during the 1950s because interim automatic weapons (e.g. M-14E2/M16A1) had failed as viable "base of fire" weapons. Early in the SAW's fielding, the Army identified the need for a Product ...

From a historical significance and nostalgia standpoint, the Thompson was the very first true SMG named for its inventor, U.S. Army ... auto Tommy Gun. Further, while the lower rate of fire ...