After the end of the First World War, French experts carefully studied the captured German weapons and came to the conclusion that it was necessary to develop their own submachine gun. In the early twenties, the first French project of this class was created, and in the middle of the decade, new weapons could enter service. However, it was abandoned in favor of systems not yet developed. Subsequent work continued until the second half of the thirties and led to the appearance of the MAS-38 product.
In 1926, the French industry produced the first serial STA / MAS 1924 M1 submachine guns, which were soon to enter service. However, at this time, the military revised their requirements for new weapons, and therefore abandoned existing projects. For a number of reasons, the army decided to transfer submachine guns to cartridges with a 7, 65-mm bullet. Existing products chambered for 9x19 mm "Parabellum", thus, had no real prospects.
MAS-38 submachine gun as a museum piece. Photo Wikimedia Commons
Leading French arms organizations, including the Section Technique de l'Armée (STA) and the Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS), have begun developing new weapons that meet the updated customer requirements. The enterprise from Saint-Etienne achieved the greatest success in this matter, however, in his case, things were worse than the army would have liked. For a long time, the designers were unable to create a project that fully meets the requirements. Various modifications and improvements to the existing prototypes continued until the mid-thirties.
Only in 1935 was presented an experimental sample of the MAS-35, which almost completely corresponded to the technical specifications. This product was another version of the modernization of the older STA 1924 submachine guns, but it had the most noticeable differences. Like its predecessors, the 1935 model did not fully suit the customer, and the development of the project was continued. Its further development soon led to the desired results. The modified MAS-35 could be put into service.
Design work, testing and fine-tuning of prototypes of the MAS-35 type continued for several years. The order to adopt such weapons into service with the French army appeared only in 1938. In accordance with it, the serial submachine gun was given the official designation MAS-38 - "Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne, 1938".
Weapon scheme. Drawing by Wikimedia Commons
The MAS-38 project proposed the design of a relatively simple submachine gun for the pistol cartridge 7, 65x20 mm Longue of French design. The weapon required a rate of fire of at least 600 rounds per minute with the ability to reliably defeat enemy manpower at distances of up to 150-200 m. In addition, due to certain ideas and solutions, the product could be small in size and weight. It is curious that the relatively small dimensions were retained even with a rigidly fixed butt.
The MAS-38 submachine gun did not differ in design complexity. Its main element was a relatively simple steel receiver. A barrel was attached to it in front, a butt in the back. On the bottom of the box there was a magazine receiver and a pistol grip with controls. Due to the use of a specific version of automation, the longitudinal axes of the barrel and butt were located at an angle to each other. At the same time, the new product was distinguished by the comparative complexity of production: a significant part of the parts had to be manufactured by milling.
The weapon received a 222 mm barrel (29 calibers) with a rifled channel. The barrel had a conical outer surface, but it narrowed slightly. In the muzzle, a thickening was provided, on which the front sight was located. The breech containing the chamber was distinguished by its large transverse dimensions.
Trigger design. Drawing by Wikimedia Commons
The receiver of the new weapon was made of steel and consisted of two main parts. The upper one was large and complex in shape. Its lower section was made in the form of a rectangular unit, above which there was a protrusion of a similar shape. The upper influx, which served as a support for the sight, began near the barrel attachment point, and in the rear of the receiver rose noticeably above it. On the right side of the box there was a window for ejection of sleeves and a longitudinal groove of the bolt handle. The lower element of the box was a tray with a magazine receiver in the front and means for attaching parts of the firing mechanism in the rear.
The specialists of the MAS plant suggested using the original design of the automation based on a semi-free shutter. In order to reduce the required dimensions and mass of the shutter, it was decided to use specific means of its braking. The slide guides inside the receiver, which formed the side of its upper unit, were located at an angle to the axis of the barrel. Moving back under the influence of recoil, the shutter was forced to overcome the resistance of the friction force and lost some of its speed.
The bolt group of the submachine gun was notable for its simplicity and was actually borrowed from the previous product STA 1924. The bolt was made in the form of a cylindrical part of a certain mass, inside which there was a channel for a movable drummer and a reciprocating mainspring. Also, the shutter was equipped with means for extracting a spent cartridge case. The striker was a cylindrical part with a long striker needle at the front end. Such a firing pin was brought to the shutter mirror through the corresponding channel of the latter. The bolt group was controlled by a handle brought out to the right side of the weapon. The handle was made integral with a rectangular lid, with which the holes in the right wall of the box were closed. When firing, the cover and the handle were fixed in the rear position.
The interaction of the shutter and the trigger. Drawing by Wikimedia Commons
The problem of placing the reciprocating mainspring was solved by using the butt. A tubular casing was attached to the rear wall of the receiver, inside which this spring was to be placed. The casing itself was inside the butt. Thus, the entire internal volume of the receiver was given only to the bolt group, which made it possible to somewhat reduce the dimensions of the weapon assembly.
The trigger mechanism of the new submachine gun allowed firing only in bursts. All of its parts were located in the lower part of the receiver and were installed in the space from the magazine shaft to the rear of the pistol grip. USM consisted of several parts that ensured blocking of the shutter in the required positions. So, before the shot, the shutter was stopped in the rear position with the help of a sear. As a result of pressing the trigger, it displaced and allowed the shutter to go forward, firing a shot.
The fuse for the MAS-38 submachine gun had a very original design. Its main part was the rocker, installed behind the store. His back shoulder had a tooth similar to that located on the sear. To turn on the fuse, it was necessary to turn the trigger all the way forward. At the same time, its upper part, hidden inside the weapon, acted on the rear shoulder of the rocker arm, forcing it to lock the bolt in the forward position. Having returned the hook to its working position, it was possible to cock the weapon and shoot.
General view of MAS-38. Photo Modernfirearms.net
The submachine gun was supposed to use detachable box magazines with a capacity of 32 rounds. Ammunition 7, 65x20 mm Longue differed from the "Parabellum" in smaller dimensions, which led to the emergence of a more compact and lighter magazine. The MAS-38 box magazine was placed inside a low receiving shaft and was fixed in place with a latch. The latter was controlled by a button located on the left side of the receiver. In the absence of a store, the shaft was covered with a movable cover. After installing the store, such a cover was placed vertically along its front wall.
The MAS-38 product was equipped with an open sight. There was a small front sight on the muzzle of the barrel. The upper inflow of the receiver served as the basis for the sight. The details of the latter were located inside the recess of sufficient size and were partially recessed into the influx. The main part of the open sight was a reversible rear sight, which made it possible to fire at distances of 100 and 200 m.
The weapon received simple wooden fittings. On the vertical metal base of the pistol grip, two wooden pads were fixed, which ensured a comfortable grip of the weapon. A traditional trapezoidal buttstock was installed on the rear tube, which contained the spring. Its rear surface was equipped with a metal butt pad connected to an inner tube. On the left above the trigger guard there was a swivel ring for the belt. Its second end was fixed on the mortise swivel of the butt.
Receiver close-up: the bolt is retracted to the rearmost position, the magazine receiver is closed with a lid. Photo Forgottenweapons.com
The new submachine gun was distinguished by its small dimensions and reduced weight with generally acceptable technical characteristics. The total length of the product was 635 mm, of which 222 mm fell on the barrel. The specific design of the weapon excluded the possibility of folding the butt. Without cartridges, the MAS-38 weighed 2, 83 kg. The magazine with 32 rounds weighed about 750 g. The submachine gun showed a rate of fire of at least 600 rounds per minute. Bullet muzzle velocity - 350 m / s. The effective range of fire was seriously limited by a relatively weak cartridge and did not exceed 100-150 m.
Appearing as the MAS-35 and going through all the necessary modifications, the new weapon was adopted by the French army in 1938. The promising MAS-38 product went into series; the corresponding order was received by the Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne, which developed this project. The first batch of serial weapons was transferred to the army in early 1939. Soon, the customer received several more small batches.
The production of submachine guns continued until the middle of 1940, until the end of hostilities and defeat by Germany. During this time, the gunsmiths from Saint-Etienne managed to collect only 2,000 MAS-38 products. Further production of such weapons, for obvious reasons, was excluded. The invaders got acquainted with the trophies, but did not want to continue releasing them. The German troops were armed with their own submachine guns with the desired characteristics and qualities. However, the German army adopted the MAS-38 for service and limited use of this weapon under its own designation MP 722 (f).
Top view of the receiver. Photo Forgottenweapons.com
A significant number of submachine guns fired before the occupation fell into the hands of the Resistance fighters. This weapon was actively used in various operations and received acceptable results. With the help of such weapons, the French partisans destroyed a noticeable amount of enemy manpower. In addition, there were historically significant episodes in the MAS-38 “work biography”. Thus, the ousted Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was shot from a French submachine gun. Now the same sample of weapons is kept in one of the Albanian museums.
During the battles, the conclusions drawn during the tests were confirmed. The MAS-38 had both pros and cons. The most important positive feature of this weapon was its small size and weight, which simplified its operation. The relatively weak cartridge did not give much recoil, which had a positive effect on accuracy and accuracy. At the same time, there was a serious problem directly related to the ammunition. Cartridge 7, 65 Longue noticeably limited the effective range of fire, and the weapon in terms of basic combat qualities was inferior to other models of its time that used more powerful ammunition.
Shortly after the end of World War II, the French military industry resumed production of pre-war submachine guns. With the help of this weapon, it was planned to carry out the desired rearmament of the army in the shortest possible time. New mass production continued until the end of the decade, and during this time the MAS plant was able to transfer several tens of thousands of submachine guns to the army. As far as we know, post-war weapons did not have any significant differences from the products of the first series. All notable differences were solely in labeling.
Upper body and magazine feeder. Photo Forgottenweapons.com
Already in 1946, French submachine guns again had to fire at the enemy. In Southeast Asia, the Indochina War began, during which France tried to preserve its colonies. The French infantry most actively used MAS-38 submachine guns and some other weapons created even before World War II. During this conflict, a certain amount of weapons were transferred to friendly local militias. In addition, submachine guns became enemy trophies. As a result, the French MAS-38s were later able to take part in the Vietnam War.
In the mid-forties, MAS-38 submachine guns were considered as a temporary measure, allowing the army to re-equip as quickly as possible. This task was successfully solved, and in parallel there was the development of new types of small arms. A little later, new products went into series, and France was able to start a new rearmament. No longer needed MAS-38 were sent for storage or transferred to third countries. It should be noted that in some cases - as was the case in Vietnam - weapons were not always "transferred" to friendly parties on a mutually beneficial basis.
The first model designed to replace the aging MAS-38 was the MAT-49 submachine gun. It went into production in 1950, and by the end of the decade, its production had made it possible to abandon the weapon of the previous model. By the early sixties, the French army had stopped using the MAS-38. Nevertheless, the operation of such weapons continued in the armed forces of other states.
Walter Audisio's MAS-38 submachine gun at the National History Museum of Albania. Benito Mussolini was shot with this weapon. Photo Wikimedia Commons
By now, all operators have managed to abandon the MAS-38, as well as dispose of a significant amount of decommissioned weapons. However, a noticeable number of specimens of this type are still present in the expositions of museums and private collections. What is important, among the surviving submachine guns, there are also samples of pre-war production.
An interesting fact is that many submachine guns remain functional, but they will not be able to shoot. The original French-made 7, 65 Longue cartridges are mostly used up or scrapped. The remnants of such ammunition are not too large, are rare and could corrode, which, at a minimum, makes them difficult to use. In recent years, a number of foreign companies have established the production of cartridges of similar dimensions and characteristics, capable of replacing the original 7, 65 Longue. Nevertheless, as practice shows, not all such products are capable of justifying the hopes placed on them. "Erzats cartridges" often do not fully correspond to the configuration of the sample being replaced, and therefore MAS-38 cannot use them.
Like many other types of weapons and equipment created in France in the late thirties, the MAS-38 submachine gun faced a characteristic problem in the form of the German occupation. Due to a certain complexity of production before the surrender, it was possible to assemble only a small number of serial products, which did not allow the desired rearmament to be carried out. The situation changed radically only after the war, but by this time the existing project had become outdated and required replacement.
