13.2mm HMGs

[FONT=&quot]Hi, I have come across four types of 13.2mm Heavy Machine Guns, all based on the Hotchkiss version I think, (not counting the ones mounted in AFVs), but all have slightly different data stats;

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[FONT=&quot]French; Hotchkiss 13.2mm mle 1930.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Calibre: 13.2mm [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Barrel length: 1.670mm [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Elevation: -10° to +90°[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Traverse: 360°[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Weight in action: 37.5 kg [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Shell weight: 0.52 g[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Magazine capacity: 30 rounds[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Muzzle velocity: 700 m/s[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Rate of fire: 450 rpm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range vertical: 1.250m [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range horizontal: 6.500m[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Romanian; 1.3cm M.1931.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Calibre: 13.2mm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Barrel length: 1.670mm [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Elevation: -10° to +90°[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Traverse: 360°[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Weight in action: 37.5 kg [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Shell weight: 51 g[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Magazine capacity: 30 rounds[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Muzzle velocity: 700 m/s[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Rate of fire: 300 rpm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range vertical: 2.500m [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range horizontal: 6.500m[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Greek; 13.2mm M.1930.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Calibre: 13.2mm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Length of Barrel; 1.650mm
Elevation: -10° to +90°
Traverse: 360°[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Weight in Action: 37.5 kg[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Shell Weight: AP 0.52[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]kg[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Magazine capacity; 15 x Round Strip[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Muzzle velocity: 800 m/s. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Rate of Fire: 450 r.p.m. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range vertical: 4.500m[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range Horizontal; 6.500m[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Japanese; 13.2mm Type 93.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Caliber: 13.2mm [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Barrel Length: 1.300m [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Elevation; -15[/FONT][FONT=&quot]° to 58°[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Traverse: 360°[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Weight in Action: 42 kg[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Shell Weight: ?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Magazine: 30 rounds [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Muzzle Velocity: 800 m/s [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Rate of Fire: 450 rpm [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range vertical: 4.500m[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range Horizontal; 6.500m[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Italian; Breda Modello 1931.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Caliber: 13.2mm [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Barrel Length: ?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Elevation; ?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Traverse: ?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Weight in Action: 47.5 kg[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Shell Weight: ?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Magazine: 20-30 rounds [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Muzzle Velocity: ?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Rate of Fire: 450 rpm [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range vertical: ?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Max range Horizontal; ?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]It’s fair to say that each nation used a different type of ammo and a different type of feed (strip, belt or magazine), but things like barrel length and elevation should be similar.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Can anyone help me find out if they all should be identical or not.

[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Yan. [/FONT]

 

According to the link below, the 13.2 Hotchkiss cartridge was used by the nations you mention and a number of others. No doubt, the different velocities, ranges and so on are just due to different bullet weights, powders and so on experimented with by different countries. I find it curious that all these nations would choose that over the .50 BMG which has superior ballistics across the board.

International Ammunition Association: International Ammunition Association {iaaforum.org} - View topic - 13.2 Hotchkiss Info needed

 

The French, Japanese, Italian and Belgian guns definetly used the same 13.2 x 99 Hotchkiss round, note that the Belgian gun was a Browning derivative as where most FN (Fabrique Nationale) weapons. For the Breda 1931 I have 790m/s a 51g bullet, 400 RPM (500 theoric) a 30 round magazine -10 to + 90 elevation (but mount dependent).

 

The Finns also used a 13.2mm MG, the L-35/36, they only produced around six, and after tests they went for the 20mm L-39.


Here is some data on the L-35/36;
Calibre; 13.2mm
Weight of round; 160g
Operation; gas-recoil
Weight; 70-75 kg
Feed; 15 round clips
Rate of fire; 500 rpm
VO; 1000 m/s
Max range; 5.400m
Penetration; 18mm @ 500m @ 60°

The Greek 13.2mm M.30 was strip fed I believe (30 rounds), I don’t know if they had single of twin mounts but they only received 32, they seemed to be issued to Army units as light AA defence, I don’t know if these were motorised or horse drawn, and I can’t find any stats for crew numbers.

Yan.