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MP 40
The MP 40 is an iconic German submachine gun from World War II, developed in 1940 as an improved version of the MP 38. He became a symbol of the German infantry and the Waffen-SS, using the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, which provided effective shooting at ranges up to 200 meters. The MP 40 featured an innovative folding metal construction for its time (without wooden parts), which reduced weight to 4.7 kg. The automatic system operated on the basis of a free shutter, and the rate of fire was 500 rounds per minute — optimal for control when firing bursts. The submachine gun was equipped with a 32-charge box magazine. Unlike the MP 38, the MP 40 received simplified and cheap production (stamping instead of milling). It was actively used on all fronts, from the snow-covered fields near Moscow to the streets of Stalingrad, earning a reputation for being reliable but requiring cleaning of weapons (especially in mud). The MP 40 is often mistakenly referred to as the "Schmeisser" — although Hugo Schmeisser was not involved in its development, but only created competing models. After the war, these submachine guns were used in the armies of Czechoslovakia, Norway, and even Israel, as well as by insurgents in Africa and Asia.
Photo of the constructor:
Main Features:
Caliber: 9×19 mm Parabellum.
Barrel length: 251 mm.
Total length: With unfolded butt: 833 mm. With folded butt: 630 mm.
Weight: 4.03 kg (without cartridges).
Magazine capacity: 32 rounds (box magazine).
Rate of fire: ~500-550 rounds per minute.
Aiming range:
Effective range: 100-150 meters.
Maximum range: up to 200 meters.
Type of automation: free shutter.
Firing type: automatic only (bursts).
Other features:
Metal construction and folding stock: The MP 40 was made with extensive use of stamped parts, which made production cheaper. The folding stock improved mobility in cramped spaces and machinery.
Lack of wooden parts: Unlike many PP of that time (for example, PPSh), the MP 40 did not have a wooden box — only metal and plastic.
Low rate of fire: Compared to the Soviet PPSH (~1000 rpm), the MP 40 had a moderate rate of fire, which improved shooting control and saved ammunition.
32-round magazine: Box magazines were used, which were sometimes criticized for being unreliable (they could warp when dirty).
Produced: About 1.1–1.2 million copies.
Advantages:
Compact: The folding stock made the MP 40 convenient for paratroopers, tankers, and armored vehicle crews.
Lightness and balance: The weapon lay well in your hands, allowing you to fire accurate bursts.
Simple design: The MP 40 was easy to clean and maintain in the field.
Low recoil: Due to the moderate rate of fire and weight, the shooting was more controlled than that of the PPSH.
Disadvantages:
The lack of a fire mode switch: The MP 40 fired only in bursts, which sometimes led to overspending of cartridges.
Vulnerability to contamination: Dust and dirt could cause delays, especially in the store.
Limited range: Effective fire was conducted only at close range (up to 150 m).
Unreliability of the store: The fastening of the store sometimes led to its loosening and distortions.
Interesting facts:
He is mistakenly associated with Hugo Schmeisser, but he was not directly involved in the development of the MP 40: his company produced only magazines.
The MP 40 became a symbol of German paratroopers, tankers and officers, as it was compact and convenient for mobile warfare.
Like the MP 38, the MP 40's shutter remained open after firing, which sometimes led to accidental shots on impact.
The cost of the MP 40 is 57 Reichsmarks (about $250 today), which is 3 times cheaper than the American Thompson.
In Soviet and Western films, the MP 40 was often shown as the standard weapon of German soldiers, although in fact the bulk of the infantry used rifles.
Photo:
German soldiers with MP 40 in Stalingrad, 1942
Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel Afanasy Vasilyevich Lapshov with a captured MP 40, 1942
A sixteen-year-old Volkssturm fighter armed with an MP 40 submachine gun in East Prussia, 1944
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