Personal Defense Weapon: Only for Defense? (Great resource!)

I. Personal Defense Weapon: Only for Defense?

There has been some debate on the criteria, need and tactical role
of the PDW. Let us examine this issue. It can be compared to the
submachine gun. The SMG provided firepower in a smaller package as a
companion arm to the World War II and post-war battle rifles. However,
with the miniaturization leading to the assault rifle, the role of the SMG has
supposedly declined.

Yet the SMG shoots on! Its major disadvantage is lack of range,
because of only firing pistol ammunition. This seeming disadvantage has
many benefits which are low: recoil, muzzle blast, climb, penetration, size,
weight, cost and training time (Taylor, Analysis 14). The Europeans, Israelis,
and Chinese have been more appreciative of the SMG and machine
pistol than the Americans.

The SMG will be more versatile than the handgun and the shotgun
in most tactical situations (Taylor, Sub 8). No one questions its OFFENSIVE
capabilities. Its use has been expanded from the military to police, SWAT
and others.
...

IV. Changing Requirements and Present Criteria for PDW

In 1980 the American Rifleman reported that the Joint Service Small
Arms Program wanted to replace the 1911A1.45 pistol with a 9mm and
improve hit probability (Cowgill 82). Even today the Close Combat
Armament Center brochure of TACOM-ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, lists the
M9 as a PDW.

The requirements changed in 1993 from a simple handgun to:
Weight: <1.5 lbs. 100 meter range
Defeat body armor at 50 meters
Hand-free carry and to be worn on person 24 hours a day
Use by special operations troops ( Crist 102, 106).

According to the Army Small Arms Master Plan of 1995, it was
reported that the PDW should be:
<3 lbs. 500-625 ft. range
Concealable Recoil of 9mm
Low magnetic signature Reliable in all weather (Grimes 34-5)
A later report in 1997 indicates:
Replace pistols/SMGs Selective fire
200 meter range Soft/hard target capability
Leap ahead technology
Users: those not armed with rifles, special operations, and law
enforcement ( Steadman, Fighting 21-2).

Nick Steadman reported that the NATO European Staff target for
the PDW as of October 1999 was:
Weight: Handheld – 1 kg (700 gm. desired) Shoulder - 3 kg
Range: 100-200 meters Protected targets: 30-50 meters desired
Suitable while wearing armor, NBC suits and winter clothing (SADW).

According to Mark McFadden of the Picatinny Arsenal, the U.K. has
combined with NATO to develop a PDW replacing the 9mm. However,
the U.S. does not intend to replace its 9 mm systems (E-mail).
U.K. Summary of Requirements:
<.5 meters long Weight: loaded – 3 kg.
Defeat CRISAT protected targets: 150 meters
Off the shelf designs in calibers not used by UK armed forces and in
5.56 will be assessed (no 9mm?)
First batch in service 2003; follow up deliveries: 2004 and 2005
(MoD) (Wood).

In summary, the PDW requirements evolved from a replacement for
the .45 pistol to an entirely new ambitious and even radical firearms
category.