Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda)

The Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) was a 37 mm (1.5 in) automatic anti-aircraft gun produced by the Breda company in Italy.

Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda)
A twin 37/54 Modello 1938.
TypeAnti-aircraft gun
Place of originItaly
Service history
Used byKingdom of Italy
Nazi Germany
WarsWorld War II
Production history
ManufacturerBreda
Produced1932–45
VariantsModello 32, Modello 38, Modello 39, Modello RM39
Specifications
Mass277 kg (611 lb) (Modello 38 without mounting)
Length3.28 m (10 ft 9 in)
Barrel length1.998 m (6 ft 7 in) (L/54)
ShellFixed QF 37 x 232mm SR[1]
Shell weight1.25–1.63 kg (2 lb 12 oz – 3 lb 9 oz) (High-explosive shell)
Caliber37 mm (1.5 in)
ActionGas operated
Elevation−10° to +90° (single mounts); −10° to +80° (twin mounts)
Traverse360°
Rate of fire60-90-120 rpm
Muzzle velocity800 m/s (2,600 ft/s)
Effective firing range4,000 m (4,400 yd)
Maximum firing range7,800 m (8,500 yd)
Feed systemAutomatic
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It was used by both the Regia Marina and the Regio Esercito during World War II, with the former using it as the standard light anti-aircraft weapon on its battleships and cruisers. Nazi Germany used captured weapons after the surrender of Italy in 1943 as the 3.7 cm Breda (i).

Design

The Model 1932 was water-cooled while Models 1938 and 1939 were air-cooled. The gun was fed by a flat magazine holding six rounds which could be loaded one after another to maintain a high rate of fire. It was possible to select alternate rates of fire, either 60, 90 or 120 rpm. The twin mountings for Models 1932 and 1938 were very heavy and required a strong supporting structure. The single Model 1939 (fitted on the Andrea Doria-class and Littorio-class battleships), was instead a single collapsible mount, which also had much less vibrations than its predecessors thanks to the addition of an equilibrator. This meant it could also fitted on smaller warships.

Ship classes that carried the Breda 37/54 include:

The Breda 37/54 was also fitted in the CANSA FC.20bis ground attack aircraft prototype in its variant Model 39 37/45.

Performance

Although appreciated in the Regia Marina, overall this gun was of limited efficacy because of its gas-operated action (which reduced its rate of fire) and its substantial vibrations (due to their non-recoiling mounting) which impaired accuracy. Instead the single collapsible model, which largely eliminated the latter issue, was seen as a definite improvement, while still being rather heavy and with its production being insufficient to satisfy the needs.[2][3]

Comparison of anti-aircraft guns
Country Gun Model RPM Projectile Weight
 Italy Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) 60-120 0.82 kg (1.8 lb)[4]
 Nazi Germany 3.7 cm SK C/30 30 0.74 kg (1.6 lb)[5]
 France Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925 15-21 0.72 kg (1.6 lb)[6]
 United States 37 mm Gun M1 120 0.87 kg (1.9 lb)
 Nazi Germany 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 150 0.64 kg (1.4 lb)[7]
 Soviet Union 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) 80[8] 0.73 kg (1.6 lb)[9]
 United Kingdom QF 2-pounder naval gun 115 0.91 kg (2.0 lb)[10]
 Sweden Bofors 40 mm gun 120 0.9 kg (2.0 lb)[11]

References
  1. "31-37 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  2. "Italy 37 mm/54 (1.5") Models 1932, 1938 and 1939". NavWeaps. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  3. Bagnasco, p. 85
  4. DiGiulian, Tony. "Kingdom of Italy 37 mm/54 (1.5") Models 1932, 1938 and 1939 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  5. DiGiulian, Tony. "Germany 3.7 cm/83 SK C/30 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  6. DiGiulian, Tony. "France 37 mm/50 (1.46") Model 1925 and CAIL Model 1933 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  7. DiGiulian, Tony. "Germany 3.7 cm/57 (1.5") Flak M43 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  8. Foss, Christopher (1977). Jane's pocket book of towed artillery. New York: Collier. p. 27. ISBN 0020806000. OCLC 911907988.
  9. DiGiulian, Tony. "Russia / USSR 37 mm/67 (1.5") 70-K - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  10. DiGiulian, Tony. "United Kingdom / Britain 2-pdr QF Mark VIII - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  11. DiGiulian, Tony. "USA Bofors 40 mm/60 Model 1936 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.

Bibliography
  • Bagnasco, Erminio. Le armi delle navi italiane nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Parma, Albertelli, 1978 (2007 ed.) ISBN 88-87372-40-3
  • Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
  • Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945. New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3

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