MAT-49 submachine gun (France)

Pistolet-Mitrailleur de 9 mm modle 1949 (MAT-49)

MAT-49 on display

Type Place of origin

Submachine gun France

Service history
In service Used by Wars 1949-1979 See Users First Indochina War Suez Crisis Algerian War Vietnam War 2011 Libyan civil war[1]

Production history
Designed Produced Variants 1949 1949-1979 MAT-49/54 (police variant) 7.62x25mm Tokarev (VPA converted) silenced variant

Specifications
Weight 3.5 kg (without magazine) 4.17 kg (with 32 round magazine)

Length Barrel length

460 mm / 720 mm 230 mm

Cartridge

9x19mm Parabellum 7.62x25mm Tokarev (VPA converted)

Action Rate of fire

Blowback 600 rpm (9x19mm Parabellum) 900 rpm (7.62x25mm Tokarev)

Feed system

20, 32 rounds

The MAT-49 was a submachine gun developed by French arms factory Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle (MAT) for use by the French Army that was first produced in 1949.

Development
In 1949, after evaluating several prototypes (including a collapsible design from Hotchkiss), the French MAT factory began production of the MAT-49 9 mm submachine gun. The MAT-49 used a machine stamping process which allowed the economical production of large numbers of submachine guns, then urgently required by the French Government for use by Army, French Foreign Legion as well as airborne and colonial forces. Production continued at Tulle until the mid 1960s, then switched to the Manufacture d'Armes de St-Etienne plant (MAS), where the weapon was produced until 1979. In that same year, the French armed forces adopted the FAMAS 5.56 mm assault rifle, and the MAT49 was gradually phased out of service.

Usage
The MAT-49 saw widespread combat use during the First Indochina War and the Algerian War, as well as the 1956 Suez Crisis. The weapon found considerable favor with airborne and mechanized troops, who prized it for its firepower and compactness. After French forces left Indochina, the VPA and Viet Minh converted many captured MAT-49s to the Soviet 7.62 mm Tokarev pistol cartridge, then available in large quantities from the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. These converted versions could be distinguished by a longer barrel, a curved 35-round magazine and a higher rate of fire at 900 rpm.

Overview
The MAT-49 had a short, retractable wire stock, which when extended gave the weapon a length of 720 mm (28.3 inches), and the magazine well and magazine could be folded forward parallel to the barrel for parachute jump or with a 45 angle hence allowing a safe carry until the magazine well is brought back to vertical position before opening fire. Barrel length is 230 mm (9 inches), with some police-issue weapons manufactured with extended barrels and non-retractable wooden stocks. As

issued, the MAT-49 fires a 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, using a single-column 20-round magazine for desert use or 32-round similar to the Sten magazine. The MAT-49 is blowback-operated and box magazine-fed, with a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute on full auto. The MAT 49/54, a modified MAT-49s manufactured for police forces, had two triggers, allowing use of full-auto fire or single shots, but most were manufactured as full-auto only. Minus magazine, the MAT-49 weighs about 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds), which makes it somewhat heavy for a submachine gun. The weapon incorporates a grip safety which is located on the backside of the pistol grip. The rear sights are flip-up and "L"-shaped, and marked for a range of 50 and 100 meters. Production ceased after the introduction of the FAMAS assault rifle in 1979.

Variants

MAS-48 - prototype variant. MAT-49 - main variant. MAT-49/54 - gendarme variant with extended barrel and fixed stock. MAT-49 silenced - variant fitted with a suppressor.

MAT-49: left and right views; view with stock retracted and magazine in safe position

Police MAT-49/54 model

Users

Algeria[2] Benin[2] Bolivia[2] Burkina Faso[2] Burundi[2] Central African Republic[2] Chad[2] Comoros[2] Congo-Brazzaville[2] Cote d'Ivoire[2] Djibouti[2] Equatorial Guinea[2] France: Adopted by the French army in 1949.[3] Also used by the National Gendarmerie.[3] Gabon[2]

Guinea[2] Laos[2] Lebanon[2] Madagascar[2] Mali[2] - Armed and Security Forces of Mali Mauritania[2] Morocco[2] Niger[2] Senegal[2] Seychelles[2] Togo[2] Tunisia[2] Vietnam: A copy chambered in 7.62x25mm Tokarev was locally produced.[3][4]

Non-state users

National Liberation Army (Libya)[5]

See also

List of submachine guns Gevarm D4 Hotchkiss Type Universal Sola submachine gun Vigneron submachine gun

References
1. ^ Chivers, C. J. (April 20, 2011). "Inferior Arms Hobble Rebels in Libya War". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/world/africa/21rebels.html?pagewanted=all. 2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5. 3. ^ a b c http://world.guns.ru/smg/fr/mat-49-e.html 4. ^ Unwin, Charles C.; Vanessa U., Mike R., eds. (2002). 20th Century Military Uniforms (2nd ed.). Kent: Grange Books. ISBN 1840132763. 5. ^ Ackerman, Spencer (April 21, 2011). "Libya's Rebels Fight with Ancient, Useless Weapons". Wired. http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/04/libyas-rebels-fight-with-ancient-useless-weapons/.

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: MAT-49 Modern Firearms MAT-49 with sound suppressor Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MAT-49&oldid=485689530"