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
Thompson submachine gun
Category
Country
Production
1938–1945
Quantity
1,750,000
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MACHINE PISTOLS · INTERWAR PERIOD
10
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
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1921
- Service Entry Year1921
- DesignerJohn T. Thompson
- Weight (Empty)4.9 kg
- Weight (Loaded)7.3 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
◈Cartridge & Calibre7MOD.7
- Cartridge.45 ACP
- Calibre11.43 mm
- Case Length23.1 mm
- Calibre Classpistol
- Bullet Weight14.9 g
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation10MOD.10
- Action TypeBlowback
- Fire Modesselective fire
- Select FireYes
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity20
- Drum / Belt Capacity50
- Cyclic Rate of Fire700
- Practical Rate of Fire100
- Trigger Typesingle-stage
- Safety Typecross-bolt
◇Ballistics8MOD.8
- Muzzle Velocity280 m/s
- Muzzle Energy560
- Effective Range (point)50 m
- Effective Range (area)100 m
- Maximum Range1,500 m
- Sighting Range100 m
- Penetration100 mm
- Accuracy10
◆Barrel & Sights8MOD.8
- Barrel Length267 mm
- Rifling Twist1:10
- Rifling Grooves6
- Sight Typeadjustable rear, fixed front
- Sight Radius559 mm
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
▤Construction6MOD.6
- Receiver Materialsteel
- Furniture Materialwood
- Folding / Collapsing StockNo
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
- Modularitynone
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost4MOD.4
- Total Production1,750,000
- Production Start1921
- Production End1945
- Variants10
◎Additional Dimensions2MOD.2
- Width50 mm
- Height200 mm
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1898First deployment: Banana Wars
- 1938Production started
- 1945Production ended
88
years in service
7
years in production
1,750,000
units produced
46
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN · CONFLICTS SERVED IN29% win·14% loss
Total Conflicts
7
Victories
2
Ongoing
0
Losses
1
2003–2011Iraq WarDecisive victory→1979–1989Soviet-Afghan WarDecisive victory→1955–1975Vietnam WarDecisive victory→1954–1962Algerian War—→1950–1953Korean War—→1946–1954First Indochina War—→1946–1949Greek Civil War—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries46country
06 / MASS Score
MACHINE PISTOLS RANKING Machine Pistols · Interwar Period
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
98MACHINE PISTOLS10INTERWAR PERIOD · MACHINE PISTOLS1540UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS147PERFORMANCE/PRICE · MACHINE PISTOLS
ⓘ Rankings are within theMachine Pistolscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
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.
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