I like the ppsh but it used pistol ammo and was weak I like the thompson because it had .45 caliber bullets it was fast and compactish with a high rate of fire and was easy and cheap to produce it was also the perfect gun for close quarters combat
I think more highly of the Thompson .45 cal Sub-machine gun, the German MP40 9mm, and last the British Sten 9mm. The M3 Grease Gun gets a tip of the hat as well. The PPSH had a weak bullet and had to use more rounds to take someone down.
The only WWII-era SMG that I have any experience with is the M3 Grease Gun and that was a long time past. Its rate of fire was on the slow side and, as I recall, you had to watch it as it pulled up and to the right during fire. Nevertheless, it was compact, reasonably accurate, simple, rugged and reliable. I didn't mind it but it was far from the best. Other than what's been mentioned, the Suomi, Beretta 1938A and Owen are some of the best rated weapons I have read of.
I fired a post-WWII version (it has been a long time and might have been a different English weapon). It was light, compact, accurate and easy to fire. The only thing I didn't like about it was the selector switch. I couldn't switch modes by feel (too light), but that may have just been me.
That is actually tougher to answer than it sounds. I would want something with range, which rules out an SMG, and firepower. BAR's were highly reliable but heavy and the magazine placment made reloading inconvenient. I think I would go for the Sturmgewehr 44. Being a new technology it had its problems and some of its features makes me wonder what the Germans were thinking. Nevertheless, it could function as rifle, light machinegun and SMG all in one package.
Nice choice, I would have to go with the mg-42. The barrel could be replaced quickly and it was an awesome weapon. Even today, we can find it's influence in the M-60 and the M249. After ww2, belgium copied the design and modified it and created the FN machine gun- the M-60 and m249 are both based off the FN.
wicingas I am wondering if the weapon you fired may have been the Sterling SMG. It is very similar in appearance to the Sten, with astock that folds under the weapon, a side feed magazine and perforated metal guard around the barrel. This has always been one of my favorite weapons as I think it comes very close to being the ideal SMG.
Panzerspies, thanks for the reminder. You are correct, it was the Sterling. My only complaint about the weapon was that the selector was too light. I could not feel it engage and had to check visually. But, as I said, this may have been a malfunction of the shooter and not the weapon.
