Submachine gun

A Submachine gun is a type of machine gun. In particular, a submachine gun is a machine gun which fires ammunition normally used in pistol?s. Other characteristics distinguishing them from other machine guns include: light weight, a short barrel, and an inability to fire for sustained lengths of time (due to small magazine and a tendency to overheat quickly). The have typically been issued to special commando? forces in the military.

Prominent examples include the [Thompson submachine gun]?, [Israeli Military Industries]? [Uzi submachine gun]?, and the [Heckler and Koch]? MP5 series.

In the United States, submachine guns have been categorized as [Class III weapons]?, not available to the general public without special permits, since the 1934 [National Firearms Act]?.