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Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: The_Bone on 25 October 2023, 08:50:59 PM

Title: Unknown Weapon in British use
Post by: The_Bone on 25 October 2023, 08:50:59 PM

Hope this is the right place for this.
While browsing I noticed something in a photo of a rifle section on a Valentine.
The weapon being carried by the soldier is not immediately recognisable as an issue small arm. Can clearly see a Bren and a LE No.3  rifle. It looks like a shotgun of some sort. Although the butt stock also looks familiar.

Has anyone got any idea or further information regarding this?

(Photo used is in Public Domain)

Title: Re: Unknown Weapon in British use
Post by: The_Bone on 25 October 2023, 08:52:32 PM

Just figured it out. It's an Italian SMG. Doh!

Title: Re: Unknown Weapon in British use
Post by: Freddy on 25 October 2023, 08:54:41 PM

Beretta M38, without magazine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_Model_38

...oh, you were quicker. Interesting though, rare to see captuired Axis armament in western allies use.

Title: Re: Unknown Weapon in British use
Post by: The_Bone on 25 October 2023, 09:01:35 PM

Yeah, I've been away from WW2 stuff for a while, was browsing to help get me back into it, but just couldn't think properly for a while! Then it kicked back in and realised what it was.

There aren't many photos of Axis weapons in use by Allies, but quite a lot of anecdotal evidence. It gives additional modelling options. I'm planning on doing some Market Garden Paras with a few M1 Carbines and Patchett machine carbines (Sterling SMG). Not axis weapons,.but they were both used by Paras.

Title: Re: Unknown Weapon in British use
Post by: carlos marighela on 26 October 2023, 01:47:53 AM

Canny lad, he's picked up one of the few Italian infantry weapons of the war that worked well. Well enough to soldier on for another 40 odd years anyway.

It's contentious as to whether the Patchett actually saw much active service during the war. If you want exotic, albeit rather useless, weapons then 1st Airborne was kitted out with No 5 Mk1 rifles, the so called Jungle Carbine, for the occupation of Norway in 1945. I doubt anyone is enthused at modelling the paras or sourcing/converting enough carbines for that Op though.

Title: Re: Unknown Weapon in British use
Post by: Daeothar on 01 November 2023, 10:47:17 AM

Quote from: Freddy on 25 October 2023, 08:54:41 PM

Beretta M38, without magazine.

Might be me, but I think the mag is present; the darker, downward rectangle right behind the left hand...

Title: Re: Unknown Weapon in British use
Post by: dickiegranthum on 17 December 2023, 05:17:17 AM

Quote from: Daeothar on 01 November 2023, 10:47:17 AM

Might be me, but I think the mag is present; the darker, downward rectangle right behind the left hand...

It is indeed present. I have photos of the weapon with a ridiculously small magazine as seen in the photo, from the weapons vault of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) here in Calgary. I photographed and inventoried the entire collection, and there was ONE of these in the collection.

Title: Re: Unknown Weapon in British use
Post by: Kikuchiyo on 17 December 2023, 05:33:05 PM

Weird  I thought the shadow suggested a full size standard magazine