Thompson submachine gun
Thompson submachine gun | |
---|---|
![]() Thompson M1A1 on display at Virginia War Museum | |
Type | Submachine gun |
Place of origin | Euclid, Ohio, United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1938–1971 (officially, U.S. military) |
Used by | U.S. military, FBI, Swedish Army, British Army, Mafia, Kosovo Liberation Army,IRA |
Wars | Kosovo War, Irish War of Independence, Irish Civil War, Banana Wars, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War (limited) |
Production history | |
Designer | John T. Thompson |
Designed | 1917–1919 |
Manufacturer | Auto-Ordnance Co. (originally), Colt, Savage Arms |
Produced | 1921–present (replicas) |
No. built | 1,700,000 aprox. |
Variants | Persuader & Annihilator, M1921/A1, M1927, M1928/A1, M1/A1 |
Specifications | |
Mass |
|
Length |
|
Cartridge | .45 ACP (11.43 × 23 mm) |
Action | Friction lock (early models), Blowback-operated (M1/M1A1) |
Rate of fire | 600-800 rpm, depending upon model |
Feed system | 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine; 50- or 100-round drum magazine |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Corporal%2C_East_Surrey_Regiment_1940.jpg/250px-Corporal%2C_East_Surrey_Regiment_1940.jpg)
The Thompson was a family of American submachine guns that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in gangster films of the time, being used overwhelmingly by both law enforcement officers and criminals.[1] The Thompson was also known as the "Tommy Gun", "Chopper", "Chicago Typewriter" and "Chicago Piano". The Thompson was favored by soldiers and civilians alike for its compactness, large .45 ACP bullet, and high volume of automatic fire.
History and service
The Thompson Submachine Gun was the brainchild of General John T. Thompson, who was inspired by the trench warfare of World War I to develop a "one-man, hand-held machine gun", firing a rifle calibre round. While searching for a way to allow such a weapon to operate safely, Thompson came across a patent issued to John Bell Blish. With a way to make his idea possible at hand, Thompson found a financial backer and started the Auto-Ordnance Corporation in 1916 for the purposes of developing his weapon. The principal designers were Theodore H. Eickhoff, Oscar V. Payne, and George E. Goll. By late 1917 the limits of the Blish lock were discovered and it had been found that the only cartridge currently in U.S. service suitable for use with the lock was the .45 ACP. The project was then titled "Annihilator I", and by 1918, most of the design issues had been resolved. However, the war ended before prototypes could be shipped to Europe.
At an Auto-Ordnance board meeting in 1919 to discuss the marketing of the "Annihilator", with the war now over, the weapon was officially renamed the "Thompson Submachine Gun". While other weapons had been developed shortly prior with similar objectives in mind, the Thompson was the first weapon to be labeled and marketed as a "submachine gun".[2]
The Thompson would first enter production as the Model of 1921. It was available to civilians, though its high price resulted in few sales. Model of 1921 Thompsons were first sold in small quantities to the U.S. Post Office (to protect the mail from a spate of robberies[3]), followed by several police departments in the United States and minor international sales to various armies and constabulary forces, chiefly in Central and South America. Thompsons were also acquired by the Irish Republican Army from supporters in the U.S. and were used in the latter stages of the Irish War of Independence and Civil War. The Thompson was also used in limited issue by the U.S. Marine Corps (carrying over from their Post Office service[4]) as the M1928 in a series of 'banana war' interventions in Central America, particularly Nicaragua, where it was popular with the Marines as a point-defense weapon for countering ambush by Sandinista guerillas.
The Thompson achieved most of its early notoriety in the hands of Depression-era gangsters and in Hollywood films. About this time, Nationalist China also acquired a quantity for use against Japanese land forces, and eventually began producing copies of the Thompson in small quantities for use by its various armies and militias.
In 1938, the Thompson submachine gun was adopted by the U.S. military, serving during World War II and later into the Korean War, as well as early stages of the Vietnam War. Other Allied countries purchased the Thompson as well, notably the United Kingdom and France. Modifications to simplify production and reduce cost were made in 1942, resulting in the M1 and M1A1 models, which were commonly carried by both non-commissioned and commissioned officers.
There were two military types of Thompson SMG. One, the M1928A1, had a 20 round box magazine or 50-100 round drum. It had a longer barrel than the M1A1. Its cocking mechanism was also on the top of the gun. The M1A1 had a shorter barrel, 30 round box magazine, and the cocking mechanism was on the side. The M1928A1 along with the regular M1928 was the choice of the Marines. The M1A1 was the choice of the Army. Thompson intended the weapon as an automatic 'trench-broom' to sweep enemy troops from the trenches, filling a role the BAR had proved incapable of.[5] Ironically, this concept was adopted by German troops using their own submachine guns in concert with sturmtruppen tactics.[6]
The Thompson found particular utility in World War II in the hands of Allied troops as a weapon for scouts, non-commissioned officers, and patrol leaders. In the European theater, the gun was widely utilized in British and Canadian Commando units, as well as U.S. paratroop and Ranger battalions. A Swedish variant of the M1928A1, called Kulsprutepistol m/40 ("Submachine Gun m/40" [Directly translated "Bullet spurt pistol"]), served in the Swedish Army between 1940 and 1951. Through Lend-Lease, the Soviet Union also used the Thompson, but this practice was not widespread.
In the Pacific, Australian Army infantry and other Commonwealth forces initially used the Thompson extensively in jungle patrols and ambushes, where it was prized for its firepower, though its hefty weight and difficulties in supply eventually led to its replacement by other submachine guns such as the Owen and Austen. The U.S. Marines also used the Thompson as a limited-issue weapon, especially during their later island assaults. However, the Thompson was soon found to have limited effect in heavy jungle cover, where the low-velocity .45 bullet would not penetrate most small-diameter trees, or Japanese helmets or protective vests (after the Army had rejected the .45 Remington-Thompson, which had twice the energy of the .45ACP, in 1923).[7] In the U.S. Army, many Pacific War jungle patrols were originally equipped with Thompsons in the early phases of the New Guinea and Guadalcanal campaigns, but soon began employing the BAR in its place, especially at front (point) and rear (tail) positions, as a point defense weapon.[8][9]
By the time of the Korean war, the Thompson had been withdrawn from service as a standard-issue submachine gun with U.S. forces. It was replaced by the M3/M3A1 submachine gun, and the M1/M2 carbine. Many Thompsons were distributed to Chinese armed forces as military aid before the fall of Chiang Kai-Shek's government to Mao Tse Tung's Communist forces in 1949. During the Korean War, American troops were surprised to encounter Chinese Communist troops heavily armed with Thompsons, especially during surprise night assaults. The gun's ability to deliver large quantities of short-range automatic assault fire proved very useful in both defense and assault during the early part of the conflict. Many of these weapons were recaptured and placed back into service with American soldiers and Marines for the balance of the war.
During the Vietnam War, some South Vietnamese army units and defense militia were armed with Thompson submachine guns, and a few of these weapons were used by reconnaissance units, advisors, and other American troops it later was replaced my the M16.
The Thompson was also used by U.S. and overseas law enforcement and police forces, most prominently by the FBI. The FBI used the Thompson until 1976, when it was declared obsolete. All Thompsons in U.S. government possession were destroyed, except for a few token museum pieces and training models.
The Thompson, or copies of the gun, are still seen from time to time in modern day conflicts, such as the Bosnian War.
Operating characteristics
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Thompson1928a1.jpg/300px-Thompson1928a1.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/52/M1a1disassembled.jpg/300px-M1a1disassembled.jpg)
The Thompson, especially the early Model of 1921, has a fairly high rate of fire 900+rpm[citation needed], higher than many other submachine guns of smaller caliber. This rate of fire, combined with a rather heavy trigger pull and a stock with excessive drop, increases the tendency of the gun to climb off target in automatic fire.[10][11]
Compared to modern 9mm submachine guns such as the Uzi, the .45 Thompson is heavy, difficult to aim and has excessive recoil. By the standards of the day, however, the Thompson was one of the most effective and reliable submachine guns available.
Due to its gangster-era and World War II connections, Thompsons are highly sought as collector's items. An original Model of 1928 in working condition can easily fetch US$20,000 or more. Semi-automatic versions are currently produced by Auto-Ordnance Company, a division of Kahr Firearms. Approximately 1,700,000 of these weapons were produced by Auto-Ordnance, Savage Arms, and Colt, with 1,387,134 of them being the simplified World War II variants M1 and M1A1 (without the Blish lock and oiling system[12]).
Variants
Persuader & Annihilator
There were two main experimental models of the Thompson. The Persuader was a belt-fed version worked on in 1918, and the Annihilator was fed from a 20-round box magazine, which was an improved model worked on in 1918 and 1919. Additionally, the 50- and 100-round drum magazines were developed.
Model of 1919
The Model of 1919 Thompson was limited to about 40 units, with many variations noted throughout. The weapons had very high cyclic rates around 1500rpm.[citation needed] This was the weapon Brigadier General Thompson demonstrated at Camp Perry in 1920. Almost all Model of 1919s were made without buttstocks and front sights, and the final version closely resembled the later Model of 1921. The City of New York Police Department was the largest purchaser of the Model of 1919.
Thompson had created it because of the trench warfare in the Great War. He designed it then as an automatic M1911. Its purpose was to be used to "sweep" enemy trenches.
- Caliber: .45ACP (11.4x23mm), .22LR, .32ACP, .38ACP, 9mmP, .351 Winchester Self-Loading
- Weight (empty): 3.75kg (8 lb 4oz)
- Length: 808mm (31.8 in)
- Barrel length: 267mm (10.5 in)
- Cyclic rate of fire: 1500 round/min (actual delivered, about 700)
- Capacity: 20- or 30-round box; 50 or 100-round drum; 18 rounds .45 Peters-Thompson shot cartridges
- Range: 50m (55yd)
Model of 1921
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Thompsonad1sm.jpg/250px-Thompsonad1sm.jpg)
The first major production model. Fifteen thousand guns were produced by Colt for Auto-Ordnance Corporation. In its original design, it is finished more like a sporting weapon, with its famous blued, finned barrel and vertical foregrip. It is a semi-blowback weapon with a friction locked breech (Blish lock). The Model of 1921 was quite expensive to manufacture, with the original retail cost around $225, due to high quality wood furniture and finely-machined parts. Some saw military use with the U.S. Marine Corps in Nicaragua, but not type-classified. The Model of 1921 was famous throughout its career with police and criminals and in motion pictures. The weapon had a relatively high 900+rpm[citation needed] rate of fire.
- Caliber: .45ACP (11.4x23mm), .22LR, .32ACP, .38ACP, 9mmP, .351 Winchester Self-Loading
- Weight (empty): 4.4kg (9 lb 12oz)
- Length: 808mm-909mm (31.8-35.8 in)
- Barrel length: 267mm (10.5 in), 368mm (14.5in)
- Cyclic rate of fire: 800 round/min (actual delivered, about 225-300)
- Capacity: 20- or 30-round box; 50- or 100-round drum; 18 rounds .45 Peters-Thompson shot cartridges
- Range: 50m (55yd)
Model of 1923
The Model of 1923 was introduced to potentially expand the Auto-Ordnance product line, and was demonstrated for the U.S. Army. It fired the .45 Remington-Thompson cartridge from a 14-inch (35.5cm) barrel, with greater range and power than the .45 ACP. It introduced a horizontal forearm, sling, bipod and bayonet lug. The Model of 1923 was projected to fill the role of the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), but the Army was satisfied with Browning, did not give the Model of 1923 much consideration, and it did not go into production.
- Caliber: .45ACP (11.4x23mm), .45 Remington-Thompson
- Weight (empty): 5.7kg (12 lb 6oz) (14.5" barrel & bipod), 4.4kg (9 lb 12oz) (10.5" barrel {no bipod?})
- Length: 808mm-909mm (31.8-35.8in)
- Barrel length: 267mm (10.5 in), 368mm (14.5in)
- Cyclic rate of fire: 800 round/min (actual delivered, about 225-300)
- Capacity: 20- or 30-round box; 18 rounds .45 Peters-Thompson shot cartridges
- Range: 50m (55yd)
B.S.A. Thompsons
In an attempt to expand interest and sales overseas, Auto-Ordnance partnered with and licensed Birmingham Small Arms Co. (BSA) in England to produce a European style Thompson. These were produced in small quantities, and have a different appearance than the classic style. B.S.A. Thompsons were produced in European calibers such as 7.65mm Parabellum (called .30 Luger in the U.S.) and 9mm Parabellum, and were tested by various governments, including France in the mid 1920s. The design was never successfully marketed.
M26
- Caliber: 9mmP
- Weight (empty): 3.4kg (7 lb 6oz)
- Length: 89cm-91cm (35-36in)
- Barrel length: 318mm (12.5 in) with Cutts
- Cyclic rate of fire: 800 round/min (actual delivered, about 225-300)
- Capacity: Unknown
- Range: 100m (110yd)
M29
- Caliber: .45ACP, 9mmP, 9mm Bayard, 7.63mm Mauser, 7.65mmP
- Weight (empty): 4.3kg-4.8kg (9 lb 6oz-10 lb 6oz)
- Length: 89cm-91cm (35-36in)
- Barrel length: 318mm (12.5 in) with Cutts
- Cyclic rate of fire: 700-800 round/min (actual delivered, about 225-300)
- Capacity: Unknown (.45 ACP used standard 20- or 30-round box and 50- or 100-round drum)
- Range: 100m (110yd)
Model of 1927
The Model of 1927 was the semi-automatic-only version of the Model of 1921. It was made by modifying an existing Model of 1921 Thompson, including replacing certain parts. The "Thompson Submachine Gun" inscription was machined over to replace it with "Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine", and the "Model of 1921" inscription was also machined over to replace it with "Model of 1927." Although the Model of 1927 was semi-auto only, it was easily converted to fully automatic by utilizing certain Model of 1921 parts, and is classified as a machine gun under the National Firearms Act of 1934.
- Caliber: .45ACP (11.4x23mm) (perhaps others)
- Weight (empty): 4.4kg (9 lb 12oz)
- Length: 808mm (31.8in)
- Barrel length: 267mm (10.5 in)
- Cyclic rate of fire: Semiautomatic only
- Capacity: 20-round box; 50- or 100-round drum; 18 rounds .45 Peters-Thompson shot cartridges
- Range: 50m (55yd)
Model of 1928
The Model of 1928 was the first type widely used by military forces, with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps as major buyers through the 1930s. The original Model of 1928s were Model of 1921s with weight added to the actuator, which slowed down the cyclic rate of fire, a U.S. Navy requirement. With the start of World War II, major contracts from Britain and France saved the manufacturer from bankruptcy. This model had an official adoption, with a military designation of M1928. The Prohibition era retail price of the Model of 1928 was about $200.[citation needed]
- Caliber: .45ACP (11.4x23mm) (some experimental models in .30 Carbine)
- Weight (empty): 4.4 kg (9lb 12)
- Length: 808mm (31.8 in)
- Barrel length: 267mm (10.5 in)
- Cyclic rate of fire: 600 round/min (actual delivered, about 225-300[13])
- Capacity: 20- or 30-round box magazine; 50 or 100-round drum magazine
- Range: 50m (55yd)
M1928A1
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Halftrack-fort-knox-4.jpg/200px-Halftrack-fort-knox-4.jpg)
This variant entered mass production before the attack on Pearl Harbor, as on-hand stocks of the M1928 ran out. Changes included a horizontal forend, in place of the distinctive vertical foregrip ("pistol grip"), and a provision for a military sling. Despite new U.S. contracts for Lend-Lease shipments abroad to China, France, and the United Kingdom, as well as the needs of American armed forces, only two factories supplied M1928A1 Thompsons during the early years of World War II. The weapon was mostly used in the U.S. military by the Marines, who supplied it to units in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Though the weapon could use both the 50-round drum and the 20- or 30-round magazines, active service showed the drums were more prone to jamming and extremely heavy and bulky, especially on long patrols. 562,511 were made.
In addition, the Soviet Union received M1928A1s, included as standard equipment with the M3 Stuart light tanks obtained through Lend-Lease. The weapons were never issued to the Red Army, however, due to a lack of .45 ACP ammunition on the Eastern Front, and were simply put in storage. As of September 2006 limited numbers of these weapons have been re-imported from Russia to the United States as disassembled 'spare parts kits', the entire weapon less the receiver (as required by Federal law).
- Caliber: .45ACP (11.4x23mm)
- Weight (empty): 4.4kg (9 lb 12oz)
- Length: 838mm (33in)
- Barrel length: 318mm (12.5 in) with Cuts
- Cyclic rate of fire: 600 round/min (actual delivered, about 225-300)
- Capacity: 20- or 30-round box; 50-round drum; 18 rounds .45 Peters-Thompson shot cartridges
- Range: 50m (55yd)
M1
The M1, formally adopted as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal. .45, M1, was a result of further simplification. The bolt was modified and rate of fire was also reduced to approximately 600-700 rpm. The M1 utilized a simple blowback operation, the charging handle was moved to the side, and the flip-up adjustable rear sight replaced with a fixed aperture (peep sight). The slots adjoining the magazine well allowing use of the drum magazine were removed, as were the Cutts compensator, the barrel cooling flanges, and the Blish lock.
The less expensive and more-easily manufactured "stick" magazines were used exclusively in this version, with a new 30-round version joining the familiar 20-round type. As the magazine catch had not been designed for the added weight of the heavy 30-round magazine, loaded magazines sometimes inadvertently detached from the weapon.[citation needed]
The M1 also has a permanently attached buttstock, and was first issued in 1942.
- Caliber: .45ACP (11.4x23mm)
- Weight (empty): 4.4kg (9 lb 12oz)
- Length: 808mm (31.8in)
- Barrel length: 267mm (10.5 in)
- Cyclic rate of fire: 700-750 round/min (actual delivered, about 225-300)
- Capacity: 20- or 30-round box
- Range: 50m (55yd)
M1A1
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/M1A1.gif/250px-M1A1.gif)
The multi-piece firing pin of the M1 was supplanted by a simplified firing pin machined into the face of the bolt. The 30-round magazine was very common. Reinforcement wings were added to the fixed rear sight.
The M1A1, formally adopted as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal. .45, M1A1, could be produced in half the time of the M1928A1, and at a much lower cost. In 1939, Thompsons cost the government $209 apiece. By Spring of 1942, cost reduction design changes had brought this down to US$70. In February 1944, the M1A1 reached a low price of US$45 each, including accessories and spare parts. By the end of 1944, the M1A1 was replaced with the even lower-cost M3 (commonly called "Grease Gun").
- Caliber: .45ACP (11.4x23mm)
- Weight (empty): 4.8kg (10 lb 6oz)
- Length: 808mm (31.8in)
- Barrel length: 267mm (10.5 in)
- Cyclic rate of fire: 700-750 round/min (actual delivered, about 225-300)
- Capacity: 20- or 30-round box
- Range: 50m (55yd)
Model 1927A1
The Model 1927A1 is a semi-automatic only version of the Thompson produced by Auto-Ordnance of West Hurley, New York for the civilian gun market from 1974 to 1999. It is officially known as the "Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine, Model of 1927A1." The internal design is completely different, and operates from the closed bolt. It has been produced since 1999 by Kahr Arms of Worcester, MA. This weapon should not be confused with the earlier Model of 1927 produced by Colt for Auto-Ordnance, although its name and designation references the earlier weapon.
Model 1927A3
The Model 1927A3 is a semi-automatic, .22 caliber version of the Thompson produced by Auto-Ordnance of West Hurley, New York.
Model 1927A5
The Model 1927A5 is a semi-automatic, .45ACP version of the Thompson produced by Auto-Ordnance of West Hurley, New York. It featured an aluminum receiver to reduce its weight, since it has no buttstock. In order to classify as a pistol under U.S. laws, it had to be made with a 13" barrel to meet the 26" overall length requirements of a pistol featuring a vertical foregrip.
Civilian ownership in the United States
Due to the perceived popularity of submachine guns such as the Thompson with gangsters in the 1920s and 1930s, the United States Congress passed the National Firearms Act in 1934. Among its provisions, all owners of any fully-automatic firearm were required to register them with the predecessor agency of the modern Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The law also placed severe restrictions on the possession, transfer and transport of the weapons.
All prospective buyers had to register with the government and pay the $200/item transfer tax. Registration required the prospective buyer to declare a reasonable need for owning the weapon, to supply a citizenship certification, photographs and fingerprints. In addition, a certification from state or local law enforcement or court officers the buyer is not under investigation for a crime and possession of the weapon will not violate state or local law is required. Once the paperwork was submitted to the ATF, the FBI performs a thorough background check. Only after the purchase had been cleared (a process normally taking at least four months), may the new owner take possession.
Owners are forbidden to move the gun out of their state of residence without obtaining prior permission from the ATF. The owner is required to keep the weapon within their exclusive control and may not loan it without their immediate supervision to anyone, including family members. Thompsons, as well as all other kinds of fully automatic weapons, are under a legal ban in at least nine states and the District of Columbia.
There are several U.S. made semi-automatic variants. These are less regulated at the federal level but are still banned in several states because of their resemblance to their full auto cousins.
Notwithstanding the legality of ownership, hundreds, if not thousands, of these and other weapons of World War II are in the possession of veterans as "bring back" items. With the number of veterans decreasing rapidly these weapons fall into the possession of the families as illegal weapons, usually unbeknownst to them. Current law does not allow any of these weapons to be registered. Congress is considering an amnesty law which would permit "bring backs" to be registered and thus save these historic and valuable arms. A pristine M1A1 Thompson sold at auction in August 2006 for $28,000.[citation needed]
A number of M1928A1s are still retained in the former Soviet Union. These were provided as lend lease, but as the Red Army standardized on the PPSh-41; many were either kept or replaced in storage. Some have recently been demilitarized by cutting the receiver, and imported into the US as spare parts kits.
See also
References
- ^ Ray Bearse, "The Thompson Submachine Gun: Weapon of War and Peace", in Murtz, Gun Digest Treasury (DBI Books, 1994), p.210
- ^ Development of the Thompson Submachine gun 1996-2006, Gary James
- ^ Fitzsimons, Bernard. Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare (Phoebus, 1977), Volume 23, p.2487
- ^ Fitzsimons, ibid.
- ^ Fitzsimons, op. cit., Volume 3, p.272
- ^ Gudmundsson, Bruce, Stormtroop Tactics: Innovation in the German Army, 1914-1918, Praeger Press, 1995
- ^ Bearse, op. cit., p.213
- ^ Dunlap, Roy F., Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press, 1948
- ^ George, John (Lt.Col), Shots Fired In Anger, Samworth press, 1948
- ^ Dunlap, Roy F., Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press, 1948
- ^ George, John (Lt.Col), Shots Fired In Anger, Samworth press, 1948
- ^ Fitzsimons, op. cit., Volume 23, p.2488
- ^ Bearse, op. cit., p.220
Sources
- Wilson, R.K. (1943). Textbook of Automatic Pistols. Small Arms Technical Publishing Company.
- Dunlap, Roy F. (1948). Ordnance Went Up Front. Samworth Press.
- George, John (Lt. Col). (1948). Shots Fired In Anger. Samworth Press.
- Nelson, Thomas B. (1963). The World's Submachine Guns, Volume I. International Small Arms Publishers.
- Helmer, William J. (1969). The Gun That Made The Twenties Roar. MacMillan, also Gun Room Press.
- Weeks, John. (1980). World War II Small Arms. Galahad Books.
- Cox, Roger A. (1982). The Thompson Submachine Gun. Law Enforcement Ordnance Company.
- Bannan, James F. and Hill, Tracie L. (1989). Notes On Auto-Ordnance. South West Publishing Co.
- Hogg, Ian V. and Weeks, John. (1989). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. DBI Books Inc.
- Huon, Jean. (1995). Les pistolets-mitrailleurs Thompson. Barnett Editions, also Editions Crepin-LeBlond.
- Gudmundsson, Bruce. (1995). Stormtroop Tactics: Innovation in the German Army, 1914–1918. Praeger Press.
- Hill, Tracie L. (1996). Thompson: The American Legend. Collector Grade Publications.
- Herigstad, Gordon. (1996). Colt Thompson Serial Numbers. Self Published.
- Template:Pt icon Olive, Ronaldo. (1996). Guia Internacional de Submetralhadoras. Editora Magnum Ltda.
- Ellis, Chris. (1998). The Thompson Submachine Gun. Military Book Club.
- Iannamico, Frank. (2000). American Thunder: The Military Thompson Submachine Gun. Moose Lake Publishing.
- Iannamico, Frank. (2004). American Thunder II: The Military Thompson Submachine Gun. Moose Lake Publishing.
- Iannamico, Frank. (2004). United States Submachine Guns. Moose Lake Publishing.
- Burrough, Bryan. (2004). Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI. The Penguin Press.
- Albert, David and Sig, Mike. (2005). Thompson Manuals, Catalogs, and Other Paper Items. Self Published.
- Smith, Charles H. A brief story of Auto-Ordnance Company.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Thompson FAQ's, discussion board and research website
- Thompson pictures and videos
- Colt Thompson Cyber Museum
- Official Tommy Gun Home Page
- The Unofficial Tommy Gun Page
- Nâse Noviny
- Second Amendment Foundation
- Research site about the Korean War and the weapons used
- The American Thompson Association
- Thompson Collectors Association