The Thompson submachine gun is one of the most famous weapons in the world. Thanks to its recognizable silhouette and rich history of use, the Thompson is still popular among researchers, gun enthusiasts and collectors.
The submachine gun was invented in the late 1910s. Some time later, after some design improvements and adjustments, the weapon was used by both the American police force and the mafia simultaneously. Because of the characteristic sound it made when shooting, the submachine gun quickly received the nickname “typewriter”. In 1928, one of the most popular models of the Thompson appeared, which entered service with the American, as well as the British army and armies of other nations.
In 1941, after the signing of the Lend-Lease Act by the Soviet Union, a large number of various products began to arrive from the United States — from food and uniforms to armored vehicles and small arms. The latter category included the 1928 model Thompson submachine gun.
The Thompson is very massive and difficult to manufacture. It weighs up to 5.5 kilograms. The cartridge also stands out among most submachine guns of that time — the Thompson uses a powerful 11.43 mm cartridge, also known as the “.45 caliber”. The same exact cartridge is used in the equally well-known and popular American Colt pistol. However, the power of the cartridge is compensated by the large weight of the weapon and therefore has recoil much lower than expected. The Thompson used either 50 round drum or disc magazines, or 20–30 round box magazines.
Wartime and the need for rapid growth in production rates made the 1928 model not the most viable option for production. Therefore, in 1943, it was replaced with a M1 model, which had a simplified design.
In the USSR, Thompsons were used to a limited extent. This was due to the small number of submachine guns supplied, as well as a munition shortage. The units armed with American submachine guns were highly dependent on the frequency and volume of deliveries, which did not always include American pistol rounds. On the Karelian Front, the Thompson was used somewhat more actively and more often than on other fronts, which is due to the proximity to the main Lend-Lease ports in the north.
