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Breda 38
Photo: Amendola90 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Breda38

General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · Italy · 1938
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Breda38

Breda 38
Breda 38 Photo: Amendola90 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Sustained Firepower
60
Effective Range
55
Penetration
50
Reliability
75
Accuracy
65
Barrel Endurance
70
Mount Versatility
60
Controllability
70
Portability
55
Cost-Effectiveness
80
Origin Italy
ManufacturerBreda
CategoryGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)
EraInterwar Period
In service1938–1943
Operators2 countries
Data Quality88%
63
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) MASS Rating
6/23
Interwar Period
72/131
All-Time
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · 10 axes scored
Sustained Firepower
60
Effective Range
55
Penetration
50
Reliability
75
Accuracy
65
Barrel Endurance
70
Mount Versatility
60
Controllability
70
Portability
55
Cost-Effectiveness
80
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category.
01 / Overview
Breda 38
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1938–1943
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) · INTERWAR PERIOD
6
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
75
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
63
general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
  • Service Entry Year1938
  • DesignerBreda Meccanica Bresciana
  • Weight (Empty)16.3 kg
  • Currently In ServiceYes
  • Notable UsersItaly; Portugal
◈Cartridge & Calibre6MOD.6
▣Operation7MOD.7
◇Ballistics2MOD.2
  • Muzzle Velocity770 m/s
  • Effective Range (point)300 m
◆Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
▤Construction4MOD.4
▲Production & Cost2MOD.2
  • Production Start1938
  • Production End1943
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1938Production started
  2. 1939First deployment: World War II
  3. 1943Production ended
88
years in service
5
years in production
2
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Operators
Operator Countries2country
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a separate container (magazine) that can be removed and replaced, enabling rapid reloading.
Firearm action type where expanding gas from a fired cartridge cycles the mechanism, typically via a piston or direct impingement.
Uses high-pressure gas to cycle the action, rather than recoil energy.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) entry →