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| Country |
USA |
| Type |
Submachine gun |
| Manufacturer |
GMC |
| Introduction |
1942 |
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The M3 is an American .45 caliber submachine gun that uses the .45 ACP (11.43x23mm ACP) pistol cartridge, most commonly referred to as a grease gun, owing to its similarity in appearance to the common mechanic\'s tool. It entered US Army service on December 12, 1942 as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal. .45, M3 and began to replace the .45 caliber Thompson series submachine guns: the M1928A1, M1 and M1A1 that were slowly being withdrawn from use. The designer was George Hyde, while Frederick Sampson – GMC Inland Division chief engineer – was responsible for preparing and organizing production. Even at the development stage, weapon design was focused on simplified production, ease of use and the ability to convert the weapon to the 9x19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge.
Initial prototypes carried the experimental designation T15, and after removing the fire safety selector - T20. In 1942 the submachine guns were subjected to a series of military evaluations, after which they received slightly extended stocks. This variant was then approved for production at the GMC Guide Lamp Division facility. Close to 600,000 weapons were produced by the end of World War II, including approx. 25,000 models chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge (which was achieved through swapping out the barrel, bolt and applying an adapter for use with the British 9 mm Sten submachine gun magazines), which were delivered to the OSS in 1944. The OSS also requested approx. 1000 .45-caliber submachine guns with an integral sound suppressor
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