Tag: smg

Categories
German

9 mm M.P. 34/1 (Bergmann): Submachine Gun

9 mm M.P. 34 Bergmann Submachine Gun

The Bergmann 9 mm machine pistol, M.P. 341, is a semi- or full-automatic, air-cooled, blow-back-operated submachine gun which is fed by a box magazine containing 32 rounds. It is manufactured commercially in Germany for use by the German Army. It is also used by other countries in modified forms. This is only one of several types of submachine guns.

The barrel and moving parts are, except for the trigger mechanism, housed in a long cylindrical tube. The forward end of this tube is perforated and forms a cooling jacket for the barrel; the rear portion serves as a receiver or housing for the bolt group. The M.P. 341, unlike the M.P. 181, is cocked by a turning bolt handle, and has a positive safety mechanism.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber         9 mm (actually .347 in.)
Length 33 ins.
Length of barrel 7 3/4 ins.
Weight 9 lb.
Feed Box magazine—capacity 32 rds.
Rate of fire 500 rds./min. (maximum)
  120 rds./min. (practical)
Range 218 yds. (effective)
Sights Front—blade
  Rear—Leaf on ramp, graduated up to 1,000 meters

German: p. 204

Categories
German

9 mm M.P. 38 and M.P. 40 (Schmeisser): Submachine Gun

MP 38 and MP 40 Schmeisser Submachine Gun

This submachine gun was originally designed for use by parachute troops but is now in general use in all combat units of the German Army. It is a gun of simple construction, reliable operation, and general accuracy.

The Model M.P. 40 like its predecessor the M.P. 38 is air-cooled, blowback operated, and fitted for a 32-round box magazine. It can be used as a shoulder or hip weapon, being equipped with a folding shoulder stock.

As the trigger is pulled, the sear disengages the sear notch in the bolt. As the bolt travels forward it pushes the top round from the magazine into the chamber. The extractor keeps the firing pin from hitting the primer until the round is chambered then snaps under the cannelure of the cartridge allowing the base of the cartridge to come back against the face of the bolt. As the cartridge is fired, the bolt starts to recoil. At the proper point, the ejector hits the base of the cartridge, pivoting it out into the ejection opening. The bolt compresses the operating spring at the same time. The buffer plunger hits the end of the small operating spring tube, compressing the buffer spring and stopping the recoil of the bolt. The bolt then moves forward to repeat the cycle of operation.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber       9 mm (actually .347 in.)
Weight with loaded magazine 10 lb., 7 oz.
Weight with empty magazine 8.87 lb.
Length with stock extended 33.25 ins.
Length with stock folded 24.75 ins.
Barrel length 10 ins.
Capacity of magazine 32 rounds
Sights
   Front Partridge type ramp with hood
   Rear
      Fixed Open V notch, sighted at 100 meters
      Folding Open V notch, sighted at 200 meters
Muzzle velocity 1,040 f/s-1,250 f/s
Range, effective 200 yds.
Rate of fire (practical) 80 to 90 r.p.m.
   (cyclic) 518 r.p.m.

German: p. 206

Categories
Japanese

8 mm Submachine Gun, Type 100 (1940)

8 mm Submachine Gun, Type 100 (1940)

The Japanese 8 mm submachine Gun, Type 100, is an automatic, air-cooled, magazine-fed, straight blowback-operated type, firing from an open bolt. Its basic design strongly resembles that of the German submachine guns. The weapon may be broken down into three main groups: a receiver which contains the bolt and driving spring, a barrel assembly, and a wooden stock assembly containing the trigger and trigger guard. A considerable amount of rough welding is used on the weapon; the front sight, bayonet lug, barrel lock, magazine well, driving spring guide, and trigger guard have all been attached to the rifle by this method. An unusual feature of the gun is a replaceable firing pin which screws into the face of the bolt.

The weapon has a high cyclic rate of fire, estimated between 800 and 1,000 rounds per minute.

It differs from the Type 100 (1940) Paratrooper’s rifle, described on page 204.1, in the following respects: it does not have a folding stock; a standard bayonet can be mounted directly on barrel and barrel jacket; and the rear sight is fixed rather than of the sliding ramp type.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber      8 mm (.315 in.)
Weight with sling and magazine9 lbs., 2 oz.
Weight of magazine9 oz.
Length (overall)36 ins.
Sight radius
Principle of operationStraight blowback
Feeding deviceCurved box magazine
Capacity of feeding device30 rounds
Cooling systemAir
Ammunition types8 mm pistol
Rate of fire (cyclic)800-1,000 rds. per min. (est.)
Type of sight—Front:Inverted “V”
                      Rear:“V” with small peep additional.
Weight of barrel
Length of barrel9 3/16 ins.
Length of rifling8.3 ins.
Rifling:
   TwistR.H .
   Form
   No. of grooves6
Muzzle velocity1,050 f/s
Maximum range
Effective range

Japanese: p. 204.2 (August 1, 1945)

Categories
German

7.92 mm M. P. 43, M. P. 43/1, M. P. 44 (Sturmgewehr 44): Submachine Gun

7.92 Submachine Gun: Top. M. P. 43; Center. M. P. 43/1; Bottom, M. P. 447.92 Submachine Gun: Top. M. P. 43; Center. M. P. 43/1; Bottom, M. P. 44

The German M. P. 43 is an automatic, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed shoulder weapon, firing from a closed bolt and a locked breech. Provision is made for both full-automatic and semi-automatic fire. For full-automatic fire, the trigger must be held back until all rounds in the magazine have been fired; for semi-automatic fire, the trigger must be released after each round. However, German official sources say that full automatic fire will be used only in emergency.

Despite the fact that it is of cheap construction, made chiefly of steel stampings, the M. P. 43 is a very serviceable weapon. It is believed that the gun was developed from the 7.92 mm M. Kb. 42 (machine carbine 42) inasmuch as the general design is quite similar, and the same type of ammunition is used. However, the M. P. 43 has a shorter barrel and gas cylinder, and has no bayonet as does the M. Kb. 42.

The receiver, frame, gas cylinder, jacket, and front sight hood are made from steel stampings. As all pins in the trigger mechanism are riveted in, it cannot be disassembled, although a complete trigger assembly may be very quickly inserted. The gas piston assembly, bolt, hammer, barrel and gas cylinder are machined parts.

The gas piston assembly consists of a piston, piston rod, and slide which appear to be machined from one piece with a stamped handle inserted. The stock and pistol grips are of low grade wood. The curved magazine is inserted from the bottom, and the fired cartridge cases are ejected on the right.

The various models of this weapon, including the M. P. 43, M. P. 43/1, and M. P. 44, have been officially designated M. P. 44. A recent official German order changed the nomenclature to Sturmgewehr 44.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber       7.92 mm (.312 in.)
Weight (with empty magazine) 10 lb., 1 oz.
Length (overall) 3 ft., 1 in.
Length of barrel 16.2 ins.
Sight radius
Principle of operation gas
Feeding device Curved magazine
Capacity of feeding device 30 rounds
Cooling system air
Ammunition types 7.92 mm Postolen Patronen
Semi AP., M.P. 43
Effective rate of fire
(automatic) 100 to 120 rds./min.
(semi-automatic) 40 to 50 rds./min.
Type of sight Leaf sight graduated from 100 to 800 meters
Rifling
Twist R.H.
No. of grooves
Chamber pressure
Muzzle velocity (approx.) 2250 f/s
Muzzle energy
Maximum range
Effective range 400 yds.

German: p. 206.1 (March 1, 1945)

Categories
Japanese

8 mm Paratrooper’s Submachine Gun, Type 100 (1940)

japanese-paratrooper-8mm-submachine-gun

This Japanese paratrooper’s submachine gun is a light, blowback operated, automatic weapon which fires the regular issue bottle-necked 8 mm pistol cartridge.

The gun, which is provided with a bayonet, also has a folding stock; that is, the stock is cut through just behind the receiver and hinged so that by releasing two locking hooks on the left side, the stock swings to the right and forward 180 degrees at the hinge and parallel with the barrel. The barrel and barrel jacket are held in place by a single screwpin threaded at the base and with a folding wingnut head, enabling changes without tools. The receiver assembly is machined in two units, with the units shrunk fit in final assembly.

Two features of the firing mechanism which are of unusual interest are the fixed firing pin which screws into the face of the bolt, and the feeding and chambering bar which insures that the cartridge is very nearly chambered before the firing pin can touch the primer.

In the illustrations above, the top picture shows the weapon as fired, and the photograph at lower left shows the method of folding. A bipod is frequently used with this gun as illustrated in the photograph at lower right.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber       8 mm
Weight (without bayonet, magazine, & sightleaf) 7 lbs., 11 ozs.
Length (stock extended, without bayonet) 34 ins.
Length (stock extended, with bayonet) 49 ins.
Length (stock folded, without bayonet) 22.25 ins.
Sight radius 20 ins.
Principle of operation Blowback, bolt action
Feeding device Curved box magazine; staggered feed type.
Capacity of feeding device 30 rounds
Cooling system Air
Ammunition types 8 mm bottle-necked pistol cartridges
Rate of fire 400-450 r.p.m.
Type of sight Leaf
Length of barrel 9 ins.
Length of rifling 8.125 ins.
Rifling
     Twist Uniform R.H., approx. 1 in 12
     No. of grooves 6
Muzzle velocity 1,080 f/s

Japanese: p. 204.1 (August 1, 1945)