The Second World War witnessed the widespread adoption of the submachine gun as a standard infantry weapon. Firing pistol ammunition in fully automatic mode, submachine guns provided a high volume of fire at close range and proved especially valuable in urban combat, jungle warfare, trench fighting, and assaults on fortified positions.
At the beginning of the war, relatively few armies fully appreciated the potential of the submachine gun. By 1945, however, every major combatant had developed and fielded large numbers of these weapons. Among the Allies, the United States, Britain, Canada, and the Soviet Union each adopted distinctive designs that reflected their industrial capabilities and battlefield requirements.
This article examines the major Allied submachine guns of the war, how they evolved, and how they compared with their Axis counterparts.
What Is a Submachine Gun?
A submachine gun is a shoulder-fired automatic weapon chambered for pistol cartridges. It typically offers:
- High rate of fire
- Compact size
- Ease of use
- Effective firepower at short range
Its primary weakness is limited range compared to rifles and machine guns.
Most Second World War submachine guns had an effective range of between 100 and 200 meters, making them ideal for close combat but less effective in open terrain.
The Situation in 1939
At the outbreak of war, most Allied armies still regarded the rifle as the principal infantry weapon.
Submachine guns were generally issued to:
- Officers
- Tank crews
- Paratroopers
- Special forces
- Assault troops
Only the Soviet Union had begun experimenting with widespread issue to regular infantry formations.
The early years of the war would dramatically change military thinking.
The Thompson Submachine Gun
Origins
The most famous Allied submachine gun was undoubtedly the Thompson.
Developed by General John T. Thompson after the First World War, the weapon entered production too late to see combat in that conflict.
Specifications
- Cartridge: .45 ACP
- Magazine: 20- or 30-round box magazine
- Weight: Approximately 10-11 pounds (4.5-5 kg)
- Effective range: About 150 meters
Early War Service
The Thompson became famous in the 1920s and 1930s because of its use by law enforcement and American gangsters.
When Britain faced the threat of German invasion in 1940, large numbers of Thompsons were purchased from the United States.
British commandos and American troops quickly appreciated the weapon’s stopping power and reliability.
Advantages
- Powerful .45-caliber cartridge
- Excellent reliability
- Robust construction
- Effective close-range firepower
Disadvantages
- Heavy
- Expensive
- Complex manufacturing process
The Thompson was an excellent weapon but not ideal for mass wartime production.
The M3 “Grease Gun”
Why It Was Developed
By 1942 American planners realized that the Thompson was too expensive and time-consuming to manufacture in the quantities required.
The result was the M3 submachine gun, popularly known as the “Grease Gun” because of its resemblance to a mechanic’s tool.
Specifications
- Cartridge: .45 ACP
- Magazine: 30 rounds
- Effective range: About 100 meters
- Weight: Approximately 8 pounds (3.7 kg)
Advantages
- Cheap production
- Simple stamped construction
- Reliable operation
- Easier manufacturing
Disadvantages
- Crude appearance
- Slower rate of fire
- Less refined handling
Although often overshadowed by the Thompson, the M3 proved highly effective and remained in American service for decades after the war.
The Sten Gun
Britain’s Emergency Weapon
The fall of France in 1940 left Britain desperately short of modern weapons.
To solve this problem, British engineers Major Reginald Shepherd and Harold Turpin designed the Sten.
Its name came from:
- S (Shepherd)
- T (Turpin)
- EN (Enfield)
Specifications
- Cartridge: 9mm Parabellum
- Magazine: 32 rounds
- Weight: About 7 pounds (3.2 kg)
Advantages
- Extremely cheap
- Fast production
- Simple construction
- Easy to conceal
Disadvantages
- Crude finish
- Magazine problems
- Occasional accidental discharges
The Sten could be produced for a fraction of the cost of a Thompson.
More than four million were manufactured during the war.
Special Operations Use
The Sten became a favorite weapon of resistance movements and special operations forces.
Because of its simplicity, it could be secretly manufactured and distributed throughout occupied Europe.
The Lanchester Submachine Gun
The British Royal Navy adopted the Lanchester early in the war.
Based heavily upon the German MP 28, it was:
- Well-made
- Accurate
- Reliable
However, it was expensive and largely superseded by the Sten.
The Lanchester illustrates how quickly wartime pressures pushed nations toward simpler weapons.
The Soviet PPD-40
The Soviet Union entered the war with the PPD-40.
Characteristics
- Chambered in 7.62×25mm Tokarev
- High rate of fire
- Drum magazine
Although effective, it required extensive machining and was difficult to mass-produce.
The Germans encountered the weapon during the invasion of the Soviet Union and were impressed by the concentration of automatic fire available to Soviet troops.
The PPSh-41
The Soviet War Winner
The most important Soviet submachine gun was the PPSh-41, designed by Georgy Shpagin.
Specifications
- Cartridge: 7.62×25mm Tokarev
- Magazine: 71-round drum or 35-round box magazine
- Rate of fire: Approximately 900 rounds per minute
Advantages
- Rugged
- Simple manufacturing
- High reliability
- Massive magazine capacity
The PPSh-41 became one of the most-produced firearms in history, with over six million manufactured.
Battlefield Impact
Entire Soviet units were equipped with PPSh-41s.
In urban combat, particularly during battles such as Stalingrad, the weapon proved devastating.
The ability to unleash tremendous volumes of fire made Soviet assault units highly effective in close quarters.
The PPS-43
As the war progressed, Soviet designers sought an even simpler weapon.
The PPS-43 emerged in 1943.
Advantages
- Lighter than the PPSh
- Easier production
- Folding stock
- Excellent reliability
Many historians consider it one of the finest submachine guns ever produced.
It combined simplicity, durability, and effectiveness in an exceptionally compact package.
Canadian Production
Canada primarily produced Sten guns under license.
Canadian industry became a major supplier of Stens for Allied forces.
Canadian troops employed them extensively in:
- Italy
- Northwest Europe
- Airborne operations
Canadian factories also manufactured large quantities of components and ammunition that supported Allied submachine-gun production.
The Best Allied Submachine Gun
Determining the “best” submachine gun depends on the criteria used.
Best Combat Performance: Thompson
The Thompson offered:
- Outstanding reliability
- Excellent stopping power
- Superior craftsmanship
Many soldiers considered it the most satisfying weapon to use in combat.
Best Mass-Produced Weapon: PPSh-41
The PPSh-41 combined:
- Reliability
- High capacity
- Ease of manufacture
It was ideally suited to the brutal close-range fighting on the Eastern Front.
Best Overall Design: PPS-43
Many modern historians and firearms experts regard the PPS-43 as the most efficient wartime design.
It achieved an ideal balance of:
- Reliability
- Simplicity
- Cost
- Portability
Comparison with Axis Weapons
Germany: MP 38 and MP 40
The principal German submachine guns were the MP 38 and MP 40.
Advantages
- Excellent ergonomics
- High-quality manufacture
- Manageable rate of fire
Disadvantages
- More expensive than Soviet designs
- Lower magazine capacity
German soldiers generally respected captured PPSh-41s and frequently used them.
Some were even converted to fire German 9mm ammunition.
Italy: Beretta M38
The Beretta M38 was arguably the finest Axis submachine gun.
Advantages
- Superb accuracy
- Excellent reliability
- High-quality construction
Disadvantages
- Expensive production
- Slow manufacturing
Many historians rank the Beretta M38 among the best submachine guns of the entire war.
Japan: Type 100
Japan produced relatively few submachine guns.
The Type 100 was reliable but lacked the widespread issue and battlefield impact of Allied and German designs.
The Evolution of Allied Doctrine
At the beginning of the war, submachine guns were specialist weapons.
By the end of the conflict they had become standard equipment for:
- Assault units
- Tank crews
- Airborne forces
- Reconnaissance troops
- Urban combat formations
The Soviet Union in particular demonstrated how massed automatic fire could transform infantry tactics.
Lessons learned from wartime submachine guns directly influenced the development of postwar assault rifles such as the AK-47 and later NATO infantry weapons.
Conclusion
The Second World War transformed the submachine gun from a niche weapon into a battlefield necessity. Allied forces fielded a wide range of designs, from the beautifully crafted Thompson to the utilitarian Sten and the highly effective Soviet PPSh-41 and PPS-43. While each reflected the industrial and tactical realities of its nation, all contributed to the Allied victory. In many respects, the evolution of these weapons mirrored the broader story of the war itself: the need to balance performance, reliability, and mass production on an unprecedented scale. By 1945, the submachine gun had secured its place as one of the defining infantry weapons of the twentieth century.
