PPSh

Russian sub-machine gun PPSh-1941G of the Red Army in WW2.
History, development, service, specifications, pictures and 3D model.

Original WW2 Russian PPSh-1941G sub-machine gun.
Original WW2 Russian PPSh-1941G sub-machine gun.

PPSh-1941G
Type: Sub-machine gun.

PPsH sub-machine gun

History:

sub-machine gun Model 1934/38
First model of the sub-machine gun Model 1934/38 (Degtjarjev PDD-34/38)

The Russians collected their first experiences with sub-machine guns during the Spanish Civil War.
Since the mid-twenties of the last century, various designs of sub-machine guns have been tested in Russia. The first Russian sub-machine gun was then introduced to the Red Army in 1935, which was developed by Degtyarev and was designated PPD.
It was successfully used by ‘volunteers’ of the communist forces in Spain, and so mass production was decided in Moscow. The first model was designated as PPD-34/38 and several thousand copies were produced therefrom.

After the appearance of the Finnish Suomi sub-machine gun, the PPD-40 gun was reworked, which resulted in an improved magazine construction with a large drum magazine. Here the 71-shot drum magazine began to appear, which should become so unpleasant for the German soldiers in the Russian campaign.
The mechanism was made by simple rebound and the weapon is easily recognizable by its wooden shaft and the perforated cooling jacket around the barrel.

PPD-40
Sub-machine gun Model 1940 (Degtyarjev PPD-40)

The production of the PPD-40 began as early as March 1940. However, the PPD-40 was not easy to manufacture since it was made of hand-made steel and inside the barrel of chrome. Thus, in 1940 only 81,118 pieces were built and in 1941 another 5,868 pieces were built. The production ended for the simple reason that the weapons factories in which the PPD-34/38 and PPD-40 were built were quickly overrun by the German troops, and the extensive machines needed for their manufacture were not found anywhere else.
The majority of these machine guns were lost during the first months of Operation Barbarossa, but single specimens of these well-processed weapons were in use throughout the war.

 

Russian sub-machine gunners with PPSh protect the squad machine gunner
Russian sub-machine gunners with PPSh protect the squad machine gunner as he operates his DP machine gun.

The Pistolet Pulyemet Shpagin PPSh was developed in 1940 as a replacement for the PPD­40 model, since although the PPD was good it was not entirely suited to fast production in huge quantities.
The first PPSh-41 were issued to the Red Army on December 21, 1940. However, it was only under the pressure of the German invasion that the weapon was issued from 1942 onward to Russian units in quantities.
Even though the PPD was good, it was not suitable for being produced quickly in huge quantities by unskilled laborers in primitive weapons factories. However, this was the most important Russian concern in 1941-42.

button goCONTINUE HERE TO PART II of PPSh-1914G (or PPS-41): Production, service, pictures, 3D model and video


Specifications for PPSh-1941G

Specifications:

PPSh-1941Gspecification
Typesub-machine gun
Caliber7.62mm
Length33.10 in
Weight8 lb
Barrel 10.5 in long, 4 grooves, right hand twist
Feed system 71-round detachable drum or 35-round detachable box
System of operation Blowback, selective fire
Muzzle velocity 1,650 feet/sec
Rate of fire900 rpm

Service statistics:

PPSh-1941Gfigures
ManufacturesSoviet State Arsenals
Production delivery December 21, 1940
Final deliveryafter 1945
Production 1942 c.1.5 millions
Production figure c.5 millions (of which 10,000 from 1943 in Tehran, Iran)

button goCONTINUE HERE TO PART II of PPSh-1914G (or PPS-41): Production, service, pictures, 3D model and video



References and literature

The Encyclopedia of Infantry Weapons of World War II (Ian V.Hogg)
Infanterie im 2. Weltkrieg (J.B.King, John Batchelor)
Illustriertes Lexikon der Waffen im 1. und 2. Weltkrieg (V. Dolinek, V. Francev, J. Sach)
The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II (Chris Bishop)


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