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Many have probably heard the expression “weapon of victory.” It is important in history Soviet people. This expression united all types of weapons that helped our country in the victory over the Nazis, and also became real symbols of the Russian soldier. This also includes the T-34 tank, an anti-tank rifle, the legendary Katyusha multiple rocket launcher and, of course, the Shpagin submachine gun, aka “PPSh 41” - an assault rifle, a device, drawing and description of which are given in this text.

Story

From the experience of the war in 1939-1940 between the USSR and Finland and the Degtyarev submachine gun then in service, a certain fact became clear. It consisted in the fact that the Red Army needed to be equipped with automatic models and, accordingly, organize their mass production. “PPD-40” and “PPD-38” (Degtyarev submachine guns) were not suitable for such purposes, since they were labor-intensive and required a considerable amount of machine equipment for their production. They also had a shortage of materials and high costs. To replace the PPD, it was necessary to develop a new, cheapest and simplest submachine gun. This question was important.

In 1940, a competition was announced for the invention of a new submachine gun. The tests identified two main rivals. They turned out to be B. G. Shpitalny and G. S. Shpagin. Their models were quite promising. Shpagin won. Its version was adopted for service on December 21, 1940. Its full name was: “Submachine gun of the Shpagin system 7.62 mm mod. 1941 (automatic machine “PPSh 41”).” This is a reliable fact.

The “PPSh 41” - an assault rifle, a device whose drawing and description are given in the text below, went into mass production in the autumn of 1941. Namely, during the climax of the war, when the Red Army was in great need of such weapons. Due to the fact that such a device as the PPSh assault rifle had a simple design, did not use alloy steel and complex special tools, its production was launched at many enterprises in the country that had not previously specialized in weapons production.

The bulk of the parts of such weapons as the PPSh assault rifle were manufactured using the cold stamping method using electric and spot welding. The most complex and expensive part was the drum magazine. It was borrowed from “PPD”, which had a lot of complaints during operation. This slightly delayed the release of such weapons as the “PPSh” - an assault rifle, the drawings of which are presented below for review. After modernization, the drum magazine was replaced with a sector capacity of 35 rounds, and the corresponding sight was replaced with a reversible one, having a firing range of 100 and 200 m. During the war years, about 5.4 million Shpagin submachine guns were produced. The automatic operation of this weapon is due to the recoil of the free shutter. When firing, the barrel bore was locked by the mass of the free bolt, which was pressed by a spring (reciprocating action).

The design of the trigger-type mechanism was such that thanks to it it was possible to fire both single shots and a machine gun burst. The removable drum-type magazine was designed for 71 rounds, as in the Degtyarev submachine gun (“PPD”). The open-type aiming devices consisted of a sector sight and a front sight. The slide-type safety is located on the bolt handle. This was an important detail. also in in this case there was a slider-type fire mode switch.

"PPSh" machine gun: tactical and technical characteristics

Produced- 1941-1947

Weight- without magazine 3.6 kg, with loaded - 5.3 kg.

Length is 843 mm.

Caliber- 7.62 mm.

Cartridge- 7.62*25 TT.

Maximum range - 400m.

Rate of fire- 1000 shots/min.

Sighting range from 200 to 250m.

Shop: drum - 71 cartridges, sector - 35.

Drawings of the PPSh 41 assault rifle

As already mentioned, they were developed by the Soviet designer G.S. Shpagin. They are shown in the photo below.

Design

It is a “PPSh” automatic firearm. It is designed for firing in bursts and single shots. Automation works due to the free recoil of the shutter. This is an important property in this case. In other words, reloading and extraction of the cartridge case occurs after the shot due to the return of the loose bolt. Fire is fired from the rear sear, that is, before the shot, the bolt is in the rear extreme position. Then, after descending, he goes forward, after which he fires the cartridge. The primer is pierced at the moment the last process is completed. The shutter does not lock during firing.

This scheme is often used in the development of devices such as submachine guns. For example, the Israeli-made Uzi works on a similar principle. Although absolutely simple, such a solution requires the use of a massive bolt, which increases the entire mass of the weapon. In addition, a weapon that uses a similar reloading scheme can fire due to a strong blow, for example, when falling. If, due to an impact, the bolt rolls from the front extreme (unfixed) position along the guides further than the cartridge feed window from the magazine or from the rear extreme position, it will break off the stopper.

As in Degtyarev’s weapons, such a device as the PPSh assault rifle has: a receiver, which is fused with the barrel casing, a free massive bolt with a safety lock on the loading handle, and a disk magazine. He also has a wooden stock. But with all this, the PPSh-automatic is more technologically advanced. In this model, only the barrel needs precision mechanical processing, and the bolt was made on a lathe with further rough milling. In weapons such as the PPSh (automatic machine), the production of almost all other metal parts can be done by stamping. Here, the barrel casing has a recoil compensator at its front end. That is, in this case there is a beveled plate with a hole for the bullet to pass through. There are through windows on the sides of the casing. Thanks to the reactive action of powder gases when fired, they significantly reduce the effect of recoil and “lifting” of the barrel upward. The scope of this model has only 2 positions. Namely - 200 and 100 m. Since 1942, "PPSh" began to be equipped not with a disk magazine, but with a sector (box-shaped) magazine for 35 rounds.

It was dictated certain conditions. Namely, the fact that disk-type stores were complex to produce and less reliable. They also demanded adjustments for a specific instance of the machine gun. That is this part another similar “PPSh” might not work. Judging by military photographs, box-type magazines have been seen in troops only since 1944. Next, we will consider the device of the PPSh machine gun in more detail.

Trunk

Inside this part there is a channel with four grooves. They curl up from left to right. There is also a chamber with a bullet entrance. It has a certain bevel at the bottom. This is to set the direction of movement of the cartridge into the chamber.

This trunk contains on the outside:

• There is a curve in the front part. This is to protect against nicks.
• Thickened part. For placement in a receiver box.
• A semicircular notch on the thickened part. This is to secure the barrel in the appropriate box.
• The protrusion is circular. In order to limit the process of barrel advancement when returning to place. This also reduces the perception of bolt shock.

Receiver

This element is the base. It contains the following details:

Namushnik with a front sight.

Receiver box latch.

Swivel swivel.

The front part of the receiver serves as a casing, and the rear part serves as the bolt box cover.

In general, the receiver consists of:

The base of the front sight for attaching a fly-mount to it.

Swivels for attaching a shoulder belt.

Sight pads.

Inserts for guiding the barrel.

Front inclined plane of the casing. It is a muzzle brake.

Longitudinal cutouts on the casing. This is to improve and facilitate air circulation.

Windows in the muzzle brake area to provide exit for powder gases.

Transverse hole for the connecting axis.

Window for ejection of cartridges.

Latch spring stop.

Bottom ledge. This is to limit the drop in the rear receiver area.

Cutouts for fuse.

Two side ledges (to limit the movement of the latch).

Cutout for the bolt handle.

Receiver latch

This element consists of the following parts:

Cap.

Springs.

Hairpins.

The cap has: a hook with an inclined plane; the upper protrusion is semicircular; 2 side holes for the pin to pass through; bends, thanks to which its movement is directed and its forward movement is limited; notch on the back for ease of opening.

The latch spring is a unique part. It performs a specific function. In this case it is a short cylindrical coil spring.

Shutter box

This item has:

Unique lugs for connection to the receiver.

Shop cutout with window.

Vertical groove for magazine latch.

A clip for connecting to the trigger box and the front of the stock.

A window for the disconnector.

A hole for the magazine latch axis.

Window for the trigger lever sear.

An oval hole for the protrusion located in the back of the trigger box.

Window (to engage the receiver latch).

Tail with a hole for the corresponding screw.

Window for guide rod.

You should also know that inside the bolt box there is a reflector attached to its front part. It has a certain rigidity.

Gate

This assembled element contains the following parts:

Drummer with wedge.

Ejector with spring.

Lever.

Fuse with spring and tension.

The shutter itself contains the following parts:

A cup for placing the case head.

Vertical groove for ejector.

Combat platoon for contact with the sear.

Longitudinal groove for the ejector spring.

Side notches. They facilitate the movement of the shutter, the collection of dirt and excess lubricant.

Cross rear cut to prevent the receiver latch from hitting the head.

Channel with a rod for a reciprocating spring.

Cartridge rammer.

Groove for the passage of the reflector.

The channel is blind in the cup for the striker.

A transverse groove with a socket and a recess on the handle for placing a fuse with a spring and a bend.

Transverse channel for the striker wedge.

Composition of the return mechanism

These include:

• Guide rod with corresponding washer.
• Recoil spring.
• Shock absorber.

Composition of the trigger mechanism

In this case, the following is required:

• Drummer with a wedge.
• Recoil spring.
• Release lever with axis.
• Fire translator.
• Springs of the above lever.
• Trigger.
• Translator bend with corresponding pin.
• Trigger hook springs.
• Disconnector with axle.
• Bend the specified hook.
• The grounds of the disconnector.
• Compression springs.
• Trigger box.

Description of the cartridge feed mechanism

Everything is quite simple here. The supply of cartridges to the chamber is ensured by a rammer located in the bolt and a magazine borrowed from the PPD.

Next is the mechanism that locks the stem canal. In this case there is also nothing complicated. Locking the barrel channel of a weapon such as a PPSh assault rifle is carried out due to the bolt mass and the pressing force of a reciprocating spring.

Composition of the mechanism for eliminating spent cartridges

This includes availability:

• Ejector.
• Reflector.
• Ejector springs.

Safety devices

This includes certain elements. Namely:

• Fuse.
• Oppression.
• Fuse spring.

PPSh-41 is a Shpagin system submachine gun chambered for 7.62 mm, developed and adopted by the Red Army at the end of 1940. It was distinguished by high reliability and rate of fire. The simplicity of the design made it possible to produce it at non-core enterprises. This PP became the most popular automatic weapon during the Great Patriotic War (WWII) in the ranks of the armed forces of the USSR.

Captured PPSh were used in German units, converted. And it was sometimes called drum roll because of the very high volume of the shot.

Reasons and process of creation

Drawing conclusions from the Soviet-Finnish War (1939 - 1940), the leadership of the USSR gave the order to develop a modern and technologically advanced submachine gun (PP). The new weapon was supposed to match the combat characteristics of the PPD-34/40 (Degtyarev PP), but be easier to manufacture.

By the fall of 1940, G. Shpagin and B. Shpitalny presented their projects to the commission of the People's Commissariat of Armaments.

At the end of November, the Shpagin design bureau produced 25 products, the Shpitalny design bureau produced 15 units intended for testing tactical and technical characteristics. Along with the presented samples, PPD-40 also took part in the tests.

The tests included testing for structural strength, accuracy of fire, combat rate of fire and weight-dimensional characteristics.

By the end of the tests, the commission concluded that the Shpagin submachine gun was more suitable for the needs of the Soviet armed forces. Since it has better reliability, its parts are less susceptible to wear, with a mass equal to the PPD, it is easier to manufacture, and is not much inferior to the Shpitalny PP in accuracy and magazine capacity (but it weighs 1.5 kg more).

As a result, in December 1940, a decree was signed on the adoption of Shpagin's software and the start of its production. The project presented by Shpitalny was sent for revision, citing the low reliability of the automation.

Description and performance characteristics

The operating principle of the automatic Shpagin machine gun is based on a free-moving bolt and the use of recoil energy. The mainspring is cocked and activated when the trigger is pressed. Afterwards it straightens, which leads to the bolt moving forward and puncturing the cartridge case.

After the shot, the bolt, due to the powder gases, moves back to its original position.

The spent cartridge case flies out and a new charge takes its place. The ammunition is fed from a drum and sector type magazine. Hook type fuse. Around the barrel is a metal casing with oval holes and a bevel at the end. This innovation by Shpagin protected the fighter’s hands from burns and at the same time worked as a recoil compensator.

Looking at the large-scale cutaway plan of the PPSh submachine gun of the 1941 model, you can notice that the parts depicted on it are extremely simple and reliable.

Such design features allow it to be assembled on non-core production lines. For example, in tractor factories. The entire structure is made of steel, the butt is wooden (mostly birch). Parts are made by cold stamping and electric welding.

PP Shpagina has the following technical parameters:

• Weight: Without magazine – 3.6 kg. With a drum-type magazine - 5.3. With sector – 4.15 kg;
• Length: total product – 84.3 centimeters, barrel – 26.9 cm;
• Ammunition used: 7.62x25 mm TT, pistol;
• Caliber: 7.62 mm;
• Firing speed: up to 1000 rpm;
• Initial bullet speed: 500 m/s;
• Firing mode: automatic, semi-automatic;
• Firing distance max/effective: 500 m / 200 – 300 meters;
• Power type: drum (71 cartridges) and sector (35 cartridges);
• Sights: static, open type at 100 m and equipped with a folding line - 200 m.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like most types of weapons designed before and during the Great Patriotic War, the PPSh was extremely simple and effective. This weapon was appreciated not only by Soviet soldiers, but also by soldiers of the Allied countries and even in the Wehrmacht.

The Shpagin machine gun also had shortcomings, some of which were corrected already in 1942.

Briefly about the advantages

• Ease of production. The PPSh was assembled from spare parts made by cold stamping and spot welding. This did not require manual modification and saved time on machine hours. PPSh were even assembled by Belarusian partisans from parts made at home, without drawings;
• High rate of fire. The drum magazine was fired in ten seconds, which made it possible to create a high density of fire at a short distance, filling the enemy with hot lead. SMGs were mainly used in conditions of dagger combat: clearing trenches during tank landings, urban battles. In particular, for battles in urban areas, the PPSh-41 with a sector magazine was used, which increased the mobility of the serviceman.

Briefly about the disadvantages

• High weight and inconvenience. The simple design of the PPSh revealed a serious drawback - heavy weight. It weighed 5.3 kg with a drum magazine loaded. In addition, the fighter carried with him more ammunition and 2 spare clips. The problem was partly solved by introducing a smaller sector magazine. It had less mass and took up much less space;
• The drums of one PPSh did not fit the other. Cold stamping, although it gave fast pace release of products, but made each sample unique. In particular, this concerned cartridge power elements. If it was lost, it was extremely difficult to find a replacement, and given that only 3 magazines were produced with each barrel, this created a real problem;
• The high rate of fire led to quickly running out of ammunition. In fact, the fighter carried with him 3 equipped drums. A total of 223 rounds. With a rate of fire of 1000 rounds per minute, the ammunition was consumed very quickly. After which the soldier had to begin equipping the clip with new ammunition. In the conditions of current fire contact, this is very difficult. The problem of equipping the magazine with cartridges also aggravated the situation. It was difficult and if even one cartridge was misaligned, I had to start all over again.
• Some design flaws: a crossbow when dropped, the magazine falling out of the mount;
• Ease of manufacture did not mean high wear resistance of parts; this led to a loss of reliability of the machine. In battle conditions, this was an important factor. The battles took place in urban conditions, on rough terrain, in trenches. All these places were not clean. This claim mainly applies to non-core factories.

Why not PPD

The Soviet command never took the PP seriously. It was considered a weapon for the police and gendarmes. However, some Soviet designers proactively developed projects for their submachine guns.

One of these people was Degtyarev. Its PPD-34 was mass-produced and mainly served in the ranks of the NKVD border service.

After Winter War with the Finns, who massively used the Suomi PP. The leadership of the Red Army urgently instructed Degtyarev to finalize the PPD-34.

And in the winter of 1940, he presented a new modification of his project - PPD-40.

By the beginning of the Second World War, about 90 thousand copies of it were produced.

At the same time, Stalin ordered the best gunsmiths to be involved in the creation of a new PP, which would be easier to produce, but retain the combat qualities of the PPD-40. He himself is complicated. To create it, you need high-precision equipment and manual grinding.

History of PPSh during World War II

The Shpagin submachine gun, also known as PPSh-41, became the most common automatic personal weapon of soldiers of the Red Army (Workers' and Peasants' Red Army).

It was distributed in various branches of the military: infantry, guards units, airborne groups. It was also actively used by partisans operating in German-occupied territory.

Even German soldiers willingly used it instead of the MP-38/40.

The ROA (Russian Liberation Army) of Vlasov also had their own PPSh.

Ease of use made it possible to reduce the training period for recruits. And this is important in conditions of military operations.

Taking advantage of the high rate of fire, they suppressed enemy soldiers with fire, which left them no chance to survive.

He performed well in urban battles. The Battle of Stalingrad can be called the baptism of fire for this weapon. The fierce battle for the city took place in densely built conditions and numerous confined spaces.

In this kind of battle, the main thing is the rate of fire and the ability to suppress the enemy with continuous fire. The same thing happened in Kharkov and in the spring of 1945 in Berlin.

Options and modifications

During its long existence, the PPSh was modified more than once, and spread throughout the world great amount types of this machine.

It is impossible to list all of them due to the wide distribution and uncontrolled movement of this software.

Officially, it was supplied to countries such as China, Vietnam, Poland and Cuba.

1. PPSh-41 arr. 1941 – first sample. It was equipped only with a drum magazine and a sight designed for shooting at a distance of up to 500 m.
2. PPSh-41 arr. 1942 – differs from the ’41 model by a chrome-plated bore (Increases wear resistance), more reliable fastening of the clip and the elimination of an involuntary shot when falling. It was equipped with an aiming device for shooting at 100 - 200 meters. A sector magazine made of steel 0.5 mm thick (Later – 1 mm);
3. PPSh-2. In 1943, a competition was announced for the development of a new submachine gun, which was supposed to be a replacement for the PPSh. The main requirements were maintaining combat qualities, reducing weight and dimensions. The product presented by Shpagin, although it was further simplified in production, did not meet the requirements. The choice fell on the project of the gunsmith Sudakov.

Handicraft and semi-handicraft models:

1. “Product No. 86” - were manufactured in Kandalaksha on the territory of plant number 310. Before receiving the drawings, 100 products were produced. All of them were made by hand and their parts were not interchangeable. Like production models, the machine gun was equipped with a drum magazine;
2. Many samples of the Shpagin submachine gun were made in various workshops partisan detachments operating on the territory of Belarus;
3. Jelen - Croatian semi-handicraft modification, which was actively used in the wars on the Balkan Peninsula.

In the ranks of the Third Reich:

1. MP.41(r) – captured PPSh-41 converted to the 9x19 “Parabellum” pistol cartridge, common among the Germans. The weapon had a replacement barrel and a receiver for clips from the MP-38/40. In total, about 10,000 pieces were converted.

During the Second World War and after its end, PPSh was produced in many countries. Among them were China, Yugoslavia, Iran, Croatia, Vietnam, Hungary, North Korea, etc.

Basically it was an ordinary Shpagin submachine gun. Only in in rare cases minor modifications were made to suit the realities of local industrial potential.

Conversion options

1. PPS-50 – Manufactured by Pletta. Uses small caliber ammunition - .22 LR;
2. SR-41 Semi-Auto Rifle – Produced by the American arms company “Inter-Ordnance of America”. There is a modification chambered for 7.62x25 and 9x19 mm. Has an increased barrel length. American weapons connoisseurs have always spoken highly of the PPSh-41.
3. SKL-41 – developed for the 9x19 cartridge. Start of production 2003
4. PPSH 41 SemiAuto is a self-loading modification using a 7.62x25 cartridge. Key Feature extended barrel (up to 16 inches), casing without specific and recognizable oval holes. Shooting occurs with the shutter closed. Manufactured by the American company “Allied Armament”;
5. VPO-135 – Cartridge 7.62x25. System: self-loading carbine. Date of development: 2013. Produced by the Molot plant;
6. PPSh-O – Cartridge 7.62x25. System: self-loading carbine. Date of development: 2013. Produced by the Kovrov plant named after Degtyarev;
7. MR-562K “PPSh” is a pneumatic version developed at the Izhevsk plant. Shoots 4.5 mm metal balls. Can fire in bursts.

Myths and legends about PPSh

Around each weapon there is a huge number of myths associated with it or the people who created it. The Shpagin assault rifle is no exception.

Here is just a small part of these legends:

• PPSh is a copy of the Finnish Suomi assault rifle. This is wrong. Although it is observed external resemblance, but only external. The internal mechanism is different;
• There is a shortage of automatic weapons among Soviet soldiers and, on the contrary, a large number of such weapons among the Germans. The same myth “one rifle for five soldiers.” The Germans often used captured SMGs, precisely because of their lack of weapons of this class;
• PPSh-41 is the best submachine gun of the Great Patriotic War. The truth is that he was like this before graduation;
• The last country to remove the PPSh-41 from service is Belarus. This happened in 2003.

And adopted by the Red Army on December 21, 1940. The PPSh was the main submachine gun of the Soviet armed forces in the Great Patriotic War.

After the end of the war, the PPSh was withdrawn from service in the early 1950s Soviet army and was gradually replaced by the Kalashnikov assault rifle; for a little longer it remained in service with rear and auxiliary units, units of internal troops and railway troops. It was in service with paramilitary security units at least until the mid-1980s.

Also, in the post-war period, PPSh was supplied in significant quantities to countries friendly to the USSR, long time was in service with the armies of various states, was used by irregular forces and was used in military operations throughout the twentieth century. armed conflicts Worldwide.

History of creation and production

In 1940, the People's Commissariat of Armaments gave technical instructions to gunsmiths to create a submachine gun that was close to or superior in tactical and technical characteristics submachine gun PPD-34/40, but more technologically advanced and adapted for mass production (including at non-specialized machine-building enterprises).

By the fall of 1940, the designs of submachine guns by G. S. Shpagin and B. G. Shpitalny were submitted for consideration.

The first PPSh was manufactured on August 26, 1940; in October 1940, a test batch of 25 pieces was manufactured.

At the end of November 1940, based on the results of field tests and technological assessment of the PPSh samples presented for consideration, it was recommended for adoption.

December 21, 1940 Shpagin system submachine gun mod. 1941 was adopted by the Red Army. By the end of 1941, more than 90,000 units were manufactured. In 1942, the front received 1.5 million submachine guns.

The simplicity and manufacturability of the PPSh design made it possible to organize its production in many, including non-specialized, factories. For example, at the Moscow Automobile Plant named after Stalin ( ZIS) during the war, more than a million of these submachine guns were produced, and their total production was more than 6 million.

Options and modifications:

• "item no. 86"- submachine guns manufactured at factory No. 310 in Kandalaksha. The sample was the PPSh arr. 1941, the first submachine gun was manufactured on January 25, 1941, a total of 100 units were produced. (due to the lack of drawings, the parts of the submachine guns were adjusted manually and were not interchangeable). After receiving technical documentation, the plant produced another 5,650 serial PPSh;
• in the summer of 1942, one PPSh submachine gun was hand-made by master P.V. Chigrinov in the weapons workshop of the “Razgrom” partisan brigade operating in the Minsk region of Belarus;
• another submachine gun was restored from parts of the PPSh mod. 1941 by partisan E. A. Martynyuk in the detachment named after. S. G. Lazo (as part of the partisan brigade named after V. M. Molotov, operating in the Pinsk region of Belarus) - the barrel, bolt and magazine were taken from a standard serial PPSh mod. 1941, and the barrel casing, receiver, trigger guard and wooden stock were made by hand;
• in the village of Zaozerye, in the weapons workshop of the Chekist partisan brigade operating in the Mogilev region of Belarus, engineers L.N. Nikolaev and P.I. Scheslavsky produced ten PPSh from March 30 to July 3, 1943, in total until July 1944 here 122 PPSh were manufactured. In their production, parts of weapons that could not be restored were used (for example, the barrel of “partisan PPSh” was made from part of a rifle barrel), the missing parts were made of structural steel.

Design and operating principle

PPSh is an automatic manual firearms, designed for firing in bursts and single shots.

Automation works according to the scheme of using recoil with a free shutter. The fire is fired from the rear sear (the bolt is in the rearmost position before firing, after release it goes forward, chambers the cartridge, the primer is pierced at the moment chambering is completed), the bolt is not fixed at the moment of firing. A similar scheme is often used in the development of submachine guns. Despite its simplicity, such a solution requires the use of a massive bolt, which increases the total mass of the weapon. In addition, a weapon using such a reloading scheme can fire as a result of a strong impact (for example, when falling), if the impact causes the bolt to roll back along the guides from the extreme forward (non-fixed) position further than the magazine's cartridge feed window, or from the extreme rear one to break off. stopper

The trigger mechanism allows firing in bursts and single shots from an open bolt. The firing pin is placed motionless in the shutter mirror. The translator is located inside the trigger guard, in front of the trigger. The safety is a slide located on the bolt cocking handle. When the safety is on, it locks the bolt in the forward or rear position.

Like the PPD, the PPSh has a receiver fused with the barrel casing, a bolt with a safety on the cocking handle, a fire selector in the trigger guard in front of the trigger, a flip-up sight and a wooden stock. But at the same time, the PPSh is significantly more technologically advanced: only the barrel requires precise machining, the bolt was made on a lathe followed by rough milling, and almost all other metal parts can be made by stamping.

The muzzle brake-compensator is a part of the barrel casing protruding forward beyond the muzzle (a beveled plate with a hole for the passage of a bullet, on the sides of which there are through windows in the casing). Due to the reactive action of powder gases when fired, the muzzle brake-compensator significantly reduces recoil and “lifting” of the barrel upward.

The stock was made of wood, mainly birch. Sights initially consisted of a sector sight (with a range of 50 to 500 m and a pitch of 50 m) and a fixed front sight. Later, a flip-over L-shaped rear sight was introduced for shooting at 100 and 200 meters. PPSh-41 was first equipped with drum magazines from the PPD-40 with a capacity of 71 rounds. But since drum magazines in combat conditions proved to be unreliable, overly heavy and expensive to manufacture, and also required manual individual adjustment for each specific submachine gun, they were replaced by curved box magazines developed in 1942 with a capacity of 35 rounds.

Combat characteristics

With an aiming range of 500 m (in the early version), the actual firing range in bursts is about 200 m, an indicator significantly superior average level weapons of this class. In addition, thanks to the use of the 7.62×25 mm TT cartridge, in contrast to the 9×19 mm Parabellum or .45 ACP (used in foreign SMGs), as well as the relatively long barrel, a significantly higher muzzle velocity of the bullet was achieved (500 m/ s versus 380 m/s for the MP-40 and 330 m/s for the Thompson submachine gun), which gave better trajectory flatness, which allowed single fire to confidently hit a target at distances of up to 300 m, as well as fire over a greater distance, compensating for the decrease accuracy with a higher rate of fire or concentrated fire from several shooters. The high rate of fire, on the one hand, led to a high consumption of ammunition (for which the PP received the nickname “cartridge eater”) and rapid overheating of the barrel, on the other hand, it provided a high density of fire, which gives an advantage in close combat.

The survivability of PPSh, especially with a box magazine, is very high. A clean and lubricated PPSh is a reliable weapon. A fixed firing pin causes delays in firing when the bolt cup becomes contaminated with soot or dust gets on the thickened lubricant: according to the recollections of World War II veterans, when traveling in open cars or armored vehicles on dirty roads, the PPSh was almost always hidden under a raincoat. The disadvantages include relatively big sizes and weight, the difficulty of replacing and equipping a drum magazine, an insufficiently reliable fuse, as well as the possibility of spontaneous discharge when falling on a hard surface, which often led to accidents; The fiber shock absorber, which softens the impact of the bolt on the receiver in the rear position, had low survivability; after the shock absorber wore out, the bolt broke the rear part of the receiver. The advantages of the PPSh also include the larger capacity of the drum magazine (71 rounds) compared to the MP-40 (32 rounds), but a larger number of cartridges significantly increased the weight and dimensions of the weapon, and the reliability of the drum magazine was relatively low. The box magazine was lighter and more reliable, but equipping it with cartridges was more difficult due to the rearrangement of cartridges at the exit from two rows into one: the next cartridge had to be placed under the jaws in a downward-backward motion. On the other hand, for example, the Schmeisser system magazine, used in German and English submachine guns, also had cartridges rearranged from two rows to one. To make it easier to equip PPSh box magazines, there was a special device.

Due to the presence of a muzzle brake-compensator, a neighboring shooter who finds himself at a distance of up to 2-3 m to the side of the muzzle can suffer barotrauma or rupture of the eardrum. PPSh-41 is easy to identify by its high rate of fire, similar to the whirring of a sewing machine, and in the dark - by three flames.

Usage

During the Second World War, the PPSh was actively used on both sides of the front.

At the end of the Great Patriotic War Tupolev's design bureau designed and created prototypes of attack aircraft Tu-2Sh with unusual weapons. They were based on Tu-2S. The main innovation is a battery of PPSh assault rifles. But in mass production These planes did not go.

In 1944, the head of the weapons department A. Nadashkevich and Chief Engineer S. Savelyev from the Tupolev design bureau proposed combining submachine guns designed by G. S. Shpagin into one battery and using it on attack aircraft to defeat enemy infantry units. The PPSh was installed on a platform designed for this purpose. Such a system is called "Fire Hedgehog". A total of 88 PPSh units (11 rows of 8 submachine guns) were installed on the platform. Each of them was equipped with a magazine of 71 7.62 mm ammunition. The platform was mounted in the bomb bay of the aircraft. The Tu-2S attack bomber was chosen to install the PPSh battery. To produce assault fire, the pilot opened the bomb bay and, using a special sight, fired heavily at enemy infantry. To recharge, the platform with the PPSh battery was lowered down from the compartment by cables.

The decision to install PPSh batteries on two Tu-2S aircraft was approved at a meeting in 1944 with Air Chief Marshal A. Novikov. A decade after the meeting, Tupolev turned to the Air Force General Manager A. Repin about the allocation of 180 units of the 1941 model to the OKB PPSh. I asked them for disk magazines for each PPSh and full ammunition, which amounted to 15 thousand rounds. In 1946, the PPSh “Fire Hedgehog” battery created on the platform successfully passed field flight and combat tests. The “fire hedgehog” battery has confirmed its effectiveness - dense fire on the selected target. But the main disadvantages - short duration of use and the need for ground reloading - outweighed all the advantages. The result is that in order to achieve the specified requirements, namely to effectively destroy enemy infantry units, they decided to use small-caliber cluster bombs. This was the only aircraft in the world that used a large number of barrels on board.

The weight of one PPSh with ammunition is 5.3 kg, the weight of all PPSh in the battery is 466 kg. The weight of the PPSh battery on the platform is 550–600 kilograms. Due to the small lifting weight of the aircraft of those times (in the 40-50s it was somewhere around 1.5–3 tons), and it was still necessary to take other weapons on board, it was not possible to place a large number of heavy machine guns on board the aircraft. The same applies to the continuous supply of ammunition system. The idea of ​​implementing such a system is not new; the Americans created an experimental aircraft back in 1921 "JL-12".

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Submachine gun PPSh-41:

Submachine gun PPSh-41 (USSR)

The PPSh-41 submachine gun was developed by Georgy Semenovich Shpagin in 1940 with the aim of replacing the Degtyarev PPD-40 submachine gun, which was low-tech and expensive to produce. On December 21, 1940, the Shpagin submachine gun was adopted by the Red Army. The PPSh-41 submachine gun (Submachine Gun designed by Shpagin) is a reliable weapon, easy to operate and maintain, technologically advanced and cheap to manufacture. PPSh-41 became one of the most popular models small arms World War II, and in total from 1941 to 1945. About 6 million copies were produced. During the war years, PPSh-41 was supplied to Soviet partisans and entered service with foreign military formations on the territory of the USSR. Captured PPSh-41s under the name Maschinenpistole 717(r) were in service with the Wehrmacht, SS and other paramilitary forces of the Third Reich and the countries of the Nazi Axis bloc.

In 1940, the People's Commissariat of Armaments gave technical instructions to gunsmith designers to create a submachine gun that would be superior to the PPD-40 in its tactical and technical characteristics, but adapted for mass production, including on simple equipment in non-specialized machine-building enterprises, by low-level workers qualifications. By the fall of the same year, G.S. submachine guns were presented for consideration. Shpagin and B.G. Shpitalny. On August 26, 1940, the first ShShP was assembled. In October 1940, a pilot batch of 25 pieces was produced. Based on the results of field tests at the end of November 1940 and a technological assessment of the samples presented for consideration, the Shpagin submachine gun was recommended for adoption. Under the name “7.62-mm submachine gun G.S. Shpagin arr. 1941" it was put into service at the end of December 1940. The Shpagin submachine gun was tested for survivability with 30,000 rounds. After this, this sample demonstrated satisfactory accuracy of fire and good condition of the parts. The reliability of the automation was tested by shooting at elevation and declination angles of 85°, with the mechanism artificially dusty, in the complete absence of lubrication - all parts were washed with kerosene and wiped dry with a rag, and by shooting 5,000 rounds of weapons without cleaning. Shpagin's weapons proved to be extremely reliable along with high combat qualities.

Automation operates according to a blowback mechanism. The trigger mechanism allows firing in bursts and single shots from an open bolt. The firing pin is placed motionless in the shutter mirror. The translator is located inside the trigger guard, in front of the trigger. The safety is a slider located on the bolt cocking handle. When the safety is on, it locks the bolt in the forward or rear position. The bolt box and barrel casing were made by stamping. The muzzle brake-compensator is a part of the barrel casing protruding forward beyond the muzzle. The stock was made of wood, mainly birch. Sights initially consisted of a sector sight and a fixed front sight. Later, a flip-over L-shaped rear sight was introduced for shooting at 100 and 200 meters. PPSh-41 was first equipped with drum magazines from the PPD-40 with a capacity of 71 rounds. But since drum magazines in combat conditions proved to be unreliable, overly heavy and expensive to manufacture, and also required manual individual adjustment for each specific submachine gun, they were replaced by curved box magazines developed in 1942 with a capacity of 35 rounds.

The actual range of burst fire is about 200 m, while the target range of the early version of the PPSh was 500 m. By using the 7.62×25 TT cartridge, a significantly higher initial bullet speed was achieved - 490 m/s versus 380 m/s for the MP.40 caliber 9-mm Parabellum and 330 m/s for the Thompson M1 submachine gun caliber .45 automatic transmission, and, accordingly, the flatness of its flight trajectory. Thanks to this, the shooter could confidently hit a target with single fire at distances of up to 300 m. Shooting could be carried out over a greater distance, and a significant decrease in shooting accuracy was compensated by the concentrated fire of several shooters and a high rate of fire. The rate of fire of the PPSh-41 was 1000 rounds per minute, which is often assessed as too high, since due to this rate there was a large consumption of ammunition and in intense battle the barrel quickly overheated, but at the same time the high rate of fire provided a high density of fire and an advantage in close combat.

The Shpagin PPSh-41 submachine gun has a high service life, especially with a box magazine. With proper care of the weapon - timely cleaning and proper lubrication, as well as monitoring the technical condition of its components and mechanisms, the PPSh-41 is an extremely reliable weapon. But like any weapon or mechanism in general, PPSh requires attention. Thus, a fixed firing pin causes delays in shooting when the bolt cup becomes contaminated with soot or dust gets on the thickened lubricant. Disadvantages include significant weight (5.3 kg with loaded drum magazine) and length (843 mm), very high rate of fire (1000 rounds/min), difficulty in replacing and equipping the drum magazine, insufficiently reliable fuse, possibility of spontaneous firing when dropped onto a hard surface. The fiber shock absorber, which softens the impact of the bolt on the receiver in the rear position, had low survivability due to which, after wear of the shock absorber, the bolt broke the rear part of the receiver. Among the main advantages of the Shpagin PPSh-41 submachine gun is the large capacity of the drum magazine - 71 rounds. The box magazine, although it was lighter, much more compact, more convenient and reliable, caused inconvenience when equipping it with cartridges, since this magazine had a single-row exit. Each cartridge had to be fired forcefully in a downward-backward motion. However, to make it easier to equip PPSh-41 box magazines, there was a special device.

The submachine gun designed by Shpagin became one of the symbols of the Soviet soldier during the war. This weapon can be seen in almost all domestic and foreign films about that war. After the end of the war, the PPSh-41 submachine gun was removed from service with the Soviet Army, but fighting career this weapon is not over. It was massively supplied to developing countries friendly to the USSR and to the Warsaw Pact countries, as well as to China. At least until the 1980s, PPSh-41s were used by paramilitary units in some African countries. The Shpagin submachine gun was even used during the 2003 Iraq War.

Technical characteristics of PPSh-41

• Caliber: 7.62×25
• Weapon length: 843 mm
• Barrel length: 269 mm
• Weight without cartridges: 3.6 kg.
• Rate of fire: 900 rounds/min
• Magazine capacity: 35 or 71

MP41(r) - PPSh-41 submachine gun converted to the 9mm Parabellum cartridge

Iraq, 82 Airborne Division

PPSh-41 Photo (c) Oleg Volk olegvolk.net

Submachine guns