| Error creating thumbnail: File missing Join our Discord! |
| If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here. |
Villar Perosa M1915
Villar Perosa M1915 (also known as the Revelli Automatic Machine Gun) is a twin-barreled submachine gun of Italian manufacturer Officine Villar Perosa (OVP in short) . It was originally designed in 1914 by famous Italian small arms designer Bethel Abiel Revelli as an aircraft weapon. It failed in this capacity, as it was designed to fire low-powered 9mm Glisenti ammunition, which was weaker than dimensionally similar 9x19 Luger ammunition and almost completely ineffective against even period aircraft due to the short effective range.
In 1915 the Villar Perosa was converted for ground applications, with the introduction of a variety of mountings, including light tripods/carrying trays (which were carried on shoulder straps or put on the ground for more stable position and less exposure to enemy fire) and light tripods. Later, a wooden rifle-type stock was designed for the Villar Perosa, so it could be fired more or less comfortably from the shoulder, thus creating the first practical submachine gun in the world.
After the war, some of the original Villar Perosa weapons (assembled from two similar guns) were disassembled into halves, and put into rifle type stocks, adding rifle-type triggers. Such conversions were known as Villar Perosa M1918 (as done by Villar Perosa). A slightly improved version of the same design was also produced by Beretta, and was known as the Beretta M1918. Thus, the Villar Perosa is not only, practically, the first submachine gun in the world, but also the beginning of Beretta's submachine gun traditions.
As the original Villar Perosa SMG's are rare and can hardly be seen outside of museums, those you see in movies are usually mock-ups made from Beretta submachine guns.
Villar Perosa M1915 SMG and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Specifications
(1914–1918)
- Type: Submachine gun
- Calibers: 9x19mm Glisenti
- Weight: 14lb (6.5 kg) (sans mount)
- Length: 35 in (900 mm)
- Barrel length: 11 in (279 mm)
- Capacity: 2 x 25 rounds (aircraft)
- Fire Modes: Full-Auto only
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battlefield: 1918 | Villar-Perosa | fitted with wooden stock for off-hand use | 2010 |
OVP M1918
An early attempt at modifying an isolated M1915 receiver into an infantry-portable weapon.
Specifications
(1918-?)
- Type: Submachine gun
- Caliber: 9x19mm Glisenti
- Weight: 8.09lb (3.67 kg)
- Length: 35.43 in (900 mm)
- Barrel length: 11.02 in (280 mm)
- Capacity: 25 rounds
- Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto (dual triggers)
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sniper Elite 4 | 2017 |
Beretta M1918
The Beretta M1918 was an improved version of the Villar Perosa OVP M1918, having the distinction of being one of the first purpose-built SMGs ever issued (the Villar Perosa being discounted due to its origins as a mounted aircraft gun). It was not called such, however, as "submachine gun" was a term originally created to market the Thompson Submachine Gun in 1921.
Specifications
(1918-?)
- Type: Submachine gun
- Calibers: 9x19mm Glisenti, .22 LR
- Weight: 7lb 3oz (3.3 kg)
- Length: 43 in (1092 mm)
- Barrel length: 12in (305 mm)
- Capacity: 25 rounds
- Fire Modes: Full-Auto only
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battlefield 1 | Automatico M1918 | Various accessories | 2016 |