Modern/Post-War Photos

CANADIAN THOMPSON SUB-MACHINE GUN

gsellars

M1928A1 Thompson Submachine Gun In the Second World War infantry firepower was boosted by the submachine gun, a weapon first introduced into combat by the Germans in 1918. The SMG delivered a continuous stream of pistol bullets as long as the trigger was pressed and the magazine lasted. Effective ranges were short - a hundred yards was usually a maximum for accurate fire. Most armies introduced the SMG in limited numbers, distributing a few around an infantry unit to increase firepower, otherwise reserving them for command personnel or specialists whose duties made it awkward to carry a rifle. The .45 calibre "Tommy Gun" was conceived during the First World War as a "trench sweeper". Coming on the market in 1920, its early enthusiasts included the guerrillas of the Irish Republican Army, and the gunmen of prohibition era mobs. Just before the Second World War the British army turned down an opportunity to buy what it termed "gangster weapons." The realities of combat in the new conflict overrode these exaggerated niceties and the readily available Thompson was quickly adopted. Troops liked the Thompson, though it was a bit heavy for field use. Bullets rattled in the original drum magazine - not a good idea on patrols - so a stick magazine was substituted. The military also abandoned the forward pistol grip. The version shown here is the M1928A1 military model, which front line Canadian troops used in Italy.