The U.S. Army Wants A New Machine Gun

The M3, as seen here in the hands of Major Reisman does not fit the US Army's new SCW criteria

Popular Mechanics: The U.S. Army is Looking for Its First New Submachine Gun Since WWII

The last time the Army adopted a submachine gun was 75 years ago.

In a surprise move, the U.S. Army is asking industry for ideas for a new submachine gun. The last time the Army adopted a submachine gun was in 1943. It’s not clear why the Army wants a new subgun but it likely has to do with the service's eventual adoption of a new rifle caliber and new assault rifle.

Submachine guns were developed during the World War I as an alternative to bulky, slow-firing bolt action rifles. Short and firing pistol caliber ammunition, they were ideal weapons for assault troops clearing narrow trenches of enemy troops. The U.S. Army went into World War II with the M1928A1 Thompson submachine gun, which fired the same .45 ACP round as the M1911A1 pistol. Towards the end of the war the Thompson was supplemented by the M3 “Grease Gun”, also in .45 ACP.

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Update: BACK TO SUBGUNS? US Army Releases RFI for Sub Compact Weapons (TFB)

WNU Editor:  After 75 years they now want a new machine gun. What has changed?

Update #2: 5 key differences between a machine gun and an automatic rifle (Business Insider/Task & Purpose)