FNAB-43

FNAB-43
The FNAB-43 on display
Type	Submachine Gun
Place of origin	Italian Social Republic
Service history
In service	1943
Used by	Italian Social Republic Italian Resistance Nazi Germany France Algeria
Wars	World War II Algerian War Years of Lead
Production history
Designer	Francesco Scalori
Designed	1942
Manufacturer	Fabbrica Nazionale d'Armi di Brescia
Produced	1943–1945
No. built	~7,000
Variants	Tipo 1 (standard), Tipo 2 (made for german troops with some german markings on the side)
Specifications
Mass	3.9 kg (8 lbs. 12 oz.)
Length	790 mm (31.15 in)
Barrel length	198 mm (7.80 in)
Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum
Caliber	9 mm
Action	Lever-delayed blowback, selective fire
Rate of fire	600-837 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	381 m/s (1250 ft/s)
Feed system	10, 20 or 40 round detachable box magazine from Beretta Model 38
Sights	Rear aperture, front triangle post

The FNAB-43 is an Italian designed and developed submachine gun manufactured from 1943 to 1945. The first prototype was built in 1942 and the ~1,000 built by the FNA-B according to Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons (Fabbrica Nazionale d'Armi di Brescia, "Brescia National Arms Factory", hence the name) were issued to German and Italian RSI (Repubblica Sociale Italiana) units fighting in Northern Italy. The FNAB-43 was an expensive weapon to manufacture as it used extensive milling and precision engineering in its manufacture.

External image
FNAB-43

The FNAB-43 uses a lever-delayed blowback system, firing from the closed bolt position. The bolt is a two-piece unit with a pivoted lever interposed between bolt head and body. Upon firing, the bolt head retracts, and begins to rotate the lever; the base of which is against a lug in the body. This lever is pivoted to delay the opening movement in order to allow the bullet to leave the barrel. The breech pressure then drops before the lever has completed its rotation. The movement of the lever then presses the free end against the bolt body and accelerates the bolt's movement to the rear. The base of the lever then pulls clear of the lug, and the whole bolt unit continues to recoil as one piece. Upon returning, the lever again engages the lug and pivots forward; in doing so, removing a coupling which allows the firing pin to move only when the bolt is fully forward (in battery). Despite claims of this allowing for a slow firing cyclic rate of 400 rounds per minute,^[1][2] when tested, provides a cyclic rate of 837 rounds per minute.^[3] This live firing example was provided with modern 9x19 parabellum ammunition, so it is most likely that the cyclic rate that was see in World War II is slightly lower.^[3]

The FNAB-43 also utilizes a muzzle brake and compensator built into the barrel shroud. The magazine well is hinged so that the magazine can lie beneath the barrel similarly to the French MAT-49. The single metal bar stock can be folded upwards, rendering the weapon more compact.

• Hogg, Ian (1978). The Encyclopedia of Infantry Weapons of World War II. London: Arms & Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-281-X.
• Hogg, Ian; Weeks, John S. (2000). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th edition. Iola, WI: Krause Publishing. ISBN 0-87341-824-7.

• Secundeguerre.net (French)
• Supreme Command (Italian)
• FNAB-43 at Security arms
• FNAB 43
• The Italian FNAB-43 submachine gun – LAI Publications

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