, chambered a round and firing it.
Article By: Riccardo Iacobini
Specifications
| Year |
1938 |
| Caliber |
8.8 mm |
| Total Length |
947 mm |
| Barrel Length |
300 mm |
| Weight |
5 kg |
| Max Rate of Fire |
500 Rounds Per Minute |
| Ave Rate of Fire |
100 Rounds Per Minute |
| Max Range |
1000 Meters |
| Effective Range |
150 Meters |
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