Most groups build their SMG on this rung, not one higher. The Thompson sits at a Level 2 workbench, wants one spring where the MP5A4 wants two, and the wood in the recipe is the cheapest thing in your box. What stays out of your hands is the SMG body: not researchable, so every Thompson begins with one from loot.
Learn the Thompson and skip the Custom SMG blueprint unless bodies pile up; both eat the same parts.
Pair every body in the box with a spring before the AK crowd takes the springs.
Queue a few mags of HV pistol ammo in the same sitting. The Thompson is the SMG that reaches far enough to use it.
After Level 3, the Thompson still earns its place when springs run short. One spring is one Thompson; the same two springs make a single MP5.
Questions
Thompson ×10: how many resources?
High Quality Metal ×100, Wood ×1,000, Metal Spring ×10, SMG Body ×10.
