Thompson submachine gun

"Tommy gun" redirects here. For other uses, see Tommy Gun (disambiguation) and Tommy Gunn.
"Chicago Typewriter" redirects here. For the Korean TV series, see Chicago Typewriter (TV series).

Thompson Submachine Gun, Caliber .45
Colt Model 1921A Thompson with a 100-round drum magazine.
TypeSubmachine gun
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1921–present[1]
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
DesignerJohn T. Thompson
Designed1917–1920
Manufacturer
Produced1921–1945
No. builtApproximately 1.75 million of all variants,[23] including:
  • 562,511 M1928A1
  • 285,480 M1
  • 539,143 M1A1
VariantsSee Variants section
Specifications
Mass
  • 10.8 lb (4.9 kg) empty (Thompson M1928A1)[24]
  • 10 lb (4.5 kg) empty (Thompson M1A1)
[25]
Length
  • 33.7 in (860 mm) (M1928A1 with compensator)[24]
  • 31.9 in (810 mm) (M1/M1A1)[25]
Barrel length
  • 10.52 in (267 mm)[24]
  • 12 in (300 mm) (with Cutts compensator)
Cartridge
ActionBlowback, Blish lock
Rate of fire
  • 900 rpm (M1921)[27]
  • 600–725 rpm (M1928)[24]
  • 700–800 rpm (M1A1)[25]
Muzzle velocity935 ft/s (285 m/s)
Effective firing range164 yards (150 m)[28]
Feed system20 or 30 round box magazine, 50 or 100 round drum magazine[24] (M1 and M1A1 models do not accept drum magazines)

The Thompson submachine gun (also known as the "Tommy gun", "Chicago typewriter", or "trench broom") is a blowback-operated, selective-fire submachine gun, invented and developed by Brigadier General John T. Thompson, a United States Army officer, in 1918. It was designed to break the stalemate of trench warfare of World War I, although early models did not arrive in time for actual combat.

The Thompson saw early use by the United States Marine Corps during the Banana Wars,[29] the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Irish Republican Army, the Republic of China, and the FBI following the Kansas City Massacre.

The weapon was also sold to the general public. Because it was so widely used by criminals, the Thompson became notorious during the Prohibition era as the signature weapon of various organized crime syndicates in the United States in the 1920s. It was a common sight in the media at the time, and was used by both law enforcement officers and criminals.[30]

The Thompson was widely adopted by the U.S. armed forces during World War II, and was also used extensively by other Allied troops during the war. Its main models were designated as the M1928A1, M1 and M1A1 during this time. More than 1.5 million Thompson submachine guns were produced during World War II.[31]

It is the first weapon to be labelled and marketed as a "submachine gun".[32][self-published source?]

The original selective-fire Thompson variants are no longer produced, although numerous semi-automatic civilian versions are still being produced by the manufacturer Auto-Ordnance. These models retain a similar appearance to the original models, but have various modifications in order to comply with US firearm laws.

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  2. ^ "Diario de la Guerra de Honduras: 30 de enero-30 de abril 1924, Mario Rivas".
  3. ^ Miljan, Toivo (2004). Historical Dictionary of Estonia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-4904-6.
  4. ^ Hart 2003, pp. 187–188
  5. ^ Marshall, Alex (11 August 2010). The Caucasus Under Soviet Rule. Routledge. ISBN 9781136938245.
  6. ^ Onokoy, Vladimir (19 September 2019). "Forgotten History of Thompson SMG in Secret Police and Army of Soviet Russia". The Firearm Blog.
  7. ^ "The Sandino Rebellion, 1927–1934". SandinoRebellion.com. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  8. ^ Scarlata 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference bishop1998 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Silah Report Podcast V33: Iranian Submachine Guns (1941–1979)". 21 June 2021. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021.
  11. ^ McNab 2002, p. 47.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Indochina was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Sazanidis 1995, pp. 293–294.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Arabs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Weapons of the Malay CTs 1948–1960". 17thdivision.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023.
  16. ^ Hart 2003, p. 191.
  17. ^ "A GUERRILHA DO ARAGUAIA: Memória, esquecimento e Ensino de História na região do conflito" (PDF).
  18. ^ Herbst, Robert (13 December 2008). "Turkish Thompson Submachine Guns". Small Arms Review. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023.
  19. ^ "SOMALIA: Weapons We Used, Weapons We Captured". Small Arms Review. August 1999. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference Yugoslav Army was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference SAS 2012 10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ "What Weapons Did Wagner Capture in the Soledar Mines?". The Armourer's Bench. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023.
  23. ^ Yenne 2009, p. [page needed].
  24. ^ a b c d e War Department (11 October 1943). TM 9-2200 Small Arms, Light Field Mortars and 20-mm Aircraft Guns. War Department. p. 59.
  25. ^ a b c War Department (11 October 1943). TM 9-2200 Small Arms, Light Field Mortars and 20-mm Aircraft Guns. War Department. p. 57.
  26. ^ Knupp, Jeremiah (18 July 2018). "Full Power/Full Auto: The Thompson Goes Metric And the MP5 Goes American". American Rifleman.
  27. ^ McCollum, Ian (9 October 2018). "The Marines' First SMG: 1921/28 Thompson Gun". Forgotten Weapons. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Thompson 1921 Submachine Gun". Modern Firearms. 27 October 2010.
  29. ^ Schroeder, Michael J. (26 March 2019), "Digital Resources: The Sandino Rebellion Digital Historical Archive, Nicaragua, 1927–1934", Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Latin American History, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199366439.013.77, ISBN 978-0-19-936643-9, retrieved 5 July 2021
  30. ^ Bearse 1994, p. 210.
  31. ^ Cite error: The named reference Iannamico 1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ^ James, Gary (1996–2006). "Development of the Thompson Submachine Gun". Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2006.