Breda 20/65 mod.35
The Breda 20/65 mod.35 ("Breda 20 mm L/65 model 1935"), also simply known as 20 mm Breda or Breda Model 35, among other variations, was an Italian 20 mm (0.787 in) anti-aircraft gun produced by the Società Italiana Ernesto Breda of Brescia company during the 1930s and early 1940s which saw heavy usage during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, among other period conflicts. It was designed in 1932 and adopted by the Italian armed forces in 1935, becoming one of two major 20 mm caliber anti-aircraft guns used by Italy during World War II, the other being the Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 20/70 (Scotti 20 mm), both firing the common Swiss 20x138mmB "Solothurn Long" cartridge.
| Breda 20/65 mod.35 Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/65 modello 35 | |
|---|---|
A 20/65 Breda anti-aircraft gun in Beijing. This example does not have the predictor sight mounted or the muzzle booster fitted on many other examples. | |
| Type | Light anti-aircraft gun Light anti-tank gun |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1935–ca 1985 |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Second Sino-Japanese War, Spanish Civil War, World War II, Ecuadorian–Peruvian War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1932 |
| Manufacturer | Breda Meccanica Bresciana |
| No. built | unknown, 1088 as of June 1940 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 330 kg (730 lb) |
| Length | 3.34 m (10 ft 11 in) |
| Barrel length | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Crew | 3–6 |
| Shell | 20×138mmB |
| Caliber | 20 mm (0.79 in) |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Elevation | -10 degrees to +80 |
| Traverse | 360 degrees |
| Rate of fire | 240 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 840 m/s (2,800 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) (against aerial targets) |
| Maximum firing range | 5.5 km (3.4 mi) |
| Feed system | 12 round strip |
| Sights | Telescopic predictor sight |
The Royal Italian Army formally designated the gun Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/65 (lit. "Cannon-Machinegun 20/65"), with the mount being designated modello 35 (model 1935), or mod.35 for short. Later, a mod.39 (1939) and a mod.40 (1940) system were introduced, featuring the same gun but in new mounts. The "20/65" part of the name refers to the caliber and barrel length of the gun (20 mm L/65).