Picture of the day

[Magnum PI]

This photo can also be found in Frank Iannamico's book "American Thunder II". If you have an interest in the military Thompson it is a wonderful resource. These should be early Savage made Model 1928 Thompsons bought directly from Auto Ordnance Corp. between February 1940 and March 1941 when the Lend-Lease Act came into force. British soldiers are unloading newly arrived shipment from their crates. Too bad we can't see the crate itself to see how many guns it held (my guess is 10) or if there were any accessories included. They purchased 108,000 Thompsons during that period with thousands more arriving after that via lend lease. The individual guns were $168.75 but the total cost of the guns, spare parts and ammo between 2/15/40 and 11/24/41 was $21,502,758.60!! How much is at the bottom of the North Atlantic I couldn't guess but lots didn't arrive.

According to Frank's book Canada purchased it's first sixteen Thompsons in June 1940 at the bargain price of $156.33 each including compensator. 2,200 box mags at $1.65 each and 1200 drums at $10.50 each. In July of 1940 Canada purchased 250 more Thompsons for use at internment camps for $146.66 apiece. Unfortunately that is where it ends as far as Canadian Thompsons are concerned. If you have any interest in the Thompson and it's history I do recommend it to you. By the way, Frank wrote two of these books called American Thunder and American Thunder II which is an expanded and updated edition. Not cheap but well worth the price.

If one of our CGN historians has any details on the use of the Thompsons in the Canadian military I would certainly appreciate a PM to discuss them.

 

[purple]

The Thompson was used extensively by the Cdn Army during WW2. It was the standard issue SMG until replaced by the STEN. 1st Cdn Corps units continued to use the Thompson in Italy until re-deployed to NW Europe in early 1945. At this point the Thompsons were replaced by the STEN (aka "stench-gun"), a move which wasn't universally popular with the troops. All 1st Cdn Army units which landed in France in 1944 were equipped with the STEN.

Many Thompsons were also supplied as on-board items with various US armored vehicles which saw service with the Cdn Army, most notably the Sherman tank. A lot of US ordnance material was supplied to Cdn troops overseas through British logistics channels, rather than by direct purchase from the US. The Cdn War Museum collection contains a very nice M1A1 with C/broad arrow markings.

The Nationalist Chinese were another big recipient of the Thompson. Large numbers of them later turned up in Chinese hands during the Korean War.

 

[x westie]

The Thompson was used extensively by the Cdn Army during WW2. It was the standard issue SMG until replaced by the STEN. 1st Cdn Corps units continued to use the Thompson in Italy until re-deployed to NW Europe in early 1945. At this point the Thompsons were replaced by the STEN (aka "stench-gun"), a move which wasn't universally popular with the troops. All 1st Cdn Army units which landed in France in 1944 were equipped with the STEN.

Many Thompsons were also supplied as on-board items with various US armored vehicles which saw service with the Cdn Army, most notably the Sherman tank. A lot of US ordnance material was supplied to Cdn troops overseas through British logistics channels, rather than by direct purchase from the US. The Cdn War Museum collection contains a very nice M1A1 with C/broad arrow markings.

The Nationalist Chinese were another big recipient of the Thompson. Large numbers of them later turned up in Chinese hands during the Korean War.

I remember seeing pictures from the 1960's of the Thompson being used by the Viet Cong, very possible that these Thompson's were taken from the Nationalist Chinese, by ChiCom, then sent to South Vietnam

 

[purple]

I remember seeing pictures from the 1960's of the Thompson being used by the Viet Cong, very possible that these Thompson's were taken from the Nationalist Chinese, by ChiCom, then sent to South Vietnam

The Thompsons were quite often seen in VC use as were various other odds and sods. When I did my exchange posting in the US in the early 1980s one of my US Army "gunnut" compadres talked about having picked up a couple of Thompsons from the VC which he reluctantly had to leave behind when his tour of duty was completed.

No doubt there are still some chugging away somewhere as they are virtually indestructible. The receiver looks like it was milled out of a piece of railroad track. All you would need to keep them ticking would be an occasional spring change.

 

[x westie]

I fired a Thompson smg, at the "Gun-Store" in Las Vegas, it is indeed a well made , but heavy weapon,..the weight of a TSMG, is approx 10.5 lb.. empty,. then you add a 20 or 30 rd mag of .45acp,..in comparison, a M1 Garand weights approx.9.5 lbs empty...and then packing it, the ammo, and your gear in the jungle,with the sweltering heat...you had to be in shape .

 

[jwhc]

Wow guys Thanks for all the information


Cheers
Joe

 

[bdft]

I fired a Thompson smg, at the "Gun-Store" in Las Vegas, it is indeed a well made , but heavy weapon,..the weight of a TSMG, is approx 10.5 lb.. empty,. then you add a 20 or 30 rd mag of .45acp,..in comparison, a M1 Garand weights approx.9.5 lbs empty...and then packing it, the ammo, and your gear in the jungle,with the sweltering heat...you had to be in shape .

I fired one in Vegas too. Mine keyholed practically every round but it still made a mess of the target. If these were legal in Canada I'd go broke buying 45ACP.

 

[Magnum PI]

I'm failing to see what this picture has to do with the Viet Cong or Las Vagas.

 

[plinker 777]

The Thompson sub machine gun would be the common denominator there.

 

[Magnum PI]

OK, the TSMG is the common denominator. I am still confused because these soldiers are not in Viet Nam or Las Vegas.

 

[jwhc]

Good morning gunnutz New day New picture Hopefully someone knows where this fellow is from ( I don't) lol

Cheers
Joe

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Swedish Mauser. I've seen this captioned as Simo Haya, and as the Finns had a number of Swede Mausers, I suppose that could be possible. However, I'd always read he preferred the Mosin...

 

[Caydel]

Swedish Mauser. I've seen this captioned as Simo Haya, and as the Finns had a number of Swede Mausers, I suppose that could be possible. However, I'd always read he preferred the Mosin...

Yep, definitely not an M/28, but could be Simo Hayha as it's a 'posed' shot (ie, might have used a rifle on hand rather than his 'normal' choice).

Unfortunately, the choice of facial coverings makes it hard to tell conclusively.

 

[smellie]

Shorter barrel: Model 38 or that spec.

Bayonet is most distinctive, fits nothing else in that period.
.

 

[ArtyMan]

Definitely a staged photo. I cant imagine a sniper would use a bayonet like that, and if a bayonet was required because they are that close, there is no way someone would stand there and take a picture while in the line of fire

Sure is one deadly lookin mofo though.

 

[plinker 777]

OK, the TSMG is the common denominator. I am still confused because these soldiers are not in Viet Nam or Las Vegas.

How do you know those two never went to Viet Nam or Las Vegas?

 

[Ganderite]

Do those TSMGs in the picture have the forward pistol grip?

 

[smellie]

Look to have them: proper 1928s rather than the more common 1928A1.

That would make this photo quite early.

BTW, anybody ever run into a Thompson marked "Model of 1940"? Looks like an M-1, works like an M-1, does not accept drum mags.
.

 

[jwhc]

Good morning fellow gunnutz New day New pic I am following the thread on the jeep restoration and though a couple jeep pics doing different choirs would be neat

Cheers
Joe

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Somewhere I have drawings or documents on late WWII US jeep armouring. Interesting to read, but very hard on the little 4-cylinder engine, especially with tirechains.