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MP18

firearm
Also known as: Bergmann Musquete, Maschinen Pistole 1918 Bergmann(Show More)

Quick Summary

The MP18, or Bergmann Muskete, was the first true submachine gun, developed by the Germans during World War I and first issued in 1918. Submachine guns are lightweight, automatic firearms that fire pistol cartridges and are typically effective up to about 200 yards. They were developed to increase a soldier's firepower in close-quarters combat. The MP18 operated on a blowback principle, using a heavy bolt and spring to limit its rate of fire. Many variations and improvements followed, with notable examples including the Thompson submachine gun, the German MP40, the Soviet PPSh, and the Israeli Uzi.12

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