MP40

The MP40 (Maschinenpistole 40) is a submachine gun developed for and used extensively by Germany during World War II.

History

The MP40 is descended from the MP36, a select fire prototype made of machined steel, of which few examples remain. The MP36 prototype was developed independently by Erma prior to the 1938 request from the German government for a new submachinegun which led to the MP38. The MP 38 was a simplification of the MP36, as the MP40 was later a simplification of the MP38, the differences being in cost-saving alterations, especially the use of more pressed rather than machined parts and an improved safety. The changes resulted from experiences with the several thousand MP38s, (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 initial MP40 production version. Just over 1 million would be made of all versions in the course of the war. The designer of the MP38/40 was Heinrich Vollmer.

The MP40 was often called the Schmeisser by the Allies, 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, which was effectively a MP40 with an old-fashioned wooden rifle stock, and the Sturmgewehr 44. Also, Schmeisser did not work for Erma, but for Haenel. It is impossible to reconstruct, how Schmeisser was honored with this legend, but it must have been inspiring for the Nazi-soldiers: the German slang-word "Schmeisser" describes someone who bashes or throws something inaccurately, but with high force. But Schmeisser did produce the MP40 ammo clips and his name was engraved on it so this might be the root of this mistake.

Specifications

An MP38 can be easily distinguished from an MP40 by a round hole in the magazine housing, and a series of small grooves along the length of the steel machined receiver. The initial 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 variant. 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. The gun was quite reliable and rather cheap to make, as its parts were machine stamped. It had relatively low recoil even fired fully automatic. This is due to its slower rate of fire. Nevertheless, it gave the weapon a good accuracy compared to the American Thompson submachine gun.

The weapon's magazine spring however 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 magazine MP40/II was also experimented with 64 round capacity, with the double magazine being slid horizontally to use one magazine and then the next ^*^*^*. This design was intended to counter the superior firepower of the Russian PPSh-41, but it didn't work.

The MP40 had an overall length of 833 mm, though its folding 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

MP40/I - main production version
MP40/II - experiment with a 64 round magazine.
MP41: Technically different from the MP40 even though it looked similar. A wooden stocked weapon used by police units.
Though not with official sanction from the Germans, many countries involved in WW 2 developed submachine guns which had a similar form to the MP 40 (with a folding shoulder stock, and the magazine holder being used as a second handgrip). The most famous examples are the Russian PPS-43 and the American M3 'Grease Gun'. Most derivative designs also copied the troublesome magazine design as well.
As for cheapness and ease of production, which the MP 40 revolutionalized, the British STEN and the Australian OWEN are the best examples.

MP40s in films

Unlike the impression given by films (particularly 'Where Eagles Dare' and the first and third Indiana Jones movies), television series and pulp novels, MP40s were typically only issued to platoon and squad leaders; the majority of soldiers carried Karabiner 98k rifles.

External links

Submachine guns | World War II German infantry weapons | World War II submachine guns

Maschinenpistole 40 | MP40 | Maschinenpistole 40 | MP40 | MP40 | MP38/40 | エルマ・ベルケMP40短機関銃 | Pistolet maszynowy MP 40 | MP40 | МП-40 | MP-40 | MP-40 | MP40 | MP40冲锋枪

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History

Specifications

Variants and developments

MP40s in films

See also

External links