Erma EMP
| Erma EMP | |
|---|---|
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| general information | |
| Country of operation: | German Empire , France , Spain , Poland , Yugoslavia , Mexico , Bolivia , Paraguay |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Heinrich Vollmer / Maschinenfabrik Erma |
| Development year: | 1925 |
| Manufacturer country: | German Empire , Spain , Switzerland |
| Production time: | 1931 to 1938 |
| Model variants: | see: versions |
| Weapon Category: | Submachine gun |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 892 (short barrel) / 950 (long barrel) mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 4.10 kg |
| Sight length : | 445 (with curved sight) mm |
| Barrel length : | 250/308 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 9 × 19 mm , 9 mm Bergmann-Bayard , 7.65 × 21 mm Luger , 7.63 × 25 mm Mauser , 9 mm Mauser Export |
| Possible magazine fillings : | 20/32 cartridges |
| Ammunition supply : | Bar magazine |
| Cadence : | 450 rounds / min |
| Fire types: | Single, continuous fire |
| Number of trains : | 6th |
| Twist : | right |
| Visor : | open sights |
| Closure : | unlocked ground lock |
| Charging principle: | closing blowback loader |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Erma EMP , also known as Erma EMP 35 or Erma MPE , was a German submachine gun that was manufactured from 1931 to 1938 by the Erma machine and tool factory Berthold Geipel GmbH (ERMA). The designations EMP and MPE stand for Erma-Maschinenpistole and Maschinenpistole-Erma. The weapon was a further development of the submachine guns VMP (Vollmer-Maschinenpistole) M1925, VMP M1927 and VMP M1930 developed by Heinrich Vollmer . The Erma submachine guns were exported worldwide and produced under license in Spain (under the designation MP 41/44) and Switzerland . The weapon was used by the SS and the police in the German Reich during the Second World War . The EMP was also used in the Spanish Civil War and the Chaco War.
development
The weapons designer Heinrich Vollmer developed his first submachine gun with the designation VMP M1925 in 1925 based on the Bergmann MP 18 . Like the later models, this prototype was equipped with a cooling jacket for the barrel and an additional, front wooden handle. However, the weapon was loaded with a 25-round drum magazine . The prototype was further developed into the models VMP M1927 and VMP M1930. The drum magazine was replaced by a 32-section rod magazine and the cooling jacket was dispensed with. There are also said to have been magazines for 20, 40 and 50 cartridges. The VMP M1930 model used a similar telescopic closing spring as the later submachine guns MP 38, MP 40 and MP 41 . The patent for this development was Heinrich Vollmer Vollmer 1933. This machine guns had a cadence of 600 rounds / min and were set up for the same cartridges as the later Erma EMP.
The development of the VMP models was partly secretly supported and financed by the Reichswehr . Officially, submachine guns were not allowed to be developed or manufactured in the German Reich because of the Versailles Treaty . This cooperation was probably suddenly broken off on the one hand because of the global economic crisis , on the other hand because of the negative attitude of the military leadership towards submachine guns. A total of 350 to 400 of the early Vollmer submachine guns were manufactured by the Vollmer works . Due to the small number of items produced, Heinrich Vollmer could not be commercially successful with these models. Therefore, Vollmer turned to the Erfurt machine and tool factory Berthold Geipel GmbH to finance the production and sale of his submachine guns in large numbers. As a result, the VMP M1930 were slightly improved and again equipped with the previous cooling jacket. These weapons were manufactured in four versions under the names EMP, MPE and EMP 35 by the company ERMA, which had bought the licensing rights from Vollmer, and were sold worldwide.
Versions
The Erma EMP was manufactured in four well-known versions in the German Empire:
- Short barrel version without bayonet mount (called the standard model or EMP 35 and most commonly produced)
- Long barrel version with bayonet mount (mainly exported to Yugoslavia)
- Version without pistol grip and mostly without safety
- Special version with silencer (in caliber 9 × 19 mm Para, only used in France)
It is possible that there were other models with different barrel lengths and other modifications. Presumably all versions were offered in different calibers. In addition, Erma EMP submachine guns were manufactured under license in Spain and Switzerland. In Spain the weapon was designated as the MP 41/44 (not to be confused with the Furrer MP 41/44 ) and was equipped with an additional safety device that could be used to block the breech. The MP 41/44 was set up for the 9 × 23 mm Bergmann-Bayard caliber (known in Spain as the 9 mm Largo) and was probably manufactured from 1940 to the 1950s under the Franco regime . The weapons made in Switzerland were mainly exported to Yugoslavia and France. In addition, the Polish Mors M1939 was developed on the model of Erma EMP submachine guns, which supposedly came from Belgium .
use
In the German Reich, the Erma EMP was mainly used by the police and the Schutzstaffel . In Spain, the weapons were popular on both sides in the Spanish Civil War , which presumably led to the EMP being produced in Spain as well. When the Civil War ended, large numbers of Republicans fled to France armed with EMP submachine guns (9 × 19 mm Para). As a result, around 3,250 such machine guns were confiscated at the French border. 700 to 800 of these weapons were used against the German Wehrmacht during the western campaign . As a result, the weapons returned to the hands of the German occupiers after the French surrender. The Erma EMP was also used by Bolivia and Paraguay during the Chaco War . In addition, such weapons were sold to Mexico.
construction
The Erma EMP is a closing blowback loader with an unlocked ground lock. Since the telescopic closing spring is partly in the lock, it is exceptionally long. The construction of the recoil spring should protect against dirt and simplify the dismantling of the weapon. The firing pin is firmly fixed to the bolt head. The cocking handle is on the right-hand side and can be fixed in the rear position in a safety catch, as with the submachine guns MP 18 and MP 40 . The weapon has a wooden pistol grip on the central shaft. On some models, a one-legged tripod is housed in this. This can be pulled out if necessary and used like a bipod to stabilize the weapon . The fire selector lever is on the right hand side above the trigger . The Erma submachine guns were equipped with either a sliding or folding sight as a target device. The folding visor can be adjusted for a distance of 100 or 200 meters, the sliding visor for 50 to 1000 meters. The muzzle velocity is 360 meters per second, the maximum operational range 200 meters.
The special version with a silencer is set up for the 9 × 19 mm Para caliber and is loaded with 32-round rod magazines. The total length is 1187 mm, the barrel length 248 mm. The ammunition is fired at a rate of 350 rounds / min and a muzzle velocity of 305 meters per second.
The Spanish MP 41/44 has an additional safety device in order to cope with the typical safety problem of submachine guns firing on. If a firing weapon is hit, or the cocking lever gets caught, the slide could slide back. Should the breech slide back far enough to accept a loaded cartridge from the magazine but not far enough to be held by the trigger mechanism, a shot could be unintentionally released. Therefore the MP 41/44 was equipped with a safety switch on the underside. When activated, this catches the slide in good time to prevent unintentional firing.
literature
- Günter Wollert, Reiner Lidschun: Infantry weapons yesterday . (1918-1945). In: Illustrated encyclopedia of infantry weapons from around the world . 3. Edition. tape 1 + 2 . Brandenburgisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1998, ISBN 3-89488-036-8 , weapons, p. 137-139 .
- Handguns . Pistols, revolvers, rifles, submachine guns, machine guns, grenade weapons. Neuer Kaiser Verlag GmbH, Fränkisch-Crumbach 2012, ISBN 978-3-8468-0013-3 , p. 56 .
Web links
- Spanish MP41 / 44 - A Copy of the Erma EMP (Video about Erma EMP and MP 41/44, last accessed on May 19, 2018)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Maxim Popenker: EMP. 35 Erma. In: Modern Firearms. modernfirearms.net, accessed on May 19, 2018 .