Hello bajtársak and fellow forumdwellers,
The Mas-40 was the result of two decades of trial, error, and French determination.
The French army had wanted a standard-issue semi-automatic rifle since the Great War, but the old 8mm Lebel cartridge just wasn’t up to the task. So they spent a decade developing the perfect round for a self-loading rifle; only to reinvent the 8mm Mauser as the Mle 1924 7.5x54mm. Naturally, this was absolutely necessary, because no self-respecting Frenchman would ever use barbaric German ammunition.
Another ten years went into experimenting with semi-automatic rifle designs, trials involved both domestic and foreign designs, each time incorporating the lessons learned into the future Mas-40. The new weapon´s adoption was far from rushed and it was (tragically) scheduled to the early 40´s.
First, the transitional Mas-36 bolt-action rifle was adopted, and it was built to serve alongside the Mas-40. The two rifles shared many components, making it easy to keep both in service indefinitely.
The Mas-40 never reached mass production. France fell before mass production could start.
Only a small batch of pre-production rifles was made for testing. Among them was a variant modified to accept a detachable 25-round magazine from the Châtellerault FM 24/29 light machine gun.
On a side note, the rifle can be equipped with a Mas-36 bayonet. Please do not forget to add that as well (it’s already in the game too, on the Mas-36).
In-game, it should clearly sit at BR 4, right alongside the battle-pass Mondragón M1908 with its 30-round magazine or the SVT-40 with the Bubnov drum.
Despite the German occupation, the rifle was never used by the Axis. Some say the Germans simply had no interest in a semi-auto chambered in a foreign caliber; others believe the rifles were daringly hidden away right under their noses.
Either way, if it appears in-game, it belongs with the Allied faction, because the only recorded users were the French resistance.
Finally, allow me to present the benefits of adding the Mas-40.
While the Mas-40 with 25 round magazine would be quite obviously more powerful than BR4 rifles in the Tech Tree, BR4 is a very underplayed BR, thus some more unique “OP” content would be a strong incentive to play it.
Furthermore the Mas-40 could be equipped with an APX M686 sniper scope and loaded by different sized magazines, giving the weapon a very high reusability potential, without spoiling the uniqueness of the Battle Pass variant of course.
Mas-40 with 5 round integral magazine on top and Mas-40 with Châtellerault FM 24/29 on the bottom.
Sources:
Proud Promise: French Semiautomatic Rifles: 1898–1979 by Jean Huon
the further possibilities mentioned
- Yes
- No
- Being available to Allies
- Being BR4
- Being Battle Pass
