Marlin M2 Hyde (Hyde-Inland / US SMG Cal 45 M2)

Submachine Gun

United States | 1943

"The promising M2 Hyde submachine gun was contracted out to Marlin during WW2 but doomed by its difficult manufacturing process."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/05/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Designed by George Hyde, the Hyde M2 (known formally as the "US Submachine Gun,. Caliber 45 M2" and alternative as the "Hyde-Inland") was an early-World War II Submachine Gun (SMG). The design appeared (as the "Hyde-Inland 1") at a time when the American war machine was ramping up its production and need was outpacing supplies. One such requirement was for an effective SMG design for short-to-medium ranges, a requirement ultimately fulfilled by the likes of the M1 Thompson and the M3 'Grease Gun' offerings found elsewhere on this site.

Nevertheless, the M2 Hyde was a 9.2lb automatic weapon of 32" length with a 12-inch-long barrel assembly while chambered in the powerful .45 ACP pistol cartridge. Internally, it operated from a blowback method of operation and offered 570 rounds-per-minute firing with a muzzle velocity of 960 feet-per-second from a 20- or 30-round detachable magazine (the same as featured in the M1 Thompson series). The stock included the shoulder support, body, forend, and pistol grip while the usual metal components were inlaid. The magazine feed was ahead of the trigger unit in typical fashion and a pair of sling loops were added to the left side of the forend and the shoulder stock. Iron sights were positioned at the rear of the receiver and over the muzzle. The receiver incorporated steel forging and took on the basic shape of a tube.

In testing, the M2 proved a robust and reliable, well-made weapon - certainly suitable for the task at hand - and in some cases even better than the classic M1 Thompson it was destined to compete against. It fired well and was accurate in the right hands to make a strong case for itself as a premiere wartime design.

The M2 contract for 164,450 guns was eventually initiated in the middle of 1942 and the task fell to gunmaker Marlin Firearms who proceeded to manufacture the much-needed SMG en masse. However, as basic as the design functioned, its manufacturing process led to a lengthy phase in which units were not made in useful numbers until May of 1943 with the war in full swing. By this time, the cheap-to-make and easy-to-use M3 'Grease Gun' has made it into production and overtook the desire to keep the M2 Hyde going.

As such, only around 400 M2 Hyde SMGs were produced from the period spanning 1942-1943 and none saw combat service in the war.

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Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Marlin M2 Hyde (Hyde-Inland / US SMG Cal 45 M2). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

570
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

960 ft/sec
293 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity

Physical
The physical qualities of the Marlin M2 Hyde (Hyde-Inland / US SMG Cal 45 M2). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

813 mm
32.01 in
O/A Length

12 mm
0.47 in
Barrel Length

9.24 lb
4.19 kg
Weight

Blowback
Action

,45 ACP
Caliber(s)

20- or 30-round detachable box magazine.
Feed

Iron Front and Rear.
Sights

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Marlin M2 Hyde (Hyde-Inland / US SMG Cal 45 M2) Submachine Gun family line.

M2 Hyde - Base Series Name.

US Submachine Gun, Caliber 45 M2 - Formal American military designation.

Hyde-Inland - Alternative Name.

Hyde-Inland 1 - Initial prototype form.

Hyde-Inland 2 - Revised, improved prototype form.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Marlin M2 Hyde (Hyde-Inland / US SMG Cal 45 M2). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Marlin Firearms - USA

[ Untied States ]

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Image of the Marlin M2 Hyde (Hyde-Inland / US SMG Cal 45 M2)

Going Further...
The Marlin M2 Hyde (Hyde-Inland / US SMG Cal 45 M2) Submachine Gun appears in the following collections:

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