Mitraillette MAS Modèle 42 (aka MAS42)
Operation: Simple (straight) Blowback
Calibre: 7.65mm French Longue
Muzzle Velocity: 425 mps
Capacity: 36 round box magazine
Weight: 3.45kg
Overall Length: 85 cm
Effective Range: 175 meters
Development Notes
After the French Army declined to adopt the proposed MAS38 submachine gun in more than double-digit quantities,
Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne was instructed to return to the drawing board and design a new submachine gun capable of both reliable operation and inexpensive mass production. MAS acquired examples of other world submachine guns including the successful Atlantean Azeas Az31, the MAB 38, the German MP-36, and a number of Czech and Russian designs, including prototypes. For the MAS42, designers attempted to combine the best qualities into a single simple and reliable submachine gun, which was presented to and promptly accepted by the French Army in early 1941.