The High Standard HDM is an American semi-automatic pistol equipped with an integral silencer. Based on the High Standard H-D pistol, it was adopted by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. Because of legal concerns during wartime,[citation needed] full-metal-jacketed .22 LR rounds were developed for this pistol.
| High Standard HDM | |
|---|---|
| Type | Suppressed semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1942–1951 |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | World War II, Cold War, Gulf War, Vietnam War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | High Standard Manufacturing Company |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 47 oz (1,300 g), empty |
| Length | 13.815 inches (351 mm) Suppressor length × diameter= 7.75 in (197 mm) by 1 in (25 mm) |
| Barrel length | 6.75 in (171 mm) |
| Height | 5 in (127 mm) |
| Cartridge | .22 LR (5.6mm rimfire) |
| Action | Blowback, semi-automatic |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,080 ft/s (329 m/s) |
| Feed system | 10-round single column, detachable box magazine |
| Sights | fixed Iron sights |
History
editWilliam J. Donovan demonstrated the pistol to President Franklin D. Roosevelt inside the Oval Office. During World War II, the HDM was adopted for use by the OSS.[1] It later was used by CIA agents and US special forces units in the Korean and Vietnam War and supposedly up to the Gulf War.[1]
Francis Gary Powers' HDM is displayed in Moscow after his capture and release at the Central Armed Forces Museum as of 2017.[2][3]
Design
editThe High Standard HDM is a conventional blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol fitted with an integral silencer which decreases its report by more than 20 dB.[4] This pistol design was originally delivered on 20 January 1944, and original contract models were blued with a parkerized (phosphate) finish on the silencer. Follow-on models were completely parkerized. Post World War II models produced for the CIA were also blued. The weapon has a frame-mounted safety lever on the left in a similar position to the M1911A1 and Browning Hi-Power. The front sight is a fixed blade with a square notch fixed rear sight.[5]
This weapon uses a heel-mounted magazine release. The weapon is effective at short ranges when the low energy of the round fired is taken into account. The design is simple and typical of the period in which it was designed.[citation needed]
A clone of the HDM is made by Arms Tech Limited.[6]
Users
editCurrent
edit
United States: Still used by the Central Intelligence Agency,[7] the United States Marine Corps with 10 HDMS in use with Force Recon,[8] and the United States Army Special Forces,[7][9]
Former
edit
United Kingdom: Known to be used by the SOE in Nazi-occupied Europe.[3]- United States: Formerly used by OSS agents.[3] The weapon was also assigned to Lockheed U-2 pilots.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b "Hi-Standard HDM silenced". Modern Firearms. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Son of US spy pilot views U-2 artifacts at Russian museum". Air Force Times. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Firearms, Historical. "Historical Firearms - High Standard (Hi-Standard) Suppressed Pistols ..." Historical Firearms. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Loading". myweaponplace.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
- ^ "OSS Silenced Pistol". pdf.io. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20090419212628/http://www.smallarmsreview.com/pdf/OSSPistol.PDF [bare URL PDF]
- ^ a b Boyd, Bob (21 September 2011). "Arms Tech Limited OSS Hi Standard". Shooting Illustrated. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "Strong Men Armed - The Marine Corps 1st Force Reconnaissance Company: Part III - Weapons and Equipment". 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ Stejskal, James (December 2017). "Cold War Warriors". American Rifleman. American Rifleman.[page needed]
- ^ Powers, Francis (1960). Operation Overflight: A Memoir of the U-2 Incident. Potomac Books, Inc. p. 31. ISBN 9781574884227.