From: Gordon.W.I. McMillan (gwim2@student.open.ac.uk)
Date: Mon Apr 22 2002 - 01:05:15 PDT
James is quite correct about the 100 round C- drum. It would fit any of
the Thompsons up to a 28A1 and a lot were found in Ireland that had been
supplied with the really early weapons.
However by the time of WW2 the C drum was out of favour - even with the
manufacturer, noisy, time consuming to load, etc, etc. From memory (read
Tracie Hills or Frank Iannamicos books...) the British got a pile of 50
round L drums but later a lot were returned to the US, stored, and
eventually junked. I don't think the British Army bought C drums at all.
C and L drums have been reproduced recently and turn up in on-line
auctions - usually with big price tags.
The magazine type could give storage problems too. A jeep windscreen
bracket might not take the 50 round drum, A Harley front fender leather
scabbard pretty much demands a horizontal front grip and a 20 round stick,
for example. The Universal Rifle Bracket appeared in later '42 and would
mount a Thompson as easily as a rifle.
Still that said, the British had a lot and used them, though later in the
war cheaper, lighter units became more common.
Gordon
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