How did the Thompson become the most desired submachine gun of World War II?

Even after being simplified, the Thompson M1A1 remained an expensive old-school weapon. It was made from massive steel, machined, parkerized, and assembled like a tool built for brutal use. But that very costliness became both its strength — and its sentence. Why did the U.S. Army try to replace the Thompson with the cheaper M3, while soldiers continued to trust the heavy M1A1? What did its milled receiver, walnut stock, and simple blowback action really offer? And why did a weapon too expensive for mass war become one of the most charismatic legends of the 20th century? #ThompsonM1A1 #M3GreaseGun #USWeaponsWWII #ThompsonSubmachineGun #45Caliber #SubmachineGun #WarHistory