Get_Em_Puppy's reference guide to the world's submachine guns

This is a work in progress!

This will hopefully be a near-complete guide to international submachine guns from 1914 to 1970. Currently I have completed sections on Australia/NZ, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA. Currently available are:

Belgium

Denmark

France

Finland

Italy

Japan

United Kingdom



With more to come soon!

If I have made any errors, omitted any data, missed any guns, or anything else, please feel free to get in touch at foreverbreathesthelonelyword@gmail.com.

Belgium

Belgium in the late 19th and early 20th century was one of the world's most renowned manufacturers and exporters of small arms, predominantly due to the efforts of the famous firm of Fabrique Nationale in Liege. FN's line of rifles and pistols were always popular but the company had great difficult tapping into the emerging submachine gun market in the interwar period; initially they took up the design of one Karl Heinemann, a German engineer, but this failed to attract any buyers. During World War II, Belgium's arms factories were taken over by the Germans and the great Belgian designers like Dudioenne Saive continued their work at RSAF Enfield in Britain. When the war ended, FN were restored to their former glory and had huge success with their FAL rifle and MAG machine gun, but no luck with a blowback SMG that they attempted to market in the 1950s, nor a compact machine pistol-type gun that was devised in the early 60s. It was not until the 1990s that they finally designed a successful SMG - armor-piercing 5.7mm P90.

Note: Unfortunately I do not have much data pertaining to the statistics of Belgian SMGs, such as the dimensions, weight, and firing rate. If any readers have any data to contribute then please feel free to get in touch.



FN M1935 Year:

1935

Cartridge:

7.63x25mm

Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

Karl Heinemann Manufacturer(s):

FN Herstal Notes:

German-designed SMG using toggle action mechanism

FN Saive

FN Saive Year:

c.1950 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

Dieudonne Saive Manufacturer(s):

FN Herstal Notes:

Also offered with folding magazine and wire stock

Vigneron M2 Year:

1951 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A

Weight:

8.11lb (6.8kg) Magazine:

30 rounds Rate of Fire:

620rpm Designer(s):

Georges Vigneron Manufacturer(s):

Precision Liegoise Notes:

Adopted by Belgian Army in 1953

Imperia MI53 Year:

1953 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Imperia

Notes:

Basic Sten clone using surplus components

RAN Year:

1953 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

Withold Porebski Manufacturer(s):

Repousmetal Notes:

Capable of firing Energa anti-tank grenades

FN Vervier Year:

1962 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

30 rounds Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

Ernest Vervier Manufacturer(s):

FN Herstal Notes:

Built as a prototype only

Denmark



Although a largely peaceful nation in the 20th century, Denmark maintained an arms industry that both supplied its own military and exported internationally. The first submachine gun produced in Denmark was a German design by Theodore Emil Bergmann, who contracted the firm of Schultz & Larsen in 1932 to produce his gun. It was adopted by the Danish Army and also sold to their neighbor Sweden. After World War II, the Danish Industry Syndicate began producing a line of new submachine guns offered in various models. The Model 50 was a relative success, but faced stiff competition from the Swedish Carl Gustav SMG.



Bergmann BMK-32

Year:

1932

Cartridge:

9x19mm

Length:

37.6in (95.5cm) Weight:

8.9lb (4.0kg)

Magazine:

32 rounds

Rate of Fire:

650rpm Designer(s):

Theodore E. Bergmann, Mr. Muler

Manufacturer(s):

Schultz & Larsen, Junker & Ruth AG Notes:

Designed in Germany and produced in Denmark under license Madsen Model 45

Madsen Model 45 Year:

1945 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.5in (80.1cm) Weight:

7.1lb (3.2kg) Magazine:

50 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm

Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Dansk Industri Syndikat Notes:

Fixed stock model also produced Hovea Model 49 Hovea Model 49

Year:

1949

Cartridge:

9x19mm

Length:

31.8in (81cm) Weight:

7.4lb (3.4kg) Magazine:

36 rounds

Rate of Fire:

600rpm

Designer(s):

N/A

Manufacturer(s):

Haerens Vapenarsenalet Notes:

Originally a Swedish design, produced in Denmark under license

Madsen Model 50 Year:

1950 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.25in (79.3cm) Weight:

7.0lb (3.1kg) Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Dansk Industri Syndikat Notes:

Body constructed from stamped steel frame that hinges open Madsen Model 53 Year:

1952 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.5in (80cm) Weight:

7.0lb (3.1kg) Magazine:

32 rounds

Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Dansk Industri Syndikat Notes:

Improved version of Model 50

France

Plans to introduce an SMG into French military service were not conceived until after World War I, with the development of the STA submachine gun in the mid-1920s. Although a promising weapon, it was cancelled after only a limited production span and the project fell through. It was not until the late 1930s that the French adopted an SMG proper, which came in the form of the unusual MAS-38. This was chambered for a proprietary 7.65mm cartridge which was widely felt to be underpowered and ineffective in comparison to the more popular 9x19mm round. By the time the Germans invaded in 1940, not enough of these guns had been produced or issued and the French Army was essentially without an SMG.

After the war, the French decided to adopt the 9x19mm cartridge like the rest of Europe and desired a new, domestically-made submachine gun. Three state factories were called upon to design these, and in the end it was the entrant from Tulle that won out. This gun, the MAT-49, was the standard French SMG until their adoption of the FAMAS assault rifle in the late 1970s.



STA 1924

Year:

1924

Cartridge:

9x19mm

Length:

32.8in (83cm)

Weight:

7.7lb (3.5kg)

Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne Notes:

Based on the Bergmann MP18

MAS-24

MAS-24 Year:

1924 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne Notes:

Utilized unusual slanted receiver and bolt guide ETVS

Year:

1936 Cartridge:

7.65x20mm Length:

26.4in (67cm) Weight:

13.1lb (5.95kg) Magazine:

32 rounds

Rate of Fire:

500rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Etablissement Technique de Versailles Notes:

Featured folding stock and magazine

Petter

Year:

1937 Cartridge:

7.65x20mm

Length:

25.4in (65cm) Weight:

14.1lb (6.39kg)

Magazine:

36 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

Charles G. Petter Manufacturer(s):

Societe Alsacienne de Constructions Mecaniques

Notes:

Featured folding stock and magazine, possibly first SMG to use L-shaped bolt

MAS-38 Year:

1938 Cartridge:

7.65x20mm Length:

24.9in (63.2cm) Weight:

6.4lb (2.90kg) Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne Notes:

Adopted by the French Army in 1938

MAC-47 Year:

1947 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

25in (63.5cm) Weight:

4.6lb (2.1kg) Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

640rpm

Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Manufacture d'Armes de Chatellerault Notes:

Utilized unconventional torsion-delayed blowback system MAC-48 Year:

1948 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.5in (80cm) Weight:

7.6lb (3.44kg)

Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

475rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Manufacture d'Armes de Chatellerault Notes:

Derived from the Sten; "LS" model taken into limited service

MAS-48 MAS-48 Year:

1948 Cartridge:

9x19mm

.30 Carbine Length:

25.5in (65cm) Weight:

6.6lb (3.0kg) Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

500rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne Notes:

Featured L-shaped bolt and folding magazine, based on Petter design

MAT-49 MAT-49 Year:

1949 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

26in (66cm) Weight:

8.0lb (3.6kg) Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

Pierre Monteil Manufacturer(s):

Manufacture d'Armes de Tulle Notes:

Adopted by the French Army in 1950

Hotchkiss Universal Hotchkiss Universal Year:

1949 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

30.6in (78cm)

Weight:

7.5lb (3.4kg)

Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

500rpm

Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Hotchkiss et Cie Notes:

Utilized folding magazine and stock

Gevarm Gevarm Year:

1950 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.2in (79cm) Weight:

8.0lb (3.6kg) Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm

Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Gevelot Extrusion Notes:

Basic Sten clone, offered with retractable stock and fixed stock

MGD PM-9 MGD PM-9 Year:

1954 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

25.5in (65cm)

Weight:

10.45lb (4.74lb) Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

750rpm Designer(s):

Louis B. Camille Manufacturer(s):

Societe Pour l'Exploration des Brevets MGD Notes:

Utilized flywheel-delayed blowback mechanism; incorporated folding magazine and stock



Brandt Year:

1956 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

37.2in (94cm) Weight:

8.38lb (3.80kg)

Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

N/A

Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Hotchkiss-Brandt Notes:

Utilized folding magazine

Finland



Formerly part of the Russian Empire, Finland gained its independence in 1917 and was immedietly beset by both domestic struggles and the threat of invasion by the Soviets. As such, it built up its own military and arms industry. Finland was an early adopter of the submachine gun, importing and producing SIG-Bergmann SMGs in the 1920s. In 1931 the Finnish Defence Forces decided to adopt a domestic design by the talented engineer Aimo Lahti. This submachine gun, known as the "Suomi", was highly reputable and saw extensive use during the Winter War of 1939, where captured examples were studied by Soviet engineers.

The Suomi SMG remained in use during the Continuation War against the Soviet Union, but proved too expensive for Finland's struggling industrial base, so a cheap copy of the Russian PPS-42 SMG was introduced instead. After World War II, the Suomi remained in service, but by the time assault rifles were introduced to the Finnish Army, production of submachine guns ceased. In the 1990s, a Finnish-designed SMG known as the Jati-Matic briefly appeared, but was never made in great numbers.



SIG-Bergmann

Year:

1922

Cartridge:

7.65x17mm

Length:

32in (81.2cm) Weight:

9.0lb (4.0kg) Magazine:

50 rounds

Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Hugo Schmeisser,

Gotthard End

Manufacturer(s):

Lindelof Konetehdas

Notes:

Local copy of SIG-Bergmann M1920



Lahti Model 1922 Lahti Model 1922 Year:

1922 Cartridge:

7.65x17mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

N/A Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

Aimo Lahti Manufacturer(s):

Tikkakoski Oy Notes:

Featured quick-change barrel; built as a prototype only Lahti Model 1926 Lahti Model 1926 Year:

1926 Cartridge:

7.65x17mm,

9x25mm Length:

36.5in (93cm) Weight:

9.75lb (4.42kg)

Magazine:

36 rounds Rate of Fire:

750rpm Designer(s):

Aimo Lahti Manufacturer(s):

Tikkakoski Oy Notes:

Only produced in limited numbers

Suomi KP Model 1931 Suomi KP Model 1931 Year:

1932 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

34.25in (87cm)

Weight:

10.3lb (4.7kg) Magazine:

50 rounds

Rate of Fire:

900rpm Designer(s):

Aimo Lahti Manufacturer(s):

Tikkakoski Oy Notes:

Standard Finnish SMG of World War II

Lahti AL43 Lahti AL43 Year:

1943 Cartridge:

7.62x35mm Length:

39in (99cm)

Weight:

12lb (5.6kg) Magazine:

56 rounds Rate of Fire:

800rpm Designer(s):

Aimo Lahti Manufacturer(s):

Valtion Kivaaritehdas Notes:

Chambered for intermediate cartridges; technically an assault rifle but contemporaneously considered an SMG

KP Model 1944 KP Model 1944 Year:

1944 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

32.71in (83.1cm) Weight:

6.2lb (2.8kg)

Magazine:

50 rounds Rate of Fire:

650rpm Designer(s):

Willi Daugs Manufacturer(s):

Tikkakoski Oy Notes:

Copy of Russian PPS-43 SMG, modified to feed from Suomi magazines

Italy

Italy's submachine gun development began in 1914, with the invention of the twin-barreled, pistol-calibre "Villar Perosa" gun by Colonel Abiel Revelli. The Italian Army recognized the potential in the concept and it was subsequently adapted into a single-barreled automatic carbine by Beretta. The Revelli-Beretta SMG of 1918 became the first conventional submachine gun to see military adoption, albeit in small numbers compared to the German MP18. After the war, various Italian firms continued to experiment with SMG design, but it was really Beretta who made strides in this field and progressively continued work on their 1918 gun.

When World War II broke out, Italian troops were armed with one of the finest SMGs available, the Beretta Model 38. Many more quality SMGs were produced during the turbulent period from 1943 - 1945, in which Italy was split between the fascist republic and the monarchy, the former allied with Hitler's Germany and the latter allied with Britain and the US. After the war, Italy continued to produce submachine guns for both their domestic military and law enforcement, and for the export market. Some of these, especially Beretta's efforts, were very successful, thanks to the skills of engineers like Tullio Marengoni and Dominco Salza.



Fiat Mod.1915 ("Villar Perosa")

Year:

1914

Cartridge:

9x19mm Glisenti

Length:

21.0in (53cm) Weight:

14.3lb (6.5kg) Magazine:

25 rounds (x2) Rate of Fire:

2400rpm Designer(s):

Abiel Revelli Manufacturer(s):

Officine di Villar Perosa,

FIAT Notes:

World's first submachine gun, originally intended for bicycle troops Fiat-Revelli

Fiat-Revelli Year:

1916 Cartridge:

9x19mm Glisenti Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

25 rounds Rate of Fire:

900rpm Designer(s):

Abiel Revelli Manufacturer(s):

FIAT Notes:

First attempt to convert Villar Perosa into a conventional SMG NO IMAGE AVAILABLE

Ansaldo Crocetti

Year:

1918 Cartridge:

9x19mm Glisenti Length:

N/A

Weight:

N/A Magazine:

N/A Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

Enrico Crocetti Manufacturer(s):

Gio. Ansaldo & C. Notes:

Trialed in 1918, few details survive

Revelli-Beretta Year:

1918 Cartridge:

9x19mm Glisenti Length:

33.5in (85cm) Weight:

7.2lb (3.3kg) Magazine:

25 rounds Rate of Fire:

900rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta

Notes:

First conventional SMG to see military service; adapted from Villar Perosa

Revelli Year:

1921 Cartridge:

9x19mm Glisenti Length:

35.5in (90cm)

Weight:

8lb (3.6kg) Magazine:

25 rounds Rate of Fire:

900rpm Designer(s):

Abiel Revelli Manufacturer(s):

Officine di Villar Perosa Notes:

Also known as the OVP; often incorrectly identified as a WWI SMG

Armaguerra Mod.35

Year:

1935 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

N/A Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

Gino Revelli Manufacturer(s):

Armaguerra Notes:

N/A

Beretta Mod.38 Year:

1938 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

37.0in (94cm) Weight:

7.5lb (3.4kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Adapted from self-loading carbine



Beretta Mod.38A Beretta Mod.38A Year:

1938 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

37.25in (94.6cm) Weight:

9.25lb (4.20kg)

Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm

Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Detail improvement of Mod.38, adopted by the Italian Army in 1938 Sosso Sosso Year:

1940 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

N/A Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

Giulio Sosso Manufacturer(s):

Fabrica Nationale d'Armie Brescia Notes:

Fed by high-capacity internal magazine located within stock Ortolani Year:

1941 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

Michele Ortolani, Bartolomeo Ortolani Manufacturer(s):

N/A Notes:

First SMG to use roller-delayed blowback operation

Beretta Mod.1 Beretta Mod.1 Year:

1941 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

28.0in (71cm) Weight:

8.0lb (3.6kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Modified Mod.38A designed to emulate MP40; built as a prototype only

Beretta Mod.38/42 Year:

1942 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.5in (80cm) Weight:

7.2lb (3.3kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Simplified version of Mod.38A

FNA-B Mod.43 Year:

1942 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.1in (79cm) Weight:

7.0lb (3.2kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

400rpm

Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Fabrica Nationale d'Armie Brescia Notes:

Features folding magazine

Variara Year:

1943 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

32.3in (82cm) Weight:

6.2lb (2.8kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

N/A Notes:

Covertly produced for CLN partisans

Albertini Year:

1943 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

32.7in (83cm) Weight:

7.72lb (3.50kg) Magazine:

32 rounds Rate of Fire:

650rpm Designer(s):

Guiseppe Albertini Manufacturer(s):

Isotta Fraschini Notes:

Feeds from MP40 magazines

Beretta Mod.38/44 Beretta Mod.38/44 Year:

1944 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.5in (80cm) Weight:

7.2lb (3.3kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Further simplification of Mod.38A

Armaguerra OG44 Year:

1944 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

30.3in (77cm) Weight:

6.8lb (3.1kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

525rpm Designer(s):

Giovanni Oliani Manufacturer(s):

Armaguerra Notes:

Utilized L-shaped bolt housed over barrel TZ-45 Year:

1944 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

33.5in (85cm) Weight:

7.2lb (3.3kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

500rpm Designer(s):

Toni Giandoso, Zorzoli Giandoso Manufacturer(s):

Fabbrica Fratelli Giandoso Notes:

Features early grip safety system

FDA Year:

N/A Cartridge:

9x17mm Length:

17.5in (44cm) Weight:

N/A Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

N/A Notes:

WWII-era SMG of unknown make and design

Bernardelli VB Year:

1948 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

32.7in (83cm) Weight:

7.4lb (3.4kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Vincenzo Bernardelli SpA Notes:

Licensed copy of Beretta Mod.38/49

Beretta Mod.38/49 Year:

1949 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.5in (80cm) Weight:

7.2lb (3.3kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Modified Mod.38/44 with bolt lock safety

Beretta Mod.2

Year:

1951 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.5in (80cm) Weight:

7.2lb (3.3kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Modified Mod.1 with bolt lock safety Genar PM410 Year:

1954 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

16.1in (41cm) Weight:

4.3lb (2.0kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

Toni Giandoso, Zorzoli Giandoso Manufacturer(s):

Genar SpA Notes:

N/A Simmel PM720 Year:

1954 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

28.4in (72cm) Weight:

5.1lb (2.3kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

Toni Giandoso, Zorzoli Giandoso Manufacturer(s):

Simmel Werke Notes:

N/A FNA-B X4 Year:

1954 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

26in (66cm) Weight:

6.6lb (2.9kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

600rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Fabrica Nationale d'Armie Brescia Notes:

N/A

FNA-B X5 FNA-B X5 Year:

1955

Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

12.25in (31.1cm)

Weight:

6.3lb (2.9kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

700rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Fabrica Nationale d'Armie Brescia Notes:

Extremely compact blowback SMG

Beretta Mod.3 Beretta Mod.3 Year:

1955 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

28.0in (71cm) Weight:

7.6lb (3.4kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Features retractable stock, left-side cocking, and grip safety

Beretta Mod.4 Beretta Mod.4 Year:

1956 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

28.0in (71cm) Weight:

7.6lb (3.4kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Tullio Marengoni Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Modified Mod.3 with redesigned stock and bayonet fittings

Beretta Mod.5 Beretta Mod.5 Year:

1957 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

31.5in (80cm) Weight:

7.2lb (3.3kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Domenico Salza Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Modified Mod.38/49 with push safety device

Beretta Mod.6 Beretta Mod.6 Year:

1957 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

24.8in (63cm) Weight:

5.75lb (2.61kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

500rpm Designer(s):

Domenico Salza Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Built as a prototype only

Beretta Mod.7 Beretta Mod.7 Year:

1957 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

500rpm Designer(s):

Domenico Salza Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Utilized L-shaped bolt housed over barrel

Beretta Mod.8 Beretta Mod.8 Year:

1957 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

500rpm Designer(s):

Domenico Salza Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Improved variant of Mod.7

Beretta Mod.10 Beretta Mod.10 Year:

1957 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm

Designer(s):

Domenico Salza Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Prototype version of Mod.12

Franchi LF-57 Franchi LF-57 Year:

1957 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

26.75in (67.9cm) Weight:

7.1lb (3.2kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

500rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Luigi Franchi SpA Notes:

Utilized L-shaped bolt housed over barrel

Beretta Mod.12 Beretta Mod.12 Year:

1958 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

25.4in (65cm) Weight:

6.6lb (3.0kg) Magazine:

40 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

Domenico Salza Manufacturer(s):

Beretta Notes:

Adopted by the Italian Army in 1961

Japan



After centuries of isolation, Japan was quick to industrialize under the reign of Emperor Meiji, and production of modern small arms was no exception. Most of Japan's arsenals were state-owned and produced rifles and machine guns exclusively for their own military and navy and the country did not export arms in large numbers. Development of an SMG in Japan began around 1927, when the Koishikawa Arsenal produced an 8mm prototype for military trials. This was unsuccessful, but in the mid-1930s the privately-owned Tokyo firm of Kijiro Nambu designed a line of rather innovative 8mm submachine guns, which were taken up in small numbers by the navy. When Japan invaded China in 1936 and experienced a series of bloody, close-quarters urban battles, the army asked for an indigenously-produced SMG. This was provided by Nambu in the form of the Type 100, which was Japan's mainstay submachine gun throughout World War II.

After their surrender in 1945, Japan considerably downsized their domestic arms industry, which since then has only existed to serve the country's own needs and is prohibited from exporting abroad. As such, there has been no real requirement after World War II for the Japanese to develop any submachine guns, but a few designs did emerge regardless.



Koishikawa Type

Year:

1927

Cartridge:

8x22mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

50 rounds

Rate of Fire:

1200rpm Designer(s):

N/A

Manufacturer(s):

Koishikawa Arsenal

Notes:

First domestically-designed Japanese SMG, built as prototype only NO IMAGE AVAILABLE Nambu Type 1

Year:

1932 Cartridge:

6.5mm Length:

N/A Weight:

N/A Magazine:

30 rounds Rate of Fire:

N/A Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Nambu Arms Manufacturing Co. Notes:

Few details survive Nambu Type IIA

Nambu Type IIA Year:

1934 Cartridge:

8x22mm Length:

24.1 (62cm) Weight:

6.17lb (2.8kg) Magazine:

50 rounds Rate of Fire:

500rpm Designer(s):

Mr. Tokunaga Manufacturer(s):

Nambu Arms Manufacturing Co. Notes:

First production SMG to feed magazines through pistol grip; only produced in limited numbers Nambu Type IIB

Nambu Type IIB Year:

1938 Cartridge:

8x22mm Length:

27.6in (70cm) Weight:

6.17lb (2.8kg) Magazine:

50 rounds

Rate of Fire:

500rpm Designer(s):

Mr. Tokunaga Manufacturer(s):

Nambu Arms Manufacturing Co. Notes:

Redesigned version of the Type IIA with conventional magazine feed, produced in limited numbers Nambu Type 100

Nambu Type 100 Year:

1940 Cartridge:

8x22mm Length:

35in (89cm)

Weight:

8.44lb (3.83kg)

Magazine:

30 rounds Rate of Fire:

450rpm Designer(s):

Kijiro Nambu Manufacturer(s):

Nambu Arms Manufacturing Co., Kokura Arsenal, Nagoya Arsenal Notes:

Standard Japanese SMG of World War II, based on Bergmann design SCK-65/66 SCK-65/66 Year:

1965 Cartridge:

9x19mm Length:

30in (76.3cm) Weight:

9lb (4.8kg)

Magazine:

30 rounds Rate of Fire:

550rpm Designer(s):

N/A Manufacturer(s):

Shin Chuo Kogyo K.K. Notes:

Featured integral suppressor and magazine grip safety

United Kingdom

As early as the 1890s, British-American inventor Hiram Maxim had developed a lightweight, man-portable version of the Maxim gun chambered for pistol cartridges. This precursor to the submachine gun was deployed for demonstration purposes only, and Maxim never developed the concept any further. Later, in 1915, the Italian Villar Perosa was demonstrated before British officials, who recognized its potential but vetoed against issuing a similar weapon to their troops. The British attitude towards the German MP18 was largely dismissive and it was seen as little more than a gimmicky weapon developed by a desperate foe. During the inter-war period, the Small Arms Committee investigated various submachine guns from around the world, including a few domestically-produced guns like the Dinely, Biwarip, and BSA-Thompson. As time went on the SAC's interest in submachine guns increased, but the Army High Command was vehemently against weapons of this type and rejected all comers, despite some early warnings that the Germans were turning out thousands of MP38 SMGs en masse.

When the war broke out in 1939, the British Army was without a submachine gun and the British Expeditionary Force in France hastily arranged field trials for various SMGs, quickly settling on the Ameriacan Thompson gun. After the BEF's retreat from Dunkirk in 1940, a domestic SMG program was quickly developed and the results of this were the Lanchester and Sten SMGs. The Sten was a technically poor but extremely cost-efficent and simple gun that could be manufactured in extremely high volumes, and it proved to be a great success, arming not only British troops but also resistance fighters across Europe. Its basic design saw it copied worldwide, both in factories and small workshops. After World War II, the British ditched the Sten in favor of a more polished gun, the Sterling, which was also very successful internationally.