PPS-43

Description

As the German forces pushed deeper into Russia, in 1942 the Red Army called for a weapon that could be produced faster and cheaper than their current submachine gun (SMG) the PPsh-41. This request also specified that it must have a reduced rate of fire and only accept a box type magazine, with the aim to reduce ammunition wastage, of which the Soviets were already struggling to keep up with the demand.

The PPS-43 was soon adopted, initially by support personnel and vehicle crews, then rapidly into general service with all frontline troops. It’s production predominantly involved the stamping of steel, which not only reduced production time from more than 7 hours with the PPSh-41 to less than 3, but also halved the amount of the raw materials required.

Soviet production of this weapon ended in 1946, however they remained in service with Naval marines and various vehicle crews until the mid-late 1950’s and a large number number would also be used by Chinese forces during the Korean War.

Having been produced in such high numbers during WW2, post war, amongst the chaos of the repatriations and clean-ups, weapons such as these readily found themselves in the hands of the criminal underworld and paramilitaries. Their presence in these organizations would last for decades and even today the odd example still appears in an obscure civil war or police seizure.