[Lido]

--- Many thanks again to "urza1" for helping me to post the previous 5 black-and-white pictures and comments. Lido 07/23/04

[urza1]

Don't worry,glad to help you :D

(i am out in 5\6\7\8 august,if you send me other pics in these days,i post them the 9 :wink: ,i will be at venice with my gf :wink: )

bye,see ya,gabriele

[Panzermann]

MP-40.

But had the Japanese really SMGs???

[Lido]

--- Yes Panzermann, during WW2 The Japanese Army used the "8mm Type 100" SMG which was manufactured between 1940-43. Before WW2 The Japanese had some SMGs imported from Germany ["MP28" and "Bergmann"]. The Japanese "Type 100" SMG was manufactured at Kokura and Nagoya Arsenals and fired the 8mm Nambu cartridge [8X21.5 Nambu]. This SMG had a 30-rds detachable box magazine and the rate of fire was 450 rds/min. The weapon used as many other SMGs the "blowback" system of operation. In 1944 a new Japanese SMG design was introduced which was a simplified "Type 100" SMG but only about 8,000 SMGs were made. The Mod.1944 Japanese SMG had a much higher rate of fire [about 800 rds/min] firing the same 8mm Nambu cartridge. --- Panzermann, you live in Hungary. I'm surprised because you didn't mention the Hungarian SMGs from WW2: "9mm Models 39M and 43M". Both fired the very powerful 9X25 Mauser cartridge, not the standard 9X19 Luger/Parabellum round. Lido 08/28/04

[Lido]

--- Both Japanese WW2 SMGs which I mentioned in my previous message can be seen here on this web-site: http://www.rt66.com/...rms/japsubs.htm Lido 08/28/04

[Panzermann]

@Lido:

Thanks for the information about the Japanese SMGs. I'm interested in WW2 for several years, but never heard anything about such weapons.
Good student never learns out, or :wink: ?

Unfortunatly the Hungarian SMGs were not listed above ... :lol:

Thanks for the info!

[Lortto]

No doubt about it, the best SMG was the Suomi. Not only did it function reliably in the freezing cold but its clip was also big enough for sustained firing. The only drawback there was that the 70-round drum could malfunction if it was loaded incorrectly. All in all, the Suomi played a huge part in saving our independence in the Winter War.

I've actually even fired one during my time in the Finnish army and it was a real thrill. :)

Here's some additional info on the Suomi-smg.

http://www.winterwar.com/Weapons/FinSma ... matics.htm

[sergemaster]

I would have to cross the "Italian made only" line and select the PPSH. For the main reasons FIREPOWER and RELIABILITY.



A NOI!

[Lido]

--- Hi Panzermann, It does not matter if those Hungarian WW2 SMGs were not listed in this topic, you could mentioned them. Unfortunately there are some very good quality WW2 SMGs which are ignored just because are almost unknown to many people. These WW2 SMGs are: "9mm ZK" series of Czech origin, Hungarian 9mm [9X25 Mauser] "Mod.39M" & "Mod.43M", Romanian "9mm Orita Mod.1941" and a few other models. These WW2 SMGs were manufactured not in large numbers but their quality is excellent. Too bad these weapons are not familiar to many of us. Lido 08/30/04

[Lido]

--- Hi Lortto, Nice to hear from a new member like you. There is no doubt that the "9mm Suomi Mod.31" SMG is an excellent weapon. The parts were machined from solid steel or forged from quality materials. That made the weapon hard and expensive to manufacture. Many other SMGs [made before or during WW2] also have an excellent quality of construction. To mention only a few of these high quality SMGs I would say the Italian 9mm Beretta Mod.38A, .45-in / 11.43mm Thompson M1928A1 [USA], Romanian 9mm Orita M1941 and others. The 9mm Suomi Mod.31 SMG also used a 50-rds detachable box magazine [nicknamed "The Coffin"] which is hard to load to full capacity. I have this original magazine. It is never good to load a box magazine like this to full capacity. This 50-rds magazine is a single-position feed magazine [like the MP-40 or British "Sten" magazine] which is much harder to load without a special tool and it can malfunction more frecvently. Anyway the 9mm Suomi Mod.31 SMG is a high quality weapon and it gave a good service. --- NOTE: In my opinion the best WW2 made detachable box magazine for a SMG was the Italian 40-rds two-position feed type magazine for the Beretta SMGs. It has the same length like the German MP-40 magazine but it can be loaded with 8 extra rounds and much faster with no special tool. Lido 08/30/04

[Brummbar]

I think the Russian PPSH is the best due to its simplicity and rugged construction.

[Gian]

I picked the STEN, although I think it would have been fair to add M3 Grease Gun, MP44 and FNA 43 to the list.

[Saetta]

I heard that the Russian PPsh never jammed, so I'd say that was the most reliable. My favorite would always be the M1A1 Thompson..

[Il Siciliano]

The thompson. Even the british used it sometimes and not to mention how much the mafia used it in the 30's and 40's.