The enigmatic SMG “Delacre-Vanophem” from 1939 is a french experimental submachine gun in 9 mm. Apparently, Henri Delacre and William Vanophem designed this SMG in accordance with patent FR925099A of William Vanophem, who acquired the rights to the weapon by filing a patent in France in 1946. The initial patent for this model was filed in Luxembourg in October 1939 , but the outbreak of World War II interrupted the procedure, and subsequent patents, filed in France, were not published until 1947. The exact identity of the designer is ambiguous, as the weapon is also called "Delacre Mle 1939 », which makes it a little-known weapon. Philippe Regenstreif gave him an article published in the “Gazette desarmes N° 314”.
What reached Great Britain were detailed blueprints and specifications, rather than a finished, functional weapon. Amid the chaos of 1939–1940, it was far easier to evacuate technical documentation than a secret prototype.
Arms historians agree that at least one specimen actually existed and was located in the British Isles. It does not appear on any lists of scrapped or destroyed weapons.
The weapon has not been destroyed; instead, it has been designated as a historical artifact. However, this submachine gun is kept out of sight of the general public, as the NFC is a strictly controlled, restricted-access collection intended for military specialists, historians, and forensic experts—not a public exhibition.
Estimated capacity: Based on the dimensions of the magazine as shown in the archival drawings from patent FR925099A and in rare photographs of the prototype, its capacity is estimated at approximately 40–50 rounds—a standard capacity for 9×19mm Parabellum drum magazines of that era, designed to provide a high volume of fire.
Expert assessments: Drawing on similar French and European pre-war designs, the engineers anticipated a rate of fire in the range of 500–600 rounds per minute.
