Degtyarev submachine gun (PPD): creation history, description and characteristics. Submachine gun PPD Photo. TTX. Video. Dimensions. Rate of fire. Bullet speed. Target range. Weight Submachine gun Degtyarev model 1934 38

PPD, contrary to the legends, is not at all copied from the Finnish "Suomi"

In 2010, there are two significant anniversaries at once: 75 years ago, the submachine gun of the system of V. A. Degtyarev was adopted and 70 years ago, the submachine gun of the system of G. S. Shpagin. The fate of the PPD and PPSh reflected the dramatic nature of this type of domestic on the eve of the Great Patriotic War and its exceptional role in the course of the confrontation on the Soviet-German front.

Submachine guns began to enter infantry units during the First World War. The use of a pistol cartridge made it possible to create a new type of automatic small arms, quite compact in size and relatively small in mass, from which it was possible to conduct dense fire in close combat. True, outside the "near" ranges, the performance indicators of submachine guns turned out to be quite modest. This largely determined the attitude towards the new weapon in a number of armies, including the Red Army, as a kind of auxiliary means.

NOT ONLY FOR GANGSTERS AND COPS

However, the widespread opinion about the "neglect" of the Soviet military leadership for submachine guns, to put it mildly, is greatly exaggerated. As early as October 27, 1925, the Commission on Armaments of the Red Army noted: "... it is necessary to re-equip the junior and middle command personnel with an automatic submachine gun, leaving the Nagant in service with the senior and senior command personnel." On December 28, 1926, the Artillery Committee of the Artillery Directorate of the Red Army approved the technical specifications for the manufacture of submachine guns.

Quite a bit of time passed, and already in 1927, F.V. Tokarev, who at that time worked in the design bureau of the First Tula Arms Plants, presented his own model of a submachine gun - the so-called light carbine. However, it was made under the then most accessible 7.62-mm revolver cartridge "revolver", which was poorly suited for automatic weapons. Meanwhile, work was already underway in the Soviet Union on a self-loading pistol, and on July 7, 1928, the Artillery Committee proposed using a 7.63-mm Mauser cartridge for pistols and submachine guns.

The Report of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR of December 1929 stated: “The adopted system of infantry weapons of the Red Army provides for the introduction in the near future of a semi-automatic self-loading rifle ... a self-loading pistol ... a submachine gun as a powerful automatic melee weapon (there are samples, a store on 20-25 rounds, range - 400-500 meters). The main weapon was to be a rifle chambered for a powerful rifle cartridge, the auxiliary weapon was a submachine gun chambered for a pistol cartridge. In 1930, a 7.62 mm pistol cartridge (7.62x25) was adopted - a domestic version of the 7.63 mm Mauser cartridge. Under it, the development of submachine guns began.

Already in June-July 1930, by order of the Deputy People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs I.P. Uborevich, a commission headed by division commander V.F. These were samples developed by F.V. Tokarev under the revolver cartridge "Nagant", V.A. Degtyarev (he then headed the design bureau of the Kovrov Plant No. 2, later the State Union Plant No. 2 named after K. O. Kirkizh) and S A. Korovin - under a pistol cartridge. At the same time, foreign pistols and submachine guns undergo a similar practical test.

In general, the test results of the first domestic submachine guns were unsatisfactory. Among the reasons for the failures was the discrepancy between the power of the pistol cartridge, the high rate of fire and the too limited weight of the samples, which did not allow achieving acceptable accuracy of fire.

At the same time, submachine guns were still treated ambiguously. For example, at the plenum of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Artillery Directorate on December 14, 1930, it was emphasized: “Submachine guns are currently used mainly in the police and internal security forces. For combat purposes, the Germans and Americans do not recognize them as perfect enough. This opinion was confirmed due to the fact that in Weimar Germany police units were supplied with MP.18 and MP.28 submachine guns. And the American Thompson submachine gun, which, although it was created as an army weapon, “became famous” mainly during gangster raids and showdowns, as well as operations of law enforcement officers. Even the following point of view was expressed: they say, in the armament system of the Red Army, "the submachine gun appeared not from the requirements, but due to the fact that such a sample was made and they tried to apply it to this system." But these conclusions did not interrupt the work of Soviet designers.

In 1932-1933, 14 samples of 7.62-mm submachine guns, presented, among others, by F. V. Tokarev, V. A. Degtyarev, S. A. Korovin, S. A. Prilutsky, I. N Kolesnikov. The “brainchildren” of Degtyarev and Tokarev were recognized as the most successful. In January 1934, the Artillery Directorate noted the Degtyarev submachine gun as the best in terms of combat and operational qualities. He did not have a high rate of fire, but stood out for greater accuracy and manufacturability. Characteristic is the use of a significant number of cylindrical parts (barrel, receiver, barrel casing, bolt, butt plate) manufactured on universal lathes.

On June 9, 1935, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, the “7.62-mm Degtyarev submachine gun mod. 1934 (PPD-34)." First of all, they intended to supply the command staff of the Red Army.

UPGRADE REQUIRED

PPD-34 belonged to the samples of the classic "carbine" layout, given by the German MP.18 / I, with a wooden stock and a cylindrical perforated barrel casing. The automation of the submachine gun operated at the expense of the recoil energy of the free shutter. The PPD trigger mechanism, made by a separate assembly, allowed automatic and single fire, the flag translator was located in front of the trigger guard. The shot was fired from the rear sear, that is, with the shutter open. A non-automatic fuse in the form of a latch was located on the bolt handle and blocked it in the forward or rear position. A detachable box-shaped magazine of a sector shape was attached from below. The sector sight was notched at a distance of 50 to 500 m. The distance of aimed fire, which was so high for submachine guns, would be abandoned only during the Great Patriotic War.

In 1934, Kovrov Plant No. 2 produced 44 PPDs, in 1935 - only 23, in 1936 - 911, in 1937 - 1291, in 1938 - 1115, in 1939 - 1700. If for 1937 and 1938 produced 3,085,000 magazine rifles (excluding sniper rifles), then PPD - 4106. This allows us to judge the place that was assigned to the submachine gun in the Red Army weapon system.

Along the way, the refinement of the PPD continued, and already in 1939 the Artillery Committee of the Artillery Directorate approved the changes prepared by plant No. 2 in the drawings of the submachine gun. The weapon received the designation "submachine gun model 1934/38". In the PPD of this sample, they strengthened the magazine mount by installing an additional neck for its fastening, worked out the interchangeability of magazines, and strengthened the landing of the sight. At the same time, the Artillery Committee indicated that “it is necessary to introduce it into service with certain categories of soldiers of the Red Army, the NKVD border guard, machine-gun and gun crews, some specialists, airborne troops, car drivers, etc.”

There were reasons for that. During the war of 1932-1935 between Bolivia and Paraguay, submachine guns of various systems were used quite widely for the first time, and not without success. They were also used in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Soon, the soldiers of the Red Army had an unpleasant acquaintance with the Finnish "Suomi" m / 1931. This happened during the three-month "unfamous" campaign of 1939-1940.

However, it was in 1939 that the fate of the PPD was in question. At the initiative of the People's Commissariat of Defense, the issue of ending the production of submachine guns was discussed. And nine months before the start of the Soviet-Finnish war, they were withdrawn from the units of the Red Army and transferred to storage and to the border troops of the NKVD. Often they try to explain this by the "tyranny" of the head of the Artillery Directorate, First Deputy People's Commissar of Defense G. I. Kulik. But at the same time, one cannot but pay attention to the report on the production of automatic small arms at the enterprises of the People's Commissariat for Armaments for 1939. This document stated that the manufacture of PPDs should "stop until the noted shortcomings are eliminated and the design is simplified." And it was proposed: "... the development of a new type of automatic weapon for a pistol cartridge should be continued for a possible replacement of the outdated PPD design."

In the same 1939, the most authoritative specialist V. G. Fedorov (monograph "The Evolution of Small Arms") pointed to the "huge future" of the submachine gun as "a powerful, relatively light and at the same time simple weapon in its design", however, " subject to some improvements. Fedorov also wrote about "the rapprochement of two types, namely the assault rifle and the submachine gun" based on the creation of a cartridge "with a reduced aiming range for rifles and an increased aiming range for submachine guns." However, by the beginning of World War II, such a cartridge had not yet appeared. It is not surprising that submachine guns began to be called submachine guns during the Finnish campaign in the Red Army - such a name would last until the end of the 40s.

The successful use by the enemy in the battles of "Suomi" made it necessary to urgently return the PPD to the units of the Red Army. Demands came from the front to equip with submachine guns modeled on the Finns "at least one squad per company." The available PPDs were urgently transferred to units in Karelia, and at the end of December 1939 - a month after the start of the war - at the direction of the Main Military Council, mass production of Degtyarev submachine guns began.

On January 6, 1940, by a decision of the Defense Committee, the improved PPD was adopted by the Red Army.

THIRD MODIFICATION

Kovrov Plant No. 2 received a special government assignment - to set up the production of PPD. To help in its implementation, a team of specialists was sent there under the leadership of Deputy People's Commissar for Armaments I. A. Barsukov. The production of submachine gun parts was distributed to almost all workshops, but already in January 1940, a workshop designed for the production of submachine guns was launched at the plant. The workshops of the tool department were engaged only in the manufacture of technological equipment and tools necessary for the production of PPD.

To reduce the time for the production of one submachine gun, a number of changes were made to its design:

The number of windows in the casing decreased from 55 to 15; the bottom of the casing was made separately and pressed into the pipe;

The bolt box was made of a pipe, the sight block was made separately;

A separate drummer with an axis was eliminated in the shutter, the striker was fixedly fixed in the shutter with a pin;

Installed a simplified leaf spring ejector.

Moreover, PPD, like Suomi, was equipped with a drum magazine. However, Degtyarev suggested a simpler way out - increasing the capacity of the box magazine to 30 rounds and simplifying its change. Although this option, which required significantly lower costs, was supported by the leadership of the People's Commissariat for Armaments, it was decided to complete the PPD with drum magazines (“discs”).

I. A. Komaritsky, E. V. Chernko, V. I. Shelkov and V. A. Degtyarev constructed a drum magazine in almost a week. It was supplemented with a neck that was inserted into the PPD guide clip. As a result, it was possible to do without alterations to the submachine gun. In addition, thanks to this, the magazine capacity was 73 rounds - two more than that of the Finnish prototype. This is how the third modification of the PPD appeared, which retained the designation “submachine gun mod. 1934/38". The submachine gun also received a front sight fuse.

On January 22, 1940, all workshops and departments engaged in the production of PPD were transferred to three-shift work. A sharp increase in the production of a submachine gun could not pass without problems. According to B. L. Vannikov, “ready-made machine guns repeatedly returned from shooting to correction. There were days when more people worked on fixing than on assembly.” But gradually production entered a normal rhythm, and the troops began to receive more PPD. True, the submachine gun, designed for the technological equipment of factories in the early 30s, was a little expensive. Its cost can be judged by the following figures - one PPD with a set of spare parts, like the Simonov automatic rifle, cost the state budget 900 rubles (in 1939 prices), and a DP light machine gun with spare parts - 1150 rubles (although here we must take into account the already established production rifles and machine guns).

At this time, the first divisions of submachine gunners were formed, including skiing - an experience that was very useful during the Great Patriotic War. Reconnaissance and assault groups, detachments of skiers tried to provide more abundant automatic weapons, among which the submachine gun showed greater reliability. P. Shilov, who was a reconnaissance officer of the 17th separate ski battalion in the Soviet-Finnish war, recalled one battle: “Our SVT did not shoot ... After the first shots, the scouts no longer fired, but the machine guns of the platoon commander and the platoon commander were in order, and they fired at the Finns to the last bullet.

On February 15, 1940, V. A. Degtyarev presented a modernized model of PPD, developed with the participation of designers S. N. Kalygin, P. E. Ivanov, N. N. Lopukhovsky, E. K. Aleksandrovich, V. A. Vvedensky (later the names these people will be encountered more than once in a number of Kovrov systems), which was distinguished by the following changes:

Up to 71 cartridges, the magazine capacity has decreased due to the replacement of its neck with a receiver, the feeder has become more reliable;

The front and rear stops of the magazine are placed on the bolt box, the stock is made split, with a separate forearm - an extension in front of the magazine;

The shutter is equipped with a fixed striker.

On February 21, the Defense Committee under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR approved these changes, and in early March they were put into production. This is how the “7.62-mm submachine gun of the Degtyarev system arr. 1940 (PPD-40)". He could have either an open front sight or a front sight with a fuse.

However, tests of a submachine gun with a fixed bolt head showed a large percentage of delays, and therefore the Artillery Directorate of Small Arms insisted on returning to the previous drummer scheme. That is why, from April 1, 1940, a variant with the same separate drummer went into production. In total, 81,118 PPDs were produced in 1940, so the fourth serial modification of the Degtyarev submachine gun, the PPD-40, turned out to be the most massive.

The massive appearance of submachine guns in the troops at the end of the Soviet-Finnish war and the adoption in 1940 of the PPD-40 with a magazine for 71 rounds contributed to the birth of the legend that Degtyarev copied his development from A. Lahti's Suomi system. Meanwhile, it is enough to simply carry out an incomplete disassembly of these two samples, belonging to the same generation of submachine guns, to see that the relationship between PPD and Suomi is very distant. But the first drum shop really received from the second, albeit with alterations.

The trophy "Suomi" was later used by the Red Army, and sometimes even played a role ... PPD in Soviet films during the war - for example, in the films "Actress" in 1943 or "Invasion" in 1945.

PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PPD OBR. 1934

Cartridge 7.62x25 TT
Mass of weapons with cartridges 3.66 kg
Weapon length 778 mm
Barrel length 278 mm

Rate of fire 750-900 rds / min
Combat rate of fire, single / author. 30/100 rds/min
Sighting range 500 m
Magazine capacity 25 rounds

"MADE IN LENINGRAD"

In 1940, the attitude towards the submachine gun changed. It was still considered an auxiliary weapon, but the degree of saturation of the troops with it increased. Characteristic, for example, is the indication in the speech of the Inspector General of the Infantry, Lieutenant General A.K. Smirnov at a meeting of the top leadership of the Red Army in December 1940, that "when dividing our (rifle) squad into two units" they would include " and automatic rifles, and submachine guns. At the same meeting, the head of the Combat Training Directorate of the Red Army, Lieutenant-General V.N. Kurdyumov, calculated for an offensive battle (assuming the Soviet rifle corps attacked the defense of the German infantry division): “Our advancing corps will have 72 platoons in the first attacking echelon, 2880 bayonets, 288 light machine guns, 576 PPDs... On average, there will be 2888 attackers against 78 defenders per 1 km of the front, machine guns and submachine guns - 100 against 26..."

At the last pre-war May Day parade in 1941, a unit of fighters armed with PPD-40s marched across Red Square. However, the PPD has already been replaced by the G.S. Shpagin submachine gun ...

In the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, the production of PPD was restored in Leningrad. In Kovrov, in the experimental workshop of the department of the chief designer, about 5000 PPDs were assembled from the remaining backlog of parts. And in the city on the Neva, on the basis of the equipment exported there from the Sestroretsk Tool Plant named after S.P. Voskov, the production of PPD-40 was re-deployed, leading it almost manually. In December 1941, when Leningrad was already surrounded, the plant named after A. A. Kulakov joined this work. In total, in 1941-1942, 42,870 PPD-40s were manufactured in the northern capital, which were used by the troops of the Leningrad and Karelian fronts. One of these PPD-40 is stored in the Artillery Museum. On the butt of the submachine gun there is a sign: “Made in Leningrad during the enemy blockade. 1942". Many PPDs of Leningrad production had a simplified folding sight instead of a sector sight.

By the way, the factories named after Voskov and Kulakov served as a good basis for organizing the mass production of another submachine gun - PPS.

PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PPD OBR. 1940

Cartridge 7.62x25 TT
Mass of weapons with cartridges 5.4 kg
Weapon length 778 mm
Barrel length 278 mm
Muzzle velocity 500 m/s
Rate of fire 900-1100 rds / min
Combat rate of fire, single / author. 30/100-120 rds/min
Sighting range 500 m
Magazine capacity 71 rounds

7.62-mm submachine guns of samples 1934, 1934/38 and 1940 of the Degtyarev system (GAU index - 56-A-133) are various modifications of the submachine gun developed by the Soviet gunsmith Vasily Alekseevich Degtyarev in the early 1930s. The first submachine gun adopted by the Red Army.

Video PPD-40

The Degtyarev submachine gun was a fairly typical representative of the first generation of this type of weapon. It was used in the Soviet-Finnish War, as well as throughout the Great Patriotic War, in particular - it was supplied, as more reliable, to partisan detachments. The first work on the creation of submachine guns began in the USSR in the mid-1920s. On October 27, 1925, the Armament Commission of the Red Army provided for the desirability of arming junior and middle command personnel with this type of weapon. On December 28, 1926, the Artillery Committee of the Artillery Directorate of the Red Army approved the technical conditions for the manufacture of the first submachine guns.

After a series of unsuccessful experiments using the 7.62 × 38 mm Nagant cartridge, on July 7, 1928, the Artillery Committee proposed to adopt the 7.63 × 25 mm Mauser cartridge for pistols and submachine guns, which was used in the popular Mauser C96 pistol in the USSR. In favor of the choice of this cartridge, in addition to its high combat qualities, was the fact that the production of 7.62-mm barrels of both pistols and submachine guns could be carried out on the same technological equipment, and unification along the bore with the Mosin rifle allowed the use of existing equipment and even defective blanks for rifle "three-line" barrels. In addition, the bottle shape of the sleeve increased the reliability of feeding from the magazine.

At the end of 1929, the Revolutionary Military Council decided that the submachine gun, which he rated as a “powerful automatic melee weapon,” would be introduced into the Red Army’s weapons system in the near future. The main weapon of the Soviet infantry, according to the decision of the Revolutionary Military Council, was to be a modern self-loading rifle, and an auxiliary submachine gun along with it. In the same 1929, an experienced 7.62-mm Degtyarev submachine gun appeared.

PPD - Degtyarev submachine gun model 1934/38. with disk magazine

In June-July 1930, a commission headed by divisional commander V.F. Grushetsky conducted tests of self-loading pistols and experimental submachine guns for new cartridges at the Scientific Testing Weapons Range (the so-called "Competition of 1930"). The results of these tests were generally unsatisfactory, so that none of the samples submitted to it was accepted for service. Nevertheless, its implementation helped to finally determine the requirements for a new type of weapon.

In 1931, the next version of the Degtyarev submachine gun appeared, with a semi-free shutter of a different type, in which the slowdown of the shutter retreat was achieved not by redistributing energy between its two parts, but due to the increased friction that occurs between the cocking handle of the shutter and the bevel in front of the cutout under it in the receiver, in which the handle fell after the shutter arrived in the extreme forward position, while the shutter itself turned to the right at a small angle. This sample had a round-section receiver, more technologically advanced, and the barrel was almost completely covered with wooden lining (instead of a casing).

PPD - Degtyarev submachine gun, model 1934. with sector store

Finally, in 1932, an even more simplified version appeared, this time with a free shutter. In 1932-1933, a total of 14 samples of 7.62-mm submachine guns were developed and tested on the ground, including the converted submachine guns of Tokarev, Degtyarev and Korovin, as well as the newly developed Prilutsky and Kolesnikov. The systems of Degtyarev and Tokarev were recognized as the most successful, but the PPD turned out to be a little more technologically advanced and had a relatively low rate of fire beneficial for this type of weapon.

After completion, in which, in addition to Degtyarev, designers G. F. Kubynov, P. E. Ivanov and G. G. Markov participated, on January 23, 1935, he was approved by the GAU as a model for the manufacture of an experimental batch (30 copies), and on July 9 - adopted by the Red Army under the name "7.62-mm submachine gun of the 1934 model of the Degtyarev system (PPD)". In the same year, production began at the Kovrov Plant No. 2 (named after K. O. Kirkizh).

Most military experts of that time, both in the USSR and abroad, considered the submachine gun as a "police", and when used by the army - a purely auxiliary weapon. In accordance with these ideas, and also due to the rather low manufacturability and lack of development of the sample itself in mass production, it was initially produced in small batches and entered service mainly with the command staff of the Red Army as a replacement for revolvers and self-loading pistols (the rank and file at about the same time began to re-equip with another type automatic weapons, - automatic and self-loading rifles). In 1934, Kovrov Plant No. 2 manufactured 44 copies of the PPD, in 1935 - only 23, in 1936 - 911, in 1937 - 1,291, in 1938 - 1,115, in 1939 - 1,700 , a total of just over 5,000 copies.

As can be seen from the scale of production, the Degtyarev submachine gun in the first years of its production was still, in fact, a prototype, on which the methods of production and use of new weapons by the troops were worked out. In 1935-37, the PPD underwent extended military tests, which revealed a number of shortcomings, and as a result, in 1938-39, the weapon was modernized, receiving the designation "submachine gun of the 1934/38 model. Degtyarev's systems. It was also sometimes referred to as the "2nd pattern" and the 1934 pattern as the "1st pattern".

Meanwhile, when trying to increase the production of PPD, it turned out that it was quite complex structurally and technologically, which prevented the establishment of its mass production. By order of the Art Administration of February 10, 1939, the PPD was removed from the production program of 1939, orders to factories for its production were canceled, and the copies available in the Red Army were concentrated in warehouses for better preservation in case of a military conflict, and the submachine guns in storage it was instructed to “provide an appropriate amount of ammunition” and “keep in order” (ibid.). A certain amount of PPD was used to arm the border and escort troops, sometimes there are even reports that their insignificant production was kept for these purposes.

The attitude towards submachine guns changed dramatically during the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. Impressed by the actions of Finnish submachine gunners armed with Suomi submachine guns, the command of the Red Army not only activated all the PPD-34s stored in warehouses and manufactured in the 1920s by Fedorov submachine guns, but also organized the delivery by aircraft to the front of the submachine guns that were available at the border guards. The production of submachine guns was transferred to three-shift work with the full use of all equipment.

Improving the design of weapons continued. On February 15, 1940, Degtyarev presented a modernized sample of the PPD, developed with the participation of the designers of the Kovrov plant S. N. Kalygin, P. E. Ivanov, N. N. Lopukhovsky, E. K. Aleksandrovich and V. A. Vvedensky.

This variant was approved for production on February 21, 1940 by the Defense Committee under the Council of People's Commissars and was put into service as the "Degtyarev model 1940 submachine gun". Its release began in March of the same year. In total, 81,118 PPDs were produced in 1940, which made its 1940 modification the most massive. The army received significant quantities of this type of weapon.

PPD was produced at the beginning of World War II, but already at the end of 1941 it was replaced by a more advanced, reliable and much more technologically advanced Shpagin submachine gun, the development of which was started in parallel with the deployment of the mass production of PPD, in 1940. PPSh was originally designed for the possibility of production at any industrial enterprise with low-power press equipment, which turned out to be very useful during the Great Patriotic War.

Meanwhile, the production of PPD in the initial period of the war was temporarily restored in Leningrad at the Sestroretsk Tool Plant named after S.P. Voskov and, from December 1941, at the plant named after S.P. Voskov. A. A. Kulakova. In addition, at the Kovrov plant in the experimental workshop, about 5,000 more PPDs were manually assembled from the available parts. In total, in 1941-1942, 42,870 PPDs were manufactured in Leningrad - the so-called "blockade issue", "blockade", they went into service with the troops of the Leningrad and Karelian fronts.

Subsequently, the production of a more advanced and technologically advanced Sudayev submachine gun was carried out at the same production facilities.

Variants and modifications

PPD-34- with a sector magazine for 25 rounds without a guide clip for the magazine, a bolt with a fixed striker.

PPD-34/38- with a sector magazine for 25 rounds or with a disk magazine for 73 rounds with a neck and a guide clip to reduce the pitching of the attached magazine, the magazines themselves have become interchangeable for different instances of the PP, the sight mount has been strengthened.

PPD-34/38- a bolt without a striker, with a fixed striker, part of the release had an annular namushnik to protect the front sight. The number and shape of the vents in the barrel casing have also changed - 15 long ones instead of 55 short ones.

PPD-40- with a disc magazine without a neck, the box has front and rear magazine stops, a bolt with a movable striker, a receiver made of a tubular blank instead of a milled one (combined into one piece with a sight deck) in early models, a simplified ejector with a leaf spring, a simplified stock, simplified, made up of stamped parts, trigger guard instead of milled from a single piece and a simplified safety. Barrel shroud with 15 holes. Fly both with and without a namushnik. Many PPDs of Leningrad production had, instead of a sector sight, a simplified folding, simplified fuse and a number of other minor differences.

Design and principle of operation

The submachine gun works on the basis of automatic blowback. The barrel bore is locked by the mass of the bolt spring-loaded by a return spring. Shooting is carried out from the rear sear. The trigger mechanism provides single and continuous fire. To switch the fire mode, the trigger mechanism has an appropriate translator, made in the form of a flag located in front of the trigger guard. On one side of the flag is the number "1" or the inscription "one" - for single shooting, on the other - the number "71" or the inscription "nepr." - for shooting with automatic fire.

For most of the PPD issue, the cartridge primer was broken by a striker-type percussion mechanism separately installed in the breech; the drummer fired after the shutter arrived in the extremely forward position. The fuse in the form of an engine is located on the shutter handle. When the fuse is engaged, its tooth engages with the cutout of the receiver, blocking the bolt.

The receiver with the barrel casing is made of a pipe segment in which the barrel is mounted on two fixed liners. Cover with perforation. The stock of the 1940 model was made split to ensure the adjunction of a disc magazine without a neck.

The submachine gun has a sector sight with divisions up to 500 m, a late-release model of 1940 - a sight with a flip-over whole, designed for firing at a distance of up to 100 and up to 200 m.

Each submachine gun relied on an accessory, consisting of: a ramrod with a handle and two links with a wipe, a screwdriver, a punch, a brush, an oiler with two compartments - for lubricating oil and an alkaline composition for cleaning barrels.

A German soldier fires from a captured PPD-40

Advantages

• High stopping and lethal action of the bullet;
• Comfortable stock provides good application and ease of aiming;
• The PPD has a relatively small size, which makes it more convenient, compared to a rifle and a carbine, for firing from a vehicle, for operating in a trench, building, etc.;
• The capacity of the disc magazine allows you to create a high density of fire;
• The presence of a barrel casing eliminates the burn of the shooter's hands during intensive shooting;
• The submachine gun can be easily disassembled for cleaning and lubrication.

disadvantages

• Large dimensions and weight;
• Despite the cheapness of production, PPD was quite difficult to manufacture;
• Weapons, especially models with a fixed striker, have low reliability (there are often delays when firing);
• The disk magazine is difficult to equip. Disk store arr. 1938 of an extremely unsuccessful design. To send the last five rounds into the neck, a flexible pusher is used, which constantly warps in the magazine. As a result, with a queue length of 6-7 shots, delays occur due to the warping of the cartridges, to eliminate which you have to separate the magazine, remove 2-3 cartridges and shake it well . Such a procedure in a combat situation makes the owner of the PPD a potential dead man;
• The capacity of the box magazine is insufficient.
• It is inconvenient to switch the fire mode translator, especially with cold hands or gloves.

Soviet fighters with PPD-40 in battle on the outskirts of Shlisselburg. January 1942

Operation and combat use

USSR - PPD was most widely used at the initial stage of the Second World War.

Finland - 173 pcs. PPD-34 and PPD-34/38 were captured during the Soviet-Finnish war and used in the Finnish army under the designation 7.63 mm kp M/venäl.

Third Reich - captured PPD-34/38 entered service with the Wehrmacht, SS and other paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany and its satellites under the name Maschinenpistole 715 (r), and PPD-40 - under the name Maschinenpistole 716 (r).

Yugoslavia - deliveries of PPD-40 for the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia began on May 15, 1944, 5456 pieces were delivered until November 15, 1944, after the war it remained in service with the Yugoslav People's Army under the name Automat 7.62 mm PPD M40 (s).

13-year-old scout Vova Yegorov with his PPD-40. Behind the belt of the son of the regiment is a grenade RGD-33.

Tactical and technical characteristics of PPD-40

Years of operation: 1934-1943
- Adopted: 1935
- Constructor: Vasily Degtyarev
- Designed: 1934 (sample 1934); 1938/39 (sample 1934/38); 1940 (mod. 1940)
- Years of production: from 1934 to December 1942

In 2015, there were two anniversaries at once: the 80th anniversary of the adoption of the Degtyarev submachine gun and the 75th anniversary of the start of operation of the Shpagin submachine gun. Of course, their historical significance is incommensurable: the legendary PPSh (“father”, “Shpagin Cartridge Eater”) became the most massive submachine gun of the Great Patriotic War and firmly occupies an honorable place in the pantheon of weapons of Victory. And the brainchild of Degtyarev was discontinued in 1942. In Russia, anyone knows the PPSh assault rifle, and Degtyarev's product is known only to specialists and lovers of military history. But the PPD was the first Soviet submachine gun, and without it, most likely, Shpagin would not have developed his famous weapon.

The first modification of the Degtyarev submachine gun - PPD-34 - was put into service in 1935, after which the designer was engaged in its improvement. In 1939, he developed the PPD of the 1934/1938 model, and just before the start of the war, an improved 1940 model.

Degtyarev submachine guns took part in the Soviet-Finnish Winter War, they were actively used at the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War. In 1942, this machine was discontinued, and its place was taken by a simple and cheap Shpagin submachine gun - an ideal wartime weapon.

There is a legend that Degtyarev copied his weapon from the Finnish Suomi submachine gun, developed in the early 30s. However, it is not true.

History of creation

Submachine guns, which we traditionally call submachine guns, appeared during the First World War. This global conflict, in general, "gave" the world a lot of military "know-how", one more inhumane than the other. One of the main inventions of the WWI was the machine gun. This weapon, of course, was used before, but during the First World War, the use of machine guns became really massive.

This led to a situation that was later called "positional impasse". Defensive weapons were so powerful and deadly that they frustrated any attempts by the opposing sides to carry out active offensive operations. Any, even the most insignificant, progress forward had to be paid for with simply unimaginable sacrifices. The infantry needed an offensive, rapid-fire weapon. At the same time, the machine guns of that time could not help their soldiers in the offensive. For the most part, they were easel and had more than a serious weight and size. For example, Maxim's machine gun weighed about 20 kg, and after all, a massive forty-kilogram machine was also attached to it. To take such an attack was simply unrealistic.

Therefore, the idea was born to create a light hand-held rapid-fire weapon chambered for a pistol cartridge. Its first sample appeared in Italy as early as 1915. Almost all the main countries participating in the conflict were developing submachine guns. In Russia, they also worked on the creation of light, rapid-fire small arms. The result was the Fedorov submachine gun, although it was designed for the 6.5x50mm Arisaka rifle cartridge.

In general, we can say that submachine guns did not have a significant impact on the outcome of the First World War, their combat use was limited. But after its completion, work on the creation of these weapons was continued.

Contrary to popular belief, the attitude of Soviet military leaders towards the idea of ​​submachine guns was not so dismissive. Already in the mid-1920s, the Red Army Armament Commission ordered that all junior and middle commanders be armed with submachine guns. And at the end of the 20s, a prototype of this small arms was created by Tokarev. But his submachine gun was chambered for the 7.62-mm revolver cartridge, which is very poorly suited for automatic weapons.

In 1930, the 7.62 × 25 mm TT cartridge was adopted for service, and it was decided to develop submachine guns for it. In the same year, field tests were carried out, at which Tokarev, Degtyarev and Korovin presented their developments. Also, foreign samples of these weapons were presented to the military leadership. The test results were considered unsatisfactory. First of all, the military was not satisfied with the low accuracy of the samples presented.

It should be recognized that the attitude towards submachine guns in the 30s was really different. Part of the Soviet military leadership considered them purely "police" weapons, unsuitable for use in the army. At this time, Weimar Germany armed its law enforcement forces with MP.18 and MP.28 assault rifles, and the famous American Thompson, although it was developed for the army, earned its loud fame in skirmishes between gangsters and the police. This became an additional argument for opponents of submachine guns. However, despite this, work on the creation of new models of these weapons in the USSR was not stopped.

During 1932 and 1933, ground tests of a whole group (14 units) of submachine guns designed for the 7.62 × 25 mm TT cartridge were carried out. The most famous Soviet weapons designers presented their developments: Tokarev, Korovin, Prilutsky, Degtyarev, Kolesnikov. The samples of Tokarev and Degtyarev were recognized as the most successful. As a result, the Degtyarev submachine gun was named the winner of the competition. The high combat and operational qualities of these weapons were noted. Its rate of fire was lower than that of competitors, but thanks to this, the submachine gun had a high accuracy of fire. An additional advantage of the Degtyarev machine was its high manufacturability: most of the structural elements had a cylindrical shape and could be made on conventional lathes.

In July 1935, after a slight revision, the Degtyarev submachine gun was put into service. Its production was deployed at the Kovrov Plant No. 2.

It should be noted that until 1939, only 5 thousand units of these weapons were produced, and initially their production generally amounted to tens of units per year. For comparison, we can say that over the course of only two years (1937 and 1938), more than 3 million magazine rifles entered the army. First of all, the officers were armed with machine guns, at about the same time the rank and file began to receive another type of automatic weapon - self-loading rifles. Considering the volume of deliveries of PPD to the troops, we can confidently say that for almost all the pre-war years, the submachine gun remained for the Red Army, rather, a curiosity and a prototype than a familiar weapon.

In 1938, taking into account the operating experience in the troops, the PPD of the 1934 model was modernized. It can hardly be called large-scale. The design of the magazine mount and sight has been changed. The upgraded version of the weapon was called PPD sample 1934/38.

At the same time, the Artillery Directorate suddenly became concerned with submachine guns, ordering them to equip border guards, paratroopers, gun and machine gun crews. And there was every reason for this. In the early thirties, in distant South America, a conflict broke out between Bolivia and Paraguay, in which submachine guns were first used en masse. The experience of their application was recognized as successful. Later, the Spanish Civil War confirmed the high efficiency of machine guns.

However, an attempt to significantly increase production ran into the significant complexity and high cost of the Degtyarev submachine gun. In the report of the People's Commissariat of Arms, dated 1939, it was generally proposed to curtail the production of PPD "to simplify its design" or to develop a new submachine gun for the same ammunition.

On February 10, 1939, an order of the Art Administration appeared, according to which the production of PPDs was stopped, and all submachine guns in the troops should be sent to warehouses for "better preservation in case of a military conflict." Some domestic authors believe that such a decision - rather controversial, I must say - was made as a result of the active re-equipment of the army with another type of automatic weapon - the SVT self-loading rifle.

But at the end of 1939, the “unfamous” Winter War began, and it turned out that it was too early to write off submachine guns. The Finnish army was armed with a rather successful Suomi submachine gun, which spoiled a lot of blood for our fighters in the Karelian forests. Persistent demands poured down from the front to return the PPD to service, which was soon done. All stored Degtyarev submachine guns were sent to the army. In addition, its production was resumed, so much so that the workers stood at the machines in three shifts. At the same time, a new modernization of weapons began, aimed at simplifying and reducing the cost. As a result, a modification of the machine gun appeared, known as the Degtyarev submachine gun of the 1940 model. It was officially put into service in February 1940. In 1940, more than 80 thousand units of this weapon were produced, which makes this modification the most massive.

The submachine gun of the 1940 model had a smaller number of holes in the barrel casing, its bottom was made separately. The receiver of the new submachine gun was made from a pipe, and the sight block was attached to it separately. He also received a shutter of a new design with a fixed striker. A new cartridge case ejector with a leaf spring was installed on the PPD-40. In addition, the weapon stock was now made from pressed plywood. For a new modification of the PPD, a round drum magazine was developed, the same as that of Suomi. It was redesigned several times, in the final version its capacity was 71 rounds.

The PPD was actively used in the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, its production continued, but already at the end of 1941 they began to replace it with a cheaper and more technologically advanced Shpagin assault rifle. For some time, the production of PPDs continued in besieged Leningrad at the Sestroretsk plant, but then it was replaced with a Sudayev submachine gun.

Design description

The Degtyarev submachine gun is a typical representative of the first generation of this weapon. Its automation uses the recoil energy of a free shutter. The barrel of a weapon with four right-hand rifling is attached to the receiver by a threaded connection. From above it is closed with a metal casing with oval holes necessary for cooling. The main function of the casing is to protect the fighter's hands from burns. On later modifications of the submachine gun, the number of holes in the casing was reduced.

The composition of the PPD shutter includes the following elements: a frame, a drummer with an axis, a handle, a striker, an ejector and a fuse. The bolt group returns to its extreme position due to the reciprocating mainspring, together with the butt plate, which is part of the return mechanism.

The trigger mechanism of the machine is placed in a separate box, which, during assembly, is attached to the ledge of the box and fixed with a pin. It allows single and automatic fire from weapons. The mode switch is located in front of the trigger and looks like a flag.

The fuse of the weapon is located on the cocking handle, it blocks the bolt in the forward or rear position, preventing a shot from being fired. The design of the PPD fuse is not reliable, especially for worn weapons. At one time, it caused a lot of complaints from the military, but, nevertheless, it was also used on the Shpagin submachine gun.

The PPD of the 1934 model had a sector two-row magazine with a capacity of 25 rounds. During the shooting, the fighter used it to hold the weapon. Already for the modification of 1938, a drum-type magazine was developed, which contained 73 cartridges, later it was slightly changed, and its capacity was reduced to 71 cartridges.

The sights of the machine gun consist of a sector sight with divisions up to 500 meters and a front sight. However, such a firing distance for this weapon is simply unrealistic. With a lot of luck, an experienced fighter could hit the enemy at a distance of 300 meters, but in general, PPD fire was effective up to 200 meters. Although, it must be said that the use of a powerful TT cartridge favorably distinguished the Degtyarev submachine gun from most analogues of its time, made under the weak Parabellum cartridge, which also had rather unimportant ballistics.

PPD34

The development of submachine guns began in the Soviet Union already in the mid-twenties, but the Red Army received this type of weapon in an acceptable amount only in 1939-1940. In Soviet literature, the delay in arming the infantry with submachine guns is critically assessed. This situation is explained by the slowness of the military command in resolving the issue of the significance, expediency and necessity of using this weapon. In this connection, the merits of the designers are emphasized, who closely followed the development of military equipment in this area and consistently sought the recognition of submachine guns in spite of the resistance.
Despite the restrained attitude of some of the generals to this problem, the Soviet infantry was armed with submachine guns earlier than the armies of many other major European countries. This can be assessed as a great achievement, especially since for many years the military command was concerned about somehow adequately arming the army, police and other paramilitary formations of the young Soviet Republic that fought on the fronts of the civil war. The industry was poorly developed, the factories were overloaded with orders for the manufacture and repair of weapons inherited from the time of the October Revolution.
When in 1921 a design bureau for the development of automatic small arms was created at the arms factory in Kovrov, its employees initially focused on the creation of machine guns. Under the leadership of a prominent specialist Vladimir Grigorievich Fedorov and his assistant Vasily Aleksandrovich Degtyarev, many effective machine guns were designed. In the end, Degtyarev took up the creation of submachine guns. The first samples appeared already in 1929.
However, the very first Soviet submachine gun had already been presented two years earlier by another designer - Fedor Vasilyevich Tokarev, at that time the technical director of the Tula Arms Plant, who later became famous for creating the TT 1933 automatic pistol, as well as SVT1938 and SVT1940 self-loading rifles. The Tokarev submachine gun of the 1927 model was produced in small numbers as an experimental model, but after several tests it was rejected and not mass-produced.
Some interesting details are known about this experimental design. The Tokarev submachine gun was equipped with a blowback and an unusual magazine, in which the front surface was made in the form of a handle to make it more convenient to hold the weapon in your hands. As reported in Soviet literature. the designer used two triggers, of which the first served for continuous fire, and the second for a single one. However, in the available photographs of the 1927 Tokarev submachine gun, only one hook is visible. Regarding the aiming range of fire, there are also differences of opinion. According to some sources, it was 200 m, and according to others, the adjustable sight was designed for distances of 100 and 150 m.

PPD 40 with sector sight

The theoretical rate of fire ranged from 1100 to 1200 rds / min, the practical rate of fire with a single fire - 40 rds / min, and when firing in short bursts of 5 rounds - about 100. The initial speed of the bullet is about 300 m / s. The magazine held 21 rounds of 7.62x39 R. This was not the original revolver cartridge of the 1895 model, but a slightly heavier modification with a modified case welt, specially made for a submachine gun to ensure uninterrupted feeding during constant firing.
As was customary at that time, the designer supplied the submachine gun with a wooden butt and handguards. The forearm was quite long and left about a third of the barrel free. In this form, the submachine gun looked like
on a carbine and therefore it was called - a light carbine. The mass of the opp sample was 2,8 kg without a magazine, and 3,3 kg with a full magazine. The submachine gun was disassembled into 33 separate parts.
The Tokarev sample was tested in November 1927 (in comparison with the German Volmer-Erma submachine gun). A total of 1100 shots were fired at various distances from both clean and contaminated weapons. Bullet penetration was quite high, but there were failures in the supply of cartridges. Nevertheless, according to the commission, the Soviet submachine gun showed better results than the German one.
The Tokarev submachine gun was manufactured at the Tula Arms Plant in the amount of 10 pieces for military trials. The first 5 samples had different barrel lengths and stock shapes (made in June 1928). With regard to the remaining samples, a requirement was put forward to remake them under the Mauser cartridge 7.63x25 type M 1896. In addition. Tokarev increased the magazine capacity to 22 rounds and changed the barrel pads and stock. The results of the shooting did not justify the hopes placed on the submachine gun either in modifications with revolvers. not with Mauser cartridges.
A year later, Degtyarev presented his first sample of a submachine gun. designed for single and automatic fire. It was reloaded by using the recoil force, the bolt had lugs retracting to the sides. The barrel was placed in a metal casing with slots for cooling. The submachine gun had a wooden stock and a front grip. The supply of ammunition (Tokarev M 1930 7.62x25 cartridges) was carried out from above from a flat disk magazine that held 22 rounds. The effective firing range was 200 m. The sample weighed about 3.33 kg. The rate of fire was no less than that of the Tokarev submachine gun.
Approximately the same data are typical for the prototype submachine gun presented at the beginning of 1930 by Korovin, the creator of the TK pocket pistols. It also fired Tokarev rounds housed in a 30-round double row box magazine. Its effective range was 500 m. Weight 2.74 kg. Such designers as I. N. Kolesnikov and S. A. Prilutsky did not succeed with submachine guns. In the literature, they are noted as the creators of prototypes of submachine guns, but these samples are not described. Only in 1932-1933, 14 samples were tested, including the models of Tokarev and Degtyarev.
In 1934, the prototype of the first submachine gun of the Degtyarev system suitable for mass production was finally created. Shooting from it was carried out with standard pistol cartridges of the Tokarev model of 7.62 mm caliber. The submachine gun was reloaded due to recoil force, had a free shutter and was similar to the German model Schmeiser 28/2, from which Degtyarev borrowed a number of structural details (first of all, the shutter system, however, he designed the barrel cover, sight, cartridge feed mechanism and shop).
The store was slightly curved and inserted from below. The sector sight could be set at a distance of 50 to 500 m. Theoretical
the rate of fire was 900 rds / min. The wooden butt looked very massive. The barrel was surrounded by a metal casing with large holes for cooling.
The 25-round magazine was too small. Together with Irizarkh Andreevich Komaritsky, Degtyarev designed a disk magazine that had almost 3 times the capacity. It was very similar to the magazine for the Finnish Suomi 1931 submachine gun, but was equipped with an elongated neck included in the bolt box. In addition, the sight was improved and a more compact barrel casing with four rows of slightly smaller slots was created.
Changes imperceptible from the outside included an upgraded striker mechanism, as well as specially treated internal surfaces of the barrel and chamber. The drummer was actuated by a lever, which, just before locking the barrel, hit the body of the submachine gun and transmitted the impact impulse to the drummer. The inner surfaces of the barrel and chamber were made chrome-plated.
The submachine gun, called PPD 1934/38, was produced in three versions.
The first of these was equipped with a 73-round disk magazine, but a direct 25-round rod magazine could also be used. The fire translator, located in front of the trigger, could be installed in two positions: forward for a single fire and rear for a permanent one. In this modification, the trigger guard was made one-piece, and the hole for ejection of the cartridges was very narrow.
The second version is considered standard. It was equipped with a slightly smaller disc magazine: 71 cartridges instead of 73. The magazine was attached to the body using a special device. The trigger guard consisted of two welded parts. The shutter was made of blued steel, and the ejection window was slightly wider.
For the third version, Degtyarev also chose a disk magazine for 71 rounds. Instead of four rows of small cooling slots, three rows of large holes appeared in the barrel casing. As for other details, the submachine guns of the third version, apparently, are completely the same as the first. They even claim that this also applies to the capacity of the store, but this is not entirely true. Although submachine guns made later could use a 73-round magazine, but it was produced only for the first modification.

As already mentioned, arming the infantry with submachine guns was very slow. Like the generals of many other European countries, the Soviet military command could not come to a consensus regarding the massive use of this type of weapon. Its production was not given enough attention. Although the Degtyarev submachine gun on July 9, 1935 was recognized as a standard weapon for command personnel, the decree of January 23 was still in effect, limiting its production to a series of only 300 units.

Shutter PPD

It is known from numerous foreign sources that leading Soviet military leaders spoke out against these weapons. They not only expressed dissatisfaction with the insufficient range of fire, but generally doubted the advisability of using submachine guns and objected to their widespread use. According to Soviet specialists, these fluctuations had far-reaching negative consequences. The situation changed only at the end of 1939, when the soldiers of the Red Army during the Soviet-Finnish war, which lasted from November 1939 to March 1940, collided with Suomi 1931 submachine guns.
At the beginning of 1939, a group of Soviet generals discussed the prospects for the combat use of submachine guns. Publications in the closed press indicated the expediency and even the necessity of this type of weapon and demanded an early
and comprehensive armament of the infantry and other branches of the armed forces. At the same time, evidence was provided that the shortcomings of submachine guns, which had already been eliminated by that time, swinging, in particular, the magazine mounts and the possibility of its quick replacement, were due to design flaws, and were not at all typical for this type of weapon.
Despite this, a few days later, a resolution of a completely opposite content appeared. In February 1939, the production of Degtyarev submachine guns was not only stopped, but samples that had already entered the army were returned to warehouses. This was argued by the fact that the multi-shot rifles of the Mosin system have the best fighting qualities. It is known from Soviet sources that a group of experienced designers turned to the political leadership of the country and eventually achieved the cancellation of the wrong decision, the resumption of mass production and the introduction of submachine guns into the armament structure. Serial production began at the end of December 1939, and the order to put the submachine gun into service in all infantry units was received on January 6, 1940.
Up to this point, no more than 5 thousand units of PPD have been manufactured. In 1934, when their production began, 44 pieces were produced, the next year - only 23. In 1937 - 1291, in 1938 -1115, and in 1939 -1700 pieces. Data for 1936 is not available. In 1940, large-scale serial production began and, according to Soviet data, 81,118 weapons were manufactured.
These included the PPD 1934/38 and PPD 1940 submachine guns. The designer introduced this modernized model on February 15, 1940. After 6 days, the approval of the prototype took place, and in early March, its mass production began. Thus, modernized submachine guns made in Tula and Sestroretsk. time to the Finnish front.
PPD submachine guns were baptized by fire in the snow, in forests and swamps, and have proven themselves well in the most difficult combat conditions on the Karelian Isthmus, in rocky terrain where large-scale operations of infantry and tanks are impossible. The soldiers were especially satisfied with the large ammunition. At the same time, the mass of a submachine gun with a full magazine was more than 5 kg.
Despite the further improvement of this model, especially in terms of reducing the cost of its production, from time to time technical shortcomings were revealed that did not allow reaching a given output volume. Due to the rather complex technology, this weapon could not go into mass production. Some parts had to be made by hand, which took a lot of time, others required special machines. Thus, the volume of production was limited. Already at the end of 1940, a decision was made in favor of a new submachine gun of the Shpagin system, which was tested in September of the same year and later called PPSh 1941.
Although the PPD 1940 was largely identical to the PPD 1934/38 model, it had a number of external and internal differences. This applies, first of all, to the stock and fastening of the magazine. If the fore-end of the old model was solid and with a hole for the magazine, then in the new one it consisted of two parts, connected by means of the magazine fastening. The disk magazine mount itself has also changed. He now sunk deeper into the nest. The elongated neck has been replaced with a coupler. Only one feeder spring remained in the store.
The bolt and barrel of both models are very similar to each other, but not interchangeable. However, it is possible to change the bolt box with a screw cap and the trigger mechanism.
Submachine gun PPD 1940. like the already mentioned models of Soviet designers, reloaded at the expense of energy
recoil, has a fixed barrel and a free shutter. It is designed for single and continuous fire. The cartridge ignites even before the barrel is completely locked. The practical rate of fire when firing bursts is from 100 to 120 rds / min. The fire translator is located in the trigger guard. The barrel has a chrome-plated inner surface.
The submachine gun is loaded both in the cocked and uncocked state. To set the fuse, the shooter turns the flag to the left. In this position, the shutter is locked. To remove the safety lock, the flag is rotated to the right. The store is unfastened by pressing the latch.
Dismantling the submachine gun for cleaning is very simple. The shooter unscrews the bolt box cap and removes it along with the return spring and bolt. To re-insert the shutter, you must press the trigger.

Features: Tokarev submachine gun (prototype 1927)

Muzzle velocity (Vq), m/s .............................................. .....300
Weapon length, mm .............................................. ..............805
Rate of fire, rds/min....................................... .........1100*
Ammunition supply ......... double-row straight rod
magazine for 21 rounds
Mass in a charged state, kg .............................. 3.30
Weight with empty magazine, kg .............................................. .......2.80
Cartridge................................................. ...............................7.62x39 R**
Sighting range, m .................................... 200 ***

* According to other sources, 1200 rds / min.
** Modified cartridge.
*** According to other sources, 150 m.
Features: PPD1934/38 submachine gun
Caliber, mm ............................................... ......................................7.62
Muzzle velocity (Vq), m/s .............................................. ....490
Weapon length, mm .............................................. ...............................779
Rate of fire, rds/min....................................... ..............800

for 71 or 73 rounds*
Mass in the charged state, kg......................................=5.20
Weight without magazine, kg ............................................... .................3.73

Barrel length, mm......................:................. ...............................269



* A carob magazine for 25 rounds was also used.
Characteristics: submachine gun PPD 1934
Caliber, mm ............................................... ...............................................7.62
muzzle velocity
(Vq), m/s.............................................. ................................................. .480
Weapon length, mm .............................................. ...............................785
Rate of fire, rds/min....................................... ..............900
Supply of ammunition ............................... carob magazine
for 25 rounds
Weight without magazine, kg ............................................... .................3.45
Cartridge................................................. ......................................7.62x25
Barrel length, mm ............................................... ...............................260
Grooves/Direction ............................................................... ....................4/n
Sighting range, m .............................................. 500
Effective firing range, m .............................................. 200
Features: PPD 1940 submachine gun
Caliber, mm ............................................... ...............................................7.62
Muzzle velocity (Vq), m/s .............................................. ....480
Weapon length, mm .............................................. ...............................788
Rate of fire, rds/min....................................... ...........1000
Ammunition supply ......................................... disc magazine
for 25 rounds
Mass in a charged state, kg .............................................. 5.40
Mass of a full magazine, kg .............................................. ........1.80
Cartridge................................................. ......................................7.62x25
Barrel length, mm ............................................... ......................244*
Grooves/Direction ............................................................... ...................4/n
Sighting range, m .............................................. 500
Effective firing range, m.......................................200

The Degtyarev submachine gun (PPD) is a Soviet 7.62 mm submachine gun designed by the talented gunsmith Vasily Degtyarev in the early 1930s. The first modification of the Degtyarev submachine gun (PPD-34) was put into service in 1934, and the last (PPD-40) entered service in 1940.

PPD became the first Soviet serial submachine gun. Its production continued until the end of 1942. This weapon was actively used during the Soviet-Finnish war, as well as at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. It was later replaced by the cheaper and more technologically advanced Shpagin submachine gun (PPSh).

History of creation

Submachine guns appeared during the First World War. This weapon was supposed to significantly increase the firepower of the infantry, allowing to get out of the "positional impasse" of trench warfare. By that time, machine guns had shown themselves to be a very effective defensive weapon, capable of stopping any enemy attack. However, they were clearly not suitable for offensive operations. PMV machine guns had a very solid weight and for the most part were easel. So, for example, the well-known Maxim machine gun weighed more than 20 kg (without water, cartridges and machine tool), and together with the machine tool - more than 65 kg. The machine guns of the First World War had a calculation of two to six people.

Not surprisingly, the idea of ​​arming the infantry with light, rapid-fire weapons that could be easily carried and used by one person soon appeared. It led to the emergence of three types of automatic weapons at once: an automatic rifle, a light machine gun and a submachine gun that uses pistol cartridges for firing.

The first submachine gun appeared in Italy in 1915. Later, other countries participating in the conflict took up similar developments. Submachine guns did not have a big impact on the course of WWI, however, the design developments made during this period were used to create a number of successful models of these weapons.

In the USSR, work on the creation of new submachine guns began in the mid-20s. Initially, they planned to equip junior and middle officers, replacing pistols and revolvers. However, the attitude of the Soviet military leadership towards these weapons was somewhat dismissive. Due to the low performance characteristics, submachine guns were considered "police" weapons, the pistol cartridge had low power and was effective only in close combat.

In 1926, the Artillery Directorate of the Red Army approved the technical requirements for submachine guns. Ammunition for a new type of weapon was not immediately chosen. Initially, it was planned to manufacture submachine guns chambered for 7.62 × 38 mm Nagan, but later preference was given to the Mauser cartridge 7.63 × 25 mm, which was actively used in the Red Army weapon system.

In 1930, testing of prototypes of the first Soviet submachine guns began. Tokarev (chambered for 7.62 × 38 mm Nagant) and Degtyarev and Korovin (chambered for the Mauser cartridge) presented their developments. The leadership of the Red Army rejected all three samples. The reason for this was the unsatisfactory performance characteristics of the weapons presented: the small weight of the samples, together with a high rate of fire, gave a very low accuracy of fire.

Over the next few years, more than ten new types of submachine guns were tested. Almost all well-known Soviet weapons designers dealt with this topic. The submachine gun created by Degtyarev was recognized as the best.

This weapon had a relatively low rate of fire, which had a positive effect on its accuracy and accuracy. In addition, the Degtyarev submachine gun was much cheaper and more technologically advanced than competitors. The future PPD had a large number of cylindrical parts (receiver, barrel shroud, butt plate), which could be easily manufactured on conventional lathes.

After some refinement, the Degtyarev submachine gun was put into service on June 9, 1935. First of all, they planned to arm the junior officers of the Red Army as a replacement for revolvers and self-loading pistols. Serial production of weapons began at the Kovrov Plant No. 2.

However, over the next few years, the production of PPD went, to put it mildly, slowly: in 1935, only 23 weapons were manufactured, and in 1935 - 911 pieces. Until 1940, a little more than 5 thousand units of PPD rolled off the assembly line. For comparison: only in 1937-1938. More than 3 million magazine rifles were produced. From this it can be seen that the Degtyarev submachine gun remained for the Soviet army and industry for a long time, in fact, a kind of curiosity and a prototype on which the production technology and tactics of using new weapons were worked out.

Taking into account the experience of using PPD in the troops, in 1938 a slight modernization of the submachine gun was carried out: the design of the magazine mount was changed, which significantly increased its reliability. The sight mount has also been changed.

After the modernization, the weapon received a new name: the Degtyarev system submachine gun samples 1934/38. At the same time, the opinion of Soviet military leaders about the role of submachine guns in the modern conflict somewhat changed. The reason for this was the experience of several armed conflicts, including the civil war in Spain, in which the USSR took an active part.

Voices began to be heard that the number of submachine guns in the Red Army was clearly not enough and it was necessary to urgently increase their production. However, it turned out to be not so easy to do this: the PPD was quite complicated and expensive for a large-scale release. Therefore, at the beginning of 1939, an order from the artillery administration appeared, according to which the PPD was generally removed from the production program, up to "... eliminating the noted shortcomings and simplifying the design."

Thus, the leadership of the Red Army already recognized the usefulness of submachine guns in general, but it was absolutely not satisfied with the quality and cost of the PPD. Nine months before the start of the Winter War, all PPDs were excluded from the Red Army's weapons system and transferred to storage. They were never offered a replacement.

Many historians call this decision erroneous, but it is unlikely that the number of manufactured PPDs could seriously strengthen the Red Army in the event of a large-scale conflict. There is an opinion that the cessation of production of PPD was associated with the adoption of the SVT-38 automatic rifle.

The experience of the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940 made it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of submachine guns in a different way. The Finns were armed with the Suomi submachine gun (very similar to Degtyarev's creation), which they used very effectively in the battles for the Mannerheim Line. This weapon made a great impression on the fighters and command staff of the Red Army. The complete rejection of submachine guns was recognized as a mistake. In letters from the front, the military asked to equip at least one squad per company with such weapons.

The necessary conclusions were drawn instantly: all the PPDs stored in warehouses were again put into service and sent to the front line, and a month after the start of hostilities, the mass production of the submachine gun was launched again. Moreover, in January, the third modification of the PPD was adopted, and the plant in Kovrov, where submachine guns were manufactured, switched to a three-shift mode of operation.

The modification was aimed at simplifying the weapon and reducing the cost of its production. For comparison: the price of one submachine gun was 900 rubles, and a light machine gun cost 1150 rubles. Modification PPD-40 had the following differences:

• A smaller number in the casing of the barrel, the bottom of the casing was made separately, and then pressed into the pipe.
• The receiver was made from a pipe with a separate sight block.
• The design of the shutter was changed: now the striker was fixed motionless with a pin.
• A new ejector with a leaf spring was installed on the PPD-40.

In addition, the stock was simplified (now made of stamped plywood) and the trigger guard, which was now made by stamping instead of milling.

A drum magazine was developed for the new submachine gun (the same as that of the Suomi), its capacity was 71 rounds.

Serial production of the PPD-40 began in March 1940, and more than 81,000 units of this weapon were produced in a year. The mass appearance of the PPD-40 at the end of the Winter War gave rise to the legend that Degtyarev copied his assault rifle from the Finnish Suomi.

PPD was also used at the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War, but was later replaced by a cheaper and more technologically advanced PPSh, which could be produced at any industrial enterprise. Until 1942, PPDs were made in besieged Leningrad, they were used by the fighters of the Leningrad Front. Later, the release of the PPD was abandoned in favor of the simpler and cheaper Sudayev submachine gun.

By the way, the Germans did not disdain PPD either. Many photographs of Nazi soldiers with captured Degtyarev submachine guns have been preserved.

Design description

The Degtyarev submachine gun is a typical example of the first generation of this weapon. PPD automation works due to the recoil energy of the free shutter.

The barrel of the weapon had four right-hand rifling, it was connected to the receiver with a thread. From above, the barrel was closed with a perforated casing, which protected it from mechanical damage, and the soldier’s hands from burns. Modification of 1934 had a large number of holes on the barrel casing, on the version of 1938 there were fewer of them, but the size of the holes increased.

PPD-34 did not have a fuse, it appeared only on subsequent modifications.

The PPD shutter consisted of several elements: a drummer with an axis, a shutter handle, an ejector with a spring and a striker. The bolt returned to the front extreme position using a return mechanism, which included a return-action spring and a recoil pad, which was screwed onto the cut of the receiver.

The trigger mechanism of the submachine gun was placed in a special trigger box, which was attached to the ledge of the box and secured with a pin. The PPD had a fire translator, which made it possible to fire both single shots and bursts. The impact mechanism of the PPD is of the striker type, the striker performed its task in the extreme forward position of the shutter.

The PPD fuse blocked the bolt and was located on its cocking handle. This submachine gun assembly was not very reliable, especially on worn weapons. However, despite this, it was almost completely copied in the design of the PPSh.

Ammunition came from a sector two-row magazine with a capacity of 25 rounds. During the shooting, it was used as a handle. For the 1934/38 modification, a drum magazine with a capacity of 73 rounds was developed, and for the 1940 modification, for 71 rounds.

The sighting devices of the PPD consisted of a sector sight and a front sight, which theoretically allowed firing at 500 meters. However, only an experienced fighter with a lot of luck could hit the enemy from the RPM at a distance of 300 meters. Although, it should be noted that the 7.62 × 25 mm TT cartridge had excellent power and good ballistics. The bullet retained its lethal force at a distance of 800 meters.

The soldiers were advised to fire in short bursts, continuous fire could be fired at close range (less than 100 meters), no more than four magazines in a row to avoid overheating. At distances of more than 300 meters, reliable target engagement could be ensured by concentrated fire from several PPDs at once.

Characteristics

Below are the performance characteristics of the Degtyarev submachine gun:

• cartridge - 7.62x25 TT;
• weight (with cartridges) - 5.4 kg;
• length - 778 mm;
• muzzle velocity - 500 m/s;
• rate of fire - 900-1100 rds / min;
• sighting range - 500 m;
• magazine capacity - 25 or 71 rounds.

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