×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

FNAB Model 1943


Submachine Gun (SMG)


Kingdom of Italy | 1943



"The Kingdom of Italy employed several submachine gun types during World War 2 - the FNAB-43 being one of them."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the FNAB Model 1943. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
400
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
1,250 ft/sec
381 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity
Physical
The physical qualities of the FNAB Model 1943. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
790 mm
31.10 in
O/A Length
198 mm
7.80 in
Barrel Length
8.60 lb
3.90 kg
Weight
Lever-Delayed Blowback; Selective-Fire
Action
9x19mm Parabellum
Caliber(s)
20- or 40-round detachable box magazine.
Feed
Iron Front and Rear
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the FNAB Model 1943 Submachine Gun (SMG) family line.
Model 1943 - Base Series Designation
FNAB-43 - Alternative Designation
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/02/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The FNAB Model 1943 achieved only modest production totals during World War 2 (1939-1945) and added to the variable stock of submachine gun (SMG) types used by the Italians in the conflict. A delayed blowback system of operation was selected for the action while chambering was in 9x19mm Parabellum feeding from a 20- or 40-round detachable box magazine. About 7,000 examples were produced by Fabbrica Nazionale d'Armi di Brescia (FNAB) of Italy from 1944 to 1945 and these found their way into the hands of operators from the Italian Social Republic, Italian Resistance forces and Nazi Germany before the end.

Brescia opted for a rather expensive milling and machining route which was interesting considering the wartime situation in Italy come 1943. The Parabellum cartridge was a no-brainer as it was a widely available pistol round and proven for submachine gun-type weapons. The deep magazines provided the operator with a considerable ammunition load, particularly when utilizing the 40-round count. Rate-of-fire reached 400 rounds-per-minute with muzzle velocity peaking at 1,250 feet per second. Sighting was through a front-and-rear iron arrangement.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.


The shoulder stock was wired which added little weight to the weapon and it was also hinged at the receiver butt to fold over the weapon when not needed - thus reducing the weapon's profile considerably when on-the-march or in transport. The pistol stock was set under the receiver in the usual way with the magazine feed situated well-ahead of the trigger group. Magazines were straight and slender and served as a foregrip when firing the gun. Additionally, the magazine well was hinged to allow the magazine to fold forward and under the barrel for transport/marching - again reducing the chance of snagging the weapon on brush or clothing when on-the-move (this design feature is also seen in the French MAT-49 SMG detailed elsewhere on this site).

Internally the weapon relied on a two-piece bolt mechanism as part of the lever-delayed blowback action - a rather interesting and complicated engineering choice for a submachine gun design. What this resulted in, however, was a lower - and more controlled - rate-of-fire (400rpm) so as to aid accuracy and retard muzzle climb. A muzzle brake/compensator unit was fitted to the business end of the gun for further support and added as an extension of the heavily perforated barrel jacket.

Notable design work on the submachine gun occurred in 1942 which resulted in a prototype for evaluations. Serial production did not occur until 1944 and the gun lasted in useful circulation until the end of the war in Europe in May of 1945 after which point they seem to have fallen out of use rather quickly - indeed there proved a glut of better, cheaper submachine guns to be had in the post-World War 2 market.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the FNAB Model 1943. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Fabbrica Nazionale d'Armi di Brescia - Italy
National flag of modern Germany National flag of Nazi Germany National flag of Italy National flag of the Kingdom of Italy

[ Kingdom of Italy (including resistance elements); Nazi Germany (specialist troops) ]
Going Further...
The FNAB Model 1943 Submachine Gun (SMG) appears in the following collections:
HOME
SMALL ARMS INDEX
SPECIAL FORCES
ARMS BY COUNTRY
ARMS MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE ARMS
ARMS BY CONFLICT
ARMS BY TYPE
ARMS BY DECADE
COLD WAR ARMS
WWII SMALL ARMS
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)