peashooter85:The Welrod Silenced Pistol of World War II,By World War II the use of sound suppressors
peashooter85:The Welrod Silenced Pistol of World War II,By World War II the use of sound suppressors on firearms had become common with special operations and clandestine missions. With silencers, commando’s were given an the edge of stealth and guile over much larger forces. The suppressor wasn’t without flaws, however. The main problem being the pistol that it was attached to. The working of a slide, as well as the clink of a spent brass casing could be enough sound to alert the enemy to one’s position.To solve this problem, the British developed a new suppressed pistol called the Welrod. Unlike other pistols, the Welrod used a bolt action mechanism so that no sound was made by the action, and the user could have more control over the disposal of cartridge casings. To operate the knob at the end of the pistol was pushed/pulled, which worked the action . Key to the Welrod’s success was its 12 inch long suppressor which makes up almost the entirety of the pistol. At best the Welrod could manage a sound level of around 70 decibels, about as load as a car driving down the street at 25MPH. The suppressor was not detachable, but was an integral part of the pistol. The Welrod came in two models, the Mark I, which was chambered for 9mm and used a 6 round magazine, and the Mark II, which was chambered for .32acp and used an 8 round magazine. All Welrod pistols had no markings, while records of their manufacture were destroyed after contracts were fulfilled. Thus it is impossible to tell how many were produced, but rough estimates suggest around 2,800. Most were issued to British Commando’s and agents of the British SOE (Special Operations Executive). Others were issued to American OSS agents (forerunner of the CIA). A number of Welrod’s were also dropped behind enemy lines for use by resistance fighters in German occupied territories.After World War II the Welrod continued to be used by the British military. It saw service in the Falklands, in Northern Ireland, and even possibly the Gulf War. -- source link