| Chauchat-Ribeyrolles 1918 submachine gun | |
|---|---|
 The Chauchat-Ribeyrolles 1918 submachine gun using a Mannlicher–Berthier clip | |
| Type | Submachine gun Personal defense weapon |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| Used by | France |
| Wars | World War I |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Ribeyrolles, Sutter and Chauchat (RSC) |
| Designed | 1918 |
| Manufacturer | Ribeyrolles, Sutter and Chauchat (RSC) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) |
| Length | 57.5 centimetres (22.6 in) |
| Barrel length | 34.0 centimetres (13.4 in) |
| Cartridge | 8mm Lebel (8×50mm R) |
| Caliber | 8mm |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Feed system | 8-round Mannlicher–Berthier clip (early models) 16-round box magazine (later models) |
The Chauchat-Ribeyrolles 1918 submachine gun is a French prototype automatic weapon.
In 1917, the French Army adopted the Mle. 1917 semi-automatic rifle made by Ribeyrolles, Sutter and Chauchat (RSC), who already developed the "Chauchat" Mle. 1915 LMG.
In 1918, they presented a "pistolet-mitrailleur" (submachine gun), meant to be used for close-range protection for the French tank crews. The weapon is based on the RSC Mle. 1917 semi-automatic rifle mechanism. The first trials used a Mannlicher–Berthier clip holding eight cartridges. The trials continued until 1919 with a weapon using the same magazine as the Chauchat. The results were satisfactory but the weapon was too powerful for the intended self-protection use. A mix of standard and tracer bullets was planned to be used to assist in aiming.