But, its story did not finish with the ceasing of hostilities at the end of World War II.
Ordnance believed that the SMG could be simplified even more.
The simple and robust weapon proved to be a workhorse, and one that fulfilled its mission will.
Members of the Philippine Navy during 2009, with an M3A1 SMG in use with the team. Image: U.S. Navy
However, it was discovered that it did need some tweaks to make it even better.
The firer simply uses their finger to retract the bolt.
While the M3 SMG was intended to replace the Thompson SMG, this never fully took place.
An M3A1 fitted with an infrared “Sniperscope, M2”. Fort Belvoir, Virginia, November 1946. Image: NARA
In the late 1940s, there was a short-term focus on the large amount of M1 Carbines.
Once again, the U.S. Military looked for a legit submachine gun to fill the ranks with short-range firepower.
U.S. tank crews report the M3A1 SMG carried in their vehicles until after the Gulf War of 1991.
Experiments were conducted with acurved barrel optionfor the M3A1. While the device worked, the concept was dropped in the 1950s. Image: SANHS
The tankers would carry the Grease Guns on guard duty in Germany.
I never saw one with a flash hider, and the magazines were a bitch to reload.
The simple, uncelebrated M3A1 SMG stayed in service until there was a comparable, modern replacement.
The Grease Gun was quickly back in action again after WWII. This example is seen with the Marines during the battle for Seoul, Korea during 1950. Image: NARA
The subject silencer has a perforated barrel, surrounded by a roll of wire screen and a metal tube.
Ahead of and screwed on the barrel is a smaller metal tube filled only with wire screen washers.
A metal cap screws on the muzzle end of this smaller tube, holding the washers in.
A Marine posing with his M3A1 in Korea during 1952. Image: Author’s collection
Reduces distance from which the gun can be heard by approximately 66%.
Causes emission of excess smoke from the muzzle and breech of the gun, interfering with the firer.
The infantry board determined that the suppressor (called a silencer) was unsatisfactory for infantry use.
One of the earliest planned uses for the M3 was to provide tank crews with a personal defense weapon. Image: NARA
Regardless, few M9 flash hiders ever made it on to M3/M3A1 guns.
US advisors also provided them to Montagnard and South Vietnamese militias.
Helicopter crews often carried the M3A1 as an emergency weapon in case of a crash in hostile territory.
A crewman from aM551 “Sheridan” light tankof the 11th Armored Division carries an M3A1 SMG with an M9 Flash Hider. Vietnam, 1970. Image: NARA
After Delta Force was formed during 1977, the M3A1 was their initial suppressed SMG.
The M3A1 still soldiers on in a few places.
The old warrior can still fight.
The M3 was compact and could be fitted with an effective suppressor. This example is seen with a USMC Force Recon team during 1957. Image: NARA
A Montagnard militia man in tiger camo armed with a M3A1. Note the prominent “Hider, Flash M9” on the muzzle. Image: NARA
U.S. advisors provided the Montagnard mountain people of Vietnam with M3A1 SMGs to help their militia defend against attacks by the Viet Cong. Image: NARA
The M3A1 continued to serve with U.S. Special Forces into the 1970s: This example is seen during a Navy SEAL demonstration in 1975.
Clandestine use: M3A1 carried by a U.S. intelligence operative in Guatemala during 1971. Image: NARA
