FP-45 Liberator (Throw away pistol)

Simple History
7 Nov 201803:53
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe FP 45 Liberator was a unique and curious weapon developed during World War II with the intention of arming resistance fighters in occupied Europe. Designed to be a stealth pistol, its small size and light weight made it easily concealable, with a smoothbore barrel that limited effective range to short distances. The pistol was chambered for the powerful .45 ACP round, the same used by the Colt M1911. The U.S. government produced one million of these pistols, manufactured by the Guide Lamp Factory in Indiana under the cover name 'flare projector caliber .45'. Despite the ambitious plans, only a fraction reached the intended recipients, and there is no documented successful use of the Liberator. Post-war, most were discarded or melted down. The Liberator's production was a remarkable feat, completed in just 11 weeks with a cost of $2.40 per unit, earning it the nickname 'Woolworth pistol'.

Takeaways
  • 🔫 The FP 45 Liberator was a unique weapon created during World War II to arm resistance fighters in occupied Europe.
  • 🚫 The pistol was designed for stealth, with minimal dimensions and weight, making it easily concealable in a pocket.
  • 👥 It was intended to be used by resistance members to assassinate enemy soldiers at close range, then to acquire the enemy's better weapon.
  • 📏 The effective range of the Liberator was very short, no more than 13 feet (4 meters) due to its smoothbore barrel.
  • 💰 The US government produced 1 million of these pistols, with the production cost being as low as $2.40 each, earning it the nickname 'Woolworth pistol'.
  • 🏭 The production was carried out by the Guide Lamp Factory in Anderson, Indiana, and was designated as 'flare projector caliber 45' to disguise its true purpose.
  • ⏱️ The entire production of 1 million pistols was completed in just 11 weeks with a workforce of 300.
  • 🔑 The Liberator was a single-shot pistol, with a simple process for manually loading a round but a more complex one for reloading.
  • 📦 Each pistol was delivered in a carton box along with 10 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, a wooden dowel for reloading, and an instruction manual.
  • 🚫 Despite the large production, Liberators were not used on the scale initially planned, with only a small portion reaching resistance fighters.
  • ♻️ After the war, most of the Liberators were either discarded into the sea or melted down, with no documented successful uses.
Q & A

  • What was the primary purpose of the FP 45 Liberator pistol during World War II?

    -The primary purpose of the FP 45 Liberator pistol was to arm potential insurgents in occupied Europe with stealth pistols that they could use against enemy soldiers, hence the name 'Liberator'.

  • How many FP 45 Liberator pistols were planned to be produced by the US government?

    -The US government had plans to produce 1 million FP 45 Liberator pistols.

  • What was the official designation given to the FP 45 Liberator to cover up its real purpose?

    -To cover up the real purpose of the weapon, it was officially designated as the 'flare projector caliber 45'.

  • How many steel parts did the Liberator pistol consist of?

    -The Liberator pistol consisted of only 23 steel parts.

  • What was the production price per FP 45 Liberator pistol?

    -The production price per FP 45 Liberator pistol was $2.40, which led to its nickname 'the Woolworth pistol'.

  • What was the effective range of the FP 45 Liberator pistol in real conditions?

    -In real conditions, the effective range of the FP 45 Liberator pistol was no more than 13 feet or 4 meters.

  • What type of ammunition was used for the FP 45 Liberator?

    -The ammunition used for the FP 45 Liberator was the powerful .45 ACP, the same one used by the Colt M1911 pistol.

  • How were the Liberator pistols delivered to the resistance fighters?

    -Liberator pistols were delivered in carton boxes, along with 10 .45 caliber rounds, a wooden dowel, and a comic book-like instruction manual.

  • What was the process of reloading the FP 45 Liberator pistol?

    -Reloading the Liberator was complicated; the user had to unlock the breech and poke out the empty case with the help of the wooden dowel.

  • Were the Liberator pistols widely used as planned during the war?

    -Despite big plans, Liberator pistols were never used on the scale that they were intended for. Only a small portion of the entire production run reached resistance fighters in Europe and the Pacific.

  • What happened to most of the FP 45 Liberator pistols after the war?

    -After the war, most of the FP 45 Liberator pistols were either thrown into the sea or melted down.

  • Why was the FP 45 Liberator pistol considered to have minimal dimensions?

    -The FP 45 Liberator pistol had minimal dimensions to ensure it could be easily concealed in a pocket or on a person, with an overall length of 5.5 inches or 141 millimeters and weighing only one pound or 0.45 kilograms.

Outlines
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🔫 FP 45 Liberator Pistol: World War II's Simple Weapon

The FP 45 Liberator was a unique weapon created during World War II to aid resistance fighters in occupied Europe. The Allies aimed to arm potential insurgents with these simple, concealable pistols to fight against enemy soldiers. The Liberator was designed to be easily hidden, with minimal dimensions and weighing only one pound. It was a single-shot pistol, using the powerful .45 ACP ammunition, effective at close range due to its smoothbore barrel. The U.S. government produced one million of these pistols, manufactured by the Guide Lamp Factory in Indiana, under the guise of a flare projector to conceal its true purpose. Despite the large production, the Liberator was not widely used as planned, and many were later discarded or melted down.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡FP 45 Liberator
The FP 45 Liberator was a unique pistol designed during World War II with the specific purpose of arming resistance fighters in occupied Europe. It was a single-shot, concealable weapon intended for close-range assassinations of enemy soldiers. The term 'Liberator' signifies its role in aiding the liberation of occupied territories. The pistol was made of minimal parts and was simple to produce, making it cost-effective for large-scale distribution.
💡Allies
The Allies refer to the countries that were united against the Axis powers during World War II, primarily consisting of the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. In the context of the video, the Allies made significant efforts to support resistance movements in Europe by providing them with weapons and materials, which was a strategic move to weaken the Axis powers from within.
💡Resistance fighters
Resistance fighters were individuals and groups in occupied territories during World War II who engaged in guerrilla warfare and sabotage against the occupying forces. They played a crucial role in undermining the control of the Axis powers and were often supplied with weapons by the Allies, such as the FP 45 Liberator, to aid in their efforts.
💡World War II
World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's major powers divided into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. The war had a profound impact on the course of history and was characterized by significant technological advancements in warfare, including the development of the FP 45 Liberator.
💡Stealth pistols
Stealth pistols, as mentioned in the video, refer to firearms that are designed to be easily concealed and used for surprise attacks. The FP 45 Liberator was one such weapon, with its small size and light weight making it ideal for covert operations and resistance activities against enemy forces.
💡GMC guide the lamp Factory
The GMC guide the lamp Factory in Anderson, Indiana, was the production site for the FP 45 Liberator pistols. It was chosen for this task due to its ability to produce large quantities of the pistols in a short period. The factory's designation of the weapon as a 'flare projector caliber 45' was a cover to disguise the true purpose of the weapon.
💡45 ACP
The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) is a powerful handgun cartridge that was used by the FP 45 Liberator, as well as by the iconic Colt M1911 pistol. It was chosen for the Liberator due to its effectiveness at short ranges, which was suitable for the intended close-quarters engagements by resistance fighters.
💡Smoothbore barrel
A smoothbore barrel is a type of barrel without rifling, which are the spiral grooves inside a rifled barrel that impart a spin to a projectile for greater accuracy. The FP 45 Liberator had a smoothbore barrel, which limited its effective range but was sufficient for the close-range engagements it was designed for.
💡Single-shot pistol
A single-shot pistol is a type of firearm that can only fire one round before it must be manually reloaded. The FP 45 Liberator was a single-shot weapon, which simplified its design and production but also limited its rate of fire. Users had to manually insert a new round into the breech after each shot.
💡Cartridge
A cartridge, in the context of firearms, is a single package containing the projectile, propellant, and primer. For the FP 45 Liberator, the cartridges were .45 ACP rounds, which were included in the delivery to resistance fighters along with the pistols and other supplies.
💡Woolworth pistol
The term 'Woolworth pistol' is a nickname given to the FP 45 Liberator due to its low production cost of two dollars and forty cents per unit, which was so inexpensive that it was likened to items that could be purchased at Woolworth's, a popular five-and-dime store at the time. This nickname highlights the cost-effectiveness of the weapon's mass production.
Highlights

The FP 45 Liberator was a unique weapon created during World War II to arm resistance fighters in occupied Europe.

The pistol was designed to be a stealth weapon, allowing insurgents to use it against enemy soldiers.

It was intended to be dropped into Europe in large numbers to create a sense of unease among German soldiers.

The Liberator had minimal dimensions, measuring 5.5 inches in length and weighing just one pound for easy concealment.

Its smoothbore barrel limited effective shooting distances to no more than 13 feet.

The ammunition used was the powerful .45 ACP, the same as used by the Colt M1911 pistol.

One million FP 45 Liberators were produced by the GMC guide lamp Factory in Anderson, Indiana.

The production was simple and cost-effective, taking only 11 weeks and costing $2.40 per pistol.

The Liberator was nicknamed the 'Woolworth pistol' due to its low production cost.

Delivered in carton boxes, each Liberator came with 10 rounds of .45 caliber, a wooden dowel, and a comic book-like instruction manual.

It was a single-shot pistol, requiring manual loading and complex reloading procedures.

Despite large production plans, Liberators were not used on the scale intended, with only a small portion reaching European and Pacific resistance fighters.

There is no documented evidence of the Liberator being used successfully in combat.

Most of the produced Liberators were either discarded into the sea or melted down after the war.

The Liberator's design and production represent a significant, albeit not widely utilized, aspect of guerrilla warfare during World War II.

The simplicity and low cost of the Liberator's production make it a notable example of wartime innovation.

The Liberator's story provides insights into the psychological warfare strategies used by the Allies during World War II.

The 'flare projector caliber 45' designation was used to disguise the true purpose of the weapon.

Transcripts

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WWII HistoryAllied SupportResistance FightersStealth PistolLiberator PistolGMC Guide LampSingle-Shot45 ACPAnderson IndianaHistorical WeaponWWII Arsenal