SUB-MACHINEGUNS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 25, 24 October 1942, Page 8

SUB-MACHINEGUNS

Relative Use In New Guinea SYDNEY, October 23. The ’Australian-designed Owen submachineguns; which are mow being produced in considerable quantities, were not used in the earlier stages of the New Guinea campaign. This, i complaint lias been made by Mr. V. A. Wardell, manager of the factory producing the Owen gun. , Stressing the contention that lighter ammunition and equipment are needed by our jungle-fighting troops,' Mr. Wardell said: “It is well known among soldiers that the Thompson .45 ammunition is 50 per cent. ? heavier than the Owen 9-millimetre, and the gun itself is much heavier. Many complaints come to me that, though the Owen guns were available and in certain instances specifically requested by the troops concerned, Thompson guns only were supplied. “I am convinced that this has been an extension'of an earlier campaign to damage the reputation of the Owen gun. There is abundant evidence of the Owen guns’'reliability under adverse conditions, including mud. The Owen gun is now available in relatively large quantities, and compares most favourably with any other similar weapon.” ’> (The Thompson sub-machinegun, which has given the name tommy gun to all weapons of this type, has been widely used among New Zealand as well as Australian troops.)

“A substantial number of Owen guns "have been sent to New Guinea, where the Thompson subnnachinegun has also, given good results,” said the Minister of the Army, Mr. Forde, in Melbourne: today. Before sub-machine-guns were made in Australia, substantial. supplies of Thompson guns and ammunition for them were obtained from ■ the . United States, the Minister continued.. Some of these guns were used in the earlier stage of the New Guinea campaign. Australia was now producing both the Owen and the Austen sub-machineguns, each firing nine-millimetre amunition. The Owen gun was the first production and large numbers were now being used in New Guinea, , J