Breda Mod. 5C
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{{Merge to |Breda 30 |date=July 2025 |discuss=Talk:Breda Mod. 5C}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Breda Mod.5C
| image = Breda Mod5c.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = Breda Mod. 5 version C
| type = Medium Machine gun
| origin = Italy
| is_ranged = yes
| service =
| used_by = Royal Italian Army
| wars = Second Italo-Ethiopian War
World War II
| manufacturer = Breda Meccanica Bresciana
| number = 2,000
| variants = Breda Mod.5G
| mass = {{ubl
| Gun: {{cvt|9.22|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}}
| Tripod: {{cvt|28.6|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}}
}}
| length = {{cvt|940|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}
| part_length = {{cvt|450|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}
| cartridge = 6.5×52mm Carcano
| caliber = 6.5 mm
| action =
| rate = {{bulleted list
| Cyclic:
450-500 rounds/min
| Practice:
150-180 rounds/min
}}
| velocity =
| range = {{cvt|400|m|yd|abbr=on}}
| feed = 20-round non detachable magazine (fed with 20-round stripper clips)
}}
The Breda 5C was an Italian medium machine gun, which was adopted by the Royal Italian Army and used in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and in World War II.
History
Breda 5C, together with Fiat Mod. 26, was designed by the Italian Society Ernesto Breda Costruzioni Meccaniche to replace the machine gun SIA Mod. 1918. Despite the unsatisfactory results of both arms during the tests, however, they were adopted by the Royal Italian Army to address the critical shortage of automatic weapons. Assigned to the troops of Tripoli, a few dozen unit were used by meharists during World War II. It also armed the armored cars Fiat 611.{{Cite book|title=Armi della fanteria italiana nella seconda guerra mondiale|last=Pignato|first=Nicola|publisher=Ermanno Albertelli Editore|year=1979}}{{failed verification|date=July 2025}}
Description
The weapon displayed multiple features that would go on to be used in the Breda Mod. 30. The weapon sported a quick-change barrel which separated from the carrier sleeve with a half-turn. Operation was via recoil, firing from a closed bolt. The weapon was fed by a side-mounted, non-detachable twenty-round box magazine, which was opened on a hinge, filled via a twenty-round charger, then closed, in a similar manner to the Modello 30. The 5C also sported range-adjustable ironsights and a heavy tripod that doubled as a transportation saddle for the weapon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/75547331/Mitragliatrice-Breda-Mod-5C-5G-1930|title=Official Manual of the weapon|website=scribd.com}}
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Other versions
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= Breda 5G =
This version is essentially the same weapon, with the same operation, but adapted to light machine gun size. The knobs are replaced by a stock with a lower removable tip and a wooden grips and a trigger. The tripod is eliminated and replaced by a bipod attached to the barrel holder sleeve.
Bibliography
- Mitragliatrice Breda Mod 5C e 5G, Società Ernesto Breda Costruzioni Meccaniche, 1930.
- Nicola Pignato, Armi della fanteria italiana nella seconda guerra mondiale, Ermanno Albertelli Editore, 1979.