In 1934 the Manufacture d'Armes de Chatellerault (MAC) began the development of the MAC 1934 machine gun to replace the Darne 7.5 mm. It worked by gas operation and was fed from a 300 round drum magazine. In 1939, the belt fed MAC 1934 M39 was introduced. The ball type of ammunition was used. The MAC 1934 machine gun equipped French aircraft from 1935 until the later 1940's. The 7.5 mm was standard ordnance during WWI but proved to be too light for combat in WWII.
MAC 1934 specifications:
Calibre: 7.5 x 54 mm
Length: 1.03 m
Weight: 8.5 kg
Muzzle velocity: 830 m/s
Rate of fire: 1200-1500 rounds per minute
Range: 500 m (effective range around 200 m)
See also: