REME MUSEUM of TECHNOLOGY

 
Weapon No 170
9 mm (Glisenti Italian Carbine 'Villar Perosa' (OVP))

Italy was the first country to adopt a sub-machine gun, the 'Villar Perosa' in 1915. The original production had no stock and was mounted in dual sets fired with thumb type triggers. This example is a much later model. A stock has been added and it has become a selective fire weapon. Like all other early Italian sub-machine guns it is chambered for the 9 mm Glisenti ammunition, basically a low powered 9 mm Parabellum cartridge.

 
Weapon No 171
9 mm (Glisenti) Carbine Pietro Beretta Gardona 1918/30

This Beretta Carbine is retarded blow back, the same as the 'Villar Perosa' above. It was introduced in 1918 and designed by Tullio Marengoni who designed all the Beretta sub-machine guns until the late 1950s.

 
Weapon No 172
9 mm Parabellum Carbine Beretta M1938/42

Basically a simplified Model 38A. The barrel jacket is not used and all Model 38/42s have a fixed firing pin. There are three distinct types of this Model. Models with the fluted barrel are the 38/42. Those similar in appearance but with a smooth barrel are called the 38/43. The third type, having a shorter bolt, is the 38/44 and is identified by the absence of the recoil spring guide head protruding through the cap on the end of the receiver. The front trigger is for single shot, the rear one for automatic.

 
Weapon No 173
.45 inch Thompson Sub-Machine Gun M1928 Al MI

Although the USA was the third country to develop a sub-machine gun, this type of weapon was not adopted by the US until about 1928 when the US Marines used it at Nicaragua. The Coast Guards also used it against the rum runners during the prohibition period. This Model is a development from the earlier 1921 model by General John T Thompson and the Auto-Ordnance.

 
Weapon No 174
.45 inch Gun Sub-Machine M3

The M3 was adopted in December 1942. It had a number of deficiencies which showed up in field service. It was designed so that by changing the barrel and bolt and adding an adaptor to the magazine, it could be used with 9 mm Parabellum cartridges. Its deficiencies were rectified in the M3Al.

 
Weapon No 175
9 mm (Mauser) SMG Model 1939

A native designed SMG produced in Hungary in the late 1930s and adopted in 1939. It is chambered to use 9 mm Mauser cartridge. The standard model has a one piece stock. A version with a folding wooden butt was produced as the Model 39/A. Both models were only produced in limited quantities.

 
Weapon No 176
9 mm (Glisenti) Beretta M1918/30

A variation of the Beretta series. This model is a blow back operated weapon.

 
Weapon No 177
9 mm Parabellum Carbine Beretta 'Moschetto' M1938A

Beretta produced a modified copy of the Villar Perosa in 1918, called the Beretta Moschetto Automatico or the M1918-30. The 9 mm Parabellum Model 1938A was the first of a series of very well designed, finely made weapons which were widely distributed in countries outside ltaly. Reckoned to be one of the finest Italian small arms in service in World War 2.

 
Weapon No 178
9 mm (Bergmann or Bayard Long) Fontbernat M 1938 (Labora)

A Spanish design sub-machine gun, made in limited numbers during the Spanish Civil War. Other than being made out of expensive machined material during a war and having a push-button type selector, the Labora has no unusual or unique features.

 
Weapon No 179
7.62 mm PPSH M1941 (Burp Gun)

All pre-World War 2 and World War 2 Soviet sub-machine guns were chambered for the Soviet 7.62 mm Pistol cartridge Type P. Although the PPSH M1941 and M1943 are still in use in some of the satellite coutries, all of these guns are now obsolete in the USSR.

See also Weapon No 473.

 
Weapon No 180
9 mm Parabellum MP 40 (Erma)

A redesign of the MP38. Over 1,000,000 of these were made from 1940 to 1944. They were manufactured by Steyr, Haenel and Erma with the assistance of a number of sub-contractors.

 
Weapon No 518
SMG Beretta Mosch 9 mm Model 4

The Model 4 (38/49) is a modified version of the 38/42 and 38/44. In 1956 the Model 38/49 was renamed the Model 4 and is still so designated. The Model 4 is still the standard SMG in the Italian Army. The Model 4 has been a very successful SMG both mechanically and financially. It was sold to Costa Rica, Egypt, Indonesia, Dominics, Thailand, Tunisia and in 1961 it was purchased by the Republic of the Yemen.

All these versions of the 1938A onwards had been the work of one brilliant designer, Tullia Marengoni, and his practices were not continued after his death.

 
Weapons No 521 and 523
PPSH 41 SMG

Similar to Weapon No 179.

 
Weapon No 546
Thompson SMG .45 Model 1928

A standard version of the Thompson M1928 Al. On Commercial and British Service Models, instead of the regular type handguard (Weapon No 173), the weapons have an additional pistol grip below the barrel for holding with the left hand. Apart from the rate of fire being usually higher in commercial models, there are no other differences in the types and parts are interchangeable.

Several type magazines can be used, as probably seen in gangster movies:

• 20 round box magazine

• 30 round box magazine

• 50 round drum magazine

• 100 round drum magazine

The M28AI was followed by the Ml and M1AI. The Ml eliminated the compensator on the muzzle and simple sights were fitted. The MlAl removed the hammer and had an integral firing pin. Nearly 1,400,000 Thompson SMGs of various types were made.

 
Weapon No 547
9 mm MP 38 (Machine Pistol)

This weapon is a similar to Weapon No 184, but modified for drill purpose.

 
Weapon No 548
9 mm MP 40 (Machine Pistol)

This weapon is a similar to Weapon No 180, but modified for drill purpose.