I started grinding Normandy about two month ago with the paratrooper event and after a long pause in the game. I used to play Berlin Axis one year ago, and I really enjoyed using SMG such as MP40 and MP35. Even though the soviet SMG like the PPsh and the PPD are certainly better, the german ones were still very good.
When I started Normandy allies, I soon realized that the US assaulters’ weapons were garbage for at least 20 levels. The M3 is probably the worst SMG that I used in this game, the M3A1 being the second worst… Then came the sten at lvl 22. This is, in my humble opinion, better than the grease gun, but still not that much and I don’t see the point of investing so much order for what is essentially the default smg of the Tunisian campaign. The Lanchester at lvl 26 is much better, as I had the opportunity to use it a lot with the british paratroopers, but still I didn’t want to spend so much on a gun that is fairly inexpensive in Tunisia. Finally, at lvl 29, I unlocked the first Thompson! This is awesome right? Wait, I can just grind an event which provides four fully upgraded 50 rounds lanchester?! So essentially I did not really used the Thompson because I unlocked it the same day of the event…
Thus I created this topic to know the feeling of other fellow enlisted enjoyers about the different Thompson in the game and particularly if they are worth grinding! I mean, between lvl 29 and 39 there are 3 different model of the gun, they must be good ! Right? The issue is that after the M2 Carbine, other weapons in Normandy are not that appealing unfortunately so I don’t really know of it worth investing so much currency in those weapons.
Grease gun’s slow rate of fire and minimal recoil helps it kill nicely at range. Lanchester is just an mp28 clone and is good. Sten suffers from crap sights and the tommy is better in semi auto unless closer to point blank in my opinion. With that said, m2 slaps and it’s riflemen certified
The drum mag Thompson I think is the best despite its only 50 rounds but the problem is the gun is in Tunisia. The 100 round drum mag Thompson is in a premium paratrooper squad.
Sight picure on most Thompsons is horrible. Yet 50 round drum Thompsons are absolutely insanely potent.
Just like the M2 carbine, US autmatic weapons are actually very strong and often have better raw stats than its german counterparts - its just the sights that are terrible.
M50 and Thompson M21 are the best SMGs there. Thompsons in general are overtiered and overhyped SMGs which are harder-hitting MP35s with serious sight issues and only the drum Tommy kinda equals its flaws (though I think I would prefer Kiraly over it). M3Gs are okayish and Lanchester is fine but sadly not really historical as it was only used by the RAF and the Royal Navy.
If you count M2, its a very good CQC-“low med” range gun.
I adore the Grease gun, but it certainly is not a weapon for everyone. It requires a bit of thinking to use, and cannot simply just run and gun people to death. However if used right, the low ROF means stupid controllable recoil and less wasted ammo. The Sten also has been pretty good for a while after they fixed the god awful recoil. Have to get used to the sights, but it is not that hard. Yes if you are coming from German or Russian SMGs these may seem like a step down, but the Sten can do everything an MP 40 can, and the Grease gun is in a category of it’s own. Thompsons in a similar boat, they work, they just don’t work the way most people want them to.
Okay, thank you for your replies ! Guess I will stick to the M2 carbine / Lanchester 50 rounds until the merge finally lands, at which point I would probably get some of the Thompsons depending on their planned BR.
Grease Gun: slow but steady. Very controllable fire rate and recoil and a good introduction to the hard hitting .45 ACP.
Sten: It’s alright. Decent fire rate and handling, mid damage, it’s a gun that exists.
Lanchester(32 round): INVEST. This gun is one of the best sub machine guns in the game. Good velocity, accuracy, recoil, and fire rate. It’s basically like if the Thompson and the MP 28 had a baby.
M1A1 Thompson: Very well rounded, monstrous up close and with practice can be used effectively at medium range in bursts. Only issue is the sights.
All other Thompson variants I haven’t used.
the grease guns are some of the best in the game but they have a skill bar
they are consistent and have low spread and that with its slow ROF means that aimming while on full auto is doable for rather long ranges
I like the Sten, Lanchester, and M3. They have little recoil and are easy to use. The M3 also hits like a truck.
The Thompsons recoil is somewhat too much, but 45. acp damage is nice.
M50 is just not good (personal opinion) its mag is too small, and the recoil is ehhhhhh.
M3 is great, Sten is meh, and lanchester is also meh until maxed and then it’s better (In Tunisia only, easily outclassed in Normandy). M3 has low firerate and recoil so with a little practice you can use it quite effectively at medium range. Just takes some time to figure out the recoil pattern.
(Free) M50 Reising has 0.65 dispersion and deals the same dmg as any other .45 SMG. Its basically an M3G with way better accuracy comparable to the M1921
Don’t forget that even the very same guns have different stats depending on campaign, like all Mp40s behaving slightly differently in the 5 campaigns they are in.
A weapon’s overall performance also varies based on its rivals and guns it has to face against.
Environment is also a decisive factor.
For the award of the worst gun, I would like to nominate the 20 round Mp28, a trash in every campaign it is present in, be it on the streets of Moscow, room to room fighting in Stalingrad or the vast desert of Tunisia, I always haated it. I got rid of them the first chance I got.