- Breda Model 35
Infobox Weapon
name=Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/65 modello 35
caption=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.
origin=
type=Light anti-aircraft gun
is_ranged=yes
is_artillery=yes
service=1935 - ca. 1985
used_by=
UK
wars=Spanish Civil War ,World War II
designer=
design_date=1932
manufacturer=Breda Meccanica Bresciana
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants=
spec_label=
weight=330 kg
length= 3.340 m
part_length=1.870 m
width=
height=
diameter=
crew=3 - 6
cartridge=20 x 138B cartridge
caliber=20 mm
barrels=1
action=Gas-operated reloading
rate=240 rounds per minute
velocity=840 m/s
range=1.5 km (against aerial targets)
max_range=5.5 km
feed=12 round strip
sights=Telescopic predictor sight
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=-10 degrees to +80
traverse=360 degreesThe 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 inItaly and used duringWorld 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 duringWorld War II , the other being the20 mm Scotti . Both of the weapons fired the20 x 138B cartridge .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.
The Model 35 was used also in vehicle mounting, initially in four Panzer Is converted during the
Spanish Civil War , by the Nationalists, in an effort to improve their fighting capability against theSoviet T-26s fielded by the Republican forces. Later the gun was fitted toFiat L6/40 light tanks and theAB 41 armoured cars and in addition, it was employed as a deck-mounted anti-aircraft weapon in at least in 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 theInterim Peace in June 1940. Five of the Finnish Bredas were later lost in action during theContinuation War . In addition, the four Italian-built Jymy class motor torpedo boats operated by theFinnish 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 theOperation 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 theSiege of Tobruk ) and one battery of 106 RHA, the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry to be equipped with them. In addition, captured guns were employed aboard a number ofRoyal Australian Navy andRoyal Navy vessels including HMAS "Vendetta", HMAS "Perth" [ [http://www.awm.gov.au/search/index.asp]Australian War Memorial photograph collection, ID Numbers P00219.015 and P01915.015.] and HMS "Ladybird", and at least on one Marmon-Herrington Mk II armoured car [ [http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/qryPhotoImg.asp]Imperial War Museum photograph collection, Photo Number E 2872.] .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. In1985 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
*
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