Thompson SMG

[r.morrison]

A question that's been in the back of my head for awhile. During WW11, the Thompson SMG was used by pretty well all nations. The magazines that I've seen used were the 20rd, 30rd and 50rd drum. Did the Commonwealth nations use the 30 round stick magazines or was that strickly an American piece of gear.
I'll sleep better knowing the answer......
Robert

[Ed Storey]

Good question and the trick is to find a wartime photograph of a Canadian using a 30-round Thompson magazine.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

I tried that yesterday, but a not-that-thorough search online and through a few books only found photos of Thompsons with 20- and 50-round magazines in the hands of British troops. Which is not proof they didn’t use 30-round ones, of course.

[David Dunlop]

Would the wartime Small Arms Pamphlet for the Thompson, for either England or Canada, cover available magazines, at least at the official level?

David

[r.morrison]

From what I found, like Jakko, it was the 20rd and 50rd units used. I have yet to see a photo/movie/documentary with the Commonwealth nations using the 30rd. The Devil's Brigade perhaps, as the were kitted out with American Gear.
Robert

[Neil Ashley]

The British originally specified the 20 round magazines and they were the only ones that would fit into early 37 pattern Bren Pouches until they changed the design. Internal stowage on vehicles was also built round the 20 round Mags but after the US discontinued their production early in the war the British Army would have had no choice.