Carl Gustaf m/45
| Kulsprutepistol m/45 (Kpist m/45) | |
|---|---|
 Carl Gustav M/45 on display | |
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin |  Sweden |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Vietnam War Congo Crisis Israeli-Arab conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1944 |
| Manufacturer | Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori Maadi Factories, Egypt |
| Produced | 1945–1964 (Sweden) 1965–1970 (Egypt) |
| No. built | approx. 300,000 |
| Variants | m/45, m/45B, m/45C, m/45D, m/45S, Port Said, Akaba, US Navy modification (no official designation) with silencer. |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.35 kg without magazine |
| Length | 550/808 mm |
| Barrel length | 212 mm |
| Cartridge | 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Action | blowback |
| Rate of fire | 600 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 420 m/s |
| Effective firing range | 200m |
| Feed system | 36, 50 rounds |
Kulsprutepistol m/45 (Kpist m/45), also known as the Carl Gustav M/45 and the Swedish K SMG, is a 9 mm Swedish submachine gun designed by Gunnar Johnsson, adopted in 1945 (hence the m/45 designation), and manufactured at the Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori (Carl Gustaf State Weapons Factory) in Eskilstuna, Sweden.
The m/45 was the standard submachine gun of the Swedish Army after the Second World War. The m/45 SMG was also used by US Special Forces in the Vietnam War, with the weapons' markings filed off. In US service, the m/45 was unofficially known as the "Swedish K" or "K-Rifle".
The m/45 SMG was developed in 1944–45, with a design borrowing from and also improving on many design elements of earlier submachine guns. The sheet metal stamping techniques used in making the German MP 40, the British Sten, and the Soviet PPSh-41 and PPS-43 were studied in detail. Two designs were tested in 1944, one from Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori and one from Husqvarna Vapenfabriks AB and the prototype from Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori was chosen for further development. The first production version was adopted in 1945 as the Kpist m/45. The Danish Hovea M/49 SMG, although similar in appearance, is not a version derived from the m/45. The Hovea was a development of the failed test contender (fm44) from Husqvarna Vapenfabriks AB.
Features
The m/45 SMG is a fully automatic weapon. It weighs 3.35 kilograms (7.3 lbs.) unloaded, and 4.20 kgms. (9.25 lbs.) loaded with a 36-round box magazine. It is 808 millimeters (31.8 in.) long with the stock extended, and 550 mm (21.7 in.) long with the stock folded. The m/45 fires from an open bolt position, the relatively slow cyclic rate of fire (550–600 rds/min.) and low recoil of the bolt-mechanism actuation (via spent cartridge) makes it easy to control during full automatic fire. It is accurate up to 200 meters.
Accessories for this SMG include a special sub-caliber barrel for firing blanks and low-powered gallery ammunition. When firing blanks, a blank firing adapter must be attached to the muzzle of the barrel to ensure the mechanism has adequate pressure for its gas-cycle operation. Other accessories are night sights that attach to the fixed day sights (f: protected post, r: L-type), a brass catcher, to collect spent cartridges (for reloading and recycling), and a speed loader that loads 36-rounds to a magazine in seconds.
The 36-round box magazine is wider at the rear than at the front, the extra space allowing the 9 mm Parabellum cartridges (stacked in staggered, dual lines atop a spring), to proceed despite dust and sub-zero temperatures. This trapezium design makes the magazine very reliable, because magazines of parallel-side design are likelier to jam under cold conditions. The same design idea was used for the Czech model 23 and model 25 and the French MAS submachine guns.
The weapon has no safety switch. Instead, the m/45 SMG is put in "safety" by sliding the cocking handle into a short side-slot above the main (lock) slot. In the example US Army photograph, this short safety side-slot is visible behind the rear L-sight. This design feature results in a somewhat longer time to ready the weapon for firing, because the soldier must remove his right hand from the pistol grip and trigger, as if operating a bolt-action rifle. When the m/45 SMG is unloaded the bolt is locked in place in the bolt-forward position by pushing the cocking handle downwards, engaging a hole in the lower left receiver wall . Because it is a spring-loaded SMG, the m/45 SMG has a characteristic, distinct, metallic sound when fired.
Variants
- First production: the SMG models Kpist m/45 and Kpist m/45S featured a detachable (via removable clip) magazine support. It accepted the m/37-39 50-round magazine and the 36-round box magazine. Over time, most first production m/45's were permanently converted by permanently riveting the magazine support to the SMG.[1]
- General production: the m/45B model features a fixed magazine support, a strengthened bolt buffer (in the receiver-rear), and a hook securing the buffer cap in place.[1]
- Ceremonial: the m/45C designation refers to the bayonet-mount-equipped barrel sleeve and it was used for parade and guard duties. The standard m/45 sleeve has no bayonet mount.[1]
- Police: the m/45D model is a selective fire (semi-automatic and automatic-fire) submachine gun. A variant has a modified stock allowing the policeman to shoot whilst wearing a visored riot helmet.[1]
Manufacturers and users
The Kpist m/45 SMG has been manufactured under license in Egypt as the Port Said; in the US, the Smith & Wesson company made an unlicensed close copy, designated the Smith & Wesson M76; [2] and the MK Arms company manufactured the MK-760, a version of the Smith & Wesson M76.
The Swedish armed forces have phased out the Kpist m/45 submachine gun from inventory, although Swedish Police armories might still contain some select fire m/45D models. The Indonesian military have used the m/45 SMG. The Irish Army used the Carl Gustav M/45 during the Congo Crisis in the 1960s, the Lebanese Civil War in the 1970s, and during The Troubles. The Irish Army replaced it with the Steyr AUG, a weapon short enough to perform the submachine gun role.
During the Vietnam War, the US Navy SEALs used the Carl Gustav M/45 SMG extensively, as one of its qualities is that it can fire almost immediately out of the water (over the beach). It also saw use by CIA operatives and advisors. The US Navy were so impressed by the SMG that when Sweden ended firearms exports to the USA in 1966, the Smith & Wesson arms company was tasked to produce a copy, designated the Smith & Wesson M76. However, by the time when the M76 SMG was ready for combat deployment, the US Navy had ended most SEAL missions in Asia. Many of the m/45's used by US forces and agencies were "sanitized", which means that they were devoid of markings. A variant used by the Navy SEALs used a modified M3 silencer, heavy and cumbersome and lacking in service life it was soon replaced by a much better Swedish made silencer.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d The submachine guns of Sweden. Retrieved 17 March 2008. Cite error: The named reference "Variants" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ World Guns' Smith & Wesson SW76. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
External links
- Carl Gustaf Kp M/45 submachine gun at Modern Firearms