M3 Grease Gun[]
The M3, commonly known as the Grease Gun,
is a
The M3 Grease Gun
submachine gun that shoots a .45 ACP round, used in the Thompson and Colt M1911 pistol.
The Grease Gun was manufactured to replace the Thompson, as it was cheaper, simpler, and more compact than the Thompson. The Grease Gun earned its nickname through the garage tool grease gun.
History[]
The Grease Gun was a project that started in 1942. American designers were looking to create a submachine gun similar to the British Sten Mk. 2 and German MP40. The gun was licensed by the Guide Lamp section of General Motors, who manufactured car parts. The gun shot slower than the Thompson, but this made it more accurate, it was also smaller, with an adjustable stock, and a completely simple system. The M3 was equipped with a 30 round magazine and could be fitted with a flash suppressor. The gun was soon after called the Grease Gun. A unique feature of the Grease Gun was that it was able to convert to German 9mm rounds, used in the German submachine guns. By 1944, the M3 was simplified again, by removing the cocking handle, and instead, added a small notch hole inside the bolt. This new Grease Gun was the M3A1. The Grease Gun series was most popular with the Airborne units, mainly for its compactness, unlike the Thompson. By the end of World War II, around 600,000 Grease Guns were manufactured. The Grease Gun continued to service all throughout Korea and Vietnam even during the Gulf War but, by 1992 the US decided to retire the gun. In 2004, because of the realiability of the weapon, the Phillippines decided to adopt the gu. It is still being used today.
Band of Brothers[]
The M3 Grease Gun is seen as the M3A1 Grease Gun, mainly for its lack of the cocking handle. It is very rarely seen in the series, first being seen in Part 4 "Replacements". It is only seen in the hands of Pvt. Roy Cobb. It is also seen firing in Parts 5 and 7. Still seen in the hands of Roy Cobb. It has a relatively slow fire rate, but Cobb seems to be fairly accurate with the weapon.
Gallery[]
