View source for Breda Model 35

{{Infobox Weapon
|name=Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/65 modello 35 
|image=[[Image:Breda 20-65 anti-aircraft gun in Beijing.jpg|300px]]
|caption=A 20/65 Breda anti-aircraft gun in Beijing. This example does not have the predictor sight mounted or the muzzle booster fitted on many other examples.
|origin=[[Image:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg|22px]] [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italy]]
|type=Light anti-aircraft gun
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
|is_artillery=yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service=[[1935]] - ca. 1985 
|used_by=[[Image:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg|22px]] [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italy]]<br>{{flag|Australia}}<br>{{CHN}}<ref>Some were captured during the war and pressed into service [http://www.btinternet.com/~ian.a.paterson/equipartillery.htm]</ref> <br>{{flagcountry|Finland}}<ref>[http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/AA_GUNS1.htm FINNISH ARMY 1918 - 1945: ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS PART 1<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><br>{{flag|Nazi Germany|name=Germany}}<br>{{flagicon|Slovakia|1938}} [[Slovak Republic (1939–1945)|Slovakia]]<br>{{UK}} 
|wars=[[Spanish Civil War]], [[World War II]] 
<!-- Production history -->
|designer= 
|design_date=[[1932]]
|manufacturer=[[Breda Meccanica Bresciana]]
|unit_cost=
|production_date=
|number= 
|variants= 
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label=
|weight=330 kg
|length= 3.340 m
|part_length=1.870 m
|width=
|height=
|diameter=
|crew=3 - 6
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> 
|cartridge=[[20 x 138B cartridge]] 
|caliber=20 mm
|barrels=1
|action=[[Gas-operated reloading]] 
|rate=240 rounds per minute
|velocity=840 m/s 
|range=1.5 km (against aerial targets)
|max_range=5.5 km 
|feed=12 round strip 
|sights=Telescopic predictor sight
<!-- Artillery specifications -->
|breech=
|recoil=
|carriage=
|elevation=-10 degrees to +80
|traverse=360 degrees
}}
The '''Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/65 modello 35 (Breda)''', also known as '''Breda Model 35''', was a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun produced by the [[Breda Meccanica Bresciana|Società Italiana Ernesto Breda of Brescia]] company in [[Italy]] and used during [[World War II]]. It was designed in 1932 and was adopted by the Italian armed forces in 1935. It was the one of two 20 millimetre calibre anti-aircraft guns used by Italy during [[World War II]], the other being the [[Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/77 (Scotti)|20 mm Scotti]]. Both of the weapons fired the [[20x138mmB]] cartridge.

==Design==
Designed as a dual purpose weapon for use against both aircraft and ground targets, it was effective against light tanks, with the armour piercing round being able to penetrate 30 millimeters of armour at a range of 500 meters. It had a two-wheeled trailer, but due to its structural weakness that limited the towing speed to 20 km/h, the weapon was usually transported on a truck bed instead.

==Use==
[[File:AS42-1.gif|thumb|250px|left|A vehicle of the Italian [[Auto-Saharan Company]] mounted with a Breda 20/65 M35.]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-315-1111-02, Italien, Halbkettenfahrzeug mit Flak, Spähpanzer.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A Breda 20/65 M35 mounted as an [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft gun]] on a truck and as the main armament on an Italian [[AB 41]] armored car.]]
In addition to use as an [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft gun]], the Model 35 was mounted as the main armament in several vehicles.  Initially in four [[Panzer I]]s converted during the [[Spanish Civil War]], by the [[Spain under Franco|Nationalists]], in an effort to improve their fighting capability against the [[Soviet]] [[T-26]]s fielded by the [[Second Spanish Republic|Republican]] forces. Later the gun was fitted to [[Fiat L6/40]] [[Tank classification|light tank]]s and the [[AB 41]] [[Armored car (military)|armoured car]]s.  In addition, this gun was employed as a [[Deck (ship)|deck]]-mounted anti-aircraft weapon in at least some of the [[MAS (ships)|MAS torpedo boat]]s. The naval mounting had an elevation of -10 to +90 degrees and it used the same sights as the land based version.

After the [[Winter War]] had begun, [[Finland]] bought a total of 88 Breda guns from Italy, last ones arriving during the [[Interim Peace]] in June 1940. Five of the Finnish Bredas were later lost in action during the [[Continuation War]]. In addition, the four Italian-built [[Jymy class motor torpedo boat]]s operated by the [[Finnish Navy]] each had one 20 mm Breda cannon on the rear deck.

In [[North Africa]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces captured a large number of Breda Model 35s during the [[Operation Compass]], enabling the Australian 2/3 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, parts of the 4th Anti-Aircraft Brigade (which had a total of 42 Bredas in its Light Anti-Aircraft batteries during the [[Siege of Tobruk]]) and one battery of 106 RHA, the [[Lancashire Hussars]] [[Yeomanry]] to be equipped with them. Captured Bredas were also used by the [[Long Range Desert Group]]. In addition, captured guns were employed aboard a number of [[Royal Australian Navy]] and [[Royal Navy]] vessels including [[HMAS Vendetta (D69)|HMAS ''Vendetta'']], [[HMAS Perth (D29)|HMAS ''Perth'']]<ref>[http://www.awm.gov.au/search/index.asp] [[Australian War Memorial]] photograph collection, ID Numbers P00219.015 and P01915.015.</ref> and [[HMS Ladybird (1916)|HMS ''Ladybird'']], and at least on one [[Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car|Marmon-Herrington Mk II]] armoured car <ref>[http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/qryPhotoImg.asp] [[Imperial War Museum]] photograph collection, Photo Number E 2872.</ref>.

The [[Finnish Defence Forces]] used the 20 ItK/35 Breda, as the gun was officially known in that service, as a training weapon for anti-aircraft crews for several decades after the end of World War II. In [[1985]] there were still 76 guns remaining in the inventory, but all of those were discarded later during that decade.

==References==
* Pitkänen, Mika & Simpanen, Timo. 20 mm Suomessa - Aseet ja ampumatarvikkeet ennen vuotta 1945 <br> 20 mm in Finland - Weapons and Ammunition prior to 1945. Apali, 2007. ISBN 978 952 5026 59 7
* [[Jon Latimer|Latimer, Jon]]. Operation Compass 1940: Wavell's whirlwind offensive. Praeger, 2004. ISBN 0 275 98286 6
* [[Jon Latimer|Latimer, Jon]]. Tobruk 1941: Rommel's opening move. Praeger, 2004. ISBN 0 275 98287 4
[[Image:Australian Breda Model 35.jpg|thumb|right|Gunner R.K. Bryant of 8th Battery, Australian 2/3 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, with a Breda Model 35 gun at Derna, Libya, in March 1941. The predictor sight and a 12 round ammunition strip can be seen in this image.]]
* http://www.italie1935-45.com/RE/photoscopes/photoscopebreda20-65.html
* {{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II|author=Chris Bishop}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Anti-aircraft guns]]
[[Category:World War II anti-aircraft guns]]
[[Category:20 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Italian World War II guns]]

{{firearms-stub}}

[[Category:2Fix]]