PPSh41

The PPSh-41, short for Pistolet Patronov Shpagina 1941, is a Soviet submachine gun designed by Georgy Shpagin in 1941. It was adopted during World War II and became one of the most recognizable Soviet weapons of the conflict, widely produced and deployed on the Eastern Front.

The weapon is blowback-operated and generally considered selective-fire, chambered for 7.62×25mm Tokarev. It is noted for its rugged simplicity, with a stamped metal receiver and a wooden stock, making it inexpensive to manufacture and easy to maintain in harsh conditions. Its high rate of fire and compact footprint contributed to its effectiveness in close-quarters combat.

Ammunition and magazines: The PPSh-41 feeds from a 71-round drum magazine, which provides a high ammunition capacity, and is also capable of using 35-round box magazines. The drum was highly distinctive but could be heavy and occasionally less reliable in mud or dust, while box magazines offered more compact handling at the expense of capacity.

Production and use: Mass-produced from 1941 onward, the PPSh-41 was manufactured in large numbers at several Soviet facilities and became the standard infantry submachine gun for the Red Army, Navy, and security services during the war. It was used by Allied forces in various theaters and, in some cases, captured and employed by Axis forces.

Variants and successors: The PPSh-41 served alongside later designs and was eventually supplemented by the PPS-43 in the mid- to late-war period, which offered similar firepower with different manufacturing characteristics. Its design influenced postwar Soviet submachine guns and influenced Cold War-era weapons.

Legacy: The PPSh-41 is remembered for its mass production efficiency, battlefield impact, and iconic drum-fed configuration, making it a symbol of Soviet wartime industry and infantry tactics.