MP 40

The MP 38 and MP 40 (MP designates Maschinenpistole, literally "Machine Pistol") were submachine guns developed in Nazi Germany and used extensively byparatroopers, tank crews, platoon and squad leaders, and other troops during World War II.

Maschinenpistole 40
MP 40/I (stock extended)
Type	Submachine gun
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1939–Present
Used by	See Users
Wars	World War II, Cold War (Limited)
Production history
Designer	Heinrich Vollmer
Designed	1938
Manufacturer	Erma Werke
Produced	1940–1945
Number built	Approx. 1 million
Variants	MP 36, MP 38, MP 40, MP 40/1, MP 41
Specifications
Weight	4 kg (8.82 lb)
Length	833 mm (32.8 in) stock extended / 630 mm (24.8 in) stock folded
Barrel length	251 mm (9.9 in)
Cartridge	9x19mm Parabellum
Action	Straight blowback, open bolt
Rate of fire	550 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	~380 m/s (1,247 ft/s)
Effective range	100 m
Feed system	32-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Hooded front blade, fixed and flip-up U-notch rear

Variants and developments

The MP41 with wooden stock.

• MP 40/I — main production version
• MP 40/II — experiment with two side by side 32-round magazines. The MP 40/II was tested in 1942. This version of the MP 40 has a two-magazine receiver that slides horizontally to use the additional magazine when the first becomes depleted. This design was intended to counter the superior firepower of the Russian PPSh-41, but made the weapon heavy and unbalanced in the field, and did not work well. However, by 1943 the Soviets shifted the production of PPSh-41 drums to 35 round magazines due to combat malfunctions.
• MP 41 — A variant designed by Louis Schmeisser for the Haenel Company, which featured the receiver, operating mechanism, and magazine housing of the MP 40 and the stock, trigger and fire selector similar to the MP 28.
• Many countries involved in World War II developed submachine guns which had a similar features to the MP 40 (with a folding stock, magazine as a front handgrip, and production techniques). The most famous examples are the Russian PPS-43 and the American M3 submachine gun. Most derivative designs also copied the troublesome magazine design as well.
• BD38 — a new semi-automatic reproduction of the MP 38 submachinegun.