The French MAT-49 submachine gun,By the late 1940’s, the French Army’s supply of submach
The French MAT-49 submachine gun,By the late 1940’s, the French Army’s supply of submachine guns included an oddball collection of aging French made MAS-38’s, American Thompsons, British Stens, and captured German MP-40’s. By 1948, with conflicts heating up within France’s disintegrating colonial empire, it was decided that the military needed a new indigenously produced submachine gun. Developed by French arms factory Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle (MAT), the new MAT-49 was a weapon that was simple yet effective on the battlefield. Utilizing a blowback operated open bolt, it had a firing rate of around 600 rounds per minute. It was chambered in 9mm Para, thus maintaining common caliber with other NATO countries and doing away with the unusual 7.65mm Longue. For desert use it used a 20 round magazine specially designed to tolerate harsh desert conditions. In standard format it used a 32 round magazine. The magazine well itself had a grip machined into it to use as a forward grip. Most interestingly, the magazine well could fold up making it more compact for storage, transport, or during paratrooper jumps. Most of the submachine gun is produced from machine stamped steel, thus making it a cheap and easy weapon to produce but durable and simple. The grip incorporates a grip safety, meaning the weapon can only be fired when the grip is held. The stock is produced with collapsible wire, when can be retracted when not in use. Produced of the MAT-49 began in 1949, and was immediately issued for use in France's numerous colonial wars as colonies made their bids for independence. It was used heavily during the Algerian War and the Indochina War. It was used especially heavily during the Indochina War (Vietnam) where it was ideal for use in the heavy jungles of Southeast Asia. After France’s defeat in the Indochina War, the Viet Minh captured a number of MAT-49’s. Many were converted to fire 7.62x25 Tokarev, a caliber which was commonly supplied by the Soviet Union and China. A number of domestic copies were also produced by North Vietnam and the Vietcong. Thus, the MAT-49 also became a common weapon used during the Vietnam War as well. France discontinued production of the MAT-49 in 1979 with the adoption of the FAMAS assault rifle. -- source link
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