MAC 1934

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	Weapon: MAC 1934 Type: Aircraft Machine Gun Country of Origin: France Year Adopted: 1935 Overall Length (mm): 1030.0 Overall Length (in): 40.55 Weight (kg): 11.00 Weight (pounds): 24.25

The MAC 1934 was a French aircraft-mounted machine gun developed by Manufacture d'Armes de Chatellerault (MAC) in the early 1930s. It was an air-cooled, belt-fed weapon chambered in 7.5x54mm French and designed to replace the aging Darne and Lewis guns used on French military aircraft. The MAC 1934 was derived from the infantry MAC 1931 heavy machine gun and adapted for aerial use by reducing weight and modifying the feeding mechanism for aircraft mounting. It featured a high rate of fire, between 1,200 and 1,500 rounds per minute, making it suitable for the rapid engagement of fast-moving aerial targets.

Several variants of the MAC 1934 were produced, including wing-mounted (Type M39) and flexible turret-mounted (Type Mle 1934 Tourelle) configurations. It became the standard machine gun for most French military aircraft in the late 1930s, including fighters like the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 and bombers such as the Bloch MB.200 series. Production figures reached the tens of thousands by the outbreak of World War II, as France sought to modernize its air force. However, manufacturing delays and logistical complications limited widespread deployment prior to the German invasion in 1940.

In combat, the MAC 1934 was often considered underpowered by the time hostilities commenced, especially compared to the heavier machine guns and autocannons fielded by other nations. Nevertheless, it served throughout the Battle of France and in Vichy French forces afterward. Some MAC 1934s remained in use into the early postwar years, particularly in training roles or mounted on older aircraft. Though overshadowed by more powerful weapons, the MAC 1934 remains a notable example of interwar French aircraft armament development.

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