Machine gun development during the First World War did not solely consist of the Benet-Mercie and the “Chauchat.” The poor performance of these weapons during the war instigated the adoption of newer automatic weapons like the Browning Automatic Rifle.[1] Consequently, the results of machine gun performance during the war produced an additional obstacle. The combination of poor placement among units and inadequate designs caused a division in machine gun placement. The United States adopted the Browning Automatic Rifle as a result of experiences during the war.[2] Crew-served machine guns technologically improved, but still, an intermediate weapon between these and automatic rifles made sense.[3] Though the Army disagreed initially, this specific need added to the length of development for automatic weapons in the form of an additional class, the sub-machine gun.
The Maxim machine gun, an example of a crew-served, water-cooled weapon, served adequately during the First World War, but not as an offensive weapon.[4] The above-mentioned “Chauchat” possessed potential as a more maneuverable weapon, but miserable functionality and slow rate of fire prevented its use for assaults and subduing the enemy.[5] John Moses Browning’s invention of an automatic rifle provided many more advantages than other designs, and an ordnance team adopted the weapon in May of 1917.[6] Over 100,000 Browning Automatic Rifles were manufactured by the year 1919.[7] Even with the solid reputation of this weapon, upon the conclusion of the First World War, it had a short career. With such a large amount of these weapons in surplus during the Interwar period, they did not abbreviate development and procurement of machine guns, but solved one tactical problem, leaving a gap between the rifle’s accuracy and suppressive firepower.
Soldiers first utilized sub-machine guns during the First World War, new and innovative as they were, the numerous battlefield inventions over-shadowed their usefulness.[8] Still, automatic weapons caused heavy amounts of carnage, something impossible to ignore during “the machine-gun war.”[9] Two factors impeded the production of automatic rifles and sub-machine guns during the interwar period. The Browning Automatic Rifle, an advantage on the battlefield, required multiple manufacturers including Colt, Marlin-Rockwell, and Winchester but during the Interwar period production stopped for lack of need.[10] Examples of sub-machine guns during the Interwar period, like Auto-Ordnance’s Thompson, found intermittent interest despite excellent reputation.[11] Absence of dedication to the sub-machine gun concept stalled the Thompson’s official adoption until 1928, with mass-production delayed until much later.[12]
[1] Lenz, 204.
[2] Canfield, Bruce N. U.S. Infantry Weapons of World War II. Lincoln, RI: Andrew Mowbray Pub., 1998. 161-163.
[3] Browne, M. W. (1985, Dec 09). HIRAM MAXIM: THE FATHER OF THE MACHINE GUN–AND OF MODERN WARFARE.
[4] Paul Ruffin and Conroy, Bob. Browning Automatic Rifle. Huntsville: Texas Review Press, 2014, 39-40.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid, 42-44.
[7] Ibid.
[8] The Great War Proved to be the Hinge of Modern History. (2016, Jul 06). Topeka Capital Journal, 1.
[9] Ibid, 2.
[10] Canfield, 161-165.
[11] Canfield, 133-139.
[12] U.S. War Department, 1942, Thompson Submachine Gun, cal. .45, M1928A1. Prepared under direction of the Chief of Ordnance, (Washington, DC: War Department). 1-7.
