Fiat–Revelli Modello 1935

The Fiat–Revelli 35 was an Italian machine gun, a modified version of the Fiat–Revelli Modello 1914, which had equipped the Italian Army of World War I.[2] It was a vast improvement on the early model, offering superior penetration power due to the adoption of belt fed 8mm (8x59) rounds. The Modello 35 also omitted the oil reservoir found on the earlier Modello 14. Later it was found that the new chamber still jammed and rounds had to be lubricated before use. Despite its faults the Modello 35 saw extensive action during World War II. [3]

Mitragliatrice Fiat–Revelli Modello 1935
A Fiat-Revelli 35, mounted on its tripod.
TypeMedium machine gun
Place of originKingdom of Italy
Service history
In service1937–1945
Used byItaly
Wars
Production history
Designed1934
ManufacturerSocietà Metallurgica Bresciana
Produced1935–1943
Specifications
Mass17 kg gun + 23 kg tripod
Length1250 mm
Barrel length654 mm
Cartridge8x59mm RB Breda
Caliber8mm
ActionBlowback
Rate of fire600 round/min
Muzzle velocity750 m/s (2,460 ft/s)
Effective firing range1,000 m
Maximum firing range5,200 m
Feed systemBelt feed
Italian soldiers firing a Fiat-Revelli 35.

Overview
Italian soldiers aiming a Fiat-Revelli 35.

The gun has an overall length of 1700 mm, including its 650 mm barrel. Unloaded, the gun weighs 17 kg, while the tripod weighed 23 kg. Like the Modello 1914, the Modello 35 is a complete weapon system made up of the machine gun unit, the tripod mounting assembly and ammunition supply, and therefore required a multi-person crew to operate.[4]

The Modello 1914 had seen widespread use during the World War I, but its flaws (excessive weight, water-cooling and its use of the underpowered 6.5x52mm Carcano) became more and more apparent as time passed; while the Italian Army was beginning to develop the new Breda M37, it was seen convenient to modernize the many Modello 1914s still existent. The Modello 35 opted for a more conventional belt feed, air-cooling, rechambering for the 8x59mm RB Breda and, after an unsuccessful attempt, discarding an oil pump to lubricate the bullets as on the Breda 30 light machine gun (but some sources claim that, as the Modello 1914, this weapon still featured this troublesome design, which is not mentioned in any of the technical manuals).[5] Also, the machine gun was prone to the cook-off of the chambered rounds during the pauses of firing.[6]

The rechambering to the 8mm calibre and the adoption of a belt feed succeeded in improving both the stopping power and the rate of fire of the machine-gun; however, it reportedly suffered from jammings rather often.

See also

Notes and references
  1. Esdaile, Charles J. (2018-10-10). The Spanish Civil War: A Military History. ISBN 9780429859298.
  2. "Fiat-Revelli M1914 M1935". 2010-10-27.
  3. https://www.quartermastersection.com/italian/infantry-weapons/744/Mod35HMG
  4. Nathan Block. "FIAT-Revelli Modello 1935 Heavy Machine Gun (1935)". Military Factory. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  5. "Mitragliatrice Fiat Mod. 35". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  6. The Italian Army 1940-45 (1): Europe 1940-43 By Philip S. Jowett, p. 13
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