Beretta M1918
One of the first submachine guns in the world, derived from the Villar Perosa machine pistol: 9 mm Glisenti caliber, 25-round top-mounted magazine and a folding blade bayonet under the barrel.
Beretta M1918
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Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- Beretta M1918
- Alias
- Moschetto Automatico Beretta Mod. 1918
- Manufacturer
- Pietro Beretta
- Country
- Italy
- Year
- 1918
- Category
- Submachine gun
- Status
- Historic
Ballistics
- Caliber
- 9×19 mm Glisenti
- Muzzle velocity
- 305 m/s
- Rate of fire
- ~900 rpm
- Effective range
- 100 m
- Maximum range
- 200 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 318 mm
- Overall length
- 850 mm
- Empty weight
- 3.3 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Blowback
- Bolt / action
- Otturatore aperto
Feed
- System
- Caricatore superiore monofilare
- Standard capacity
- 25 rounds
Fire modes
Historical profile
Development
The Beretta Model 1918 Automatic Carbine, designed by Tullio Marengoni, is considered one of the first submachine guns in the world, developed for the Royal Italian Army in the closing months of World War I.
It derives directly from the Villar Perosa 1915 machine pistol, using only one of the latter's twin barrels, mounted on a conventional carbine-style stock.
Design
Chambered in 9×19 mm Glisenti (a downloaded version of 9 mm Parabellum), it operates on open-bolt blowback with a curved 25-round top-mounted magazine.
The original version had only an automatic selector and a bayonet attachment; the later M1918/30 introduced semi-automatic fire and a bottom-mounted magazine.
Operational service
Issued from 1918 to the Arditi assault troops, it saw marginal use in the Great War but was retained in Italian Army service throughout the interwar period.
It equipped colonial and police units, taking part in Italian campaigns in Africa and in the early World War II conflicts, before being replaced by the MAB 38.
Variants
Main users
Regno d'Italia
Key components
- ●Stock — Shoulder rest.
- ●Receiver — Weapon body with internal mechanisms.
- ●Grip — Primary grip.
- ●Magazine — Cartridge feed.
- ●Barrel — Guides the projectile.
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Similar systems
Villar Perosa
1915
Thompson SMG
1921
Beretta MAB 38
1938
MP 18
1918
Franchi LF57
1957