TZ-45

TZ-45
A TZ-45
Type	Submachine gun
Place of origin	Italian Social Republic
Service history
In service	1944-1945
Used by	Italian Social Republic Wehrmacht Burma
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Tonon and Zorzoli Giandoso
Designed	1944
Manufacturer	Fabbrica Fratelli Giandoso
Produced	1944–1945 1952-55 (Burma)
No. built	6,000 (Approx.)^[1]
Variants	TZ-45 (Italy) BA-52 (Burma)
Specifications
Mass	7 lb (3.2 kg)
Length	33.27 in (845 mm) (stock extended) 21.5 in (550 mm) (stock folded)
Barrel length	9 in (230 mm)^[2]

Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum, 9mm Fiocchi
Caliber	9 mm
Action	API^{[dubious – discuss]} Blowback-operated, selective fire
Rate of fire	800 Rounds Per Minute
Muzzle velocity	380 m/s (1,200 ft/s)
Effective firing range	150 m (490 ft)
Feed system	40 round detachable box magazine
Sights	front sight, rear sight

The TZ-45 was an Italian blowback-operated submachine gun produced between 1944 and 1945, with an estimated 6,000 made.

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History

The TZ-45 submachine gun was designed by two Italians; Tonon, a lieutenant colonel in the National Republican Army whose first name remains unknown and Aldo Zorzoli, a gunsmith, and was produced by the Giandoso company. The vast majority of the estimated 6000 TZ 45s produced were issued to R.S.I. (Repubblica Sociale Italiana) units fighting against Italian partisan forces during the civil war in Northern Italy (1944–45). A few TZ-45 were possibly used by the Wehrmacht forces engaged in similar operations. After the war, the remaining guns were given to the military of the British and the American forces where they were evaluated. The general opinion was unfavorable due to the style of manufacturing and finish.^[3]

The projects and manufacturing rights for the gun were later sold^[4] to the Burmese army where it was manufactured as the BA-52 and colloquially known as the "Ne Win STEN". The Burmese copies were roughly manufactured and unreliable. The weapon remained in service into the mid-1980s with the Burmese infantry and into the early 1990s with support troops.^[5]

Design and construction

The TZ-45 was manufactured by a stamped process and was then welded together with a simple finish applied. The blowback-operation was similar to other submachine guns at the time, though the return spring differed as it was assembled around a telescoping guide rod. A muzzle brake was fitted to the firearm, and the shoulder stock of the weapon was formed out of steel rods that slid alongside the receiver when retracted.

Safety mechanisms for the gun included a fire selector that has a safe position that locks the bolt in the forward or rearward position, a grip safety behind the magazine housing preventing the bolt from moving in the direction of cocking or firing unless properly held, And a pin wedged in a specially designed notch in the bolt, preventing it from rolling back in case of accidental shock.

Accidental discharges were a common occurrence in similar submachine guns such as the Sten gun and M3. However, the double safety system the TZ-45 utilized proved to be a breakthrough which would inspire later submachine guns, such as the Danish Madsen M50.

Users

References

^ Cristini, Luca Stefano (2016-09-16). Le forze armate della RSI 1943-1945: The army of RSI (Italian Social Republic) 1943-1945 (in Italian). Soldiershop Publishing. ISBN 978-88-9327-126-4. …Infine la Tonon Zorzoli TZ 45 fabbricata a Brescia. Arma assai moderna e innovativa, prodotta in sole 6.000 unità…^{[page needed]}
^ Hogg, Ian (1977). The Encyclopedia of Infantry Weapons of World War II. Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-281-X.
^ "Italian TZ-45". Forgotten Weapons. 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
^ "Giandoso TZ-45". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
^ Maung Aung Myoe (2009). Building the Tatmadaw: Myanmar Armed Forces Since 1948. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 106. ISBN 978-981-230-848-1.
^ Battistelli, Pier Paolo; Crociani, Piero (2015). World War II Partisan Warfare in Italy. Elite 207. Osprey Publishing. pp. 47, 60. ISBN 9781472808936.
^ McCollum, Ian (25 August 2017). "The Italian Last-Ditch TZ-45 Submachine Gun". YouTube. Forgotten Weapons. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 26 July 2021.

External links

v t e Italian firearms and light weapons of World War II
Side arms	Beretta M1923 Beretta M1934 Beretta M1935 Roth–Steyr M1907 Steyr M1912 Glisenti M1910 Bodeo Model 1889
Rifles and carbines (fucili e moschetti)	Fucile da Fanteria Mod. 1891 Moschetto Mod. 91 da Cavalleria Moschetto per Truppe Speciali Mod. 91 Fucile Mod. 1938 Armaguerra Mod. 39 rifle Moschetto Automatico Revelli-Beretta Mod. 1915
Submachine guns	MAB 38 Onorati Carabinetta Automatica O.V.P FNAB-43 OG-43 TZ-45
Machine guns and other larger weapons	Fiat-Revelli Mod. 1914 Fiat Revelli Mod. 1935 SAFAT M1926 Breda-SAFAT Breda Mod. 1930 Breda Mod. 5C Breda Mod. 1937 Breda Mod. 1938 Solothurn S-18/1000 Fucile Controcarro 35(P)
Grenades	OTO Mod. 35 OTO Mod. 42 SRCM Mod. 35 Breda Mod. 35 Breda Mod. 42 L Type P Bomb
Mortars (mortai)	Brixia Model 35 81/14 Model 35 Mortar
Cartridge	.32 ACP .380 ACP 6.5×52mm Mannlicher-Carcano 7.35×51mm Carcano 8×57mm IS 8×59mm Rb Breda 9×19mm Glisenti 9×19mm Parabellum 20×138mmB

This page was last edited on 28 August 2023, at 17:52

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