M2 Submachine Gun
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 5:47 pm
The Ordnance Department went to the Model Number system in 1925.
Shortly after, the Navy decided to adopt the Thompson SMG. Without Army input. How do we know they didn't have Army input? They named it the M-1928. 3 years after the Army dropped that system. The Army was responsible for small arms. The Navy was given a spanking. When the Johnson M-1941 rifle dust-up occurred, the Navy sold the USMC down the river. Reason is kind of obvious.
The Thompson became the M1 when the Army took it on. That was replaced, in most cases, by the M3. So what was the M2?
That's it. Came and went with the wind. It did get an SNL, A052, but it was gone before any numbers were even printed.
Claiming it is similar to the STEN or MP40, which was designed by Vollmer, not Schmeisser, is a stretch. Too much wood. They did get there with the M3.
Shortly after, the Navy decided to adopt the Thompson SMG. Without Army input. How do we know they didn't have Army input? They named it the M-1928. 3 years after the Army dropped that system. The Army was responsible for small arms. The Navy was given a spanking. When the Johnson M-1941 rifle dust-up occurred, the Navy sold the USMC down the river. Reason is kind of obvious.
The Thompson became the M1 when the Army took it on. That was replaced, in most cases, by the M3. So what was the M2?
- m2-1.jpg (50.24 KiB) Viewed 1562 times
That's it. Came and went with the wind. It did get an SNL, A052, but it was gone before any numbers were even printed.
- m2-2.jpg (11.06 KiB) Viewed 1562 times
- m2-3.jpg (17.24 KiB) Viewed 1562 times
Claiming it is similar to the STEN or MP40, which was designed by Vollmer, not Schmeisser, is a stretch. Too much wood. They did get there with the M3.