Firearms / Sub machine guns / Carl Gustav m/45
Carl Gustav m/45
General Facts
- TYPE
Sub machine gun - ORIGIN
Sweden - NICKNAMES
Kulsprutepistol m/45 (official designation)
Kpist m/45 (abbreviated designation)
Swedish K (nickname)
Port Said (Egyptian production)
M76 (US production) - DESIGNED
Gunnar Johnsson - DESIGNER
1944 - PRODUCTION
1945 - 1964 (Swedish production)
1965 - 1970 (Egyptian production)
1967 - 1974 (US production) - PRODUCERS Sweden - Carl Gustav
Egypt - Maadi
United States - Smith & Wesson - QUANTITY
About 300.000 produced - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Rugged and reliable
Limited production costs
Easy to clean and operate
Introduction
The Carl Gustav m/45 is a World War 2 era sub machine gun of Swedish origin. It was developed during the final stages of World War 2 and used new production techniques to reduce production costs.
Design
The Carl Gustav is a blowback operated weapon with a round receiver, wooden pistol grip and large barrel shroud. For a blowback operated sub machine gun the rate of fire is rather low. The magazine acts as the forward grip. A side-folding wire stock is attached to the receiver and pistol grip.
Firepower
The Carl Gustav fires the 9x19mm round from a 24 or 36 round magazine. It fires fully automatic only at the limited rate of fire of 600 rpm. This makes the Carl Gustav very controllable. The maximum effective range is quoted as 200 meters.
Users
The Carl Gustav was used by Sweden and exported to various nations around the world. It was also produced under license in Egypt and without license in the USA. Over time most have been replaced by assault rifles or more modern sub machine guns such as the MP5. Limited quantities still remain in service.
Carl Gustav m/45
In Sweden several versions of the Carl Gustav m/45 were produced.
m/45: Original production model with interchangable magazine well for Carl Gustav or Suomi type magazines and a dark finish. Also known as m/45S.
m/45B: The most common model. An improved m/45 with fixed magazine well, smaller holes in the barrel shroud and lighter grey-green finish.
m/45C: A ceremonial model of the m/45B with bayonet mount.
m/45D: Select fire model for police use with modified stock to allow a riot helmet to be used.
- Specifications:
- m/45B
| Type | Sub machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 36 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, blowback, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel length | 213mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 250 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 410 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 806 mm / 552 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.43 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, blade front and flip up rear, 100 and 200 m gradations |
| Remarks | - |
Port Said
The Carl Gustav m/45 was also produced under license in Egypt.
Port Said: Egyptian production version of m/45B. Can be idenfified by darker finish.
Akaba: Simplified Egyptian version with simpler sights, retractable wire stock and shorter barrel without shroud. Sometimes also known as Kara.
| Type | Sub machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 36 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, blowback, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel length | 212 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 250 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 400 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 806 mm / 552 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.35 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, blade front and flip up rear, 100 and 200 m gradations |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Sub machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 36 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, blowback, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel length | 150 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 250 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 737 mm / 482 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | ? |
| Sights | Iron sights, notch front and fixed aperture rear, 100 m gradation |
| Remarks | - |
S&W M76
In the USA a direct copy of the Carl Gustav m/45 was made at the request of the US Navy.
M76: Direct copy of the m/45B produced by Smith & Wesson. It can be identified by the plastic grip and barrel shroud with many holes.
- Specifications:
- S&W M76
| Type | Sub machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 24 or 36 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, blowback, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 720 rpm |
| Barrel length | 203 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 250 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 400 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 775 mm / 496 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.3 kg empty, 4.0 kg loaded |
| Sights | Iron sights, blade front and flip up rear, 100 and 200 m gradations |
| Remarks | - |
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