Thompson submachine gun, 1920

Thompson submachine gun, 1920

This Thompson submachine gun was manufactured by the Colt Firearms Company in Hartford, Connecticut, and purchased by the IRA for use in the War of Independence.  Two Thompsons were smuggled into Ireland in 1920. The Squad were the first to receive and test the new gun, though they never used it in their own operations. The submachine gun was light and rapidly fired powerful rounds. They were also easily hidden and transported due to the stock being removable. The IRA were impressed with its performance and ordered 653 units. Nearly 500 units of this order were impounded in New York in June 1921, one month before the Truce, with the rest being smuggled into Ireland afterwards.