I know this is going to sound an even dafter question than I usually ask, but Mr T asked the other day what a 'sub machine' gun was.....And I realised that I didn't really know the definitive answer.

If a 'machine gun' is designed to fire pistol bullets from a magazine...It's known as a sub machine gun.....Is that basically it ?
A machine gun uses a belt or magazine with bullets that wouldn't fit in a pistol.

But aren't there hand held 'pistols' that fire 50 cal rounds ?.....I'm confused (as always).

Cheers - Phil

When it grows up? 

The Vickers, Browning .5, Mg 34 and 42 and the Maxim are all belt fed so they would be MG. If it uses a magazine and has a bipod it's an LMG; if it can be used as an individual weapon ie the Schmeisser it's an SMG. That's my take on it anyway.

Can it be used on a sub?

Quote from: mad lemmey on 24 August 2015, 10:49:31 AM
Can it be used on a sub?

With mayo and a side order of fries? 

Mollinary

Wikipedia's take on it:

--------------------
A submachine gun (SMG) is an air-cooled, magazine-fed, automatic carbine designed to fire pistol cartridges. The term "submachine gun" was coined by John T. Thompson, the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun.

The submachine gun was developed during World War I (1914–1918). At its zenith during World War II (1939–1945), millions of SMGs were made. After the war, new SMG designs appeared almost every week. However, by the 1980's the SMGs days were numbered. Today, submachine guns have been largely replaced by assault rifles, which have a greater effective range and are capable of penetrating the helmets and body armor used by modern infantrymen. However, submachine guns are still widely used by police SWAT teams and military special forces.

There are some inconsistencies in the classification of submachine guns. British Commonwealth sources often refer to SMGs as "machine carbines". Other sources refer to SMGs as "machine pistols" because they fire pistol-caliber ammunition, for example, the MP-40 and MP5, where "MP" stands for Maschinenpistole ("machine pistol" in German). However, the term "machine pistol" is also used to describe a handgun-style firearm capable of fully automatic or burst fire, such as the Stechkin, Beretta 93R and the H&K VP70. Personal Defence Weapons (PDW) such as the FN P90 and H&K MP7 are also commonly referred to as submachine guns. In addition, some compact assault rifles, such as the Colt XM177, HK53 and AKS-74U, are also referred to as SMGs, because they are used in the submachine gun role.

Quote from: mollinary on 24 August 2015, 10:53:05 AM
With mayo and a side order of fries? 

Mollinary

Seems a bit confused here.....

Sub-machine gun - weapon using pistol ammunition, and carried as a personal weapon - capable of full auto fire although not used too frequently.
Assault Rifle - personal weapon capable of firing full auto although not often used that way, using kurtz or small calibre (5.56mm) ammunition, there are exceptions - FN FAL is one.   
Squad Auto Weapon. Weapon with a fixed barrel intended to provide suppressive fire - uses the standard rifle ammo and has bipod. May be belt fed.
Light Machine Gun - uses full calibre ammunition gas removable barrel and has a bipod. - May be magazine or belt fed, the FEED IS NOT IMPORTANT.
Sustained Fire MG - WWI term is HMG - Belt fed (normally) using full power ammunition on a tripod.
GPMG - an abortion which can be used as either an LMG or SFMG. Generally too heavy as LMG and not as robust as an SFMG. Typical are MG42, M60, and MAG.

IanS

Ta, All.

Cheers - Phil.

I would have defined it by what it does, so if it has an effective range of 125 metres or less it is a SMG, if significantly more then no (i.e. a BAR might fall between LMG and SMG).