The Alfa M44 was a Spanish machine gun developed during World War II. At this time, stocks of machine guns ran low and no outside source was available. Non-combatant nations found that the belligerent nations were unable to supply as they were preoccupied with meeting their own wartime production needs. It complimented the ZB-26 light machine gun, and replaced the aging Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun. Originally chambered in 7.92×57mm Mauser, in 1955 an updated version chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO was introduced, and was subsequently issued to Spanish troops, sometimes referred to as the M55. Along with Spain, the M44 was also prominently used by Egypt, whose army had standardised on the 7.92×57mm Mauser round. Also in the early 1960s, the Congo government bought a batch of weapons from Spain, including Alfa machine guns, to combat the Simba.

ALFA M44 machine gun
TypeMedium machine gun
Place of originSpain
Service history
Used bySpain
Egypt
Democratic Republic of Congo
WarsIfni War[1]
Suez Crisis
Six-Day War
Simba rebellion
Production history
ManufacturerFabrica de Armas de Oviedo
Produced1944–1962
Specifications
Mass13 kg (28.66 lb)
Length1,450 mm (57.1 in)
Barrel length750 mm (29.5 in)

Cartridge7.62×51mm NATO
7.92×57mm Mauser
ActionGas-Operated; Automatic Fire Only
Rate of fire780 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity760 m/s (2,493 ft/s)
Feed systembelt
Sightsrear aperture, front notch[2]
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Algunas armas utilizadas en la guerra de Ifni 1957-1958" [Some weapons used in the Ifni War 1957-1958] (in Spanish). 14 August 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  2. ^ "ALFA 44 (Ametralladora ALFA Modelo 44) Medium Machine Gun". 9 May 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
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