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
United Defense M42
Category
Country
Production
1942–1943
Quantity
15,000
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MACHINE PISTOLS · WORLD WAR II
14
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
76
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
◎General7MOD.7
- First Production Year1942
- Service Entry Year1942
- DesignerCarl G. Swebilius
- Weight (Empty)4.54 kg
- Weight (Loaded)5 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersOSS agents, Resistance forces, Chinese forces, Philippine troops
◈Cartridge & Calibre7MOD.7
- Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum
- Calibre9 mm
- Case Length19 mm
- Calibre Classpistol
- Bullet Weight8 g
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation9MOD.9
- Action TypeBlowback
- Fire Modesselective fire
- Select FireYes
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity25
- Cyclic Rate of Fire700
- Practical Rate of Fire100
- Trigger Typesingle-stage
- Safety Typemanual safety
◇Ballistics3MOD.3
- Muzzle Velocity335 m/s
- Muzzle Energy510
- Effective Range (point)91 m
◆Barrel & Sights7MOD.7
- Barrel Length279 mm
- Rifling Twistright-hand
- Rifling Grooves6
- Sight Typefixed front post, rear adjustable for windage
- 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 Production15,000
- Production Start1942
- Production End1943
- Variants1
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1927First deployment: Chinese Civil War
- 1942Production started
- 1943Entered service
84
years in service
1
years in production
15,000
units produced
7
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 3 countries retired it.
05 / MASS Score
MACHINE PISTOLS RANKING Machine Pistols · World War II
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
134MACHINE PISTOLS14WORLD WAR II · MACHINE PISTOLS1748UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS120PERFORMANCE/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