Uzi Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids IMI Uzi (MP-2)

Type	Submachine gun
Place of origin	Israel
Service history
In service	1954–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Suez Crisis Six-Day War Vietnam War Yom Kippur War Colombian internal conflict Sri Lankan Civil War Portuguese Colonial War Falklands War Invasion of Grenada 1982 Lebanon war South African Border War Rhodesian Bush War Somali Civil War Mexican Drug War Syrian Civil War Miami Drug Wars
Production history
Designer	Uziel Gal
Designed	1948
Manufacturer	Israel Military Industries Israel Weapon Industries FN Herstal Norinco Lyttleton Engineering Works (under Vektor Arms) RH-ALAN Group Industries
Produced	1950–present
No. built	10,000,000+
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	3.5 kg (7.72 lb)
Length	445 mm (17.5 in) stockless 470 mm (18.5 in) folding stock collapsed 640 mm (25 in) folding stock extended
Barrel length	260 mm (10.2 in)

Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum .22 LR .45 ACP .41 AE
Action	Blowback, open bolt
Rate of fire	600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	400 m/s (9mm)
Effective firing range	200 m
Feed system	10 (.22 and .41 AE) 16 (.45 ACP) 20, 25, 32, 40, 50 (9 mm) magazines
Sights	Iron sights

The Uzi is a well-known type of submachine gun (SMG). It became famous for being very small and easy to carry. This was a big improvement over many SMGs made during World War II. The Uzi achieves its compact size by loading its magazines into the grip, similar to how a pistol works. While it wasn't the first submachine gun to use this design, the Uzi was the first to be used widely around the world.

There are several versions of the Uzi. The Mini Uzi is a smaller version of the original. The Micro Uzi is even tinier, almost the size of a standard pistol. The Para Micro Uzi was designed for special Counter Terrorist Units. There is also the Uzi Pistol, which is a semi-automatic version. This means it fires one bullet each time you pull the trigger. Many of these Uzi versions are still used by special forces today. However, the Uzi is slowly being replaced by newer weapons like the MP-5.

History of the Uzi

The Uzi was invented by Uziel Gal, an army officer from Israel. This gun was first used by soldiers in 1956. Israeli forces used Uzis during the Six-Day War in 1967.

The main companies that make Uzis are Israel Military Industries and the Belgian weapon company, FN. Uziel Gal, the inventor, actually asked that the weapon not be named after him. However, his request was not followed, and the gun was named "Uzi" anyway.