Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the machine pistols category.
01 / Overview
M3 submachine gun
Category
Country
Production
1942–1945
Quantity
655,363
Unit Price (current)
$372.188↗ 1761% inflation · 1943→2025
Original Price
$20 (1943)
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MACHINE PISTOLS · WORLD WAR II
4
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
87
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
$372.188
Original: $20 (1943)
Inflation: +%1761
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the machine pistols category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General7MOD.7
- First Production Year1942
- Service Entry Year1943
- DesignerGeorge Hyde
- Weight (Empty)3.7 kg
- Weight (Loaded)4.5 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersU.S. Army, OSS, French resistance, Belgian resistance, Dutch resistance, Norwegian resistance, Argentine Armed Forces, Philippine Navy
◈Cartridge & Calibre7MOD.7
- Cartridge.45 ACP
- Calibre11.43 mm
- Case Length23 mm
- Calibre Classpistol
- Bullet Weight15.2 g
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation8MOD.8
- Action TypeBlowback
- Fire Modesfull-auto
- Select FireYes
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity30
- Cyclic Rate of Fire450
- Trigger Typesingle-stage
- Safety Typemanual
◇Ballistics4MOD.4
- Muzzle Velocity274 m/s
- Muzzle Energy570
- Effective Range (point)50 m
- Sighting Range91 m
◆Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
- Barrel Length203 mm
- Sight TypeFixed rear peep sight and blade foresight, calibrated to 100 yards for caliber .45 M1911 ball ammunition
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
▤Construction6MOD.6
- Length (stock folded)556 mm
- Receiver Materialsheet metal
- Furniture Materialsheet metal
- Folding / Collapsing StockYes
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost5MOD.5
- Total Production655,363
- Production Start1942
- Production End1945
- Unit Cost20 USD
- Variants3
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1927First deployment: Chinese Civil War
- 1942Production started
- 1945Production ended
84
years in service
3
years in production
655,363
units produced
25
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 2 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
M3 SUBMACHINE GUN · CONFLICTS SERVED IN10% win·19% loss
Total Conflicts
21
Victories
2
Ongoing
0
Losses
4
2011–2024Syrian Civil WarDecisive victory→2003–2011Iraq WarDecisive victory→1998–1999Kosovo War—→1993–2005Burundi Civil War—→1979Sino-Vietnamese War—→1979–1989Soviet-Afghan WarDecisive victory→1979–1992Salvadoran Civil War—→1978–Shaba II—→1977–1991Cambodian–Vietnamese War—→1968–1989Communist insurgency in Malaysia—→1967–1975Cambodian Civil War—→1962Sino-Indian War—→1961Bay of Pigs invasionDecisive victory→1961–1990Nicaraguan Revolution—→1959–1975Laotian Civil WarDecisive victory→1955–1975Vietnam WarDecisive victory→1954–1962Algerian War—→1950–1953Korean War—→1948–1960Malayan Emergency—→1946–1954First Indochina War—→1946–1949Greek Civil War—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
06 / MASS Score
MACHINE PISTOLS RANKING Machine Pistols · World War II
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
61MACHINE PISTOLS4WORLD WAR II · MACHINE PISTOLS1317UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS9PRICE · MACHINE PISTOLS966PRICE · ALL WEAPONS5PERFORMANCE/PRICE · MACHINE PISTOLS
ⓘ Rankings are within theMachine Pistolscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE5terms
A type of firearm action where the breech is not locked and the cartridge case expands to seal the breech, using case expansion and pressure to retain gases.
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a separate container (magazine) that can be removed and replaced, enabling rapid reloading.
A firearm stock that can be folded or collapsed to reduce overall length for storage or transport.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Select fire is a fire selector mechanism on a firearm that lets the shooter choose the firing mode, such as semi‑automatic, burst, or fully automatic.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources