The Beretta 92 is an Italian semi-automatic pistol designed by Beretta and entered production in its first version in 1976. It is an improvement of the 1951 model which had considerable commercial success because it was adopted by the American armies, among others. , Italian and French (in the form of the PAMAS G1).
It is produced under license in Egypt (Maadi Helwan 920), Brazil (Taurus PT-92, local version of the 92S) and South Africa (in the form of the Vektor Z-88 whose hammer is full).
This weapon is a pistol of very classic design, relatively bulky and heavy compared to more modern weapons of which the Glock 17 was the precursor, which does not pose any particular problem for military applications. The Beretta 92 is a weapon with a proven design that is characterized by its 15-round magazine in 9 mm Parabellum and great reliability. This last point is sometimes called into question, but it is difficult to separate things out given the very large number of weapons in circulation and the multitude of productions under license granted by Beretta.
Models
Models in the 92 range fire the 9mm Parabellum. Those of the 96 range are chambered in .40 S&W. As for the 98 and 99 variants reserved for the Italian civilian market, their caliber is the 7.65 mm Parabellum or the 9 mm IMI. The Centurion/Compact type pistols are shorter (197 mm, 20 mm less than the reference model). The 92/96/98 Brigadier use a reinforced breech.
Suffixes
The many variants of the Beretta 92 are designated using a suffix. The S-Series features a hammer decocking lever; this same lever is ambidextrous on the B series. The B series pistols are shorter (197 mm, 20 mm less than the reference model). The F-series trigger guard is modified to allow two-handed operation. The G series has no safety and only has a decocking mechanism. The D-series works only in double action; the DS variant is identical except for the absence of manual safety. The M suffix designates the stainless steel series with a smaller magazine1.
Variants under the name Beretta 96 and 98 use the same naming conventions.
The Beretta 92 in the United States
Since 1990, the Beretta 92FS officially equips most of the armed forces of the United States of America (under the name M9) after winning the competition of 1980 as well as that of 1984 and has since been produced by Beretta USA. The Joint Service Small Arms Program of 1979 had already recommended the Beretta 92S1 as the sidearm of the various branches of the American army but only the Air Force had adopted it. The 92FS was put into service in 1990 in the Army (army), the Navy (the navy) and part of the Marine Corps (which nevertheless still used the 1911A1 in an improved version, the MEU (SOC) Pistol) then the Air Force 92S were partially replaced by 92FS. This weapon, also delivered to the Lebanese army, was used during the Gulf War, the Afghanistan War and the Iraq War. The M9A1 standard (Beretta 92FS fitted with a Picatinny rail and some minor improvements) was adopted in 2006 to improve and eventually replace the previous M9s.
By the mid-1990s, the 92 and 96 models were in service with 1,600 police departments.
The Beretta 92G in France
100,000 G1 PAMAS produced by GIAT Industries for the National Gendarmerie, which adopted it in 1989, then the Air Force in 1992, the Army and the National Navy in 1992 and the CRS. 97,502 weapons in service in the armed forces and the gendarmerie in total in 20022. The national gendarmerie has reserved it since 2007 for training and certain reserve units, following its replacement by the Sig Pro 2022 in staffing3. The COS also uses G1 PAMAS, released by the gendarmerie, within the framework of the ISAF.
Taiwanese variants
The T-75 pistol has been manufactured (under license?) since 1986 by the Taiwan Arsenals in the modified form of the T-75K1 pistols (207 mm / 910 g) for the Taiwanese army and T-75K1 Commando (198 mm / 880 g ) for the Republic of China Marine Corps.
Other users in 2008
The Beretta 92 is in 2010 one of the most widely used pistols in the world, due to its adoption by different armies.
The T-75K1 pistol is Taiwan's standard sidearm.
The Armed Forces and/or police of the following countries use it (in its 92F/M9/96 versions) in 2008:
Brazil:40,000 M/975 pistols in service with the armed forces brazilian. This model (manufactured by a subsidiary based in Sao Paulo:Industrio et Commercio Beretta SA) gave birth to the Taurus PT-92
Algeria:used by the Algerian Police and the Special Intervention Group
Morocco
Mexico
Philippines
Taiwan- Manufactured under license since 1986 in modified form T-75K1 pistols for the Taiwanese army and police. The T-75K1 Commando is also produced for the Republic of China Marine Corps.
Turkey
Vatican:Security Services
Venezuela
The Beretta 92 and M9 in popular culture
Cinema
The Beretta 92/92S/92SB/SB-F are often used in Italian films and TV series like The Octopus, Gomorra, Commissioner Montalbano (and its prologue Montalbano, first investigations) or Romanzo Criminale (and its TV sequel Romanzo criminale) .
The Beretta 92F/M9, the most famous handgun in the world with its adoption by GIs, is also one of the most used in many American or European films. It is the weapon of Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) in Lethal Weapon and John Mc Lane (Bruce Willis) in Crystal Trap and their respective sagas (replaced by a SIG-Sauer P220R in Die Hard 4:Return to hell); by Robert Caulfield (Gene Hackman) in The Only Witness (Narrow Margin); of John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) in Demolition Man; Major Mitchell (Adam Baldwin) in Independence Day; of Axel West (Daniel Craig) in Lara Croft:Tomb Raider; of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in Death in the skin; but also by Léo Vrincks (Daniel Auteuil) in 36 Quai des Orfèvres; of the killer Léon (Jean Reno) in Léon; by (Jeremy Renner) in Minesweepers; and (Jason Statham) in the movie Killer Elite.
Presentation
Country Italy
Type Semi-automatic pistol
Ammunition 9 × 19mm Parabellum
Manufacturer Beretta
Period of use 1976 to present
Weights and dimensions
Mass (unloaded) 964 g
Mass (loaded) 1150 g approximately
Length(s) 21.7 cm
Barrel length 125mm
Technical characteristics
Mode of action double and single
Muzzle velocity depending on ammunition used
Capacity 15 shots + 1 in the chamber
Viewer risers and handlebars
Variants PAMAS G1/Taurus PT-92/Vektor Z-88