The mode-locking mechanism of a single-section multi-spatial-mode Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser is analyzed by the additive pulse mode-locking (APM) master equation model. Critical parameters of the equivalent saturable absorber as well as the self-phase modulation are estimated. The mode-locking operation regime in terms of pulse chirp and output power is predicted by the APM model and the prediction is shown to be in good agreement with the experimental results of a 40 GHz, 6.7 ps pulse width mode-locked operation at 1.56 microm.