M1 Thompson: Savage Simplifies the SMG

This video provides a direct comparison between the M1 Thompson and the MP40 submachine guns. It demonstrates the operation and live-fire characteristics of both iconic WWII firearms, highlighting their differences in handling, recoil, and rate of fire. The review offers insights into their historical significance and practical performance.

This video segment from "American Rifleman Television" focuses on the M1 and M1A1 Thompson submachine guns, highlighting their development as a cost-effective wartime expedient compared to the earlier, more expensive M1928A1 model. It details design simplifications, such as the elimination of the Blish locking system for a blowback operation, removal of barrel cooling fins, Cutts compensator, and complex sights, along with the switch to stick magazines. The evolution leading to the M1A1, featuring a further simplified fire-control mechanism, is also discussed. The video emphasizes the widespread use of the M1 Thompson by various branches of the U.S. military and its allies during World War II, particularly in the Pacific theater.

This YouTube Shorts video offers a review and comparison of the full auto and semi-automatic versions of the Thompson submachine gun. The title suggests the full-auto variant may not perform as well as its semi-automatic counterpart, indicating a focus on practical performance and user experience. The content likely involves demonstrating the firearms and offering an expert opinion on their functionality and effectiveness.

The De Lisle Commando Carbine, a rare WWII suppressed rifle, was developed for the British SOE. It features a Lee-Enfield action chambered in .45 ACP, utilizing a ported Thompson submachine gun barrel within an integral Duralumin suppressor. This expert review highlights its design for silent sentry elimination and its historical service.

This video provides a detailed comparison between the Thompson 1928A1 and M1 variants, highlighting their historical context, production, and operational differences. It features shooting demonstrations against other iconic SMGs like the MP40 and PPSH-41, analyzing trigger pull, ergonomics, and controllability. The content emphasizes the Thompson's significant role in WWII and its lasting legacy.

This YouTube video, titled "B&T Made The Modern Tommy Gun," delves into the evolution of submachine guns, specifically highlighting the contributions of Brügger & Thomet (B&T) in modernizing the concept of the "Tommy Gun." While no explicit transcript is available, the title suggests a historical and technical overview of iconic firearm designs and their contemporary iterations, focusing on B&T's innovative approach to compact, automatic firearms that echo the original Thompson submachine gun.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.