# "THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN" 1942 U.S. ARMY TOMMY GUN INSTRUCTIONAL FILM FOR INFANTRY 25524

This WWII U.S. Army film from 1942 describes the operation of the Thompson Submachine Gun. The Thompson submachine gun (nicknamed the Thompson) is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1918, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals. The Thompson was also known informally as: the "Tommy Gun", "Trench Broom", "Trench Sweeper", "Chicago Typewriter", "Chicago Piano", "Chicago Style", "Chicago Organ Grinder", and "The Chopper". As the film shows, the firing cycle is divided into three phases: the backward movement of recoiling parts, the forward movement of recoiling parts, and the trigger mechanism. 00:00 start At 0:35 - 1:09, the explanation of the firing cycle is introduced, which is divided into three phases. In the first phase, after firing, pressure is transmitted from the bolt to the lock and receiver. The high chamber pressure ensures that the lock remains engaged with the receiver, keeping the bolt in place until the pressure subsides. Between 1:09 - 1:52, it is explained that the lock is made of bronze, while the bolt and receiver are steel. As the chamber pressure decreases, the lock moves upward, disengaging from the receiver and allowing the bolt to move backward. From 1:52 - 2:38, the lock's angle ensures that the bolt moves back only when pressure is low enough. The backward movement ejects the spent cartridge and compresses the…

- Kind: Educational
- Genres: Education, Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/25524ThompsonMachineGun)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/25524ThompsonMachineGun?play=1)