World
Guns
PPSH-41
Pistolet-Pulemyot Shpagina obr 1941G
Pistolet-Pulemyot Shpagina obr 1941G
| Country Of Origin: | Russia | Length: | 828 mm 33 in |
| Designation: | Sub-Machine Gun | Barrel: | 265 mm |
| Cartridge: | 7.62x25mm Soviet auto | Weight Empty: | 3.56 kg 8 lb |
| Production Date: | 1941-1947 | Rifling: | 4 grooves, rh |
| Ammunition: |
Type P1; 86 gr bullet, 8 gr charge (1.35in) Type P-41; 74 gr bullet, 8 gr charge , AP/Incdy (1.36in) |
Mag Capacity: | 71 round drum or 35 round box |
| Rate Of Fire: | 900 rds/min | ||
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Designed by George Shpagin to meet desperate need, following the USSR's bitter war with Finland and the invasion by Germany, the PPSh submachine gun utilized the simple blowback action, and fires from the open bolt position. The semi or full auto selector is located within the trigger guard allowing easy access. Late models were capable of only automatic fire.
A very reliable weapon firing the powerful Soviet P1 pistol cartridge 7.62x25 (interchangeable with 7.63 Mauser) at a high rate of fire and with a large magazine capacity. Operation was selective, full-automatic and semi-automatic. The PPSh41 was ideally suited to the requirements and tactics employed by the Soviet and satellite Forces.
The predominant tactic used by the Chinese in assault was to equip one platoon with nothing but bags of grenades, and another with submachine guns. The Chinese occasionally attacked in massed, or &aquot;human wave" assaults, when it was considered absolutely essential to take a vital point. More often the attacks were in company strength, using every form of concealment and surprise. Their concept of a line of battle was essentially to flow around obstacles with the idea of assembling at their objective for a final assault.
One battle-experienced Marine, listening cynically to press reports describing attacking hordes of Chinese, asked "How many hordes are there, in one Chinese platoon ?"
For the CCF concept of fluid infantry warfare, violent submachine gun and grenade attack was very effective. When met by determined and entrenched infantry resistance, supported by artillery and well-positioned machine guns and air supremacy, the concept failed. With terrible losses.