NAME (NATIVE) – Thompson Gun, Military Model, Model 1923
COMMON NAMES – Military Thompson, Military Model
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1923
CALIBER – 11.43x26mm (45 Remington-Thompson)
OVERALL LENGTH – 91.4 cm (36 in)
BARREL LENGTH – 36.8 cm (14.5 in)
RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6 Groove, Right hand twist, one turn in 41 cm (16 in)
BULLET DIAMETER – 11.46 mm (0.451 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 16.20 g (250 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 442 m/s (1450 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 1583 j (1167 ft/lb)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 5.61 kg (12 lb 6 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 6.26 kg (13 lbs 12.8 oz) with 20 round magazine and 20 rounds Ball
SIGHTS – Front sight – Blade, Rear sight – Folding ladder peep sight, Graduated to 548.6 m (600 yds) in 23 m (25 yd) increments, Battle sight square notch, set to 46 m (50 yds)
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 549 m (600 yds)
OPERATION – Delayed blowback with Blish principle, fires from open bolt
TYPE OF FIRE – Selective, Semi and Full automatic
RATE OF FIRE – 50 rpm (Semi), 70 rpm (Full using 20 rd magazines), 100 rpm (Full using 50 rd drums)
CYCLIC ROF – 920 rpm
FEED DEVICE – 20 round box magazine, Double column, double feed, 50 round drum magazine, all magazines wider than normal to account for longer round.
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 20 rd 0.18 kg (6.4 oz), 50 rd drum 1.14 kg (2 lbs 8.2 oz), 100 rd Drum 1.68 kg (3 lb 11.3 oz)
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 20 rd 0.65 kg (1 lb 4.8 oz), 50 rd drum 2.31 kg (5 lbs 1.5 oz), 4.01 kg (8 lb 13.5 oz)
BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 3-50 rd drums, (150 rds)
LOAD WEIGHT – 6.93 kg (15 lbs 4.5 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Colt Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company Hartford, Connecticut.
STATUS – Obsolete
SERVICE – Unsuccessful model, demonstrations only
Only five specimens of this long-barreled variation of the M1921A Thompson were known to have been produced. The intent behind the modification was to increase the accuracy and range of the Thompson by chambering it for a longer, more powerful cartridge. The barrel did not have a compensator, as it was not available at the time of its design. A folding bipod and horizontal foregrip were added, making this the first Thompson to have the horizontal foregrip.
