Chapter 361 The Perfect Submachine Gun

"I modified it from a machine gun." Dominic handed Charles a document and explained: "A new equipment appeared in Italy, the Perosa machine gun. I found it very suitable for submachine guns, so I disassembled it and modified it slightly."

(The above picture shows the Perosa double-barreled light machine gun, produced in 1915. The OVP1918 submachine gun is almost disassembled into a single barrel and then installed with a buttstock. Many people think it is the world's first submachine gun because it uses pistol bullets. However, it was designed to be used as a light machine gun and does not have the lightness and walking and shooting performance of a submachine gun.)

After looking at the information, Charles understood why Dominic's submachine gun came out so quickly. It turned out that it was really modified from a machine gun, and it was modified from a machine gun that fired pistol bullets. It almost did not need to change anything and copied it directly.

"Is there no industrial property rights issue?" Charles turned his head and looked at Dominic.

"Italy is likely to be our enemy, General." Dominic replied with a smile.

If Italy is an enemy, of course there is no need to consider property rights issues.

But Charles knew that this was not the case.

Italy was indeed an ally and should stand on the side of Germany, but it had been watching the wind since the war began, and finally saw that the Allies were more likely to win, so it turned to the Allies without hesitation.

Dominic didn't know this, so he used it as it was, but changed the caliber: the Italian pistol bullet was the AS revolver, and the caliber was 11MM.

Charles raised the information to Dominic: "Tell me why you like it, in addition to the fact that it can be used perfectly."

Dominic felt a little guilty. He knew that Charles would ask this question, most likely because he was not satisfied with the submachine gun.

However, Dominic still answered: "First of all, it is light, only 3.6 kilograms."

Charles nodded slightly, which was no problem. Submachine guns do have weight requirements.

"Secondly, its bullet capacity is 25 rounds." Dominic continued.

The bullet capacity of 25 rounds is not a small amount for this era, and it is also no problem.

"Finally, it has a fast firing rate." Dominic moved closer and pointed to the data on the document and said, "900 rounds per minute."

On the surface, this is not a problem. The purpose of a submachine gun is to pour bullets into the enemy in a short period of time.

However, Charles shook his head.

"Have you thought of anything?" Charles asked.

"Is there a problem with this?" Dominic looked confused. He thought that this submachine gun could perfectly meet the requirements mentioned by Charles before.

Charles slowed down his speech and reminded: "The ammunition capacity is 25 rounds, but the firing rate reaches 900 rounds per minute. What does this mean in actual combat?"

Dominic was stunned for a while, and asked hesitantly: "You mean, the firing rate is too fast compared to the ammunition capacity?"

"Yes." Charles replied: "900 rounds per minute, that is, 15 rounds per second, 25 bullets are fired in less than two seconds, just the time of pulling the trigger, or accidentally tightening the index finger when jumping into the trench... The bullets are all fired."

Dominic suddenly realized: "So, we should appropriately reduce its firing rate."

Then Dominic was embarrassed again: "Then, how much should we reduce the firing rate to?"

This must be determined before mass production, and it is a very important indicator, which determines the practicality of the submachine gun on the battlefield.

Charles didn't rush to answer. He said calmly, "Before that, we should think about the tactics of the submachine gun."

This sounded normal, but Dominic looked at Charles in shock. The gun was still in the design verification stage, and Charles could consider its tactics?

"Can we?" Dominic asked with difficulty: "Shouldn't this be done after it is produced?"

"Of course." Charles said affirmatively: "We can reason based on the current situation."

Charles confidently analyzed: "Think about it, Dominic, it uses pistol bullets, what are the advantages and disadvantages of pistol bullets?"

Dominic blurted out: "The advantages are small recoil and fast firing rate, and the disadvantages are poor penetration."

"Yes, poor penetration." Charles grasped this point, and he gestured while saying: "If the enemy is arranged in the shape of '1' facing us, our bullets can only kill the enemy in the front."

Dominic agreed. This is very common in trench battles. When soldiers jump into enemy trenches, they often face enemies arranged in front and behind in the trenches, and pistol bullets cannot penetrate the human body to kill the target behind them.

Dominic suddenly thought of something. He took the submachine gun from the gun box and said thoughtfully: "I understand. Its firing rate is too fast. Once the trigger is pulled, all 25 bullets will hit the first person. Then you can only wait for death!"

Charles pointed his finger in the air, as if to say "That's what I mean. You got the point."

"There is another situation." Charles added: "The enemy may be lined up in a row facing us. What do you think will happen to us?"

This often occurs when the two armies charge each other face to face, or when they stand on the edge of the trench and look down at the enemy.

Dominic thought for a while, shaking the submachine gun left and right, and then exclaimed: "We should shoot a fan, right, general? This way, we can kill several enemies in front. But if the firing rate is too fast, before we have time to shoot the fan, the bullets have been used up, and they are still concentrated on one or two enemies!"

Charles nodded and concluded: "So, our firing rate should be designed based on these two tactical actions. Pull the trigger once to fire a burst, and the bullets should be 6 to 7 rounds, so that a target can be killed. This is for the first situation."

Dominic excitedly replied: "Pull the trigger to make a fan-shaped sweep, the bullet capacity and firing rate should be able to complete at least one sweeping action, which is for the second situation."

Charles said "um" to agree, and then he pointed to the magazine vertically erected on the gun body and said:

"It will block the shooter's sight, and it is inconvenient to aim and shoot in special circumstances. We'd better move it to the side."

"The bullet capacity, 25 rounds is still slightly insufficient, we can try to use a drum magazine."

The bullet capacity is very important for submachine guns. Often, it is just a few bullets that determine whether it can annihilate the enemy in one go.

If not, the shooter who has used up the bullets can only wait to die, because the enemy will not give you the opportunity to change the magazine.

Dominic was stunned. He thought his submachine gun was close to perfection, but Charles easily found a lot of shortcomings, which seriously affected its combat performance.

Now that Charles has made such a change, it can be said to be a near-perfect submachine gun!

But how did Charles do it?

Is this the gap between him and the genius?

(The above picture shows the MP18 submachine gun, with a firing rate of 400 rounds per minute, about 6 rounds per second. This firing rate is very suitable for actual combat, so it is called the world's first real submachine gun)