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A submachine gun (SMG) is a magazine-fed, automatic carbine designed to shoot handgun cartridges. The term 'submachine gun' was coined by John T. Thompson, the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun. The submachine gun was developed during World War I (1914–1918). Thompson 1927-A1 Long Guns; TIG Series; Thompson M1; Thompson Pistol; Thompson SBRs; Auto-Ordnance. 1911 Pistol; M1 Carbine; Custom Guns. Airborne WWII M1 Carbine; Case Hardened Thompson; Case Hardened 1911 “Fly Girls” 1911; The General 1911 “I Stand” 1911; The Ranger Thompson; The Soldier M1 Carbine; Squadron 1911; Tanker. .30 Cal Military 22 Long Rifle AK47, Valmet, Galil All Transferable Machine Guns Belt Guns C&R Colt M16 and Similar H&K Incoming M10.45 ACP M10 9mm M10, M11, Uzi, Sten, Sterling, and Smith & Wesson 76 M11.380 ACP M11 9mm Other Post-May Sales Sample Pre-May Sales Sample Smith & Wesson 76 Sten Sterling Thompson Uzi. David Spiwak is Central Pennsylvania’s top Class 3 Dealer, selling and buying everything from the UZI and Thompson Machine gun to antique guns and firearm accessories at prices lower than common market value. Machine Guns for Sale.

The Thompson Submachine Gun – From Chicago Streets to European Battlefields (#2 – Allied Small Arms WWII) The Thompson Submachine Gun was a weapon respected by Prohibition-era gangsters before being toted across Europe by American soldiers in WWII.

The Thompson submachine gun is an American submachine gun invented by John T. Thompson in 1918 which became infamous during the Prohibition era, being a signature weapon of various crime syndicates in the United States. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals.^[18] The Thompson submachine gun was also known informally as the 'Tommy Gun', 'Tôm Sông', 'Annihilator', 'Chicago Typewriter', 'Chicago Submachine', 'Chicago Piano', 'Chicago Style', 'Chicago Organ Grinder', 'Drum Gun','The Chopper', and simply 'The Thompson'.^{[19][20][21][22][23]}

The Thompson was favored by soldiers, criminals, police, FBI, and civilians alike for its large .45 ACP cartridge, accuracy, and high volume of fully automatic fire. It has since gained popularity among civilian collectors for its historical significance. It has considerable significance in popular culture, especially in works about the Prohibition era and World War II, and is among the best-known firearms in history. The original fully automatic Thompsons are no longer produced, but numerous semi-automatic civilian versions are still being manufactured by Auto-Ordnance. These retain a similar appearance to the original models, but they have various modifications in order to comply with US firearm laws.

• 1History and service
  • 1.3World War II
• 3Features
• 4Variants
  • 4.1Prototypes
  • 4.2Production
  • 4.3Service variants
  • 4.4Semi-automatic
  • 4.5Export variants
  • 4.6RPB Thompsons
• 5Civilian ownership
• 6Users
• 8References

History and service[edit]

Development[edit]

General John T. Thompson developed the Thompson Submachine Gun. He originally envisioned an 'auto rifle' (semi-automatic rifle) to replace the bolt action service rifles then in use, but he came across a patent issued to John Bell Blish in 1915 while searching for a way to allow his weapon to operate safely without the complexity of a recoil or Gas-operated reloading mechanism. Blish's design was based on the adhesion of inclined metal surfaces under pressure.^[24] Thompson gained financial backing from Thomas F. Ryan and started the Auto-Ordnance Company in 1916 for the purpose of developing his 'auto rifle'. It was primarily developed in Cleveland, Ohio,^[25] and the principal designers were Theodore H. Eickhoff, Oscar V. Payne, and George E. Goll. By late 1917, the limits of the Blish Principle were discovered; rather than working as a locked breech, it functioned as a friction-delayed blowback action. It was found that the only cartridge currently in service that was suitable for use with the lock was the .45 ACP round. Thompson then envisioned a 'one-man, hand-held machine gun' in .45 ACP as a 'trench broom' for use in the ongoing trench warfare of World War I. Payne designed the gun and its stick and drum magazines. The project was then titled 'Annihilator I', and most of the design issues had been resolved by 1918; however, the war ended two days before prototypes could be shipped to Europe.^[26]

At an Auto-Ordnance board meeting in 1919 to discuss the marketing of the 'Annihilator', with the war now over, the weapon was officially renamed the 'Thompson Submachine Gun'. While other weapons had been developed shortly prior with similar objectives in mind, the Thompson was the first weapon to be labeled and marketed as a 'submachine gun'.^[20] Thompson intended the weapon as an automatic 'trench-broom' to sweep enemy troops from the trenches, filling a role for which the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) had been proven ill-suited.^[27] This concept had already been developed by German troops using their own BergmannMP 18, the world's first submachine gun, in concert with Sturmtruppen tactics.^[28]

Early use[edit]

The Thompson first entered production as the M1921. It was available to civilians, although poor sales resulted from the expense of the weapon; the Thompson gun with one Type XX 20 shot 'stick' magazine was priced at $200 in 1921 (equivalent to $2,809 in 2018). M1921 Thompsons were sold in small quantities to the United States Postal Inspection Service^[29] to protect the mail from a spate of robberies^[30] and to the United States Marine Corps. Federal sales were followed by sales to several police departments in the US and minor international sales to various armies and constabulary forces, chiefly in Central and South America.^[30] The Marines used their Thompsons in the Banana Wars and in China. It was popular as a point-defense weapon for countering ambush by Nicaraguan guerrillas, and led to the organization of four-man fire teams with as much firepower as a nine-man rifle squad. The major complaints against the Thompson were its weight, inaccuracy at ranges over 50 yards (46 m), and the lack of penetrating power of the .45 ACP pistol cartridge.^[31]

Some of the first batches of Thompsons were bought in America by agents of the Irish Republic, notably Harry Boland. The first test of a Thompson in Ireland was performed by West Cork Brigade commander Tom Barry in presence of IRA leader Michael Collins.^[32] They purchased a total of 653, but US customs authorities in New York seized 495 of them in June 1921. The remainder made their way to the Irish Republican Army by way of Liverpool and were used in the last month of the Irish War of Independence (1919–21).^[33] After a truce with the British in July 1921, the IRA imported more Thompsons and used them in the subsequent Irish Civil War (1922–23). They were not found to be very effective in Ireland; the Thompson caused serious casualties in only 32-percent of the actions in which it was used.^[2]

The Thompson achieved most of its early notoriety in the hands of Prohibition and Great Depression-era gangsters, the lawmen who pursued them, and in Hollywood films about their exploits, most notably in the St Valentine's Day Massacre. The two Thompson guns used in the massacre are still held by the Berrien County Sheriff's Department.^[36] The Thompson has been referred to by one researcher as the 'gun that made the twenties roar'.^[37][38]

In 1926, the Cutts Compensator (a muzzle brake) was offered as an option for the M1921; Thompsons with the compensator were cataloged as No. 21AC at the original price of $200, with the plain M1921 designated No. 21A at a reduced price of $175.^[26] In 1928, Federal Laboratories took over the distribution of the weapon from Thompson's Auto Ordnance Corporation.^[39] The cost at this time was $225 per weapon (equivalent to $3,283 in 2018), with $5 per 50-round drum and $3 per 20-round magazine.^[39]

Nationalist China acquired a quantity for use against Japanese land forces, and eventually began producing copies of the Thompson in small quantities for use by its armies and militias. In the 1930s, Taiyuan Arsenal produced copies of the Thompson for Yan Xishan, the warlord of Shanxi province.

The FBI first acquired Thompsons in 1933 following the Kansas City Massacre.^[39]

World War II[edit]

In 1938, the Thompson submachine gun was adopted by the U.S. military, serving during World War II and beyond.

There were two military types of Thompson SMG.

• The M1928A1 had provisions for box and drum magazines. It had a Cutts compensator, cooling fins on the barrel, employed a delayed blowback action and its charging handle was on the top of the receiver.
• The M1 and M1A1 had a barrel without cooling fins, a simplified rear sight, provisions only for box magazines, employed a straight blowback action and the charging handle was on the side of the receiver.

Over 1.5 million military Thompson submachine guns were produced during World War II.^[40]

Magazine developments[edit]

Military users of the M1928A1 had complaints about the 'L' fifty-round drum magazine; the British Army officially criticised 'their excessive weight, the rattling sound they made' and shipped thousands back to the U.S. in exchange for box magazines. The Thompson had to be cocked, bolt retracted ready to fire, to attach the drum. It attached and detached by sliding sideways, which made magazine changes slow and also created difficulty in clearing a cartridge malfunction ('jam'). Reloading an empty drum with cartridges was an involved process.

In contrast, the 'XX' twenty-round box magazine was light and compact, it tended not to rattle, and could be inserted with the bolt safely closed. It was quickly attached and detached and was removed downward, making clearing jams easier. The box tripped the bolt open lock when empty, facilitating magazine changes. An empty box was easily reloaded with loose rounds. However, users complained it was limited in capacity. In the field, some soldiers taped two 'XX' magazines together in what would be known as 'jungle style' to speed magazine changes.^[41]

Two alternatives to the 'L' drum and 'XX' box magazines were tested December 6, 1941, at Fort Knox: an extended thirty-round box magazine and a forty-round magazine made by welding two 20-round magazines face to face, jungle style. Testers considered both superior to either the 'XX' box or 'L' drum. The 30-round box was approved as standard in December 1941 to replace the 'XX' and 'L' magazines.^[42] (The concept of welding two box magazines face-to-face was carried over with the UD 42 submachine gun.)

M1 development[edit]

The staff of Savage Arms looked for ways to simplify the M1928A1, producing a prototype in February 1942 which was tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground in March 1942; Army Ordnance approved adoption as the M1 in April 1942. M1s were made by Savage Arms and by Auto-Ordnance. M1s were issued with the 30-round box magazine and would accept the earlier 20-round box, but would not accept the drum magazine.^[43]

Combat use[edit]

The Thompson was used in World War II in the hands of Allied troops as a weapon for scouts, non-commissioned officers (corporal, sergeant, and higher), and patrol leaders, as well as commissioned officers, tank crewmen, and soldiers performing raids on German positions. In the European theater, the gun was widely utilized in British and Canadiancommando units, as well as in the U.S. Armyparatrooper and Rangerbattalions, where it was issued more frequently than in line infantry units because of its high rate of fire and its stopping power, which made it very effective in the kinds of close combat these special operations troops were expected to undertake. Military Police were fond of it, as were paratroopers, who 'borrowed' Thompsons from members of mortar squads for use on patrols behind enemy lines.^[44] The gun was prized by those lucky enough to get one and proved itself in the close street fighting that was encountered frequently during the invasion of France. A Swedish variant of the M1928A1, the Kulsprutepistol m/40 (submachine gun, model 40), served in the Swedish Army between 1940 and 1951. Through Lend-Lease, the Soviet Union also received the Thompson, but due to a shortage of appropriate ammunition, its use was not widespread.^[45]

In the Malayan Campaign, the Burma Campaign and the Pacific Theater, Lend-Lease issue Thompsons were used by the British Army, Indian Army, Australian Armyinfantry and other Commonwealth forces. They used the Thompson extensively in jungle patrols and ambushes, where it was prized for its firepower, though it was criticized for its hefty weight and poor reliability. Difficulties in supply eventually led to its replacement in Australian Army units in 1943 by other submachine guns such as the Owen and Austen. The Thompsons were then given to the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy. New Zealand commando forces initially used Thompsons but switched them for the more reliable, lighter, and more accurate Owen during the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal campaigns.^[46] The U.S. Marines also used the Thompson as a limited-issue weapon, especially during their later island assaults. The Thompson was soon found to have limited effect in heavy jungle cover, where the low-velocity .45 bullet would not penetrate most small-diameter trees or protective armor vests. (In 1923, the Army had rejected the .45 Remington–Thompson, which had twice the energy of the .45 ACP).^[47] In the U.S. Army, many Pacific War jungle patrols were originally equipped with Thompsons in the early phases of the New Guinea and Guadalcanal campaigns, but soon began employing the Browning Automatic Rifle in its place as a point defense weapon.^[48]

The Army introduced the U.S. M3 and M3A1 submachine guns in 1943 with plans to produce the latter in numbers sufficient to cancel future orders for the Thompson, while gradually withdrawing it from the first-line service. However, due to unforeseen production delays and requests for modifications, the M3/M3A1 never replaced the Thompson, and purchases continued until February 1944. At the end of World War II, the Thompson, with a total wartime production of over 1.5 million, outnumbered the M3/M3A1 submachine guns in service by nearly three to one.^[40]

After World War II[edit]

Thompson submachine guns were used by both sides during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.^[49] Following the war, Thompsons were issued to members of Israel’s elite Unit 101, upon the formation of that unit in 1953.^[50]

During the Greek Civil War, the Thompson submachine gun was used by both sides. The Hellenic Armed Forces, gendarmerie and police units were equipped with Thompson submachine guns supplied by the British and later in the war by the United States. The opposing Communist fighters of the Democratic Army of Greece were also using Thompson submachine guns, either captured from government forces or inherited from ELAS. ELAS was the strongest of the resistance forces during the period of Greek Resistance against the Germans and Italians and were supplied with arms from both the British and the United States. After the demobilization of ELAS, an unspecified number of arms were not surrendered to the government but kept hidden, and were later used by the Democratic Army of Greece.^[51]

The Thompson also found service with the KNIL during their attempt to retake their former colony of Indonesia. Captured examples were later used by Indonesian forces against Dutch forces.

By the time of the Korean War in 1950, the Thompson had seen much use by the U.S. and South Korean military, even though Thompson had been replaced as standard-issue by the M3/M3A1. With huge numbers of guns available in army ordnance arsenals, the Thompson remained classed as Limited Standard or Substitute Standard long after the standardization of the M3/M3A1. Many Thompsons were distributed to the US-backed Nationalist Chinese armed forces as military aid before the fall of Chiang Kai-shek's government to Mao Zedong's communist forces at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949 (Thompsons had already been widely used throughout China since the 1920s, at a time when several Chinese warlords and their military factions running various parts of the fragmented country made purchases of the weapon and then subsequently produced many local copies). During the Korean War, US troops were surprised to encounter communist Chinese troops armed with Thompsons (amongst other captured US-made Nationalist Chinese and American firearms), especially during unexpected night-time assaults which became a prominent Chinese combat tactic in the conflict. The gun's ability to deliver large quantities of short-range automatic assault fire proved very useful in both defense and assault during the early part of the war when it was constantly mobile and shifting back and forth. Many Chinese Thompsons were captured and placed into service with American soldiers and marines for the remaining period of the war.

The Yugoslav Army received 34,000 M1A1 Thompsons during the 1950s as part of a US Military Aid to Yugoslavia Agreement. These guns were used during the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s.^[11]

During the Cuban Revolution, the Thompson submachine gun was used by both Batista's army and Fidel Castro's guerrillas. Both the latter and the Brigade 2506 also used some during the bay of Pigs Invasion.^[52]

During the Vietnam War, some South Vietnamese army units and defense militia were armed with Thompson submachine guns, and a few of these weapons were used by reconnaissance units, advisors, and other American troops. It was later replaced by the M16. Not only did some U.S. soldiers have use of them in Vietnam, but they encountered them as well. The Viet Cong liked the weapon and used both captured models as well as manufacturing their own copies in small jungle workshops.^[53]

The Australian government destroyed most of their Thompson machine carbines in the 1960s. They shipped their remaining stocks to arm the forces of Lon Nol's Khmer Republic in 1975. They were then captured and used by the Khmer Rouge.

In the conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles (1969–1998), the Thompson was again used by the Irish Republican paramilitaries. According to historian Peter Hart, 'The Thompson remained a key part of both the Official IRA and Provisional IRA arsenals until well into the 1970s when it was superseded by the Armalite and the AK-47.'^[10]

The Thompson was also used by U.S. and overseas law enforcement and police forces, most prominently by the FBI. The FBI used Thompsons until they were declared obsolete and ordered destroyed in the early 1970s.^[54]

Collector interest[edit]

Because of their quality and craftsmanship, as well as their gangster-era and WWII connections, Thompsons are sought as collector's items. There were fewer than 40 pre-production prototypes. The Colt Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut was contracted by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation to manufacture the initial mass production of 15,000 Thompson Submachine Guns in 1920. An original Colt Model 1921 A or AC, Model 1927 A or AC, Model 1928 Navy A or AC, properly registered in working condition with original components can easily fetch from US$25,000 to $45,000+ depending on condition and accessories. For WWII, approximately 1,700,000 Thompson Submachine Guns were produced by Auto-Ordnance and Savage Arms, with 1,387,134 being the simplified World War II M1 and M1A1 variants (without the Blish lock and oiling system^[55]).

A Model 1921A believed to have been owned by Bonnie and Clyde, but without historical documentation to substantiate this provenance, sold at auction on January 21, 2012, in Kansas City for $130,000.^[56]

Features[edit]

Operating characteristics[edit]

Early versions of the Thompson, the Model 1919, had a fairly high cyclic rate of fire, as high as 1,200 rounds per minute (rpm), with most Model 1921s at 800 rpm. In 1927, the U.S. Navy ordered 500 Thompsons but requested a lower rate of fire. Thompson requested Payne develop a method of reducing the cyclic rate of fire. Payne replaced the actuator with a heavier one and the recoil spring with a stiffer one; the changes reduced the rate of fire from 800 to the 600 rpm of the U.S. Navy Model 1928. Later M1 and M1A1 Thompsons averaged also 600 rpm.^[57] This rate of fire, combined with a rather heavy trigger pull and a stock with an excessive drop, increases the tendency for the barrel to climb off target in automatic fire.^[57][58] Compared to more modern submachine guns, the .45 Thompson is quite heavy, weighing roughly the same as the contemporary M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle, and requires a lot of cleaning. This was one of the major complaints about the weapon by U.S. Army personnel to whom it was issued.^[31]

Although the drum magazine provided significant firepower, in military service it was found to be overly heavy and bulky, especially when slung on the shoulder while marching.^[58] The M1928A1 Thompson drum magazine was rather fragile, and cartridges tended to rattle inside it, producing unwanted noise.^{[citation needed]} For these reasons, the 20-round and later 30-round box magazines soon proved most popular with military users of the M1928A1, and drum compatibility was not included in the design of the wartime M1 and M1A1 models. The Thompson was one of the earliest submachine guns to incorporate a double-column, double-feed box magazine design, which undoubtedly contributed to the gun's reputation for reliability. In addition, the gun performed better than most after exposure to rain, dirt, and mud.^[31]

The selective-fire (semi- or fully automatic) Thompson fires from the 'open bolt' position, in which the bolt is held fully to rearward by the sear when cocked. When the trigger is depressed, the bolt is released, traveling forward to chamber and simultaneously fire the first and subsequent rounds until either the trigger is released or the ammunition is exhausted. This eliminates the risk of 'cook-off', which can sometimes occur in closed-bolt automatic weapons.

Disassembly[edit]

The Thompson submachine gun varies in field strip procedure, depending on the variant. World War II-era M1 variants and RPB models field strip more easily than the M1921.^{[citation needed]}

The 1928 variant can be disassembled easily by first detaching the stock, then sliding off the lower receiver and then simply removing the internal parts, cleaning them, and then putting it back together. When opened up, the Thompson features a small number of parts that need to be removed including the spring, bolt, Blish Lock, and actuator bolt.

Variants[edit]

Prototypes[edit]

Persuader and Annihilator[edit]

There were two main experimental models of the Thompson. The Persuader was a belt-fed version developed in 1917/18. It was partially built, but never completely finished. The Annihilator, serial no. Ver 10 prototypes was similar in appearance to the later models, but without rear sight and butt stock mounts. The Annihilator prototypes first were fed from a 20-round box magazine, but later, the 50- and 100-round drum magazine models were developed.

Model 1919[edit]

Starting with the Serial no. 11, the Model 1919 takes the final appearance of the later Thompsons with the rear sights and the butt stock. The Model 1919 was limited to about 40 units; the first built did not use the drums, as it was too difficult to fire. Many variations have been noted within this model. The weapons had very high cyclic rates up to 1,500 rpm.^[18] This was the weapon Brigadier General Thompson demonstrated at Camp Perry in 1920. A number of Model 1919s were made without butt stocks, rear- and front sights, but the final version closely resembled the later Model 1921. This model was designed to 'sweep' trenches with bullets. The New York City Police Department was the largest purchaser of the M1919. Some experimental calibers aside the .45 ACP (11.4x23mm) were the .22LR, .32 ACP, .38 ACP, and 9mmP.^[30]

.351 WSL variant[edit]

Only one prototype was made in .351 WSL using a standard 20' barrel and an ROF of 1000rpm.

Thompson .30 Carbine[edit]

The layout and ergonomics of the Thompson submachine gun were also considered for the role of a Light Rifle before the adoption of the M1 Carbine. It was based on the M1921/27 variants. However, it was turned down without testing due to logistic problems.^[59]

.30-06 variant[edit]

A .30–06 variant was intended as a rival to the M1918 BAR. It had an extended receiver with a recoil buffer and fed from 20 round magazines.^[60]

Production[edit]

Model 1921[edit]

The Model 1921 (M1921) was the first major production model. Fifteen thousand were produced by Colt for Auto-Ordnance. In its original design, it was finished more like a sporting weapon, with an adjustable rear sight, a blued, finned barrel and vertical foregrip (or pistol grip) and the Blish lock. The M1921 was quite expensive to manufacture, with the original retail price around $200, because of its high-quality wood furniture and finely machined parts. The M1921 was famous throughout its career with police and criminals and in motion pictures. This model gained fame from its use by criminals during Prohibition, and was nicknamed 'tommy gun' by the media.^{[citation needed]}

Model 1923[edit]

The Model 1923 was a heavy submachine gun introduced to potentially expand the Auto-Ordnance product line and was demonstrated for the U.S. Army.^[61] It fired the more powerful .45 Remington–Thompsoncartridge which fired a heavier 250 gr (0.57 oz; 16 g) bullet at muzzle velocities of about 1,450 ft/s (440 m/s) and energy about 1,170 ft⋅lb (1,590 J), with greater range than the .45 ACP. It introduced a horizontal forearm, improved inline stock for accuracy, 14 in (36 cm) barrel, bipod, and bayonet lug. The M1923 was intended to rival the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), with which the Army was already satisfied. The Army did not give the Model 1923 much consideration, so it was not adopted.

Model 1921AC (1926)[edit]

While not a new model in the usual sense of incorporating major changes, in 1926 the Cutts Compensator (a muzzle brake) was offered as an option for the M1921; Thompsons with the compensator were cataloged as No. 21AC at the original price of $200.00, with the plain M1921 designated No. 21A at a reduced price of $175.00.^[26] The Model 1921 was thereafter referred to as Model 1921A or Model 1921AC, though some collectors still refer to it as the Model 1921.

Model 1928[edit]

The Model 1928 was the first type widely used by military forces, with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps as major buyers through the 1930s. The original Model 1928s were Model 1921s with weight added to the actuator, which slowed down the cyclic rate of fire, a United States Navy requirement. On these guns, the model number '1921' on the receiver was updated by stamping an '8' over the last '1'. The Navy Model 1928 has several names among collectors: the 'Colt Overstamp', '1921 Overstamp', '28 Navy', or just '28N'.

The 1928 Thompson would be the last small arm adopted by the U.S. Army that used a year designation in the official nomenclature. With the start of World War II, major contracts from several countries saved the manufacturer from bankruptcy. A notable variant of the Model 1928 with an aluminum receiver and tenite grip, buttstock, and forend, was made by Savage.^[62]

M1928A1[edit]

The M1928A1 variant entered mass production before the attack on Pearl Harbor, as on-hand stocks ran out. Changes included a horizontal forend, in place of the distinctive vertical foregrip ('pistol grip'), and a provision for a military sling. Despite new U.S. contracts for Lend-Lease shipments abroad to China, France, and the United Kingdom, as well as the needs of American armed forces, only two factories supplied M1928A1 Thompsons during the early years of World War II. Though it could use both the 50-round drum and the 20- or 30-round box magazines, active service showed the drums were more prone to jamming, rattled when moving, and were too heavy and bulky on long patrols. 562,511 were made. Wartime production variants had a fixed rear sight without the triangular sight guard wings and a non-ribbed barrel, both like those found on the M1/M1A1.

In addition, the Soviet Union received M1928A1s, included as standard equipment with the M3 lighttanks obtained through Lend-Lease. The weapons were never issued to the Red Army because of a lack of .45 ACP ammunition on the Eastern Front; they were simply put in storage, although a picture exists of what appears to be Thompsons being used by Russian M3 Stuart crews in the Caucasus. As of September 2006, limited numbers of these weapons have been re-imported from Russia to the United States as disassembled 'spare parts kits', comprising the entire weapon less the receiver (as required by Federal law).

An M1928A1 which also came with an unusual inline stock, modified with elevated sights to increase accuracy also existed.^[63]

Service variants[edit]

Thompson Machine Carbine (TMC)[edit]

In 1940 Commonwealth troops in Egypt and North Africa were issued commercial model Lend-Lease Colt- and Savage-manufactured M1928s. Section leaders carried them instead of pistols or rifles. Many of the Colt models had French-language manuals packed with them as they had been abruptly diverted to England after the fall of France. They soon discovered that the weapon was prone to jamming due to sand. To fix this, the armorers removed the Blish Lock and replaced it with a hex bolt to keep the cocking handle and bolt together. The 20-round Type XX magazines had their peep-holes welded shut to keep sand out and the 50-round Type L drums were discontinued. Ammunition was scarce as it was either in small lots of Lend-Lease commercial ammo or obtained from adjacent American troops. It was later replaced by the 9mmSten gun and Lanchester SMG.

The Japanese captured enough Thompson M1928 SMGs and ammunition when they captured Hong Kong and Malaysia that it became a limited standard weapon. It surpassed any similar weapons currently in their service. Ammunition was usually in US 42-round Lend-Lease commercial cartons or Australian 28-round military cartons captured from the Commonwealth forces that was sampled, tested, and resealed with Japanese arsenal stickers.

Models used in the Pacific by Australian troops had their sling swivels remounted on the left side to allow it to be fired more easily while prone. A metal sling mount was fitted to the left side of the wooden buttstock. Ammunition was manufactured in Australia or obtained from adjacent American troops. It was later replaced by the Owen Machine Carbine.

M1[edit]

Responding to a request for further simplification, the M1 was standardized in April 1942 as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal. .45, M1. Rate of fire was reduced to approximately 600–700 rpm.

First issued in 1943, the M1 uses a simple blowback operation, with the charging handle moved to the side. The flip-up adjustable Lyman rear sight was replaced with a fixed L sight. Late M1s had triangular guard wings added to the rear L sight, which were standardized on the M1A1. The slots adjoining the magazine well allowing the use of a drum magazine were removed. A new magazine catch with the provision for retaining drum magazines removed, was produced, but most M1s and later M1A1s retained the original. The less expensive and more-easily manufactured 'stick' magazines were used exclusively in the M1, with a new 30-round version joining the familiar 20-round type. The Cutts compensator, barrel cooling fins, and Blish lock were omitted while the buttstock was permanently affixed. Late production M1 stocks were fitted with reinforcing bolts and washers to prevent splitting of the stock where it attached to the receiver. The British had used improvised bolts or wood screws to reinforce M1928 stocks. The M1 reinforcing bolt and washer were carried over to the M1A1 and retrofitted to many of the M1928A1s in U.S. and British service. Late M1s also had simplified fire control switches, also carried over to the M1A1.

M1A1[edit]

The M1A1, standardized in October 1942 as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal. .45, M1A1, could be produced in half the time of the M1928A1, and at a much lower cost. The main difference between the M1 and M1A1 was the bolt. The M1 bolt had a floating firing pin and hammer, the bolt of the M1A1 had the firing pin machined to the face of the bolt, eliminating unnecessary parts. The reinforced stock and protective sight wings were standard. The 30-round magazine became more common. In 1939, Thompsons cost the government $209 apiece. By the spring of 1942, cost-reduction design changes had brought this down to $70. In February 1944, the M1A1 reached a low price of $45 each, including accessories and spare parts, although the difference in price between the M1 and M1A1 was only $0.06. By the end of the war, the M1A1 was replaced with the even lower-cost M3 (commonly called the 'Grease Gun').

Semi-automatic[edit]

Model 1927[edit]

The Model 1927 was the open bolt semi-automatic-only version of the M1921. It was made by modifying an existing Model 1921, including replacing certain parts. The 'Thompson Submachine Gun' inscription was machined over to replace it with 'Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine', and the 'Model 1921' inscription was also machined over to replace it with 'Model 1927.' Although the Model 1927 was semi-automatic only, it was easily converted to fully automatic by installing a full-auto Model 1921 fire control group (internal parts). Most Model 1927s owned by police have been converted back to full-auto.^[64] The original Model 1927 is classified as a machine gun under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (a) by being 'readily convertible' by swapping parts and (b) by a 1982 BATF ruling making all open bolt semi-automatic firearms manufactured after the date of this ruling classified as machine guns.

Model 1927A1[edit]

The Model 1927A1 is a semi-automatic only replica version of the Thompson, originally produced by Auto-Ordnance of West Hurley, New York for the civilian collector's market from 1974 to 1999. It has been produced since 1999 by Kahr Arms of Worcester, Massachusetts. It is officially known as the 'Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine, Model of 1927A1.' The internal design is completely different to operate from the closed bolt and the carbine has barrel length of 16.5 in (420 mm) (versus open bolt operation and barrel length of 10.5 in (270 mm) for the full automatic versions). Under federal regulations, these changes make the Model 1927A1 legally a rifle and remove it from the federal registry requirements of the National Firearms Act. These modern versions should not be confused with the original semi-automatic M1927, which was a slightly modified M1921 produced by Colt for Auto-Ordnance.

The Model 1927A1 is the semi-automatic replica of the Thompson Models of 1921 and 1927. The 'Thompson Commando' is a semi-automatic replica of the M1928A1. The Auto-Ordnance replica of the Thompson M1 and M1A1 is known as the TM1, and may be found marked 'Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine, Caliber .45M1'.

Model 1927A3[edit]

The Model 1927A3 is a semi-automatic, .22 caliber version of the Thompson produced by Auto-Ordnance in West Hurley.

Model 1927A5[edit]

The Model 1927A5 is a semi-automatic, .45 ACP pistol version of the Thompson originally produced by Auto-Ordnance in West Hurley from the 1970s until the early 1990s or late '80s. It featured an aluminum receiver to reduce weight. It has since been replaced with the Kahr Arms TA5 Pistol, which features a 10.5' barrel and steel receiver, unlike the 1927A5's 13' barrel and aluminum receiver.

As per the NFA (National Firearms Act of 1934), the '1927A5 .45 ACP Pistol' is simply classified as a 'Firearm' (Any type of firearm with an overall length of 26' or greater, that does not have a buttstock) as it neither fits the definition of a Pistol or Rifle under federal law. This categorization also legally allows it to have 1921 or 1928 style foregrip equipped, unlike other 'pistol style' Thompson variants, without an AOW (Any Other Weapon) Tax Stamp.

1928A1 LTD[edit]

The 1928A1 LTD is a civilian semi-automatic-only conversion by Luxembourg Defense Technology (LuxDefTec) in Luxembourg. They are made from original 1928A1 guns of various appearance (with or without Cutt's compensator, ribbed or smooth barrels, adjustable or fixed sights), that where imported Lend-Lease guns from Russia.

Export variants[edit]

BSA Thompsons[edit]

In an attempt to expand interest and sales overseas, Auto-Ordnance entered into a partnership with and licensed the Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited (BSA) in England to produce a European model. These were produced in small quantities and have a different appearance than the classic style. The BSA 1926 was manufactured in 9mmP and 7.63mm Mauser and were tested by various governments, including France, in the mid-1920s. It was never adopted by any military force, and only a small number were produced.^[65]

RPB Thompsons[edit]

Special purpose variant[edit]

A special purpose machine pistol variant of the Thompson is manufactured by RPB Industries of Atlanta.^[66]

Suppressed variant[edit]

A version with a threaded barrel for suppressors, side folding stock, and modified sights.

Civilian ownership[edit]

Canada[edit]

All variants and modified versions of Thompson Submachine Guns (even semiautomatic-only versions) are prohibited by name in Canada, as part of Prohibited Weapons Order No. 13 in 1995. Consequently, they cannot be legally imported or owned except under very limited circumstances. For example, to own one the person must be 'grandfathered' and have owned one before the bill was passed against it. The submachine gun is not grandfathered like in US, only the owner. The submachine gun can only be sold to other grandfathered individuals; this keeps prices extremely low as the number of permitted licensed individuals is very small and dwindling with time. Eventually, all prohibited guns will be out of circulation.^{[67]:Part 1.86[68]}

United States[edit]

The perceived popularity of submachine guns such as the Thompson with violent gangsters in the 1920s and 1930s was one of the main reasons given for passage of the National Firearms Act by the United States Congress in 1934. One of its provisions was that owners of fully automatic firearms were required to register them with the predecessor agency of the modern Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The law also placed restrictions on the possession, transfer, and transport of the weapons.

For, ddb for, and for Windows can be used to remotely debug systems, for example. Serial cable adapter.

There are several U.S. made automatic and semi-automatic variants, copies, or replicas. The semi-automatic versions are less regulated by federal law.

United Kingdom[edit]

The possession of any fully automatic firearm is prohibited in the UK by the Firearms Act 1968; prohibited firearms can be possessed on a section 5 certificate, but these are not issued to civilians. A fully automatic firearm that has been converted to semi-automatic fire, such as the Model 1927, is prohibited by the Firearms Act 1988, as is any centre-fire purpose-made semi-automatic weapon, such as the Model 1927A1. It is now effectively impossible for a firearm of this type to be legally possessed by a member of the general public, except in certified deactivated condition.

Germany[edit]

The gun, in a government approved semi automatic conversion or clone, can legally be owned by hunters and sport shooters. With a design date prior to 1942 it isn't considered a 'weapon of war' any more. Only the fully automatic version is considered a prohibited weapon. As a long gun, it can be bought by hunters (even if it can't be used to actually hunt for legal reasons). There are disciplines in government approved sport shooting rulebooks that allow this type to be used, therefore the gun can be bought by sport shooters, too.

Users[edit]

• Afghanistan^[69] (found by U.S soldiers in weapon caches of the Taliban)^{[citation needed]}
• Albania:^[8] Chinese copies^{[citation needed]}
• Algeria^[70]
• Argentina: M1928 and M1 Thompson^[71]
• Australia:^[8] Used by Australian forces during WWII until it was replaced by the Australian-made Owen submachine gun.
• Bangladesh^{[citation needed]}
• Belgium^[8]
• Bolivia^[72]
• Brazil: Used by the Brazilian forces from WWII^[73] until the mid 1980s.
• British India: Widely used by the Indian Army in the Malayan Campaign,^[74] in the European theatre^[75] and Burma Campaigns
• Burundi
• Cambodia^[76]
• Canada^[77]
• Cuba^[78]
• Chile
• People's Republic of China: Unlicensed copies^[79][80]
• Republic of China^[4]
• Colombia^[8]
• Croatia^[3]
• Cyprus^[9]
• Czech Republic^[8]
• Democratic Republic of Congo^[81]
• Dominican Republic^[8]
• Egypt^[82]
• France:^[79] The M1928A1 was used as the Pistolet-mitrailleur 11 mm 43 (C.45) M. 28 A1.^[83] The M1A1 was also used.^[84]
• Greece: Used by Greek armed forces, resistance fighters, Gendarmerie and police units during World War II and immediately postwar period.^[51][85]
• Guatemala^[86]
• Haiti^[87]
• India^[88]
• Indonesia:^[89] Examples captured from Dutch forces were used during the Indonesian National Revolution and later by Indonesian Army Special Forces in the 1950–70s
• Iraq: Iraqi insurgents^[12]
• Ireland:^[89] 123 used by the Irish Defence Forces during the Emergency.
• Israel:^[50]
• Italy: Captured examples pressed into use by the Italian Army prior to September 8, 1943.^[90] Also supplied to partisans and to the Italian Co-belligerent Army.^[91] After the war, it was mostly issued to Italian Air Force troopers^[92] and the Carabinieri.^[93]
• Japan: Were used in some quantities by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force^[94]
• Jordan^[7]
• South Korea: Limited received U.S government used during the Korean War and Vietnam War. After the Vietnam War all Thompson SMGs were scrapped.
• Kingdom of Laos: Limited received by U.S government and used during the First Indochina War and Vietnam War.^[95]
• Luxembourg: M1A1 in service 1952-1967, replaced by Uzi.^[96]
• Macedonia^[97]
• Madagascar^[98]
• Malaysia^[8][9]
• Malta^[99]
• Mongolia^{[citation needed]}
• Morocco^[100]
• Mozambique
• Myanmar^[101]
• Nepal^[102]
• The Netherlands: In early World War II, at least 3,680 Thompsons acquired through Lend-Lease^[26]
• New Zealand: M1928 and M1928A1^[103]
• Nicaragua^[104]: The Nicaraguan National Guard received M1928A1s and some were captured by Sandino's rebels.^[105]
• Nigeria^[106]
• North Korea: Chinese-made Thompsons used by the Korean People's Army in the Korean War.^[107]
• North Vietnam: Unlicensed copies.^[79] Used by Viet Minh in the First Indochina War.^[5]
• Oman^[108]
• Pakistan: Used by the Pakistani army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
• Paraguay: possibly^[109]
• Philippines^[8]
• Poland: Used by the Polish Armed Forces in the West during WWII^[110] and by resistance fighters during the Warsaw Uprising (from supply drops)
• Portugal: Small number bought for police use, designated m/1928^[111]
• Saudi Arabia^[112]
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia^[113]
• Union of South Africa
• South Vietnam^[3]
• Soviet Union^[114]
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan^[115]
• Sweden^[116]
• Thailand^[88]
• Togo
• Turkey: Used between 1950s–1970s, saw action in Korean War^[117] and 1974 Cyprus War^[118][119]
• Uganda^[106]
• Ukraine: observed, unknown user^[8]
• United Kingdom. First issued to the GHQ Liaison Unit ('Phantom') in February 1940, in advance of main War Office contracts.^[120]
• United States: Employed by the United States Marine Corps^[30] and by the United States Army 1938,^[121] including paratroops in World War II.
• Venezuela^[122]
• West Germany:^[8] Used post World War II; received from the U.S government.
• Yugoslavia^[11]
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe^[97]

Non-state groups[edit]

• American organized crime syndicates, such as the Chicago Outfit and American Mafia.
• The Provisional IRA and Official IRA used the 1921 variant, mainly during the early 1960s to 1970s.^[123][124]
• Formerly used by the Viet Cong with clones made.^[125]
• The Angry Brigade^[126]

See also[edit]

• List of U.S. Army weapons by supply catalog designation SNL A-32

References[edit]

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7. ^ ^abLaffin, John (15 Jun 1982). Arab Armies of the Middle East Wars 1948–73. Men-at-Arms 128. Osprey Publishing. p. 32. ISBN9780850454512.
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13. [[[Wikipedia:Citing_sources page needed]]]_13-0'>^Yenne 2009, p. ^{[page needed]}.
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• Iannamico, Frank. (2004). American Thunder II: The Military Thompson Submachine Gun. Moose Lake Publishing.
• Iannamico, Frank. (2004). United States Submachine Guns. Moose Lake Publishing.
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• Weeks, John. (1980). World War II Small Arms. Galahad Books.
• Wilson, R.K. (1943). Textbook of Automatic Pistols. Small Arms Technical Publishing Company.
• Yenne, Bill (2009). Tommy Gun: How General Thompson's Submachine Gun Wrote History. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN978-0-312-38326-8. (340 pages; contains black-and-white photographs and illustrations).

External links[edit]

• 'Thompson Submachine Gun: Principles of Operation 1943' on YouTube

A submachine gun (SMG) is a magazine-fed, automaticcarbine designed to shoot handguncartridges. The term 'submachine gun' was coined by John T. Thompson, the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun.^[1]

Thompson Machine Gun Prop

The submachine gun was developed during World War I (1914–1918). At its peak during World War II (1939–1945), millions of SMGs were made as close quarter offensive weapons. After the war, new SMG designs appeared frequently.^[2] However, by the 1980s, SMG usage decreased.^[2] Today, submachine guns have been largely replaced by assault rifles,^[2] which have a greater effective range and are capable of penetrating the helmets and body armor used by modern infantry.^[3] However, submachine guns are still used by military special forces and police SWAT teams for close quarters battle (CQB) because they are 'a pistol-caliber weapon that's easy to control, and less likely to over-penetrate the target'.^[3]

• 1History

History[edit]

World War I[edit]

During World War I, the Austrians introduced the world's first machine pistol the Steyr Repetierpistole M1912/P16. The Germans also experimented with machine pistols by converting pistols such as the Mauser C96 and Luger P-08 from semiautomatic to fully automatic operation and adding detachable stocks. Carbine-type automatic weapons firing pistol rounds were developed during the latter stages of World War I by Italy, Germany and the United States. Their improved firepower and portability offered an advantage in trench warfare.^[4]

In 1915, the Italians introduced the Villar-Perosa aircraft machine gun. It fired pistol-caliber 9mm Glisenti ammunition, but was not a true submachine gun, as it was originally designed as a mounted weapon. This odd design was then modified into the OVP 1918 carbine-type submachine gun, which then evolved into the 9×19mm ParabellumBeretta Model 1918 after the end of World War I. Both the OVP 1918 and the Beretta 1918 had a traditional wooden stock, a 25-round top-fed box magazine, and had a cyclic rate of fire of 900 rounds per minute.

The Germans initially used heavier versions of the P08pistol equipped with a detachable stock, larger-capacity snail-drum magazine and a longer barrel. By 1918, Bergmann Waffenfabrik had developed the 9 mm Parabellum MP 18, the first practical submachine gun. This weapon used the same 32-round snail-drum magazine as the Luger P-08. The MP 18 was used in significant numbers by German stormtroopers employing infiltration tactics, achieving some notable successes in the final year of the war. However, these were not enough to prevent Germany's collapse in November 1918. After World War I, the MP 18 would evolve into the MP28/II SMG, which incorporated a simple 32-round box magazine, a semi & full auto selector, and other minor improvements.^[5]

The .45 ACPThompson submachine gun had been in development at approximately the same time as the Bergmann and the Beretta. However, the war ended before prototypes could be shipped to Europe.^[6] Although it had missed its chance to be the first purpose-designed submachine gun to enter service, it became the basis for later weapons and had the longest active service life of the three.

In the interwar period the 'Tommy Gun' or 'Chicago Typewriter' became notorious in the U.S. as a gangster's weapon; the image of pinstripe-suited James Cagney types wielding drum-magazine Thompsons caused some military planners to shun the weapon. However, the FBI and other U.S. police forces themselves showed no reluctance to use and prominently display these weapons. Eventually, the submachine gun was gradually accepted by many military organizations, especially as World War II loomed, with many countries developing their own designs.

World War II[edit]

The Italians were among the first to develop submachine guns during World War I. However, they were slow to produce them during World War II. The 9 mm Parabellum Beretta Model 1938 was not available in large numbers until 1943. The 38 was made in a successive series of improved and simplified models all sharing the same basic layout. The Beretta has two triggers, the front for semi-auto and rear for full-auto. Most models use standard wooden stocks, although some models were fitted with an MP 40-style under-folding stock and are commonly mistaken for the German SMG. The 38 series was extremely robust and proved very popular with both Axis forces and Allied troops (who used captured Berettas).^[7] It is considered the most successful and effective Italian small arm of World War II. The 38 series is the longest serving of the world's SMGs, as later models can still be seen in the hands of Italian military and police forces.

In 1939, the Germans introduced the 9 mm Parabellum MP38 during the invasion of Poland. However, the MP38 production was still just starting and only a few thousand were in service at the time. It proved to be far more practical and effective in close quarters combat than the standard-issue German Kar 98K bolt-action rifle. From it, the simplified and modernized MP40 (commonly and erroneously referred to as Schmeisser) was developed and made in large numbers; about a million were made during World War II. The MP40 was lighter than the MP38. It also used more stamped parts, making it faster and cheaper to produce.^[8] The MP38 and MP40 were the first SMGs to use plastic furniture and a practical folding stock.^[8] They would set the fashion for all future SMG designs.^[8]

During the Winter War, the badly outnumbered Finnish used the Suomi KP/-31 in large numbers against the Russians with devastating effect.^[9] Finnish ski troops became known for appearing out of the woods on one side of a road, raking Soviet columns with SMG fire and disappearing back into the woods on the other side. During the Continuation War, the Finnish Sissi patrols would often equip every soldier with KP/-31s. The Suomi fired 9 mm Parabellum ammo from a 71-round drum magazine (although often loaded with 74 rounds). 'This SMG showed to the world the importance of the submachine gun to the modern warfare',^[9] prompting the development, adoption and mass production of submachine guns by most of the World's armies. The Suomi was used in combat until the end of the Lapland war, was widely exported^[9] and remained in service to the late 1970s.

Thompson Machine Gun Video

In 1940, the Russians introduced the 7.62×25mmPPD-40 and later the more easily manufactured PPSh-41 in response to their experience during the Winter War against Finland. The PPSh's 71-round drum magazine is a copy of the Suomi's. Later in the war they developed the even more readily mass-produced PPS submachine gun - all firing the same small calibre but high-powered Tokarev cartridges. The USSR would go on to make over 6 million PPSh-41s and 2 million PPSs by the end of World War II. Thus, the Soviet Union could field huge numbers of submachine guns against the Wehrmacht, with whole infantry battalions being armed with little else. Even in the hands of conscripted soldiers with minimal training, the volume of fire produced by massed submachine guns could be overwhelming.

In 1941, Britain adopted the 9 mm Parabellum Lanchester submachine gun. Following the Dunkirk evacuation, and with no time for the usual research and development for a new weapon, it was decided to make a direct copy of the German MP 28. However this gun, the Lanchester, proved to be difficult and expensive to manufacture. Shortly thereafter, the simpler STEN submachine gun was developed, which was much cheaper and faster to make. Over 4 million STEN Guns were made during World War II. Indeed the STEN was so cheap and easy to produce that towards the end of World War II as their economic base approached crisis, Germany started manufacturing their own copy (the MP 3008) . After the war, the British replaced the STEN with the Sterling submachine gun. Britain also used many M1928 Thompson submachine guns during World War II.

The United States and its allies used the Thompson submachine gun, especially the simplified M1. However, the Thompson was still expensive and slow to produce. Therefore, the U.S. developed the M3 submachine gun or 'Grease Gun' in 1942, followed by the improved M3A1 in 1944. While the M3 was no more effective than the Tommy Gun, it was made primarily of stamped parts and welded together, and so, it could be produced much faster and at fraction of the cost of a Thompson. It could be configured to fire either .45 ACP or 9mm Luger ammunition. The M3A1 was among the longest serving submachine guns designs, being produced into the 1960s and serving in US forces into the 1990s.

The Owen Gun is a 9mm Parabellum Australian submachine gun designed by Evelyn Owen in 1939. The Owen is a simple, highly reliable, open bolt, blowback SMG. It was designed to be fired either from the shoulder or the hip. It's easily recognisable, owing to its unconventional appearance, including a quick-release barrel and butt-stock, double pistol grips, top-mounted magazine, and unusual offset right-side mounted sights. The Owen was the only entirely Australian-designed and constructed service submachine gun of World War II and was used by the Australian Army from 1943 until the mid-1960s, when it was replaced by the F1 submachine gun. Only about 45,000 Owens were produced during the war for a unit cost of about A$30.

After World War II[edit]

After World War II, 'new submachine gun designs appeared almost every week to replace the admittedly rough and ready designs which had appeared during the war. Some (the better ones) survived, most rarely got past the glossy brochure stage.'^[10] Most of these survivors were cheaper, easier and faster to make than their predecessors. As such, they were widely distributed.

In 1945, Sweden introduced the 9 mm Parabellum Carl Gustav M/45 with a design borrowing from and improving on many design elements of earlier submachine-gun designs. It has a tubular stamped steel receiver with a side folding stock. The M/45 was widely exported, and especially popular with CIA operatives and U.S. Special Forces during the Vietnam War. In U.S. service it was known as the 'Swedish-K'. In 1966, the Swedish government blocked the sale of firearms to the United States because it opposed the Vietnam War. As a result, in the following year Smith & Wesson began to manufacture an M/45 clone called the M76.

In 1946, Denmark introduced the Madsen M-46, and in 1950, an improved model the Madsen M-50. These 9 mm Parabellum stamped steel SMGs featured a unique clamshell type design, a side folding stock and a grip-safety on the magazine housing. The Madsen was widely exported and especially popular in Latin America, with variants made by several countries.

In 1948, Czechoslovakia introduced the Sa vz. 23 series. This 9 mm Parabellum SMG introduced several innovations: a progressive trigger for selecting between semi-automatic and full auto fire, a telescoping bolt that extends forward wrapping around the barrel and a vertical handgrip housing the magazine and trigger mechanism. The vz. 23 series was widely exported and especially popular in Africa and the Middle East with variants made by several countries. The vz. 23 inspired the development of the Uzi submachine gun.^[11]

In 1949, France introduced the MAT-49 to replace the hodgepodge of French, American, British, German and Italian SMGs in French service after World War II. The 9 mm Parabellum MAT-49 is an inexpensive stamped steel SMG with a telescoping wire stock, a pronounced folding magazine housing and a grip safety. This 'wildebeast like design' proved to be an extremely reliable and effective SMG, and was used by the French well into the 1980s. It was also widely exported to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

1950s[edit]

In 1954, Israel introduced a 9 mm Parabellum open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine gun called the Uzi (after its designer Uziel Gal). The Uzi was one of the first weapons to use a telescoping bolt design with the magazine housed in the pistol grip for a shorter weapon. The Uzi has become the most popular submachine gun in the world, with over 10 million units sold,^[12] morethan any other submachine gun.^[13]

In 1959, Beretta introduced the Model 12. This 9 mm Parabellum submachine gun was a complete break with previous Beretta designs.^[14] It is a small, compact, very well made SMG and among the first to use telescoping bolt design.^[14] The M12 was designed for mass production and was made largely of stamped steel and welded together.^[14] It is identified by its tubular shape receiver, double pistol grips, a side folding stock and the magazine housed in front of the trigger guard. The M12 uses the same magazines as the Model 38 series.

1960s[edit]

In the 1960s, Heckler & Koch developed the 9 mm Parabellum MP5 submachine gun. The MP5 is based on the G3 rifle and uses the same closed-boltroller-delayed blowback operation system. This makes the MP5 more accurate than open-bolt SMGs, such as the UZI. The MP5 is also one of the most widely used submachine guns in the world,^[15] having been adopted by 40 nations and numerous military, law enforcement, intelligence, and security organizations.^[16]

In 1969, Steyr introduced the MPi 69. This 9 mm Parabellum open-bolt, blowback-operated SMG has telescoping bolt and is similar in appearance to the Uzi SMG.^[17] It has a vertical pistol-grip into which the magazine is inserted, a longer horizontal front grip area and a telescoping wire butt-stock. The receiver is a squared stamped steel tube which partly nestles inside a large plastic molding (resembling a lower receiver) which contains the forward hand-grip, vertical pistol-grip and the fire control group. Making the MPi 69 one of the first firearms to use a plastic construction in this way. It has a progressive trigger and is also unusual among modern SMGs, as the MPi 69 is cocked by a dual-purpose lever also used as the front sling attachment point.^[17]

1970s[edit]

In the 1970s, extremely compact submachine guns, such as the .45ACPMac-10 and .380 ACPMac-11, were developed to be used with silencers or suppressors.^[18] While these SMGs received enormous publicity, and were prominently displayed in films and television, they were not widely adopted by military or police forces.^[18] These smaller weapons led other manufacturers to develop their own compact SMGs, such as the Micro-UZI and the H&K MP5K.

1980s[edit]

By the 1980s, the demand for new submachine guns was very low and could be easily met by existing makers with existing designs.^[2] However, following H&Ks lead, other manufacturers began designing submachine guns based on their existing assault rifle patterns. These new SMGs offered a high degree of parts commonality with parent weapons, thereby easing logistical concerns.

In 1987, Colt introduced the Colt 9mm SMG based on the M16 rifle.^[19] The Colt SMG is a closed bolt, blowback operated SMG and the overall aesthetics are identical to most M16 type rifles. The magazine well is modified using a special adapter to allow the use of smaller 9mm magazines. The magazines themselves are a copy of the Israeli UZI SMG magazine, modified to fit the Colt and lock the bolt back after the last shot. The Colt is widely used by U.S. police forces and the USMC.^[20]

Thompson Machine Gun Price

1990s[edit]

In 1998, H&K introduced the last widely distributed SMG, the UMP 'Universal Machine Pistol'.^[21] The UMP is a 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP, closed-bolt blowback-operated SMG, based on the H&K G36 assault rifle.^[22][23] It features a predominantly polymer construction and was designed to be a lighter and cheaper alternative to the MP5.^[22][24] The UMP has a side-folding stock and is available with four different trigger group configurations.^[25] It was also designed to use a wide range of Picatinny rail mounted accessories ^[22][23]

2000s[edit]

In 2004, Izhmash introduced the Vityaz-SN a 9 mm Parabellum, closed boltstraight blowback operated submachine gun. It is based on the AK-74 rifle and offers a high degree of parts commonality with the AK-74.^[26] It is the standard submachine gun for all branches of Russian military and police forces.^[27][28]

In 2009, KRISS USA introduced the KRISS Vector family of submachine guns.^[29] A futuristic design, the KRISS uses an unconventional delayed blowback system combined with in-line design to reduce perceived recoil and muzzle climb. The KRISS comes in 9 mm Parabellum,.45 ACP, .40 S&W, 9×21mm, 10mm Auto, and .357 SIG. It also uses standard Glock pistol magazines.

2010s[edit]

By 2010, compact assault rifles and personal defense weapons had replaced submachine guns in most roles.^[2] Factors such as the increasing use of body armor and logistical concerns have combined to limit the appeal of submachine guns. However, SMGs are still used by police (especially SWAT teams) for dealing with heavily armed suspects and by military special forces units for close quarters combat, due to their reduced size, recoil and muzzle blast. Submachine guns also lend themselves to the use of suppressors, particularly when loaded with subsonic ammunition. Variants of the Sterling and Heckler & KochMP5 have been manufactured with integral suppressors.

Personal defense weapons[edit]

Developed during the late 1980s, the personal defense weapon (PDW) is touted as a further evolution of the submachine gun. The PDW was created in response to a NATO request for a replacement for 9×19mm Parabellum submachine guns. The PDW is a compact automatic weapon that fires specially designed armor-piercing bullets and can be used conveniently by non-combatant and support troops, and as a close quarters battle weapon for special forces and counter-terrorist groups.^[30][31]

Introduced in 1991, the FN P90 features a bullpup design with a futuristic appearance. It has a 50-round magazine housed horizontally above the barrel, an integrated reflex sight and fully ambidextrous controls.^[32] A simple blowback automatic weapon, it was designed to fire the proprietary FN 5.7×28mm cartridge which can penetrate soft body armor.^[30][31] The P90 was designed to have a length no greater than an average-sized man's shoulder width, to allow it to be easily carried and maneuvered in tight spaces, such as the inside of an infantry fighting vehicle.^[32] The P90 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 nations.^[33]

Introduced in 2001, the Heckler & Koch MP7 is a direct rival to the FN P90. It is a more conventional-looking design, and uses a short-stroke piston gas system as used on H&K's G36 and HK416 assault rifles, in place of a blowback system traditionally seen on submachine guns.^[34] The MP7 uses 20-, 30- and 40-round box magazines and fires the proprietary 4.6×30mm ammunition which can penetrate soft body armor. Due to the heavy use of polymers in its construction, the MP7 is much lighter than older SMG designs, being only 1.2 kg (2.65 lb) with 20-round empty magazine. The MP7 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 20 nations.

Name[edit]

There are some inconsistencies in the classification of submachine guns.^[35] British Commonwealth sources often refer to SMGs as 'machine carbines'.^[35][36] Other sources refer to SMGs as 'machine pistols' because they fire pistol-caliber ammunition, for example, the MP-40 and MP5, where 'MP' stands for Maschinenpistole ('Submachine gun' in German, but cognate with the English term 'Machine pistol').^[37] However, the term 'machine pistol' is also used to describe a handgun-style firearm capable of fully automatic or burst fire,^[38] such as the Stechkin, Beretta 93R and the H&K VP70. Also, Personal Defense Weapons such as the FN P90 and H&K MP7 are often called submachine guns.^[35] In addition, some compact assault rifles, such as the Colt XM177, HK53 and AKS-74U, have been historically referred to as submachine guns as they served in the latter's role.^[39]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'The Thompson submachine gun: shooting a 20th century icon. - Free Online Library'.
2. ^ ^abcdeMilitary Small Arms Of The 20th Century. Ian Hogg & John Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. p93
3. ^ ^abDavid Crane (December 11, 2011). Submachine Guns (SMG’s): Outpaced by Today’s Modern Short-Barreled Rifles (SBR’s)/Sub-Carbines, or Still a Viable Tool for Close Quarters Battle/Close Quarters Combat (CQB/CQC)? Defense Review.
4. ^Curley, Robert, ed. (2009). The Britannica Guide to Inventions That Changed the Modern World (First ed.). The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 291–292. ISBN1-61530-064-3.
5. ^Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. pages 116
6. ^Frank Iannamico, American Thunder: The Military Thompson Submachine Gun 1928, 1928A1, M1, M1A1, Moose Lake Publishing, 2000.
7. ^Dunlap, Roy F., Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press, (1948), p. 58
8. ^ ^abcMilitary Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. pages 118–120
9. ^ ^abcarmies.http://world.guns.ru/smg/fi/suomi-m31-e.html
10. ^Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. pages 93–94
11. ^Hogg, Ian V. (1979). Guns and How They Work. New York: Everest House. p. 157. ISBN0-89696-023-4.
12. ^McManners, Hugh (2003). Ultimate Special Forces. New York: DK Publishing. p. 157. ISBN0-7894-9973-8. OCLC53221575.
13. ^Hackathorn, Ken (1995). 'Using the Uzi'. Fighting Firearms. Soldier of Fortune. 3 (1): 18–23.
14. ^ ^abcMilitary Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. pages 138–139
15. ^Hogg, Ian (2002). Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. Jane's Information Group. ISBN0-00-712760-X.
16. ^Tilstra, Russell C. (2012). Small Arms for Urban Combat. US: McFarland. p. 42. ISBN978-0-7864-6523-1. Archived from the original on 2012-05-09.
17. ^ ^abMilitary Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. pages 97–98
18. ^ ^abMilitary Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. page 166
19. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2003-05-18. Retrieved 2016-11-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
20. ^Military Small Arms Of The 20th Century. Ian Hogg & John Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. p167
21. ^'Heckler & Koch – Group Website'. Heckler-koch.com. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
22. ^ ^abcCutshaw, Charles Q (2011). Tactical Small Arms of the 21st Century: A Complete Guide to Small Arms From Around the World. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 156. ISBN978-1-4402-2709-7.
23. ^ ^abJane's Guns Recognition Guide. by Ian Hogg & Terry Gander. HaperCollins Publishers. 2005. page 192
24. ^Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. New York: Penguin Group US. pp. 383–385. ISBN978-1-101-20618-8.
25. ^Andrius Genys (2010). Submachine Guns and Assault Rifles. Military-Today.com. Andrius Genys. p. 2.
26. ^https://web.archive.org/web/20111109005400/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/vityaz.shtml Izhmash product page Vityaz SMG
27. ^'New guns for Russia's cops – so what? - In Moscow's Shadows'. In Moscow's Shadows. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
28. ^'Исторические сведения ПП-19-01 'Витязь'/'Витязь-СН' - пистолет-пулемёт'.
29. ^'Products'. KRISS Arms. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
30. ^ ^abMiller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. London: Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN9781840652451.
31. ^ ^abOliver, David (2007). 'In the Line of Fire'. Global Defence Review. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
32. ^ ^abKevin, Dockery (2007). Future Weapons. New York: Berkley Trade. ISBN9780425217504.
33. ^Tirans, Ivars (2009). 'Baltic Defence Research and Technology 2009 Conference Proceedings'. Military Review: Scientific Journal for Security and Defence (ISSN1407-1746), Nr. 3/4 (132/133), p 103.
34. ^Cutshaw, Charles Q. (2003). 'Heckler & Koch's cutting-edge compacts G36C and MP7 PDW: when less really is more'. Guns Magazine. Archived from the original on 2012-07-08.
35. ^ ^abcMilitary Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. pages 93–94.
36. ^Sten Machine Carbine, by Peter Laidler & R Blake Stevens, Collector Grade Publications, Canada; 1ST edition (December 2000)
37. ^Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. pages 93–94 & 116–125.
38. ^James Smyth Wallace. Chemical Analysis of Firearms, Ammunition, and Gunshot Residue. CRC Press. 2008. p. xxiii
39. ^Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. pages 125 & 166–167.

External links[edit]

• Submachine Gun at Encyclopædia Britannica