Villar-Perosa aircraft submachine gun
Encyclopedia
The Villar-Perosa aircraft submachine gun was an Italian
double barreled light machine gun
designed by Bethel Abiel Revelli, a Major in the Italian Army
in 1914. The weapon fired pistol calibre 9 mm Glisenti ammunition, a reduced-power version of the famous 9 mm Para
, at the extremely high rate of fire of 3,000 rounds per minute, or 1,500 rounds per minute per barrel. It was arguably the first submachine gun
though it was highly impractical due to its design as a stationary machine gun.
A large number of the ground version of the weapon fell into the hands of German
and Austria
n forces following the Italian defeat at the Battle of Caporetto
. As many soldiers found the weapon impractical, the Beretta
firearm manufacturer cannibalized surviving examples to be converted into two single-barreled shoulder-fired weapons in 1918. Called the Beretta Model 1918
, these weapons would see occasional battlefield use and are believed to account for the dearth of complete Villar Perosas today. The Italians produced a version called the OVP, which was basically a Villar-Perosa split in two. There was no grip forward of the magazine, so soldiers had to make do with whatever they could find.
The weapon was fed from two curved magazines that could hold either 25 or 50 rounds each (the 50 round version was primarily used by aircraft). Each 'half' of the weapon operated with an independent trigger, so that they could be fired individually or simultaneously, as the user wished.
The weapon was relatively light with a loaded short barreled gun weighing just 14 pounds and 4 ounces (6.5 kg). However, it was virtually impossible to use in the advance because of the unique design of the triggers. Some soldiers experimented with mounting it on a harness carrier or to the handlebars of a bicycle (called Bersaglieri Ciclisti), but this was impractical.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
double barreled light machine gun
Light machine gun
A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
designed by Bethel Abiel Revelli, a Major in the Italian Army
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
in 1914. The weapon fired pistol calibre 9 mm Glisenti ammunition, a reduced-power version of the famous 9 mm Para
9 mm Luger Parabellum
The 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge was designed by Georg Luger and introduced in 1902 by the German weapons manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken for their Luger semi-automatic pistol...
, at the extremely high rate of fire of 3,000 rounds per minute, or 1,500 rounds per minute per barrel. It was arguably the first submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
though it was highly impractical due to its design as a stationary machine gun.
History
Revelli applied for patents for the design on 8 April 1914, and subsequently assigned the patents to the Villar-Perosa company. The weapon was used by the Italian airforce and army during the First World War. Reportedly it was more successful in the ground role, as the pistol calibre bullets did not have sufficient striking power for bringing down aircraft.A large number of the ground version of the weapon fell into the hands of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n forces following the Italian defeat at the Battle of Caporetto
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto , took place from 24 October to 19 November 1917, near the town of Kobarid , on the Austro-Italian front of World War I...
. As many soldiers found the weapon impractical, the Beretta
Beretta
Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta is an Italian firearms manufacturer. Their firearms are used worldwide for a variety of civilian, law enforcement, and military purposes. It is also known for manufacturing shooting clothes and accessories. Beretta is the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the...
firearm manufacturer cannibalized surviving examples to be converted into two single-barreled shoulder-fired weapons in 1918. Called the Beretta Model 1918
Beretta Model 1918
The Beretta Model 1918 was a submachine gun that entered service in 1918 with the Italian armed forces and came with an overhead inserted magazine. Another variant was the Model 1918/30 with the magazine inserted underneath and came with a bayonet...
, these weapons would see occasional battlefield use and are believed to account for the dearth of complete Villar Perosas today. The Italians produced a version called the OVP, which was basically a Villar-Perosa split in two. There was no grip forward of the magazine, so soldiers had to make do with whatever they could find.
Description
The weapon consisted of two identical barrels and breech blocks (essentially two separate weapons) linked by a connecting cross bar. It was a simple air-cooled blow-back design with the bolt and striker weighing only ten ounces (280 grams). The total recoil travel was only 1.75 inches (4.5 cm) which, combined with the light, 10-ounce bolt, resulted in an extremely high rate of fire.The weapon was fed from two curved magazines that could hold either 25 or 50 rounds each (the 50 round version was primarily used by aircraft). Each 'half' of the weapon operated with an independent trigger, so that they could be fired individually or simultaneously, as the user wished.
The weapon was relatively light with a loaded short barreled gun weighing just 14 pounds and 4 ounces (6.5 kg). However, it was virtually impossible to use in the advance because of the unique design of the triggers. Some soldiers experimented with mounting it on a harness carrier or to the handlebars of a bicycle (called Bersaglieri Ciclisti), but this was impractical.
