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Submachine Gun, Cal. .45, M3/M3A1

The M3 was a blow back submachine fielded in December 1942. It could only be fired on fully-automatic. It used a .45 cal. cartridge in 30-round magazines. It's rate of fire was 350-450 spm. The M3A1 was used during World War II and Korea. Following World War II, the role of submachine guns was greatly diminished with the introduction of assault rifles and light portable machine guns. Submachine guns are still used by Special Forces, air crews, armored vehicles, counter-terrorist units, and Naval personnel (679,200).


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http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m3smg.htm
Maintained by Robert Sherman
Originally created by John Pike
Updated Saturday, August 07, 1999 6:35:42 AM