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
M56 Submachine gun
Category
Country
Production
1956–1975
Quantity
88,998
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MACHINE PISTOLS · EARLY COLD WAR
11
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
68
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the machine pistols category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General4MOD.4
- First Production Year1960
- Service Entry Year1961
- Weight (Empty)3 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
◈Cartridge & Calibre6MOD.6
- Cartridge7.62×25mm Tokarev
- Calibre7.62 mm
- Case Length25 mm
- Calibre Class7.62mm
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation6MOD.6
- Action TypeBlowback
- Fire Modessemi-automatic, full-automatic
- Select FireYes
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity32
- Cyclic Rate of Fire600
◇Ballistics1MOD.1
- Effective Range (point)200 m
◆Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
- Barrel Length250 mm
- Sight TypeFront blade, flip-up rear iron sights
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
▤Construction4MOD.4
- Length (stock folded)591 mm
- Folding / Collapsing StockYes
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost4MOD.4
- Total Production88,998
- Production Start1960
- Production End1975
- Variants0
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1956Production started
- 1960Entered service
- 1975Production ended
70
years in service
19
years in production
88,998
units produced
6
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
M56 SUBMACHINE GUN · CONFLICTS SERVED IN50% win
Total Conflicts
2
Victories
1
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries6country
06 / MASS Score
MACHINE PISTOLS RANKING Machine Pistols · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
80MACHINE PISTOLS11EARLY COLD WAR · MACHINE PISTOLS62SERBIA · ALL WEAPONS147PERFORMANCE/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