FNAB Model 1943

History of FNAB Model 1943

The FNAB Model 1943 achieved only modest production numbers during World War II (1939-1945) and was added to the Italian inventory of variable submachine guns (SMGs) used in the conflict. The operation opted for a delayed recoil system, while the chamber was chambered in a 9x19mm Parabellum, fed by a 20- or 40-round detachable magazine.

From 1944 to 1945, the Fabbrica Nazionale d'Armi di Brescia (FNAB) in Italy produced some 7,000 examples that ended up in the hands of operators of the Italian Social Republic, the Italian Resistance and Nazi Germany.

Brescia opted for a rather expensive route of milling and machining, which is interesting considering the wartime situation in Italy in 1943. The Parabellum cartridge is simple as it is a common pistol cartridge and has proven itself for submachine guns. The deep magazine provides the operator with a lot of ammo, especially when using 40 rounds. The rate of fire reached 400 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 1,250 feet per second.

Aiming is carried out through front and rear iron assemblies.

The shoulder rest is wired and does not add weight to the weapon, and it is also hinged to the receiver's stock to allow the weapon to be folded down when not in use - significantly reducing the weapon's weight while on the move or in transit contour. As usual, the pistol stock is placed under the receiver, and the magazine feed is well before the trigger group. The magazine is straight and slender and acts as the front grip when firing.

Additionally, the magazine well is hinged to allow the magazine to be folded forward and transported/married under the barrel - which in turn reduces the chance of the gun getting caught on the way by brushes or clothing (this design feature also appears in the French MAT-49 SMG, detailed elsewhere on this page).

Internally, the weapon relies on a two-piece bolt mechanism as part of the lever-delayed recoil action - a rather interesting and complex engineering choice for a submachine gun design. However, this resulted in a lower and more controlled rate of fire (400 rpm) to improve accuracy and delay muzzle rise.

A muzzle brake/compensation device was installed on the business end of the gun for further support and was added as an extension to the re-pierced barrel jacket.

The famous design work for the

submachine gun took place in 1942, resulting in a prototype for review. Serial production did not begin until 1944, and the gun remained in usable circulation until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, after which they seem to have fallen out of use very quickly - in fact, there were plenty of better and cheaper submachine guns WWII Firearms sold in the aftermarket.

Specification

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