Saunders carried extra 30-round stick magazines inside his jacket. Some soldiers
carried magazine pouches on their belts that held up to three magazines. According to the
Army-Navy Guide from 1942, the Thompson "is used by motorcyclists, and is usually one
of the weapons on armored vehicles." And, in Combat!, used by blond sergeants.
The Thompson was the only submachine gun mass produced in any Allied country during
WWII. The French and British ordered them by the tens of thousands during the war. Though
they were less efficient and costlier than the German submachines guns, they had the great
advantage of being readily available for Allied use!
According to The
Unofficial Tommy Gun Page: "In 1939, Thompsons cost the government $209 apiece.
By Spring of 1942 cost reduction design changes had brought this down to $70. In February
of 1944 the M1A1 model reached a low price of $45 each, including accessories and spare
parts. But by the end of 1944, the M1A1 was replaced with the even lower cost M3 'Grease
Gun.'"
Other US WWII
Weapons pages on this site:
WWII B.A.R. Browning Automatic Rifle
M1911 Colt .45 Pistol - American WWII Handgun
M1 Carbine
M1 Garand Rifle - American WWII Rifles
Tommy Gun - Thompson Submachine Gun
WWII Bazooka
WWII American Tanks and Armor
WWII American Machine Guns
WWII Artillery and Howitzers - American
Mortar Weapons of WWII
WWII Bayonets and Knives - American