MAT-49
Encyclopedia : M : MA : MAT : MAT-49
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| Pistolet-Mitrailleur de 9 mm modéle 1949 (MAT-49) | |
|---|---|
| Type | submachine gun |
| Nation(s) of origin | France |
| Era | Post War |
| History | |
| Date of design | 1949 |
| Production period | 1949 to 1979 |
| Service duration | 1949 to 1979 |
| Operators | France, Vietnam |
| War service | Franco Viet-minh war Algerian War of Independence |
| Variants | cal. 7.62 x 25 mm TT |
| Number built | ?? |
| Specifications | |
| Type | |
| Caliber | 9 |
| Ammunition | 9 mm Luger |
| Feed system | 20, 32 rounds |
| Firearm action>Action | blowback |
| Length | 460/720 mm |
| Gun barrel>Barrel length | 230 mm |
| Weight | 3,5 kg (without magazine) 4,17 kg (with 32 round magazine) |
| Rate of fire | 600 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Effective range | |
During the Indo-China and Algeria wars, the MAT-49 saw heavy use by French military and MP forces. During this time, the NVA produced a local copy that was chambered for a 7.62 mm round.
The MAT-49 fires a 9 x 19 mm Luger/Para round, using a 20 or 32 round magazine and is blowback-operated and box magazine-fed, with a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute on full auto. (Some MAT-49s manufactured for police forces had 2 triggers, allowing use of full-auto fire or single shots, but most were manufactured as full-auto only.) It featured a retractable wire stock, which when extended gave the weapon a length of 720 mm, and the magazine well and magazine could be folded foreward parallel to the barrel for more compact carrying and storage. Barrel length is 230 mm, with some police issues manufactured with extended barrels and non-retractable wooden stocks. Minus a magazine, it weighs about 3.5 kilograms, which makes it somewhat heavy for an SMG. The MAT-49 uses a grip safety which is located on the backside of the pistol grip. The rear sights are flip-up and "L"-shaped, and marked for a range of 50 and 100 meters.
See also
- List of submachine guns (List of other weapons of this class)
- Battlefield Vietnam (The weapon was featured in this computer game)
External links
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