NAME – Hyde-Inland M2

NAME (NATIVE) – Submachine Gun, Cal. .45, M2

COMMON NAMES – M2 Submachine gun

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1942

CALIBER – 11.43x23mm (.45 ACP)

OVERALL LENGTH – 81.5 cm (32.1 in)

BARREL LENGTH – 30.7 cm (12.1 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 4 grooves, Right hand twist

BULLET DIAMETER – 11.46 mm (0.451 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 15 g (230 grain)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 293 m/s (960 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 638 j (471 ft/lbs)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 4.20 kg (9 lbs 4 oz)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 5.06 kg (11 lbs 2.3 oz) with 30 round magazine

SIGHTS – Front – Blade, Rear – Fixed aperture sight with “V” notch above

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 183 m (200 yds)

OPERATION – Blowback, fires from open bolt

TYPE OF FIRE – Selective fire, Semi and Full automatic

CYCLIC ROF – 500 rpm

RATE OF FIRE – 40 rpm (Semi), 80 rpm (Full)

FEED DEVICE – 20 and 30 round box magazines, Double column, Double feed (Thompson Magazines)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 20 rd 0.18 kg (6.4 oz), 30 rd 0.23 kg (8 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 20 rd 0.6 kg (1 lb 5.2 oz), 30 rd 0.86 kg (1 lb 14.3 oz)

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 6 – 30 round magazines (180 rounds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 5.16 kg (11 lbs 5.8 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Inland Division, General Motors Corporation, Marlin Firearms Company, New Haven, Connecticut.

STATUS – Obsolete

SERVICE – Designated “Substitute Standard” in April, 1942

     Designed by George Hyde, this was an evolution of his previous weapons. Submitted as the Hyde-Inland II in June, 1942. The design proved superior to the M1 and M1928A1 Thompsons in general accuracy, particularly in full automatic fire. Minor improvements to the basic design (deepening the magazine well and redo the buffer) resulted in the weapon being recommended for adoption. Many difficulties prevented the weapon from reaching production until May, 1943. That was five months after the M3 “Greasegun” had been standardized. The production of the M2 was ceased after about 400 weapons had been produced.

 

The right side of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. A simple, straightforward design that was adopted by the US Military but was unable to get into production fast enough and was replaced by the M3 submachinegun. The weapon follows the lines of a standard carbine with a wooden stock and pistol grip. The thick receiver is due to the bolt having two diameters. The rear of the bolt is of a large diameter while the front portion is much smaller. This helps cut down the overall length of the weapon while still making it a simple blowback action. The Hyde-Inland M2 was designed to use the Thompson box magazines. This specimen is loaded with a 30 round magazine. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
The right side of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. A simple, straightforward design that was adopted by the US Military but was unable to get into production fast enough and was replaced by the M3 submachinegun. The weapon follows the lines of a standard carbine with a wooden stock and pistol grip. The thick receiver is due to the bolt having two diameters. The rear of the bolt is of a large diameter while the front portion is much smaller. This helps cut down the overall length of the weapon while still making it a simple blowback action. The Hyde-Inland M2 was designed to use the Thompson box magazines. This specimen is loaded with a 30 round magazine. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
An upper right side view of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. The ejection port is in the smaller diameter portion of the receiver, just slightly ahead and above the magazine. The cocking lever, just to the rear of the ejection port, completely covers the inside of the slot it moves in, helping to seal the action against dirt. This specimen is loaded with a 20 round Thompson box magazine. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
An upper right side view of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. The ejection port is in the smaller diameter portion of the receiver, just slightly ahead and above the magazine. The cocking lever, just to the rear of the ejection port, completely covers the inside of the slot it moves in, helping to seal the action against dirt. This specimen is loaded with a 20 round Thompson box magazine. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
A fields-stripped view of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. The double-diameter of the receiver body can be clearly seen in this photo. This action is due to the unusual bolt, seen above the cocking lever (reversed) in the center of the picture. The thick, heavy body of the bolt allows the weapon to have a very short receiver. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
A fields-stripped view of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. The double-diameter of the receiver body can be clearly seen in this photo. This action is due to the unusual bolt, seen above the cocking lever (reversed) in the center of the picture. The thick, heavy body of the bolt allows the weapon to have a very short receiver. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
The right side of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. This specimen is loaded with a 30 round box magazine from the Thompson submachinegun. PHOTO CREDIT: Springfield Armory National Historical Site
The right side of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. This specimen is loaded with a 30 round box magazine from the Thompson submachinegun. PHOTO CREDIT: Springfield Armory National Historical Site
The very compact lines of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun can bee seen in this illustration. The safety/Selector switch can jusr be seen above the pistol grip where it can be reached by the firer’s right thumb. PHOTO CREDIT: Springfield Armory National Historical Site
The very compact lines of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun can bee seen in this illustration. The safety/Selector switch can jusr be seen above the pistol grip where it can be reached by the firer’s right thumb. PHOTO CREDIT: Springfield Armory National Historical Site
A fields-stripped view of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. The double-diameter of the receiver body can be clearly seen in this photo. This action is due to the unusual bolt, seen above the cocking lever (reversed) in the center of the picture. The thick, heavy body of the bolt allows the weapon to have a very short receiver. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army
A fields-stripped view of the Hyde-Inland M2 submachinegun. The double-diameter of the receiver body can be clearly seen in this photo. This action is due to the unusual bolt, seen above the cocking lever (reversed) in the center of the picture. The thick, heavy body of the bolt allows the weapon to have a very short receiver. PHOTO CREDIT: US Army