Sienna Rhodes
During World War II, sound suppressors, also known as silencers, were used by various military forces. The British Special Operations Executive, for instance, made extensive use of suppressed weapons, including the iconic silenced Sten gun and Welrod. The Germans also developed a suppressed submachine gun, a silenced variant of the EMP, which was issued to the Brandenburgers division for sabotage operations. While suppressors were not as common as conventional weapons, they offered significant advantages in reducing the acoustic intensity of gunfire and eliminating muzzle flash, making them ideal for clandestine operations and night-time engagements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did sound suppressors exist in WW2? | Yes |
| Who used them? | The British Special Operations Executive, the Germans, the OSS |
| Were they common? | No, they were not as common as conventional, unsuppressed infantry weapons |
| Which weapons were they used on? | Sten guns, Welrod, DeLisle carbine, Beretta pistols, M1911 pistol, EMP submachine gun, M.12/P16 machine pistol |
| What were they made of? | Metal, typically stainless steel or titanium |
| How did they work? | Redirected expanding gas ejecta through a longer, convoluted escape path created by internal baffles, prolonging the release time |
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What You'll Learn
The British Special Operations Executive and their use of suppressors
Suppressors, also known as silencers, are muzzle devices that reduce the acoustic intensity of the sound of a gunshot. They do this by modulating the speed and pressure of the gas released from the muzzle.
The British Special Operations Executive (SOE) made extensive use of suppressors in World War II. The SOE was a British elite unit that conducted espionage, assassination, sabotage, and resistance support missions in occupied territories. For such missions, stealth was critical, and suppressors gave agents the advantage of eliminating guards and sentries without alerting others.
The SOE used a variety of suppressed firearms, including the iconic Welrod pistol, which was designed for silent assassinations and was also used by the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The Welrod was exceptionally quiet due to its manually operated bolt, which eliminated the loud mechanical noise of semi-automatic pistols, and its use of subsonic 9mm or .32 ACP rounds. Its tube-like design also made it easy to conceal.
Another famous suppressed firearm used by the SOE was the De Lisle carbine, a highly effective silenced rifle. The De Lisle was so quiet that working the bolt produced a louder noise than firing a cartridge. It was used by SOE agents and Commandos for missions requiring stealth in hostile territory.
In addition to these iconic weapons, the SOE also equipped local resistance fighters with suppressed pistols and Sten variants, which were invaluable in urban environments where unsuppressed weapons could easily attract German patrols. These weapons were used in ambushes, targeted killings, and sabotage operations.
While suppressors were not mass-issued during World War II, they played a crucial role in the success of covert operations for the British SOE and other elite units.
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The DeLisle carbine
Suppressors, also known as silencers, are devices that reduce the sound of a firearm by modulating the speed and pressure of the gas released from the muzzle. Suppressors were indeed used during World War II, and one of the most notable suppressed weapons of that era was the DeLisle carbine.
De Lisle filed a patent for his design, specifically for the silencer, which brought significant advances to the genre. The primary feature of the DeLisle carbine was its extremely effective silencer, which made it very quiet in action. The silencer reduced the sound to such a degree that working the bolt produced a louder noise than firing a cartridge. The ".45 ACP cartridge" was chosen because its muzzle velocity is subsonic for typical barrel lengths, allowing it to retain its lethality while remaining suitable for covert purposes.
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The German EMP suppressed SMG
Suppressors, also known as silencers, are muzzle devices that reduce the sound of a gunshot by modulating the speed and pressure of the gases released from the muzzle. They were used during World War II, with the British Special Operations Executive making extensive use of them.
Now, onto the German EMP suppressed SMG. The Erma EMP, also known as the Erma Maschinenpistole or Maschinenpistole Erma, was a German submachine gun manufactured from 1931 to 1938 by Erfurter Maschinen- und Werkzeugfabrik Berthold Geipel GmbH (ERMA). It was based on designs by Heinrich Vollmer, specifically the VMP 1930, and was a further development of Vollmer's earlier VMP submachine guns. The EMP featured several variants with varying barrel lengths and sights, but three main models were produced: the first had a 30 cm barrel, tangent rear sight, and bayonet lug; the second, sometimes called the MP34 or "standard model", had a 25 cm barrel and no bayonet provision; and the third model was similar in metallic parts but replaced the foregrip with an MP18-style stock with finger grooves.
The EMP was adopted by the SS and German Police and exported to Mexico, Yugoslavia, Spain, and China. It saw use during World War II, with numerous examples found on the battlefields of the SS Charlemagne Division. The EMP was also used in the Spanish Civil War, the Chaco War, and by the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism. The final development of the EMP was the EMP 36, which featured a folding stock and a telescopic cylinder return spring guide.
While I cannot confirm if a suppressed variant of the EMP existed, the British did make extensive use of suppressors during World War II, and the EMP was used by the SS, who also employed suppressed weapons such as the De Lisle carbine.
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The US National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934
Sound suppressors, also known as silencers, were used during World War II, particularly by the British Special Operations Executive. The De Lisle carbine, for example, was a highly effective silenced rifle used by the British.
Now, onto the US National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934. The NFA was enacted on June 26, 1934, and it imposed an excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms. It also mandated the registration of those firearms. The law was an Act of Congress in the United States and was codified and amended as I.R.C. ch. 53.
The NFA is also referred to as Title II of the federal firearms laws, with the Gun Control Act of 1968 ("GCA") as Title I. The NFA defines and regulates the sale and ownership of silencers or sound suppressors. All transfers of registered NFA firearms must be done through the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (the "NFA registry"). The NFA also requires that the permanent transport of NFA firearms across state lines be reported to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Temporary transports of some items, including suppressors, do not need to be reported.
The impetus for the NFA was the gangland crime of the Prohibition era, including the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929 and the attempted assassination of President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. The $200 tax on NFA firearms was considered quite prohibitive at the time and was meant to discourage transactions in these firearms. The NFA also required the registration of all NFA firearms with the Secretary of the Treasury.
Over time, the NFA has been amended and updated. In 1968, the definition of "firearm" was expanded to include "destructive devices," and the definition of "machine gun" was broadened. In 1986, the definition of "silencer" was amended to include combinations of parts for silencers and any part intended for silencer assembly.
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The PBS sound suppressor for the Kalashnikov AKM rifle
Suppressors, also known as silencers or sound moderators, were used during World War II, particularly by the British Special Operations Executive. The British used suppressed Sten guns and a suppressed .45 bolt-action carbine called the DeLisle, which was designed by an engineer working for the Air Ministry, William Godfray de Lisle. The DeLisle was notable for its highly effective suppressor, which reduced the sound of the firearm discharging to the extent that working the bolt produced a louder noise than firing a cartridge.
One of the most widely used suppressors today is the PBS-1, designed for the 7.62x39mm AKM variant of the Soviet AK-47 assault rifle in the Kalashnikov rifle family. Introduced in the 1960s, the PBS-1 was predominantly used by Spetsnaz forces and the KGB. The PBS-1 is a two-chambered silencer that uses baffles and a rubber wipe, designed to be used with subsonic rifle ammunition.
The PBS-1 has a diameter of 40 mm (1.6 inches) and is 200 mm (7.9 inches) long. It was used by the Spetsnaz during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s, as the newer AK-74 rifle did not have a compatible suppressor. The PBS-1 has been extensively tested by the United States Army Foreign Weapons Test Lab.
Suppressors work by modulating the speed and pressure of the propellant gas released from the muzzle of a firearm, thereby reducing the acoustic intensity of the muzzle report (the sound of a gunshot). They can be detachable accessories or integral parts of the barrel. Suppressors can also reduce or eliminate muzzle flash by slowing, cooling, and containing the released gas, as well as burning gunpowder.
In recent years, there has been a push in the United States to increase the civilian use of suppressors for hunting and sport shooting, with organisations like the National Rifle Association of America and the American Silencer Association advocating for eased restrictions on their sale and ownership.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, sound suppressors did exist in WW2.
The British Special Operations Executive made and used many suppressed weapons in WW2, including the iconic silenced sten and Welrod. The Germans also developed a suppressed SMG during World War II, a silenced variant of the EMP submachine gun.
No, sound suppressors were not common in WW2. They were used for special operations, but not as commonly as conventional, unsuppressed infantry weapons.
Some sound suppressors used in WW2 include the DeLisle carbine, the Soviet PBS sound suppressor for the Kalashnikov AKM rifle, and the silenced sten gun.
