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Breda M37
Breda M37
Breda M37
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The Mitragliatrice Breda calibro 8 modello 37 (commonly known as the Breda mod. 37 or simply Breda 37/M37 and also just M37) was an Italian heavy machine gun produced by Breda and adopted in 1937 by the Royal Italian Army. It was the standard heavy machine gun for the Royal Italian Army during World War II, and continued to be used by the Italian Army after the conflict.[3] Post-war, it was also used during the early stages of the Portuguese Colonial War until it was replaced by the MG42/59. The M37 remained in service or kept in strategic storage with a handful of African countries until the late 1980s.

Key Information

The weapon was also adopted by the Marines and Blackshirt militia. Some guns were also supplied to Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War and to Italian-trained Ustaše troops during WWII.

Design and operation

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The Breda M37 is a downscaled version of the 13.2 mm Breda M31,[a] since the latter was considered too large to fit into the tankettes used by the Royal Italian Army. The M37 retains the same rising block breech-locking system of its predecessor, but its fed with 20-round metal strips, similar to the ones used by the Hotchkiss machine gun. Development of the gun faced some delays since the 8×59mm Rb Breda cartridge was not approved until 1935. Ultimately, it took two more years for the machine gun to finally appear.[5]

The strips were inserted into the left side of the gun and the gas-piston driven bolt removed a cartridge from the strip, fed it to the chamber, fired it and put the spent cartridge case back into the strip, which then moved one notch to the right to restart the cycle until the last round was fired. Then the strip was ejected on the right side of the gun as the machine gunner's assistant loaded a fresh ammunition strip.[5] Like the Hotchkiss, continuous fire required the assistant to feed one strip after another while the gunner kept the trigger pulled. M37 crews had a crank-operated machine to remove the spent cases from the strips and load them with fresh cartridges. These devices also had a hopper to store spent cases.[3] The barrels had an expected service life of 20,000 rounds each, and they had to be changed every 400 rounds fired to cool down.[6]

The cartridges didn't need to be oiled,[b] though the use of 20-round ammunition strips limited the rate of fire to about 200 rounds per minute (the weapon was air-cooled, so it could not be continuously fired anyway). Rugged and accurate, It was popular with its crews despite the weight of 38 kg (83 lb) with the tripod (it was heavier than the British Bren and the German MG 42), and the low rate of fire, specially when compared to the machine guns used by the Germans.[9][10][c]

According to Hobart, the gun was originally intended to be mounted on tanks and having the spent cases reinserted into the strips instead of scattering around the floor would prevent the crews from slipping on them;[7] while Ian V. Hogg's explanation is that tanks built during the 1930s had a lot of operating mechanisms exposed inside the hull, and having a ejected cartridge case finding its way to this machinery could result into mechanical breakdowns, though he also notes that the tank-mounted Breda 38 used a bag to collect spent cartridges instead;[5] Another suggestion is that this feature was included for economical reasons, allowing spent cartridges to be reused and saving strategic metals.[3] Regardless of the actual reason, it ultimately proved to be impractical on the battlefield.[3][5]

Variants

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  • Breda 37 − Original version. Post-war attempts to rechamber the gun to fire the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge were unsuccessful[12]
  • Breda 38 − Vehicle-mounted variant, it was fed from a top-mounted box magazine, fitted with a heavier barrel and a pistol grip. Officially designated as the Mitragliatrice Breda cal. 8 mod. 38 per carri armati[3][5][8]

Service use

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Italian marines' M37 during the Battle of Crete

The Breda 37 was supposed to replace the Fiat–Revelli Modello 1935, but the latter remained in use during the campaigns in North Africa and the Balkans.[13] Every Italian machine gun section had 2 non-commissioned officers, 16 privates, and 2 Breda 37s or Fiat 35s. Each squad had a commander, a machine gunner, the gunner's assistant, 2 soldiers to carry the tripod, 2 soldiers to carry the spare parts, and 2 soldiers to carry the ammunition.[14]

Besides the Army, the Breda was also issued to the Blackshirt militia and Marines (such as the Decima Flottiglia MAS).[15][16] In North Africa, the M37 was mounted on SPA-Viberti AS.42 reconnaissance cars to improve mobility. Each vehicle carried up to three guns which could be dismounted if necessary.[17]

During the late stages of the Spanish Civil War, Italy supplied the Nationalist forces with about 2,500 guns.[4] During World War II, Italian-trained Ustaše troops were also supplied with Bredas.[18] In the North African campaign the British made wide use of captured M37s, particularly with its Long Range Desert Groups (LRDG).[19] After the Italians surrendered to the Allies in 1943, production of the Breda continued in the Italian Social Republic to supply its German allies,[12] who gave the M37 the designation 8 mm sMG 259(i), while the M38 was designated as the 8 mm Kpfw.MG 350(i).[8] It was also adopted by the Portuguese armed forces, who placed it into service as the Metralhadora m/938.[7][20] The Breda saw extensive service in Portugal's African colonies during the early stages of the Portuguese Colonial Wars.[21]

During the post-war period, the reformed Italian Army kept the M37 in use until the 1960s.[3] Attempts to convert the Breda to chamber and fire the 7.62×51mm NATO were unsuccessful and it was eventually replaced by the MG42/59.[12] The gun would remain in service or kept in strategic storage with a few African nations, including Somalia, Libya, and Chad[d] until the late 1980s.[23][24]

[edit]
  • A 20-round ammuntion strip
    A 20-round ammuntion strip
  • A device to remove spent cases from the ammo strips and replace them with fresh cartridges
    A device to remove spent cases from the ammo strips and replace them with fresh cartridges
  • A M37 mounted in an anti-aircraft tripod at a museum in Petaluma, California
    A M37 mounted in an anti-aircraft tripod at a museum in Petaluma, California
  • Italian Army soldiers with a M37 ready for training, 1952
    Italian Army soldiers with a M37 ready for training, 1952
  • A Breda 37 operated by a Slovene partisan
    A Breda 37 operated by a Slovene partisan

Users

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An m/938 Breda in a museum in Lisbon

Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Breda M37

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from Grokipedia
The Breda M37, officially designated as the Mitragliatrice Breda calibro 8 modello 37, is a gas-operated, air-cooled developed by the Italian firm Meccanica Bresciana and adopted by the in 1937 as its standard tripod-mounted infantry support weapon. Chambered for the distinctive 8x59mm RB cartridge—a rebated-rim round designed specifically for this weapon—it features a long-stroke gas mechanism with a and a unique rigid metal strip feed system that holds 20 rounds, where spent casings are automatically reinserted into the strip after ejection to maintain rigidity. Weighing approximately 19.5 kg for the gun body alone (plus an additional 19 kg ), it has an overall of 1,270 mm, a 780 mm barrel, a cyclic of 450 rounds per minute, and an effective range of up to 1,000 meters, making it suitable for sustained suppressive fire in defensive and anti-aircraft roles. Developed in the mid-1930s as an evolution of earlier designs like the unreliable Model 30, the M37 underwent trials from 1935 to 1936 before entering production in 1937, which continued until 1945 (including batches for German forces after the 1943 ); a variant, the M38, introduced in with a 24-round detachable box magazine for and applications. The weapon's integral oiler and heavy-profile quick-change barrel addressed needs in dusty environments, though it retained some reliability issues from its predecessors, such as sensitivity to . Despite these quirks, the M37 was praised for its , long range, and hitting power, delivering a 210-grain at around 792 m/s with exceeding 3,100 foot-pounds. During , the Breda M37 served extensively with Italian forces in campaigns across , the , and the defense of the Italian homeland, often mounted on tripods for static positions or adapted for anti-aircraft use; it was also employed by Allied units like the British and captured by partisan forces including Slovenian partisans after capture. Post-war, it remained in Italian service into the 1960s, gradually replaced by more modern designs like the MG42/59, while exports included adoption by as the m/938 in 7.92x57mm Mauser caliber.

Development

Origins and design process

In the 1930s, the Italian Royal Army recognized the need for a modern, reliable to equip its and armored units, driven by ongoing dissatisfaction with the performance and reliability of earlier designs such as the Model 1930 light machine gun and the FIAT-Revelli Model 1914 medium machine gun. These weapons, while in service, suffered from mechanical complexities and maintenance issues that hindered their effectiveness in sustained fire roles, prompting the army to seek a more robust replacement suitable for company-level support. Development of the began in 1935 under the auspices of the per Costruzioni Meccaniche, evolving directly from the company's earlier Breda M31 aircraft , which itself was a licensed adaptation of the French Hotchkiss 13.2mm heavy . A significant factor in the timeline was the parallel approval process for the new 8×59mm Rb cartridge, specifically developed for as part of Italy's dual-caliber system (6.5mm for rifles and 8mm for automatic weapons), which delayed initial progress until its formal designation in 1935. This cartridge choice aimed to provide greater without excessive for rifle-caliber applications. The design incorporated a gas-operated mechanism inspired by contemporary European systems, particularly the Hotchkiss lineage, but was scaled down and adapted for ground use with a rifle-caliber round, emphasizing stability through mounting to enable prolonged bursts of fire in defensive or suppressive roles. Breda engineers prioritized simplicity and durability over the intricate features of predecessors, drawing on lessons from the M31's demands to enhance adaptability. Initial prototypes underwent rigorous testing from 1935 to 1937 at proving grounds, where the focus was on improving reliability, reducing stoppages, and verifying performance across various environmental conditions compared to the problematic feeding and lubrication systems of earlier and models. These trials confirmed the design's viability for duties, leading to its formal adoption in 1937.

Adoption and production

The Breda M37 was officially adopted by the Royal Italian Army in 1937 as the Mitragliatrice Breda calibro 8 modello 37, serving as the primary heavy machine gun and intended to replace outdated designs like the Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914 in infantry support roles. Manufacturing took place primarily at the Meccanica Bresciana facility in , , with limited subcontracting to other firms; production commenced that same year and ramped up to meet military demands. Output peaked between 1940 and 1942 amid escalating wartime needs, but continued until 1945, including by the for German allies after the 1943 armistice. Early exports included initial shipments to Nationalist forces in starting in 1938 during the , totaling about 2,500 units to bolster their capabilities.

Design

Specifications

The M37 is a gas-operated chambered in the 8×59mm Rb cartridge, which features a rebated rim design to enable reliable feeding from metal strips without interference from rim overlap. The cartridge achieves a of approximately 800 m/s, providing effective penetration and range for its class. Key physical and performance characteristics of the standard model are summarized below.
ParameterSpecification
8×59mm Rb Breda
Overall length1,270 mm
Barrel length780 mm
Weight (gun)19.5 kg
Weight ()18.8 kg
Total weight~38.3 kg
Cyclic 450 rounds per minute
Practical 200 rounds per minute
800–1,000 m
Maximum range5,400 m
Feed system20-round metal strip (loaded from left)
Barrel typeQuick-change, heavy-profile, air-cooled with cooling fins
The barrel is designed for sustained fire and can be replaced without tools beyond a carrying handle, though prolonged use requires periodic changes to maintain accuracy and prevent overheating.

Mechanism and operation

The Breda M37 is a gas-operated employing a long-stroke gas positioned below the barrel, which drives a vertically sliding bolt that locks into the receiver via a rising block mechanism using inclined surfaces. The gas system includes a manual regulator with multiple positions to adjust for varying conditions, enhancing operational flexibility. Its feeding mechanism utilizes rigid 20-round steel strips inserted from the top-left side into a tray, drawing inspiration from Hotchkiss-style systems but with a distinctive feature: after firing, spent cartridge cases are extracted and reinserted into the empty pockets of the same strip to preserve its structural integrity and prevent dirt ingress. This process requires the assistant gunner to apply oil to the strips beforehand to facilitate extraction, as the rimmed 8×59mm lacks a robust camming action for initial case removal. Once the strip is depleted, it is removed from the right side with the cases in place, necessitating manual unloading for reloading with fresh rounds. The firing sequence operates in full-automatic mode from an , initiated by a thumb trigger on dual spade grips, with a safety lever to select safe or fire positions. Gas from the burning propellant expands to drive the rearward, unlocking the bolt, extracting the case into the strip, and cycling to chamber the next round until the strip is empty. This design, while reliable and improved upon the earlier M30 through simpler construction with fewer moving parts, limits sustained fire due to the strip system's reloading demands. Practical handling involves a crew of a gunner and assistant, with the latter managing oiled strips and removing case-filled ones to enable continuous operation. is facilitated by a quick-change barrel system, allowing rapid replacement without tools, and the overall mechanism's durability reduces frequent servicing needs, though regular cleaning of the gas system and strip loader is essential to mitigate fouling from the oiled .

Combat history

World War II

The served as the standard for Italian forces during the starting in 1940, equipping both motorized and infantry units in battles against British Commonwealth troops. Its gas-operated mechanism and air-cooled barrel provided sustained in open engagements, though sand accumulation often led to jamming in arid conditions, reducing overall reliability. In other theaters, the weapon saw deployment with Italian troops during the Balkans and Greek campaigns, including the Battle of Crete in May 1941, where marines from the San Marco Regiment employed it for defensive fire following landings at Sitia on Crete's eastern coast. On the Eastern Front, the Breda M37 armed units of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia (CSIR and later ARMIR), including Alpine (Alpini) troops who used it against Soviet forces in harsh winter conditions during 1941–1943 operations. Captured examples were incorporated into German Wehrmacht inventories after the 1943 Italian armistice, designated as the s.MG 259(i) and utilized by units stationed in Italy and other fronts. During the from 1943 to 1945, the Breda M37 played a significant role in defensive actions, particularly in and on the mainland, where it supported Italian co-belligerent forces fighting alongside the Allies as well as Republican Fascist (RSI) units loyal to in engagements against advancing Anglo-American troops. The gun's robustness allowed it to remain in service amid resource shortages, contributing to suppression roles in mountainous terrain. Additionally, British , including the (LRDG), repurposed captured Breda M37s for raiding operations in , mounting them on vehicles for hit-and-run attacks on Axis supply lines.

Post-World War II

Following the end of , the Breda M37 continued to serve in the reformed , primarily in training and reserve roles, until the 1960s. Efforts to modernize the weapon included conversions to fire the cartridge for better ammunition standardization, but these initiatives were ultimately abandoned due to the adoption of newer designs. The machine gun also saw prolonged export service, notably with , where it was adopted as the Metralhadora pesada 7,92 mm m/938 in caliber. It played a significant role in the Portuguese Colonial Wars (1961–1974), providing battalion-level support in conflicts across , , and , particularly during the early phases of the fighting. In , the weapon was gradually phased out in favor of the MG 42/59, a licensed variant of the German adapted for 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition, which became the standard . Today, the Breda M37 holds value primarily among firearms collectors and historians, with original examples occasionally appearing at auctions alongside accessories like tripods and feed strips. No major modern military variants have been developed, reflecting its obsolescence in contemporary warfare.

Operators

Primary operators

The Breda M37 served as the primary of the Kingdom of Italy's following its adoption in 1937. It was integrated into units at the company and levels to provide sustained , equipping formations as well as specialized units such as the Blackshirt militia (Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale) and the San Marco Marine Regiment. This organizational structure emphasized the weapon's role in defensive and positions within standard rifle companies and dedicated machine gun sections. After the Italian armistice in , the Breda M37 remained in service with the armed forces of the , the Nazi-backed fascist remnant state that existed until May 1945. In this capacity, it was issued to Republican National Guard units and other formations, often integrated into mixed Italian-German commands for anti-partisan operations and frontline defense in . The weapon's familiarity among Italian troops facilitated its continued doctrinal use despite resource shortages. Portugal acquired the Breda M37 in , designating it the metralhadora pesada 7,92 mm m/938 after rechambering it for the cartridge to align with existing stockpiles. It became the standard heavy machine gun for units, particularly in colonial garrisons across , where it supported battalions in static defense and roles; local armories handled and minor modifications to suit tropical environments. The design's reliability in harsh conditions contributed to its retention through the early phases of Portugal's overseas conflicts. In the post-war era, the Italian Army continued employing the Breda M37 as a heavy machine gun into the mid-1960s, primarily in reserve and training roles as modern designs like the MG 42/59 were phased in. Surplus units were allocated to Carabinieri police forces and territorial reserves, extending the weapon's service in internal security duties.

Secondary and captured users

Following the Italian armistice in September 1943, German forces captured significant quantities of Breda M37 machine guns from Italian stockpiles and ongoing production lines, redesignating them as the 8 mm sMG 259(i) for use by the Wehrmacht. These captured weapons were integrated into German units defending the Italian front against Allied advances, where their reliability in sustained fire proved useful despite the logistical challenges of the non-standard 8×59mm RB Breda cartridge. In , British Commonwealth forces frequently repurposed captured Breda M37s due to the abundance of Italian equipment and ammunition in the theater. The (LRDG) particularly favored the weapon for its mounting compatibility on their modified Chevrolet 10-cwt trucks, employing it during deep reconnaissance raids and behind Axis lines in the from 1941 to 1943. Other units, including Australian and troops, adopted the M37 opportunistically after engagements with Italian positions, valuing its gas-operated mechanism for anti-vehicle and roles in mobile . Captured examples were also used by Slovenian partisans during .
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