Madsen model 1946 (m/46) 1950 (m/50) 1953 (m/53) submachine gun (Denmark)

Madsen model 1946 (m/46) 1950 (m/50) 1953 (m/53) submachine gun (Denmark)

Madsen model 1946 submachine gun

Madsen model 1950 submachine gun

Madsen model 1950 submachine gun, butt folded

Madsen model 1950 submachine gun; receiver is partially opened for disassembly

Madsen model 1950 submachine gun, completely disassembled. Note the magazine loading tool stored inside the hollow pistol grip

Madsen model 1953 submachine gun

Madsen model 1953 Mark 2 submachine gun, with optional barrel jacket and bayonet

disassembly images above are made by Frank from Belgium, who owned that particular Madsen. Thanks, Frank!

 

	Madsen M1946	Madsen M1950	Madsen M1953
Caliber	9x19 Luger / Parabellum
Weight, empty	3.15 kg	3.15 kg	3.2 kg
Barrel length	200 mm	200 mm	200 mm
Length (stock closed/open)	550 / 780 mm	530 / 780 mm	530 / 800 mm
Rate of fire	480 rounds per minute	550 rounds per minute	550 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	32 rounds

The famous Danish company Dansk Industrie Syndicat AS 'Madsen', usually referred simply as Madsen or DISA, manufactured various weapons since the early 1900s. In 1946 Madsen introduced a modern submachine gun, the m/46, which featured an entirely stamped receiver, integral with pistol grip and magazine housing. This SMG also featured unusual charging handle, a bracket-shaped slider above the receiver. But the most unusual feature of the m/46 was the field stripping procedure. The receiver was made from two halves, left and right, hinged at the rear, and held together at the front by the screw-on barrel nut. To disassemble the gun, one must unscrew the barrel nut, and then open the left side of the receiver/housing. Barrel, bolt, return spring and trigger unit will remain in the right "half" of the gun, easily accessible. The hollow pistol grip contained magazine loading tool, and there wee no manual safeties; instead, Madsen m/46 had an automatic safety in the form of the lever just behind the magazine housing; to fire the gun, one must grasp the magazine and this lever securely by non-firing hand, to be able to release the bolt. Otherwise, the m/46 was a fairy conventional blowback design, which fired only in full auto.
Following the initial sucees of the m/46, DISA introduced the M/50, a slightly modified M/46 with more conventional and comfortable charging handle at the top of the gun, and in 1953 Madsen introduced the last gun in this line, M/53, which differed mostly in that it used a curved magazines instead of straight ones, and can be fitted with optional barrel shroud, which had a bayonet mount lug. The M/53 Mark 2 version differed from all other guns in this line by having a fire mode selector. Madsen SMG's were sold to various Asian and South American countries. Brazil also manufactured a licensed copy of the Madsen m/50 in .45ACP caliber.

Madsen M1945 submachine gun (Denmark)

Madsen M1945 submachine gun (Denmark)

Madsen M1945 submachine gun

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	3.15 kg empty
Length	800 mm
Barrel length	315 mm
Rate of fire	850 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	50 rounds

Madsen M1945 submachine gun was developed in 1945 by famous Danish arms-making company Dansk Industrie Syndikat AS (DISA), better known for its trade mark "Madsen". The Madsen model  1945 submachine gun was one of the last "old style" submachine guns, designed for expensive old-style manufacturing techniques that included plenty of milling and machining of steel, rather than stamping and welding. Not surprisingly, this gun was quite expensive and saw little success - it was sold in very limited numbers to Mexico and el Salvador, and within a year after its introduction it was replaced in production with much more simple and inexpensive weapon, the Madsen model 1946 submachine gun.

Madsen M1945 submachine gun is a blowback weapon that fires from open bolt, in full automatic mode only. The design of the bolt and return spring was patterned after the blowback pistols, as the breechblock was attached to the long "slide", which enclosed the barrel forward of the chamber for most of its length. The return spring was located around the barrel, and the cocking was achieved by gripping the serrations on the sides of the slide and pulling the slide back until the bolt is locked by the sear. The firing pin was a separate movable arrangement, which projected forward from the bolt face only when the bolt was fully in battery, thanks to the internal lever that controlled firing pin movement. The safety was made in the form of the lever, located in the front of the trigger guard. The weapon was put into rifle-type wooden stock, although a version with underfolding stock, made from steel wire, was also briefly promoted. Gun was fed from  Suomi-type 50-round 4-stack box magazines. Sights consisted of the front protected post and two separate folding rear blades, marked for 100 and 200 meters.

SKORPION / SCORPION EVO III submachine gun (Czech republic)

SKORPION / SCORPION EVO III submachine gun (Czech republic)

prototype Laugo submachine gun, which served as a starting point for the design of SKORPION EVO III submachine gun

SKORPION EVO III submachine gun

SKORPION EVO III submachine gun

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	2.1 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	400 / 650 mm
Barrel length	196 mm
Rate of fire	1100 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	20 or 30 rounds

SKORPION EVO III submachine gun is a most recent product of the famous Czech small arms manufacturer Česka Zbrojevka Uherski Brod (CZ-UB). This weapon began its life in Slovakia in around 2002, as the Laugo submachine gun / personal defense weapon. Once the design became mature, it was sold to CZ-UB, which brought it to public attention in 2009 as SKORPION EVO III submachine gun. It seems that this weapon is targeted for police market, but it also can found some use by certain military units. An export version of the SKORPION EVO III submachine gun is also proposed, chambered for .40SW ammunition which is very popular as a police round in USA and certain South American countries.

SKORPION EVO III submachine gun is a simple blowback operated, selective fired weapon that fires from closed bolt. It has a separate hammer unit, with ambidextrous safety / fire mode selector, that offers single shots, 3-round bursts and full automatic fire modes. The charging handle is located on the left side of the gun, above the forend. The receiver, pistol grip / trigger unit and the forend all are made from polymer. The side-folding shoulder stock is also made from polymer, and can be adjusted for length of pull due to telescopic design. Iron sights are installed on removable bases, using integral Picatinny type rail on the top of receiver. Additional sighting equipment can be added using this same rail; three more accessory rails are installed at the sides and bottom of the forend. Feed is from detachable box magazines, made of semi-translucent plastic, that hold 20 or 30 rounds of ammunition.

Scorpion SA Vz 61 submachine gun (Czechoslovakia / Czech Republic)

Scorpion SA Vz 61 submachine gun (Czechoslovakia / Czech Republic)

Scorpion SA Vz 61 submachine gun, with 10-round magazine. Shoulder stock folded

Scorpion SA Vz 61 submachine gun with shoulder stock unfolded

Scorpion SA Vz 68 - a rare version of the basic submachine gun produced for infantry use, chambered for 9x19 ammunition

Scorpion SA Vz 82 submachine gun, chambered for 9x18 PM ammunition

the last in Scorpion line - SA 361 submachine gun, chambered for 9x19 Luger / Parabellum ammunition

Caliber: 7.65x17mm (.32ACP) in vz.61; also 9x18mm Makarov in vz.82 and 9x17mm (.380ACP) in vz.83
Weight: 1.28 kg without magazine
Length (stock closed/open): 270 / 517 mm
Barrel length: 115 mm
Rate of fire: ca. 850 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 10 or 20 rounds
Effective range: 25 meters

The Scorpion submachine gun is an interesting little weapon which is somewhat hard to classify - is it a machine pistol (a full-automatic weapon for single-hand fire) or a submachine gun (also an automatic weapon, but for shoulder fire). Either way, there are pros and cons. Nevertheless, this weapon deserved its place in history of firearms. Its development was initiated in late 1950s, with intent to provide various non-infantry units with lightweight personal defense weapon that is more effective than a pistol, but is no more obtrusive. Another niche for Scorpion was use by various special forces, because the selected cartridge, known as 7,65x17 Browning / .32 ACP can be easily silenced. First prototypes of a new weapon were built in 1959, and official adoption followed in 1961, under designation of "Samopal Vzor 1961" (submachine gun model of 1961), or SA Vz.61 in short. This weapon was issued to various units in Czechoslovak army, and also widely exported. Licensed version of the Scorpion was produced in Yugoslavia, where it was widely issued as an military officer's sidearm. At least few Scorpions found its way to the hands of various terrorist groups, which favored it for its small size and ease of silencing. It also can be easily fired singe-handedly, like most pistols.
When Czechoslovak army adopted Soviet 9x18 PM pistol cartridge in 1982, the Scorpion was redesigned to accept this bigger and somewhat more powerful ammunition. Export versions of the new model, known in Czechoslovak service as SA Vz.82, were produced in 9x17 Browning / .380 ACP. The last versions of the Scorpion family were produced during early 1990s, and included "military-type" selective-fired SA 391 and "civilian" SA 91s, which was semi-automatic only. Either gun was chambered for 9x19 Luger / Parabellum ammunition. The SA 391 is still being offered to eligible buyers by famous CZ-UB factory.

Scorpion submachine gun is blowback operated weapon, with original rate-reducing mechanism. The rate reducer uses special sear which locks the bolt in the rearward position. A special plunger reciprocates down and up in the channel made within pistol grip. When bolt comes to its rearmost position, it strikes the plunger and then is locked by the sear. Plunger cycles inside its channel, and on its return trips the sear to release the bolt. This produces enough delay to slow down the cyclic rate of fire to reasonable 850 rounds per minute. The firing is controlled by the trigger unit with separate hammer and manual safety / fire selector which permits for single shots and full automatic fire. Cocking handle is made in the form of dual sliders, which are located on both sides of stamped steel upper receiver. The lower receiver, which hosts pistol grip, trigger unit and magazine, is made from machined steel.
Magazines are double stack, and capacity varies depending on the version and caliber (standard capacity is 10 or 20 rounds). Gun is fitted with folding shoulder stock, made from steel wire, and is usually issued with leather pistol-type holster and magazine pouches.

atom bomb for japanese

Hastings argues that our understanding of the events of 1939-45 would be improved by referring to World Wars II, since the only thing in common between the Europe conflict and the Pacific war was the identity of adversaries.

He points out that a Japanese attack on the Soviet rear in 1941 would have had much more consequence than Pearl Harbor, where they did not smash the American fleet, but sank only six old battleships, two of which were repaired and fought later in the war. Hitler did not even try to enlist Japanese assistance until the loss of Stalingrad in 1943, by which time the Japanese could offer very little.

It also helps our understanding of the war to realize that the Japanese did not attack independent countries in Asia. Rather, they invaded colonial outposts that Europeans had dominated for generations. Japanese treatment of the Asian people they conquered was even worse than their treatment of whites they captured.

Hastings blames the Japanese warrior ethic of bushido for the barbarous way their armed forces treated conquered people and prisoners. Their cult of honor precluded individual surrender, even requiring suicide to avoid loss of face. That attitude caused them to treat prisoners with contempt and made it exceedingly difficult for them to admit defeat. At a time when 50,000 Germans were surrendering each month, the Allies held fewer than 2,000 Japanese prisoners. Many Japanese who appeared ready to surrender were actually setting traps to kill their putative captors. Japanese sailors rescued from drowning by Americans after their own ships were sunk often tried to sabotage the rescuing vessels. After many such incidents early in the war, Americans became justifiably reluctant to take prisoners.

Hastings tells the tale of the British fighting in Burma under their very able general William Slim. Fighting was brutal and logistics were dreadful. Although the effort was heroic and competent, that theater did little or nothing to end the war.

Hastings paints incisive portraits of some of the principal characters of the drama. Stalin is calculating and ruthless, no surprise here. Truman is limited in talent, but his wisdom, honesty, and general goodness enables him to make great decisions. MacArthur is egomaniacal and not even a good general, but his behavior after the surrender was magnanimous and admirable. Nimitz and the navy did much more than MacArthur’s army to defeat the Japanese. Chiang Kai-shek was petty, ineffectual, and corrupt, much more interested in fighting Mao that the Japanese. Mao stayed out of the way of the Japanese and avoided conflict until the Japanese had been defeated and left China.

B-29s in formation near Mt. Fuji

The story of the B-29 is particularly interesting. The development of the bomber was more expensive than the development of the atomic bomb. Moreover, the first B-29s delivered were not very reliable, and were as much a danger to their own crew as to the Japanese. The first B-29s were deployed in India and China, but the Japanese soon conquered enough Chinese territory to drive the B-29s out of range of the home islands. The later models of the plane became very formidable, and rugged enough to hold off Japanese fighter aircraft by themselves.

By August 1945, the Soviets were no longer allies of the Americans. The U.S. would have preferred for the Russians to stay out of the war, but Stalin ordered 1.5 million soldiers to invade Manchuria. The Russians took nearly the entire manufacturing infrastructure of Manchuria back with them.

The Japanese government was incapable of reacting quickly. By early summer 1945, after the loss of the Marianas, the Japanese situation was clearly hopeless with the home islands within the range of the improved B-29s. The atomic bombs and the Soviet invasion might have been avoided, but Japan could not make timely decisions that would fundamentally change their conduct of the war.

The decision to drop the atomic bombs was made before Potsdam, with Truman concurring rather than leading. The theater commanders were then given full authority to select the timing and targets.

Hastings argues that the bombs saved lives, certainly compared to the loss of life that an invasion of the home islands would have entailed. Even if it had not been necessary to invade the home islands, the bombs hastened the very slow decision making of the Japanese. Because the Japanese had no effective air defenses many more lives would have been lost through firebombing cities and the total destruction of the Japanese transportation system.

Many key governmental and military officials committed seppuku (ritual suicide) after the surrender. Those who did not feared junior officers would assassinate them. Even after surrender, Japan still had millions of soldiers stationed in China and the remaining Pacific islands, many of whom did not want to surrender.

 

ZK-383 submachine gun (Czechoslovakia)

ZK-383 submachine gun (Czechoslovakia)

ZK-383 submachine gun, right side

ZK-383 submachine gun, left side

ZK-383P submachine gun; note that it has no facilities to mount a bipod

ZK-383H submachine gun of post-WW2 manufacture, with bottom-feed magazine that can be folded forward for carrying

Data for ZK-383 submachine gun

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight, empty	4.25 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	875 mm
Barrel length	325 mm
Rate of fire	500 or 700 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	30 rounds
Effective range	250 meters

The ZK-383 submachine gun was developed during late 1930s by Czechoslovak arms designers brothers Koucky, who at the time worked at the Zbrojovka Brno arms factory. Produced since 1938, this submachine gun was exported to certain smaller European countries, as well as to Latin America (most notably the Venezuela and Bolivia). Production of the ZK-383 continued at Brno during German occupation, with most wartime guns being  supplied to German Waffen-SS troops and occupation police forces. The ZK-383 was also briefly produced after the war, before being replaced in production with more modern and compact weapons such as Cz. Vz.48 / Sa 23. One of most notable European users of ZK-383 was the Bulgarian army, which used these guns until about 1966. The ZK-383 is an interesting weapon because it was initially developed more like a squad support weapon rather than an individual weapon - it was heavy, solidly made, and capable of some serious firepower (considering the pistol ammunition used, of cause). It was also fitted with 'long range' rifle type sights and integral folding bipod. there also were two later versions of the ZK-383 - the 'Police' ZK-383P which had no bipod, and post-war ZK-383H which also had no bipod and had folding forward magazine housing below the receiver (rather than fixed housing on the left side). Total production of all three versions of ZK-383 is estimated as no less than 20,000 guns.

The ZK-383 submachine gun is blowback operated, selective fired weapon. Unlike most other submachine guns, it had a quick-detachable barrel, with barrel lock / release mechanism located in the front sight base, at the front of the barrel jacket.ZK-383 fired from open bolt, and featured removable bolt weight which, when removed, increased cyclic rate of fire from about 500 to roughly 700 rounds per minute. Feed was from box magazines, inserted from the left side, with magazine slightly canted down, ejection was to the right. Manual safety was made in the form of the cross-bolt button located above the trigger, and fire mode selector was located on the left side of the receiver, above and to the front of the trigger. Gun was quipped with two-piece wooden stock and folding bipod, which was attached to the barrel jacket. When folded, bipod was partly concealed within the cut made in the bottom of the forend. Sights were adjustable for range between 50 and 600 meters.

Type 05 5.8mm / JS 9mm submachine gun (PR China)

Type 05 5.8mm / JS 9mm submachine gun (PR China)

Military issue Type 05 submachine gun, caliber 5.8x21mm

Police-type JS submachine gun, caliber 9x19mm, fitted with telescope sight and detachable silencer

	Type 05	JS (Jian She)
Caliber	5.8x21mm DAP92-5.8	9x19mm DAP92-9 (9mm Luger/Para)
Weight	2.2 kg empty	2.1 kg empty
Length	500 mm	450 mm
Barrel length	n/a	n/a
Rate of fire	n/a	n/a
Magazine capacity	50 rounds	30 rounds
Effective range	150-200 m	100-150 m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Type 05 submachine gun is the join development of the PLA's 208 Research Institute and Jian She Group. This design won the Compact Submachine gun trials initiated by PLA in early 1990s, and is intended to replace earlier weapons in service with PLA, such as Type 85 silenced submachine gun. Externally resembling the new Chinese assault rifle, the QBZ-95, the Type 05 is much simpler design internally. For military use it is produced in the new Chinese 5.8mm caliber, chambered for 5.8x21 DAP92-5.8 cartridge, which is loaded with pointed, armor piercing bullets; subsonic loadings also available for use with detachable silencer. For police use and commercial export sales, Jian She Group also produced a 9mm version of the Type 05, generally known as JS submachine gun. This weapon is similar in design to its military brother but uses standard Picatinny rail instead of carrying handle, and also uses commonly available 9mm magazines compatible with famous German HK MP5 submachine gun.

Type 05 submachine gun is blowback operated weapon that fires from open bolt. Gun is made in bullpup configuration, with compact aluminium receiver and separate polymer shoulder stock / housing and pistol grip / trigger units. Safety / fire mode selector switch is located above the pistol grip, and allows for single shots, 3-round bursts and full automatic fire; charging handle is located at the top of the receiver, inside the carrying handle on Type 05 submachine guns, and on the right side on the JS 9mm submachine gun. Both weapons also fitted with automated grip safety. Despite the bullpup design, ejection is possible only to the right side, so firing from the left shoulder is seems to be impossible or art least dangerous for the shooter. Type 05 submachine guns are fitted with open sights and with proprietary scope mounts at the top of carrying handle; JS submachine guns have no open sights and fitted with Picatinny rail at the top of the receiver which can accept various types of sighting equipment. Either weapon can be equipped with detachable optional silencer. Military issue Type 05 submachine guns are fed from proprietary four-row box magazines that hold 50 rounds of 5.8mm ammunition; JS submachine guns use two-row 30-round box magazines compatible with HK MP5.

Special thanks to Timothy Yan for detailed information on this weapon. 

Chang Feng submachine gun (PR China)

Chang Feng submachine gun (PR China)

Early version of Chang Feng submachine gun chambered for 5.8x21 DAP58 ammunition; this weapon had dual feed option, with primary helical magazine located at the top of the receiver and secondary pistol-type magazine located in the rear grip.

Current version of the Chang Feng submachine gun, chambered for ubiquitous 9x19 cartridge; secondary feed option with pistol magazine is omitted from design. Gun is fitted with red dot (collimating) sight.

Caliber: 9x19mm Luger/Para
Weight: 2.1 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open): 405 / 588 mm
Barrel length: 250 mm
Rate of fire: 800 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 50 rounds
Effective range: 100-150 meters

This submachine gun has been developed by Chinese Chang Feng corporation for Compact Submachine Gun trials initiated by PLA (Chinese Army) in early 1990s. This weapon has been designed by the same people who previously designed the QSZ-92 pistol, which is now in use by PLA and PAP. This design (chambered for new Chinese 5.8x21 DAP-58 round) lost the military trials because of overly complicated design, and by now is offered to Chinese law enforcement agencies, chambered for 9x19 DAP-92 (Chinese version of 9x19 Luger/Parabellum) ammunition.

The Chang Feng submachine gun is blowback operated and uses telescoped bolt which wraps around the barrel in forward position. Receiver is made from polymer and is open at the top; two pistol grips are integral to receiver. Primary feed is from helical magazine made from translucent polymer; magazine is located at the top of the weapon and is similar in design to magazines of US Calico submachine guns. Early prototypes also had secondary feed option, in the form of the QSZ-92 pistol magazine that was inserted into the rear pistol grip; it is not known how gun was fed if both magazines were inserted simultaneously. Chang Feng submachine gun is fitted with open sights, and has a mounting point for red dot or night sight just behind the rear sight block. Barrel of the weapon is threaded to accept optional detachable silencer. Shoulder stock is of telescoped (retractable) type, and is made from polymer.

Special thanks to Timothy Yan for detailed information on this weapon. 

Type 85 submachine gun (PR China)

Type 85 submachine gun (PR China)

Type 85 submachine gun

Type 85 silenced submachine gun

	Type 85	Type 85 silenced
Caliber	7.62x25 Type 51 / TT	7.62x25 Type 64
Weight	1.9 kg empty	2.5 kg empty
Length  (stock closed/open)	444 / 628 mm	631 / 869 mm
Barrel length	210 mm	n/a
Rate of fire	780 rounds per minute	800 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	30 rounds	30 rounds
Effective range	150-200 m	100-150 m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Type 85 submachine gun has been developed during early 1980s as a less expensive replacement for Type 79 submachine gun; silenced version of the same weapon was developed to replace Type 64 silenced submachine guns then in service with PLA. Both weapons were offered for export sales, as well as used by domestic police and military units.

Type 85 submachine gun is a simple blowback weapon that fires from open bolt. It uses tubular receiver made from steel; long silencer tube is also made from steel. Safety / fire mode selector lever is located at the right side of the trigger unit, above the triggerguard, and allows for single shots and full automatic fire. Type 85 silenced SMG is optimized for special 7.62x25mm type 64 ammunition with heavy, subsonic bullet, but also can fire standard 7.62mm Type 51 / 7.62x25mm TT ammunition (with increased sound level). Gun is fed using same 30-round box magazines as Type 64 SMG. Shoulder stock is made from steel and folds to the right when not in use.

Type 79 submachine gun (PR China)

Type 79 submachine gun (PR China)

Caliber: 7.62x25mm TT
Weight: 1.9 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open): 470 / 740 mm
Barrel length: n/a
Rate of fire: 500 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds
Effective range: 100-150 meters

Type 79 submachine gun is rather unusual for its class as it is very lightweight and uses locked breech, gas operated action instead of more traditional (for SMG) blowback action. This weapon was (and probably still is) widely used by PAP (Chinese police).

Type 79 submachine gun uses gas operated, rotary bolt action with short stroke gas piston, located above the barrel. Bolt group is more or less an adaptation of the Type 56 (AK) assault rifle, with similar bolt carrier (less gas piston) and a rotary bolt with two locking lugs. Receiver is made from steel stampings. Fire mode selector / safety switch is also patterned after Type 56 (AK) assault rifle, and allows for single shots and full automatic fire. Type 79 fires from closed bolt and uses conventional hammer-fired mechanism. Box magazines hold only 20 rounds of ammunition. Shoulder stock is made from stamped steel and folds up and forward when not in use.