Weapon Specifications

HAND GRENADE CLASS
BOMBA A MANO S.R.C.M. MODEL 35

The bomba a mano, or hand bomb, is the standard-issue grenade of the Italian army. Each grenade's stamped metal casing is painted red, resulting in the common name of "Red Devil". Allied troops have discovered that this grenade's explosive powder can be dumped out and the fuse replaced with a wick, making a nice little lantern for writing letters in the evening.

BOMBA A MANO BREDA MODEL 35 F

The Italians also produce a smoking version of the model 35. It can obscure infantry and vehicular activity or work as a decoy, diverting attention in the featureless expanses of the desert. The grenades themselves are very similar to their explosive counterparts, but each grenade's steel casing is painted yellow and perforated with large holes.

PISTOL CLASS
BERETTA MODEL 34

The standard sidearm of Italian Army officers is the Beretta Model 34, a simple, reliable, small pistol with good stopping power. Composed of only 39 parts, this semiautomatic handgun can consistently deliver up to 40 9mm rounds in one minute. It weighs less than two pounds, and its versatility ensures that it sees action at every Italian front.

RIFLE CLASS
CARCANO MODEL 91

The Italian Army's standard-issue rifle is the Carcano Model 91. The Carcano's basic design is getting old, as it was originally commissioned in 1892. Yet this is a trend-setting firearm, with a tiny caliber of just 7.35 mm, which will soon be normal for military rifles. It has a short barrel and a fixed aim of 500 meters. It feeds six rounds per clip through bolt action, but the rifle's design makes it very difficult to load and fire single shots.

SNIPER RIFLE CLASS
LEE ENFIELD NO.4 MK1 (T)

Legendary among snipers and the soldiers who fear them, the British No.4 Mk1 (T) is a remarkable weapon. Each one begins as a standard Enfield rifle that is handpicked for its extraordinary accuracy. It is then shipped to a quality gunsmith where the stock is replaced and a scope is fitted. These highly accurate rifles are durable and comfortable to shoot, making them a marksman's dream in combat. They fire a 7.62 mm high-velocity bullet from a 10-round magazine, and can be accurate up to a thousand meters.

SUBMACHINE GUN CLASS
MOSCHETTO AUTOMATICO BERETTA MODEL 38A

This unique Italian weapon is highly sought after by soldiers on both sides of the front. Even the Italians can't get their hands on them fast enough, as they were issued only to paratroopers until 1943. These lightweight weapons have two separate triggers, one for semi-automatic and one for automatic fire. They use the same 9 mm ammunition as the Beretta Model 34 pistol, firing up to 500 rounds per minute. They are revered prizes of war for the few Allied troops who manage to capture one.

HEAVY MACHINE GUN CLASS
VICKERS BERTHIER MK3B

Very similar in appearance and functionality to the Bren, the Vickers-Berthier was in direct competition with the Bren to become the British Army light machine gun in the early 1930s. It lost, and Vickers gave up manufacturing the weapon. The Indian Army took up production, however, using these guns throughout World War II. It weighs only 22 pounds and can fire ten 7.7mm rounds in one second.

BAZOOKA CLASS
PIAT ANTI-TANK WEAPON

The British PIAT (projector infantry Anti-Tank) takes a unique approach to the problem of launching projectiles at heavy mechanised vehicles. Instead of guiding a self-propelled charge like a U.S. Bazooka, the PIAT actually launches the projectile using a highly compressed spring. Cocking the spring, which requires about 200 pounds of force, is notoriously difficult, and firing it requires heavy pressure from all four trigger fingers. Nevertheless the PIAT is a capable tank-killer that can launch high explosive charges up to 700 yards or more, although at that distance you don't stand much of a chance of hitting your target.