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Thompson Submachine Gun: The Tommy Gun Goes to War (Page 3)
After World War I, Thompson became very interested in, if not obsessed with, the concept of a “trench broom,” as he called it, for close quarter fighting.
By Bruce Canfield (RSS)
February 15, 2011
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Since the Thompson was the only submachine gun in our inventory, it was in the thick of the fighting from the first days of the war. All service branches clamored for additional Thompsons, and were provided them as fast as production allowed. Officially, both the Army and Marines wished to substitute the M1 carbine for the submachine gun, but the immediate demand as well as availability of the Thompson ensured its widespread use. Even when sufficient numbers of carbines were on hand, the wholesale replacement of submachine guns was never accomplished.
The Thompson was a very popular arm with many combat troops. As Col. John George stated in Shots Fired in Anger, “both the old [M1928A1] and new [M1/M1A1] simplified types…functioned well. It was the perfect weapon for close-defense—carrying one provided perhaps the best life insurance a man could have.”
Be sure to watch the video history of the Thompson Submachine Gun, courtesy of American Rifleman TV.
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