WI Thompson sub machine gun was perfected 2 years earlier?

WI the Thompson sub machine gun was good enough for production when Auto Ordinance was founded in 1916?

American dough boys could carry Thompsons as they entered trenches in 1917.
How would Thompsons affect tactics and the last year of World War 1?
Please remember that most Thompsons only fired .45 ACP which was already in the US Army supply chain because it was already used in Browning Model 1911 pistols worn by US officers.

Germany introduced their 9mm Bergman smg in 1918.
 

BigBlueBox

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WI the Thompson sub machine gun was good enough for production when Auto Ordinance was founded in 1916?

American dough boys could carry Thompsons as they entered trenches in 1917.
How would Thompsons affect tactics and the last year of World War 1?
Please remember that most Thompsons only fired .45 ACP which was already in the US Army supply chain because it was already used in Browning Model 1911 pistols worn by US officers.

Germany introduced their 9mm Bergman smg in 1918.
As you probably know it wouldn’t have any major effects on the war, but it is likely that the Thompson is improved after its trial by combat. The drum magazine is probably replaced by a stick magazine two decades early.
 
As you probably know it wouldn’t have any major effects on the war, but it is likely that the Thompson is improved after its trial by combat. The drum magazine is probably replaced by a stick magazine two decades early.
Nothing wrong with the drum, except 50 rounds of 45 is really heavy.

They were just as noisy and more reliable than the PPSh used.

Possible Ordinance wouldn't send the Tommy Guns to France, just like the Lewis Gun for political reasons, or technical, like Pedersen Device, too Top Secret to risk troops getting them, and secrecy delays the production and introduction
 
Once the US troops have to deal with the Chauchat if Thompsons aren't sent there will be a huge political stink. Tommy guns will be nice to have, but they won't make a huge difference, perhaps US casualties go down a little, german go up and some assaults succeed that did not OTL.
 
We'd see a much greater proliferation of automatic wepons for infantry during the inter-war period. Especially the US, British and French armies will be affected.
The M1 Carbine is very likely produced in selective fire mode from the day one.
 
Get real, US Army Ordnance would never have bought the Thompson it was too good. Just like they wouldn't buy the Lewis gun.
 
One interesting effect would have been the release of a large number of war surplus Thompsons onto the civilian/foreign market post war. As it was the Thompson was offered for sale and advertised but it's lack of use in WW1 and the fact that new Tommy Guns were very expensive (I think like 200 plus bucks a piece in 1920's dollars) meant sales were pretty low. Having the Thompson see a good bit more use during WW1 would probably be very good advertising both for the surplus Thompsons and post WW1 new builds.
 
surplus WW1 Thompsons could be sold through CMTC...I've heard stories of $3.00 Remington Moisn-Nagants, what about a $25.00 Thompson!!!!

I think you need to kick things back to 1915 to be a bit more realistic...
 
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