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Breda Modello 30
The Breda Modello 30 (officially Fucile Mitragliatore Breda modello 30 and called the MG 099(i) in German service) was the main Italian light machine gun used during World War 2, and the main competition to the Chauchat Mle 1918 for the title of "worst light machine gun ever made."
The weapon fires from a closed bolt which caused heating problems so severe that it was prone to spontaneous heat ignition (cook-off), and uses a short recoil, locked breech operating system (so short that it is practically blowback operated) which led to extraction issues that could only solved by incorporating an oiler into the receiver cover: even so, the underpowered and unreliable ammunition lead to constant stoppages, more so if any kind of dust or dirt was present since the oiled cartridges attracted it like a magnet. To make matters worse, the barrel change system was poorly designed and did not securely hold the barrel.
Overall the Modello 30 was incredibly overcomplicated and difficult to manufacture, with a host of fiddly, overdesigned parts. It features an unorthodox feeding system with a non-detachable box magazine fitted to the right side of the receiver which hinges forward to load from 20-round stripper clips, and has a viewing window cut into it which inevitably allowed dirt to enter the action. This cumbersome loading method reduced the practical fire rate of the weapon to about 150 rounds per minute under ideal conditions: in non-ideal conditions (for example, war) this could drop to a lower rate of fire than a semi-automatic rifle, especially since the stripper clips were fragile and prone to bending.
Specifications
(1930 – 1945)
- Type: Light machine gun
- Caliber: 6.5x52mm Carcano, 7.35x51mm Carcano (rare)
- Weight: 23.4 lbs (10.6 kg)
- Length: 48.4 in (123 cm)
- Barrel length: 17.7 in (45 cm)
- Feed System: Hinged side-mounted integral box magazine fed with 20-round stripper clips
- Fire Modes: Auto only (500rpm)
The Breda Modello 30 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Four Days of Naples | Italian Resistance fighters | 1962 | ||
| The Last Four Days | Seen among abandoned weapons | 1974 | ||
| El Alamein - The Line of Fire | Italian soldiers | 2002 |
Video Game
| Game Title | Appears as | Note | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battlefield: 1942 | Incorrect left-handed receiver and detachable magazine | 2002 | |
| Medal of Honor: Allied Assault | 2002 | ||
| Forgotten Hope 2 | Incorrectly shown with a semi-auto setting | 2005 | |
| Mare Nostrum | 2008 | ||
| Men of War | 2009 | ||
| Karma Online | 2011 |