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{{Infobox Weapon|is_ranged=yes|
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Breda-SAFAT
| image=
| image = 12.7mmBreda-SAFAT.jpg
| caption=
| name=Breda-SAFAT
| image_size = 300
| caption = A {{convert|12.7|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} Breda-SAFAT machine gun on display at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]]
| type=Aircraft machine gun
| origin = Italy <!-- [[WP:INFOBOXFLAG]] -->
| origin=Italy
| era=WW2
| type = [[Machine-gun]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged = y
| design_date=1935
<!-- Service history -->| service = Late 1930s and 1940s
| prod_design_date=
| used_by = [[Regia Aeronautica]]<br>[[Hungarian Air Force|Royal Hungarian Air Force]]<br>[[Syrian Army]]
| serv_design_date=
| wars = [[Spanish Civil War]]<br>[[World War II]]<br>[[Six Day War]]
| used_by=Italy
<!-- Production history -->| designer =
| wars=WW2
| design_date = 1935
| spec_type=
| manufacturer = Breda-SAFAT (''[[Società Italiana Ernesto Breda per Costruzioni Meccaniche]] / [[Breda Meccanica Bresciana]] / Società Italiana Ernesto Breda - [[Società Anonima Fabbrica Armi Torino]]'')
| caliber=7.7 mm (0.303 in)<br/>12.7 mm (0.50 in)
| unit_cost =
| part_length=
| production_date =
| cartridge=7.7x56R (10.1 g)<br/>12.7x81SR (36.7 g)
| feed=
| number =
| variants = [[Breda-SAFAT 20mm cannon]]
| action=
<!-- General specifications -->| spec_label =
| rate=800-900 rounds/min (7.7 mm)<br/>700 rounds/min (575 rounds/min [[Interrupter gear|synchronized]]) (12.7 mm)
| weight = {{convert|12.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (7.7 mm)<br/>{{convert|29|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (12.7 mm)<ref name=Williams>{{cite book|last1=Williams|first1=Anthony G.|title=Flying Guns of World War II |first2=Dr. Emmanuel |last2=Gustin }}</ref>
| velocity=730 m/s (7.7 mm)<br/>765 m/s (12.7 mm)
| weight=12.5 kg (7.7 mm)<br/>29 kg (12.7 mm)
| length = {{convert|109|cm|in|abbr=on}} (7.7 mm)<br/>{{convert|139|cm|in|abbr=on}} (12.7 mm)<ref name=Williams/>
| part_length = {{convert|64|cm|in|abbr=on}} (7.7 mm)<br/>{{convert|80|cm|in|abbr=on}} (12.7 mm)<ref name=Williams/>
| length=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->| cartridge = [[.303 British|7.7x56mmR]] light, [[12.7x81mmSR]] heavy
| variants=
| cartridge_weight =
| number=
| caliber = {{convert|7.7|mm|in|abbr=on|3}}<br/>{{convert|12.7|mm|in|abbr=on}}<ref name=Williams/>
| barrels = 1
| action = Short recoil<ref name=Williams/>
| rate = 800–900 rounds/min (7.7 mm)<br/>700 rounds/min (575 rounds/min [[Synchronization gear|synchronized]]) (12.7 mm)<ref name=Williams/>
| velocity = {{convert|730|m/s|ft/s}} (7.7 mm)<br/>{{convert|765|m/s|ft/s}} (12.7 mm)<ref name=Williams/>
| feed = Belt-fed<ref name=Williams/>
}}
}}
'''Breda-SAFAT''' was a series of [[machine gun]]s used on [[Italy|Italian]] aircraft during [[World War 2]]. It was the result of a collaboration between [[Breda Meccanica Bresciana]] and [[Società Anonima Fabbrica Armi Torino]] (SAFAT). The machine gun came in 7.7 mm (0.303 in) and 12.7 mm (0.50 in) variants. The 7.7 mm variant was similar to the [[M1919 Browning machine gun]] and could use some types of [[.303 British]] ammunition. The 12.7 mm version could fire a high-explosive/incendiary/tracing (HEIT) round with 0.8 grams of [[PETN]].


'''Breda-SAFAT''' (''Società Italiana Ernesto Breda per Costruzioni Meccaniche / Breda Meccanica Bresciana'' - ''Società Anonima Fabbrica Armi Torino'') was an Italian weapons manufacturer of the 1930s and 1940s that designed and produced a range of machine-guns and cannon primarily for use in aircraft. Based on the [[M1919 Browning machine gun]], the Italian guns were chambered to fire indigenous ammunition with {{convert|7.7|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} and {{convert|12.7|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} calibres, predominantly ball, tracer for the 7.7mm, including high explosive incendiary tracer (HEI-T) (filled with 0.8&nbsp;grams of [[PETN]]), or armour-piercing (AP) for the 12.7mm.

==Design and development==
During the 1930s both Breda and SAFAT (a division of [[FIAT]]) were given the task of producing designs for a new range of machine-guns for use in aircraft of the [[Regia Aeronautica]], the offering from Breda being preferred. FIAT contested the decision but lost, resulting in the sale of SAFAT to Breda to form Breda-SAFAT.

Despite the aim of producing an airborne machine-gun equal or superior to other similar weapons, the use of low propellant capacity rounds resulted in significantly lower muzzle velocities than other weapons of similar calibres. Other inadequacies included high weight and modest rates of fire as well as the ineffectiveness of the High Explosive-Incendiary-Tracer round.

However, despite these shortcomings, the Breda-SAFAT gun was generally praised by the Italian pilots and armourers: the pilots because of its long range and apparent good hitting power, the armourers because of its reliability.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gustavsson |first1=Håkan |last2=Slongo |first2=Ludvico |title=Gladiator vs Cr.42 Falco: 1940–41 |series=Duel 47 |year=2012 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=9781849087087 |page=71}}</ref>

Thus, Italy lacked machine-guns with the critical qualities of light weight, a high rate of fire, good muzzle velocity, good projectile weight and reliability, while the Soviets, Germans, Americans and Japanese had 12.7&nbsp;mm calibre automatic ordnance in the [[Berezin UB]], [[MG 131]], [[Browning M2]], and [[Ho-103 machine gun|Ho-103]] respectively. Late-war Italian aircraft began to adopt the "original" calibre German Mauser {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} [[MG 151 cannon]] to give their aircraft parity in firepower with Allied fighters, with as many as three MG 151 fitted to [[Macchi MC.205]], [[Fiat G.55]] and [[Reggiane Re.2005]]—the third cannon firing through the propeller hub of the licence-built [[Daimler-Benz DB 605]] engines (Fiat ''Tifone'') inline inverted V12 engines used to power these aircraft—in addition to [[Synchronization gear|synchronized]] cowl-mounted 12.7mm Bredas-SAFATs.

The Breda guns, although adequate in 1935 at the time of their design, were out-classed by the standards of 1940, with Italian fighters such as the [[Fiat C.R.42]], [[Fiat G.50 Freccia]], [[Macchi MC.200]], [[Macchi MC.202]] and [[Reggiane Re.2000]] still only having two 12.7&nbsp;mm Breda-SAFAT machine-guns and sometimes two extra 7.7&nbsp;mm Breda-SAFAT machine-guns. Despite their shortcomings, thousands of Breda guns were built in the 1930s and 1940s, arming nearly every Italian fighter and bomber of that period. Many of these weapons were also adapted for the anti-aircraft role and remained in service until the 1970s as reserve weapons; even if all the aircraft that they equipped had been phased out by that time.

==Applications==
[[File:Breda safat of fiat rs14.jpg|thumb|12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine-guns in the waist gun positions of a [[FIAT R.S.14]]]]

===Fighters===
* [[Fiat CR.32]]
* [[Fiat CR.42]]
* [[Fiat G.50 Freccia]]
* [[Fiat G.55]]
* [[Macchi C.200]]
* [[Macchi C.202]]
* [[Macchi C.205]]
* [[Reggiane Re.2000]]
* [[Reggiane Re.2002]]
* [[Reggiane Re.2005]]

===Bombers===
* [[Caproni Ca.133]]
* [[Caproni Ca.309]]
* [[Caproni Ca.310]]
* [[Fiat BR.20]]
* [[Piaggio P.108]]
* [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.79]]

===Ground-attack===
* [[Breda Ba.64]]
* [[Breda Ba.65]]
* [[Breda Ba.88 Lince]]
* [[CANSA FC.20]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
* {{cite journal|author=Ciampaglia, Giuseppe|title=Quando la Regia adottò il cannone da 20mm|journal=RID Magazine|issue=11|year=2006}}
* Gustavsson, Håkan; Slongo, Ludvico (2012). Gladiator vs Cr.42 Falco : 1940–41. {{ISBN|9781849087087}}.
*{{cite book|last=Williams|first=Anthony G.|title=Flying Guns of World War II|publisher=Airlife|location=Ramsbury|isbn=978-1-84037-227-4|pages=316|author2=Dr. Emmanuel Gustin|date=2003-02-01}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Breda-SAFAT}}
*[[:it:File:Breda safat 12,7 campale.jpg|Italian Wikipedia image of a SAFAT machine gun in the ground role]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Breda-Safat Machine Gun}}
[[Category:Aircraft guns]]
[[Category:Aircraft guns]]
[[Category:Medium machine guns]]
[[Category:Heavy machine guns]]
[[Category:Heavy machine guns]]
[[Category:Medium machine guns]]

[[Category:Machine guns of Italy]]
[[it:Mitragliatrice Breda-SAFAT]]
[[Category:Breda weapons]]
[[Category:World War II machine guns]]
[[Category:12.7×81 mm firearms]]

Latest revision as of 20:06, 25 October 2024

Breda-SAFAT
A 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda-SAFAT machine gun on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
TypeMachine-gun
Place of originItaly
Service history
In serviceLate 1930s and 1940s
Used byRegia Aeronautica
Royal Hungarian Air Force
Syrian Army
WarsSpanish Civil War
World War II
Six Day War
Production history
Designed1935
ManufacturerBreda-SAFAT (Società Italiana Ernesto Breda per Costruzioni Meccaniche / Breda Meccanica Bresciana / Società Italiana Ernesto Breda - Società Anonima Fabbrica Armi Torino)
VariantsBreda-SAFAT 20mm cannon
Specifications
Mass12.5 kg (28 lb) (7.7 mm)
29 kg (64 lb) (12.7 mm)[1]
Length109 cm (43 in) (7.7 mm)
139 cm (55 in) (12.7 mm)[1]
Barrel length64 cm (25 in) (7.7 mm)
80 cm (31 in) (12.7 mm)[1]
Cartridge7.7x56mmR light, 12.7x81mmSR heavy
Caliber7.7 mm (0.303 in)
12.7 mm (0.50 in)[1]
Barrels1
ActionShort recoil[1]
Rate of fire800–900 rounds/min (7.7 mm)
700 rounds/min (575 rounds/min synchronized) (12.7 mm)[1]
Muzzle velocity730 metres per second (2,400 ft/s) (7.7 mm)
765 metres per second (2,510 ft/s) (12.7 mm)[1]
Feed systemBelt-fed[1]

Breda-SAFAT (Società Italiana Ernesto Breda per Costruzioni Meccaniche / Breda Meccanica Bresciana - Società Anonima Fabbrica Armi Torino) was an Italian weapons manufacturer of the 1930s and 1940s that designed and produced a range of machine-guns and cannon primarily for use in aircraft. Based on the M1919 Browning machine gun, the Italian guns were chambered to fire indigenous ammunition with 7.7 mm (0.303 in) and 12.7 mm (0.500 in) calibres, predominantly ball, tracer for the 7.7mm, including high explosive incendiary tracer (HEI-T) (filled with 0.8 grams of PETN), or armour-piercing (AP) for the 12.7mm.

Design and development

[edit]

During the 1930s both Breda and SAFAT (a division of FIAT) were given the task of producing designs for a new range of machine-guns for use in aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica, the offering from Breda being preferred. FIAT contested the decision but lost, resulting in the sale of SAFAT to Breda to form Breda-SAFAT.

Despite the aim of producing an airborne machine-gun equal or superior to other similar weapons, the use of low propellant capacity rounds resulted in significantly lower muzzle velocities than other weapons of similar calibres. Other inadequacies included high weight and modest rates of fire as well as the ineffectiveness of the High Explosive-Incendiary-Tracer round.

However, despite these shortcomings, the Breda-SAFAT gun was generally praised by the Italian pilots and armourers: the pilots because of its long range and apparent good hitting power, the armourers because of its reliability.[2]

Thus, Italy lacked machine-guns with the critical qualities of light weight, a high rate of fire, good muzzle velocity, good projectile weight and reliability, while the Soviets, Germans, Americans and Japanese had 12.7 mm calibre automatic ordnance in the Berezin UB, MG 131, Browning M2, and Ho-103 respectively. Late-war Italian aircraft began to adopt the "original" calibre German Mauser 20 mm (0.787 in) MG 151 cannon to give their aircraft parity in firepower with Allied fighters, with as many as three MG 151 fitted to Macchi MC.205, Fiat G.55 and Reggiane Re.2005—the third cannon firing through the propeller hub of the licence-built Daimler-Benz DB 605 engines (Fiat Tifone) inline inverted V12 engines used to power these aircraft—in addition to synchronized cowl-mounted 12.7mm Bredas-SAFATs.

The Breda guns, although adequate in 1935 at the time of their design, were out-classed by the standards of 1940, with Italian fighters such as the Fiat C.R.42, Fiat G.50 Freccia, Macchi MC.200, Macchi MC.202 and Reggiane Re.2000 still only having two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine-guns and sometimes two extra 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine-guns. Despite their shortcomings, thousands of Breda guns were built in the 1930s and 1940s, arming nearly every Italian fighter and bomber of that period. Many of these weapons were also adapted for the anti-aircraft role and remained in service until the 1970s as reserve weapons; even if all the aircraft that they equipped had been phased out by that time.

Applications

[edit]
12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine-guns in the waist gun positions of a FIAT R.S.14

Fighters

[edit]

Bombers

[edit]

Ground-attack

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Williams, Anthony G.; Gustin, Dr. Emmanuel. Flying Guns of World War II.
  2. ^ Gustavsson, Håkan; Slongo, Ludvico (2012). Gladiator vs Cr.42 Falco: 1940–41. Duel 47. Osprey Publishing. p. 71. ISBN 9781849087087.

References

[edit]
  • Ciampaglia, Giuseppe (2006). "Quando la Regia adottò il cannone da 20mm". RID Magazine (11).
  • Gustavsson, Håkan; Slongo, Ludvico (2012). Gladiator vs Cr.42 Falco : 1940–41. ISBN 9781849087087.
  • Williams, Anthony G.; Dr. Emmanuel Gustin (2003-02-01). Flying Guns of World War II. Ramsbury: Airlife. p. 316. ISBN 978-1-84037-227-4.
[edit]

Media related to Breda-SAFAT at Wikimedia Commons

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