Difference between revisions of "Breda Model 35"

Latest revision as of 15:48, 2 July 2010

Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/65 modello 35
300px 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.
Type	Light anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin	22px Italy
Service history
In service	1935 - ca. 1985
Used by	22px Italy  Australia Template:CHN[1] 23x15px Finland[2] 23x15px Germany 23x15px Slovakia  United Kingdom
Wars	Spanish Civil War, World War II
Production history
Designed	1932
Manufacturer	Breda Meccanica Bresciana
Specifications
Weight	330 kg
Length	3.340 m
Barrel length	1.870 m
Crew	3 - 6
Shell	20 x 138B cartridge
Caliber	20 mm
Barrels	1
Action	Gas-operated reloading
Elevation	-10 degrees to +80
Traverse	360 degrees
Rate of fire	240 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	840 m/s
Effective range	1.5 km (against aerial targets)
Maximum range	5.5 km
Feed system	12 round strip
Sights	Telescopic predictor sight

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 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 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

In addition to use as an anti-aircraft gun, the Model 35 was mounted as the main armament in several vehicles. Initially in four Panzer Is converted during the Spanish Civil War, by the Nationalists, in an effort to improve their fighting capability against the Soviet T-26s fielded by the Republican forces. Later the gun was fitted to Fiat L6/40 light tanks and the AB 41 armoured cars. In addition, this gun was employed as a deck-mounted anti-aircraft weapon in at least some of the MAS torpedo boats. 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 boats operated by the Finnish Navy each had one 20 mm Breda cannon on the rear deck.

In North Africa, the 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, HMAS Perth^[3] and HMS Ladybird, and at least on one Marmon-Herrington Mk II armoured car ^[4].

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
  20 mm in Finland - Weapons and Ammunition prior to 1945. Apali, 2007. ISBN 978 952 5026 59 7
• Latimer, Jon. Operation Compass 1940: Wavell's whirlwind offensive. Praeger, 2004. ISBN 0 275 98286 6
• Latimer, Jon. Tobruk 1941: Rommel's opening move. Praeger, 2004. ISBN 0 275 98287 4

• http://www.italie1935-45.com/RE/photoscopes/photoscopebreda20-65.html
• Chris Bishop. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. 

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1. ↑ Some were captured during the war and pressed into service [1]
2. ↑ FINNISH ARMY 1918 - 1945: ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS PART 1
3. ↑ [2] Australian War Memorial photograph collection, ID Numbers P00219.015 and P01915.015.
4. ↑ [3] Imperial War Museum photograph collection, Photo Number E 2872.