Beretta Model 12
Beretta M12S displaying extended folding stock.
TypeSubmachine gun
Place of originItaly
Service history
In service1961–present[1]
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
DesignerBeretta
Designed1950–1959[1]
ManufacturerBeretta, Taurus, Defence Industries Corporation, MAS, PT Pindad
Produced1959–present[1]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
MassMetal stock:
  • 3.0 kg (6.61 lb) (M12)[1]
  • 3.2 kg (7.1 lb) (M12S)
  • 3.480 kg (7.67 lb) (M12S2)

Wood stock:

  • 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) (M12)
  • 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) (M12S)
LengthFixed stock: 660 mm (26.0 in)[1]
Folding stock:
  • 645 mm (25.4 in) stock extended
  • 418 mm (16.5 in) stock folded
Barrel length200 mm (7.9 in)[1]
Height180 mm (7.1 in)
Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum[1]
ActionBlowback[1]
Rate of fire550 rounds/min[1]
Muzzle velocity380 m/s (1,247 ft/s)[1]
Effective firing range100 to 200 m sight adjustments
Feed system20-, 32-, or 40-round detachable box magazine[1]
SightsTwo-position flip rear aperture, shrouded front post
285 mm (11.2 in) sight radius

The Beretta M12 (Model 12) is a 9×19mm Parabellum caliber submachine gun designed by Beretta. Production started in 1959, the first users were the Italian Carabinieri, Italian State Police and the Guardia di Finanza, though in limited numbers; it was only widely issued beginning in 1978, replacing the old Beretta MAB. In 1962 the Italian Army bought a limited number of Franchi LF-57 submachine guns, judged better than the M12 but never issued to the troops, and only in 1992 the M12S2 variant was introduced, in very limited numbers. The Italian Air Force, instead bought many M12S and M12S2 for the airport security units. However, the weapon had a higher initial success in the Arab countries and South America.

The weapon was first seen during the Tet Offensive in 1968 when the U.S. Marines guarding the U.S. embassy in Saigon repelled the assault by the Viet Cong using the Beretta M12. It is also used by various South American, African and Asian countries,[5] and made under licence in Brazil by Taurus, in Belgium by FN Herstal and in Indonesia by PT Pindad.

Development

In 1959, Beretta weapons designer Domenico Salza revisited an old project, the Armaguerra Cremona OG44 submachine gun, in order to make a new submachine gun to replace the old MAB model 1938. The Model 12 was the final production model, and was followed ten years later by the M12S with differences in the safety and other mechanics.

Design details

The Model 12 weighs 3.48 kilograms empty (about 3.820 kg loaded) and is 660 millimeters in length with stock extended (418 mm when retracted). Its short length is achieved by use of a barrel recessed into the bolt head, known as a telescoping bolt. This reduces length without reducing barrel length or bolt weight.[6] It fires from an open bolt and has a cyclic rate of fire of 550 rounds per minute.

The barrel and rifling are chromium-plated to prevent fouling. The bolt housing has grooves to allow bolt movement, even in extremely adverse conditions such as exposure to mud, dust, or sand.[7] The exterior surfaces of the firearm are finished with epoxy resin coating for protection against corrosion and damage.

The weapon has a selective-fire option allowing a choice of single shot or fully automatic fire.

The weapon has three safeties: a manual safety which blocks the trigger; an automatic safety on the rear grip which immobilizes the trigger and blocks the bolt in a closed position; and a safety on the cocking handle locking the bolt in case it does not retract sufficiently.

The weapon is provided with a front sight (adjustable for elevation and windage) and a rear sight with a two-position flip aperture (up to 100 m and up to 200 m).

The gun is equipped with a side folding stock, but is also seen rarely with a fixed stock.

20-, 32-, and 40-round box magazines were available for the original Model 12, which was chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge.

Variants

The first variant was introduced, in limited number, at the end of the '60s for the Italian Navy special forces and is easily recognizable from the longer barrel, about one inch, and the presence of a birdcage-type flash suppressor. It has been replaced by the Heckler & Koch MP5.

The Model 12 was redesigned as the Beretta Model 12S in 1978. The Model 12S uses a 32-round box magazine, and is chambered for the 9×19 mm NATO cartridge.

A novel feature is the grip safety, which locks the trigger and the bolt in the closed position, thus safeguarding against accidental firing if the grip is not held firmly or if the gun is dropped. The safety and fire-selector switch, which in the original Model 12 were two separate push-pin button (with the fire-selector being a button that activated single-fire or burst fire whether it was pushed on the right side or the left side) have been re-engineered in a modern lever-type selector with three positions (S for "Sicura" or Safety, 1 for Single-fire, R for "Raffica" or Burst fire). The fixed firing pin on the face of the bolt can strike the primer only when the cartridge is chambered fully, and this also avoids accidental firing, according to its designers.

The PM12S was also designed with easy field-stripping and reassembly in mind, which has been simplified and can be accomplished without tools. It can be equipped with a suppressor, but this requires a slight modification of the barrel by a competent gunsmith.

Minus the suppressor and other optional features, the Beretta PM12S is made up of 84 discrete components.

The current version of the Beretta Model 12, is called the PM12-S2. In the mid-1980s the Italian Carabinieri, after a misfire accident, asked for a modification, in the form of a further safety device, which allowed both to keep the bolt of the weapon in half-cocked position and acted as an interceptor preventing accidental fire should the bolt or the firing pin suddenly disengage. This modification was implemented as a standard factory feature, and the denomination of the submachine gun changed to PM12-S2; this is the only Model 12 variant currently manufactured by Beretta.

Users

Carabinieri officers of the Squadrone Eliportato Carabinieri (Carabinieri Helicopter Squadron) armed with M12s.
Beretta M12
Carabinieri armed with a M12, during an exercise.

Non state users

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.
  2. ↑ "Chico Dólar Narra A Guerrilha Do Araguaia".
  3. ↑ Katz, Sam; Russell, Lee E (1985). Armies in Lebanon 1982–84. Men-at-Arms 165. Osprey Publishing. p. 46. ISBN 9780850456028.
  4. ↑ Jenzen-Jones, N. R.; McCollum, Ian (April 2017). Small Arms Survey (ed.). Web Trafficking: Analysing the Online Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Libya (PDF). Working Paper No. 26. p. 91. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Gander, Jerry (2002). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002–2003. Jane's Information Group. pp. 214, 899–906. ISBN 0-7106-2434-4.
  6. ↑ Hogg, Ian; Weeks, John (2000). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 139. ISBN 0-87341-824-7.
  7. ↑ Long, Duncan (1986). Assault Pistols, Rifles, and Submachine Guns. Boulder, Colorado: Paladin Press. p. 17. ISBN 0-87364-353-4.
  8. 1 2 ".: Exército Brasileiro - Braço Forte, Mão Amiga". Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  9. 1 2 Diez, Octavio (2000). Armament and Technology: Handguns. Lema Publications, S.L. ISBN 84-8463-013-7.
  10. ↑ Molinié, William (20 July 2015). "Les policiers bientôt mieux armés face à la menace terroriste et au grand banditisme". 20 minutes (in French). Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Un repaso a las armas ligeras de Pindad" (in Spanish). ARMAS. Archived from the original on 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  12. ↑ Meyr, Eitan (January 6, 1999). "Special Weapons for Counter-terrorist Units". Jane's — Law Enforcement. Archived from the original on March 1, 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  13. ↑ The Carabinieri - Armament - Beretta M12 Archived April 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Italian Parliament, Session 46, report of the Minister of the Interior
  15. ↑ Ryder, Chris (2005). A special kind of courage: 321 EOD Squadron -- battling the bombers. Methuen. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-413-77223-7.
  16. ↑ Sinn Féin (1983), Iris, No. 7, Sinn Féin, retrieved 2022-11-11
  17. ↑ Djaló, Amadú Bailó (2010). Guineense, Comando, Português [Guinean, Commando, Portuguese] (in Portuguese). Lisboa: Associação de Comandos. p. 139. ISBN 978-989-95601-1-6.
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