MP40
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The MP40 (Machinenpistole 40) was a submachine gun developed for and used extensively by Nazi Germany during World War II.
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History
The MP40 was descended from the MP38, the differences being in cost-saving alterations, especially the use of more pressed rather then machined parts and an improved safety. The changes resulted from experiences with the several thousand MP38's (in service since 1939) used during the Invasion of Poland. The changes were incorporated into an intermediate version (MP38/40), and then used in the intial MP40 production version. Just over 1 million would be made of all versions in the course of the war.
Specifications
A MP38 can be easily distinguished from a MP40 by a round hole in the magazine feed, and a series of small grooves along the length of the upper cylinder. The intial production MP40 had a smooth side on the magazine receiver, the main production was actually the MP40/I which had small indented grooves on the magazine side to strengthen it. The MP40/II was the experimental 64 round clip. There is some variation in modern sources with naming of the variant numbers.
The design actually used a similar amount of stamped sheet metal parts for its day as some other weapons, but is unique in that had a folding metal stock with plastic furniture rather than wood stock. Among the era's submachineguns, the design was about average and was neither the cheapest, most reliable or most powerful but was regarded as satisfactory overall. The gun had relatively low recoil even fired fully automatic. This is due to its slower rate of fire. Nevertheless, it gave the weapon a respectable accuracy compared to the American Thompson SMG. Near the end of the war for example, a few thousand Sten SMGs were made by Nazi Germany, since they were cheaper to make.
The weapons magazine clip spring were found to wear out very quickly, and cause jams if loaded fully with 32 rounds so they were nearly always loaded with 1-2 rounds left out, giving a capacity of 30. At one point a double clip magazine was also experimented with 64 round capacity, with the double clip being slid horizontally to use one clip and then the next; the weapon was trialed on the eastern front but did not prove a success.
The MP40 had an overall length of 833 mm, though its retracting stock could allow the weapon to shorten to 630 mm. The odd 'spur' near the end of the barrel was designed to allow the troops to hook the MP40 onto the firing ports of armoured personnel carriers, such as the Sdkfz 251 half-track.
Variants and developments
- MP41: Technically different from the MP40 even though it looked similar. A wooden stocked weapon used by police units.
- MP40/I - main production version
- MP40/II - experiment with a 64-round magazine.
In the 1930s, its precursor weapon was developed. Though it was informally known as MP36, it was a factory prototype, not a deployed military weapon.
MP40s in films
Unlike the impression given by films (particularly 'Where Eagles Dare'), television series and pulp novels, MP40s were typically only issued to platoon and squad leaders, the majority of soldiers carrying Karabiner 98k rifles. The MP40 was often called the Schmeisser, after weapons designer Hugo Schmeisser. Although the name was evocative, Hugo Schmeisser himself did not design the MP40, but helped with the design of the MP41.
See also
External links
- Small Arms Review: The MP36 The Missing Link (http://www.smallarmsreview.com/january.htm)de:Maschinenpistole 40
ja:エルマ･ベルケMP40短機関銃 ms:MP40 pl:Pistolet maszynowy MP 40 sl:MP-40 zh:MP40冲锋枪