Mac 24/29

The MAC 24/29 is a Fusil-mitrailleur French dating from the beginning/middle of the XXe century.

History

The Fusil machine gunner Chauchat will leave place about 1924 with the very new FM MAC 1924 which draws the very new ball from 7,5mm 1924C. In 1929, MAC 1924 is adapted to the ammunition 7,5mm 1929C after some modifications (change of charger, of the gun) to become MAC 1924/29. This model will be called FM 24/29 by the French infantrymen. It is replaced gradually with the beginning of the year 1960 by the Automatic weapon Model 1952.

A prototype: MAC 1924

This model is from the prototype MAC 1923 of the Munitions factory of victorious Châtellerault several trial runs having opposed it to FM FARMHOUSE 1922, with the Hotchkiss Modèle 1922, the Lewis Mark I and Browning BAR M1918. The new model is manufactured as from 1925 and enters in service in 1926. It is alone arms it to have used the transitory cartridge 7,5mm 1924C

Description of FM 24/29

It has common characteristics with much FM of its time. It car either in blow by blow or in gusts (two relaxations) Its stick, pistol grip and barrel are out of wood. Its rectangular charger places himself on the top of the weapon, shifting rise and handlebar on the left, which is imperative for droitiers . He has moreover a bipod laterally before repiable and can receive a crutch under the stick. He could be gone up on a Side-car.

Only one alternative: FM 24/29D

FM 24/29D drew an alternative with heavy ball (Cartridge 7,5mm 1933D) from its original ammunition. It was intended for the Ligne Maginot or it was quickly replaced in this role by the Mitrailleuse Reibel.

Campaigns

This weapon was very appreciated by the men of the Army French who will employ it during the Second world war then the Guerre of Indo-China and the Guerre of Algeria. Withdrawn of the service about 1965, FM 24/29 become a collective armament of concerning the National police force (primarily the CRS) and the National police all the gendarmerie squads departmental (definitively withdrawn in 2006 the totality of the generation 7,5 FARMHOUSES) and reserves of the mobile platoon of gendarmes. The seized weapons in June 1940 by the occupying army were used until on the Russian face (Estonia) for the suppletive units of the German army partially equipped with weapons of catches Frenchwoman and others (in particular Russian) as regards the weapons “with semi or automatic shooting”.

But the majority of MAC 24/29 are given to old colonies Frenchwoman of Africa.

Numerical data

Ammunition: 7,5mm 1929C
Overall length: 1,08 m
Length of the gun: 0,5 m
Mass of the empty weapon: 9,1 kg
carried: 600 m
give rhythm shooting: 500 blows/minute
charger: 25 cartridges

The French-speaking personal site Armes françaises.free.fr proposes more precise information and photographs on FM 24/29 and its accessories.

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