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U.S. Infantry NCO with Thompson, 1943-45

The Thompson submachine gun was adopted by the U.S. military in 1938, just in time for World War II. More than 1.5 million Thompsons were produced during the War and put into the hands of Allied scouts, non-commissioned officers (corporal, sergeant and higher ranking), and patrol leaders. In the European theater, the gun was widely utilized in British and Canadian Commando units, as well as in the U.S. Army paratrooper and Ranger battalions, where it was issued more frequently than in line infantry units because of its high rate of fire and its stopping power, which made it very effective in the kinds of close combat these special operations troops were expected to undertake. A 4 man fire-team could lay down as much suppressing fire as a 9 man rifle squad.