| Mitragliatrice Breda cal. 8 mod. 38 per carri armati | |
| Origin: | Italy |
| Type: | Tank machine gun |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Service: | 1938–1943 |
| Used By: | Italy Portugal |
| Wars: | World War II Portuguese Colonial War |
| Manufacturer: | Breda Meccanica Bresciana |
| Weight: | 16.3kg (35.9lb) |
| Length: | 897.5mm |
| Part Length: | 600mm |
| Cartridge: | 8×59mm RB Breda 7.92×57mm Mauser |
| Action: | Gas-operated |
| Rate: | 550 rds/min theoretical, 350 rds/min practical |
| Velocity: | 770m/s |
| Range: | 300m (1,000feet) |
| Feed: | 24-round vertical box magazine |
The Mitragliatrice Breda calibro 8 modello 38 per carri armati was an Italian tank-pattern machine gun used in the Second World War on the Fiat L6/40, the Fiat M11/39 and the Fiat M13/40. It was also adapted as infantry machine gun. The M38 is based upon the Breda M37. The Breda 38 received the German identification code Kampfwagen-Maschinengewehr 350(i).
The Italians have also adapted it for use as an infantry machine gun. For this purpose the gun is mounted on a machine-gun tripod...by means of an adapter, and is fitted with a temporary rear sight on the right of the body and a temporary front sight on the right of the barrel at the muzzle. These temporary open sights take the place of the optical sight used when the gun is tank-mounted.
The gun is air-cooled, gas-operated, and magazine-fed, and has a quick-change barrel. Its operational features are simple, and it is extremely easy to field-strip or disassemble completely. The barrel is sufficiently heavy (4,5 kg) to enable it to fire a large number of rounds in quick succession without overheating.