MAS-44 and MAS-49

Already in 1940 the basic design for a French semi automatic weapon, building on the MAS 36 was available, but production of the weapon was canceled due to the German occupation. After the war this rifle was produced under the name of MAS 44 and only 6200 units of the gun were produced and given to the Marine Commandos who used them in Indochina.

An improved version of the gun was to be the MAS 49 witch had a mortar adapter and holder for sniper sights. The MAS 49 was neither produced in large numbers, only 20,600 units until 1956. It was used mainly in the colonial war in Algeria. Very few MAS 49s are to have been used in Indochina, and the ones that were put into use were during the late part of the war.

Caliber: 7,5x54mm

Magazine: 10 rounds.

Range: 800 meters