The Trendsetter

During World War One the German 'Rifle Testing Commission' requested a lightweight fully automatic weapon able to be carried by one man and chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge. In 1916, two prototypes were presented - one by the weapons designer Andreas Schwarzlose and the other by Hugo Schmeisser. The tests resulted in Schmeisser's weapon being adopted by the German Army, receiving the designation 'Maschinenpistole 18.I.' Mass production began in 1918 at the 'Theodor Bergmann Waffenfabrik'.

The MP 18.I was fully automatic only and had a leisurely rate of fire at 400-500 rounds per minute. It operated using an open bolt design which proved so effective that it became standard for other submachine guns for decades to come. The weapon was initially intended to feed from a 20-round box magazine, but a request from the German Army meant it had to undergo a redesign to fit the 32-round "Trommelmagazin" already in use with the P08 Artillery Luger.

The MP 18.I saw limited use at the tail-end of World War One in the hands of German "Sturmtruppen". Following the war, Versailles Treaty restrictions meant the MP 18.I could only be used in very limited numbers by the German military and police. In 1920 the weapon was again redesigned to feed from a box magazine. This version marked as the "MP 18.I System Schmeisser" was produced by Haenel and used 20 and 32-round magazines. The redesign was also offered as an upgrade package for the original MP 18.I's, but only a limited amount underwent modifications.

During World War Two, all types of MP 18.I were dragged out of storage, mostly to be used by rearguard formations until they could be replaced by more modern submachine guns. A few would end up in the hands of frontline units. Production numbers are uncertain, but an estimated 25.000-50.000 units were produced between 1918-1920. Our MP 18,I was made by Ashton and RedRogueXIII.

Last but not least, please have a look at the new FH2 panzerfaust compilation from our betatester Slayer1976 !

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