PPSh-41

The PPSh-41 was a 7.62-mm-caliber submachine gun widely fielded by the Soviet Union during World War II. It was also used by the North Korean and Chinese Army in the Korean War, and by the North Vietnamese Army during the long armed conflict in Southeast Asia. It can be recognized by its characteristics barrel jacket (shroud) and drum magazine.

The PPSh-41 was a very reliable infantry weapon, which was very effective in urban battles as it gave the infantry soldier massive firepower. It was first seen and encountered by the German troops during the Battle of Stalingrad. Although the Soviet Union phased it out in 1947, North Korea and China would keep producing it, being known as the Type 49 SMG and the Type 50 SMG respectively.

Designed by Georgy S. Shpagin, the PPSh-41had been developed between 1940 and 1941. However, it entered service with the Red Army in early 1942. By mid July, 1942, every infantry division of the Soviet Army had been issued with this efficient submachine gun. Since it had been designed from the very beginning for ease of production, it was massively manufactured in every factory and even in small workshops in small towns during WW2. The Germans were so much impressed with this submachine gun, that they took to using large numbers of captured PPSh-41s during major battles on the Eastern Front.

Below, the renowned Soviet submachine gun, which was called by the troops the "Pah Pah Sah".

Technical Characteristics

Not only was the PPSh-41 a good design, but it was also a sturdy weapon, with a heavy solid wooden butt. Its construction involved welding, pins, and seam stampings. The firing system was dependable, despite its impressive rate of fire of 950 rounds per minute. Thus, contrary to other WW2 submachine guns, it did not get jammed and always worked when a man needed it. The barrel was chromium-plated, which was a standard Soviet practice designed to ease cleaning and reduce wear; it was enveloped by a rugged barrel shroud, with large holes. The shroud, or jacket, protected the soldier hand from being burned by the barrel high temperature.

The PPSh-41 used a blowback operation system for the self-loading and ejection of empty ammo casings. Its selective lever allowed it to be fired in single-shot and fully automatic mode. The safety catch and fire selection lever was located in front of the trigger. The weapon used the 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge. However, its chamber could also take and fire the German 7.63-25mm Mauser pistol rounds. Later, a new variant would be built to fire the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridg. The WW2 versions used either a 71-round drum magazine or a 35-round box magazine.

Specifications

Type: submachine gun

Caliber: 7.62-mm

Cartridge: 7.62x25-mm Tokarev

Weight: 3.63 kg (8 pounds), without magazine.

Barrel Length: 26.9 cm (10.6 inches)

Full Length:  84.3 cm (33.2 inches)

Operating System: blowback, with open bolt

Feeding System: detachable drum, or box magazine.

Rate of Fire: 900/1000 round per minute, cyclic.

Effective Range: 200 m

Below, historical footage of the PPSh-41 used in WW2 (video).

Below, two photos of the PPSh-41 submachine gun. They are both the early version of the WW2 weapon, with a Tangent flat rear sight. The first one is fittedwith the drum magazine and the second one with the box magazine.

 

Here the PPSh-41 was field stripped for cleaning.

Below, the drum magazine, closed in the first picture, and open in the second one.

Below, the North Vietnamese version of the Soviet submachine gun; the K50 model. Notice it was so modified to a point that it is hardly recognizable. A telescopic, steel rod stock replaced the solid wooden butt.