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Description
The Thompson submachine gun (also known as the "Tommy Gun", "Chicago Typewriter", "Chicago Piano", or "Trench Broom") is a blowback-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed selective-fire submachine gun, invented by the United States Army Brigadier general John T. Thompson in 1918. It was originally designed to break the stalemate of trench warfare of World War I, but was not finished until after the war ended.

The Thompson first saw use by the United States Marine Corps during the Banana Wars,[17] as well as having some initial use by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Irish Republican Army, the Republic of China, and the FBI (following the Kansas City Massacre).

The firearm became notorious during the Prohibition era, used as a 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.[18]

The firearm was widely adopted by the U.S. military during World War II, and was used extensively by the Allied troops during the war. It was designated as the M1928A1, M1 and M1A1 during this time. More than 1.5 million military Thompson submachine guns were produced during World War II.[19]

It is the first weapon to be labeled and marketed as a "submachine gun".[20]

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

Type Submachine gun
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service
1938–1971 (officially, U.S. military)
1921–present (other countries)
Used by See Users
Wars
Chaco War
Banana Wars[1]
Irish Civil War[2]
Castellammarese War
World War II[3]
Indonesian National Revolution
Chinese Civil War[4]
First Indochina War[5]
Greek Civil War[6]
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
1948 Arab–Israeli War[7]
Malayan Emergency[8]
Korean War[3]
Algerian War
Vietnam War[3]
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
The Troubles[9]
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Yugoslav Wars[10]
Iraq War[11]
and numerous others
Production history
Designer John T. Thompson
Designed 1917–1920
Manufacturer
Auto-Ordnance Company (originally)
The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited
Colt
Savage Arms
RPB Industries
Produced 1921–1945
No. built Approximately 1.75 million of all variants,[12] including:
562,511 M1928A1
285,480 M1
539,143 M1A1
Variants See Variants section
Specifications
Mass
10.8 lb (4.9 kg) empty (Thompson M1928A1)[13]
10 lb (4.5 kg) empty (Thompson M1A1)
[14]
Length
33.7 in (860 mm) (M1928A1 with compensator)[13]
31.9 in (810 mm) (M1/M1A1)[14]
Barrel length
10.52 in (267 mm)[13]
12 in (300 mm) (with Cutts compensator)
Cartridge
.45 ACP (11.43×23mm)
10mm Auto (Limited quantity of FBI conversions)[15]
Action Blowback, Blish Lock
Rate of fire
approx. 700–800rpm (M1928),[13]
approx. 600-700rpm (M1A1),[14]
approx.900 rpm (M1921)
approx. 1500 rpm (Annihilator)
Muzzle velocity 935 ft/s (285 m/s)
Effective firing range 164 yds (150 m[16])
Feed system
20-round stick/box magazine 0.4 lb (0.2 kg) unloaded[13]
30-round stick/box magazine 0.5 lb (0.2 kg) unloaded[13]
50-round drum magazine 2.6 lb (1.2 kg) unloaded[13]
100-round drum magazine
(M1 and M1A1 models do not accept drum magazines)

Description
The Thompson submachine gun (also known as the "Tommy Gun", "Chicago Typewriter", "Chicago Piano", or "Trench Broom") is a blowback-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed selective-fire submachine gun, invented by the United States Army Brigadier general John T. Thompson in 1918. It was originally designed to break the stalemate of trench warfare of World War I, but was not finished until after the war ended.

The Thompson first saw use by the United States Marine Corps during the Banana Wars,[17] as well as having some initial use by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Irish Republican Army, the Republic of China, and the FBI (following the Kansas City Massacre).

The firearm became notorious during the Prohibition era, used as a 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.[18]

The firearm was widely adopted by the U.S. military during World War II, and was used extensively by the Allied troops during the war. It was designated as the M1928A1, M1 and M1A1 during this time. More than 1.5 million military Thompson submachine guns were produced during World War II.[19]

It is the first weapon to be labeled and marketed as a "submachine gun".[20]

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

Type Submachine gun
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service
1938–1971 (officially, U.S. military)
1921–present (other countries)
Used by See Users
Wars
Chaco War
Banana Wars[1]
Irish Civil War[2]
Castellammarese War
World War II[3]
Indonesian National Revolution
Chinese Civil War[4]
First Indochina War[5]
Greek Civil War[6]
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
1948 Arab–Israeli War[7]
Malayan Emergency[8]
Korean War[3]
Algerian War
Vietnam War[3]
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
The Troubles[9]
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Yugoslav Wars[10]
Iraq War[11]
and numerous others
Production history
Designer John T. Thompson
Designed 1917–1920
Manufacturer
Auto-Ordnance Company (originally)
The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited
Colt
Savage Arms
RPB Industries
Produced 1921–1945
No. built Approximately 1.75 million of all variants,[12] including:
562,511 M1928A1
285,480 M1
539,143 M1A1
Variants See Variants section
Specifications
Mass
10.8 lb (4.9 kg) empty (Thompson M1928A1)[13]
10 lb (4.5 kg) empty (Thompson M1A1)
[14]
Length
33.7 in (860 mm) (M1928A1 with compensator)[13]
31.9 in (810 mm) (M1/M1A1)[14]
Barrel length
10.52 in (267 mm)[13]
12 in (300 mm) (with Cutts compensator)
Cartridge
.45 ACP (11.43×23mm)
10mm Auto (Limited quantity of FBI conversions)[15]
Action Blowback, Blish Lock
Rate of fire
approx. 700–800rpm (M1928),[13]
approx. 600-700rpm (M1A1),[14]
approx.900 rpm (M1921)
approx. 1500 rpm (Annihilator)
Muzzle velocity 935 ft/s (285 m/s)
Effective firing range 164 yds (150 m[16])
Feed system
20-round stick/box magazine 0.4 lb (0.2 kg) unloaded[13]
30-round stick/box magazine 0.5 lb (0.2 kg) unloaded[13]
50-round drum magazine 2.6 lb (1.2 kg) unloaded[13]
100-round drum magazine
(M1 and M1A1 models do not accept drum magazines)