Their improved firepower (800-1000RPM) and portability offered an advantage in trench warfare, where most troops were issued bolt action rifles, such as the Gewehr 98 or Lee–Enfield. In 1915, the Kingdom of Italy introduced the Villar-Perosa aircraft machine gun.
This odd design was then modified into the OVP 1918 carbine-type submachine gun, which then evolved into the 9×19mm Parabellum Beretta 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 P08 pistol 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.
However, these were not enough to prevent Germany's collapse in November 1918.
However, they were slow to produce them under Mussolini; the 9 mm Parabellum Beretta Model 1938 was not available in large numbers until 1943.
It is considered the most successful and effective Italian small arm of World War II. In 1939, the Germans introduced the 9 mm Parabellum MP38 which was first used during the invasion of Poland of September that year.
The M3A1 was among the longest-serving submachine gun 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 Suomi was used in combat until the end of the Lapland war, was widely exported and remained in service to the late 1970s. In 1940, the Russians introduced the 7.62×25mm PPD-40 and later the more easily manufactured PPSh-41 in response to their experience during the Winter War against Finland.
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.
developed the M3 submachine gun or "Grease Gun" in 1942, followed by the improved M3A1 in 1944.
However, they were slow to produce them under Mussolini; the 9 mm Parabellum Beretta Model 1938 was not available in large numbers until 1943.
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.
developed the M3 submachine gun or "Grease Gun" in 1942, followed by the improved M3A1 in 1944.
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.
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.
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 inspired the development of the Uzi submachine gun. 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.
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.
It was also widely exported to Africa, Asia and the Middle East. ===1950s=== In 1954, Israel introduced a 9 mm Parabellum open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine gun called the Uzi (after its designer Uziel Gal).
The Uzi has become the most popular submachine gun in the world, with over 10 million units sold, more than any other submachine gun. In 1959, Beretta introduced the Model 12.
The M3A1 was among the longest-serving submachine gun 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 M12 uses the same magazines as the Model 38 series. ===1960s=== In the 1960s, Heckler & Koch developed the 9 mm Parabellum MP5 submachine gun.
In 1966, the Swedish government blocked the sale of firearms to the United States because it supported North Vietnam in the Vietnam War.
The MP5 is also one of the most widely used submachine guns in the world, having been adopted by 40 nations and numerous military, law enforcement, and security organizations. In 1969, Steyr introduced the MPi 69.
The Suomi was used in combat until the end of the Lapland war, was widely exported and remained in service to the late 1970s. In 1940, the Russians introduced the 7.62×25mm PPD-40 and later the more easily manufactured PPSh-41 in response to their experience during the Winter War against Finland.
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. ===1970s=== In the 1970s, extremely compact submachine guns, such as the .45ACP Mac-10 and .380 ACP Mac-11, were developed to be used with silencers or suppressors.
However, by the 1980s, SMG usage decreased.
This "wildebeast like design" proved to be an extremely reliable and effective SMG, and was used by the French well into the 1980s.
These smaller weapons led other manufacturers to develop their own compact SMGs, such as the Micro-UZI and the H&K MP5K. ===1980s=== By the 1980s, the demand for new submachine guns was very low and could be easily met by existing makers with existing designs.
Variants of the Sterling and Heckler & Koch MP5 have been manufactured with integral suppressors. ==Personal defense weapons== First developed during the 1980s, the personal defense weapon (PDW) is touted as a further evolution of the submachine gun.
These new SMGs offered a high degree of parts commonality with parent weapons, thereby easing logistical concerns. In 1982, Colt introduced the Colt 9mm SMG based on the M16 rifle.
The M3A1 was among the longest-serving submachine gun 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 PDW is a compact automatic weapon that uses specially designed rifle-like cartridges to fire armor-piercing bullets and are sufficiently light to be used conveniently by non-combatant and support troops, and as an effective close quarters battle weapon for special forces and counter-terrorist groups. Introduced in 1991, the FN P90 features a bullpup design with a futuristic appearance.
The Colt is widely used by US law enforcement and the USMC. ===1990s=== In 1998, H&K introduced the last widely distributed SMG, the UMP "Universal Machine Pistol".
The P90 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 nations. Introduced in 2001, the Heckler & Koch MP7 is a direct rival to the FN P90.
It was also designed to use a wide range of Picatinny rail mounted accessories ===2000s=== In 2004, Izhmash introduced the Vityaz-SN a 9 mm Parabellum, closed bolt straight blowback operated submachine gun.
It is the standard submachine gun for all branches of Russian military and police forces. In 2009, KRISS USA introduced the KRISS Vector family of submachine guns.
It also uses standard Glock pistol magazines. ===2010s=== By 2010, compact assault rifles and personal defense weapons had replaced submachine guns in most roles.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05