MP 41/44
| MP 41/44 | |
|---|---|
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| general information | |
| Military designation: | Lmg.-Pistol Mod. 1941/44 (Lmg.-P. 41/44) |
| Developer / Manufacturer: |
Adolf Furrer / Federal Arms Factory , Bern |
| Manufacturer country: | Switzerland |
| Production time: | January 1943 to 1944 |
| Weapon Category: | Submachine gun |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 760 mm |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 5.55 kg |
| Barrel length : | 270 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 9 mm Luger , (9 mm Parabellum) |
| Possible magazine fillings : | 40 cartridges |
| Ammunition supply : | magazine |
| Cadence : | 800 rounds / min |
| Fire types: | Single fire and series fire |
| Number of trains : | 6th |
| Visor : | Rear sight / front sight |
| Closure : | Knee joint |
| Charging principle: | Recoil loader |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Lmg.-Pistole Mod. 1941/44 , MP 41/44 for short or also called LMG-Pistole, was the first orderly submachine gun manufactured in Switzerland for the Swiss Army . The function of the MP 41/44 corresponds to that of the Lmg 25 , hence the original name Lmg.-Pistole. Total production by the end of 1944 was 9808 units. The weapon was in use until the end of the 1950s .
history
In the course of active service from 1914-18, a submachine gun was developed in the Federal Arms Factory (W + F). It was a fully loaded weapon with a Luger knee joint lock . This weapon, called the MP 19 (pistol rifle), was shooting , in caliber 7.65 Parabellum , the 50 round curve magazine was inserted from the right and the bolt opened on the left. Length 790 mm, barrel 270 mm, weight 4780 g (without front support). Made 1919–1921, number 92. A variant based on the model of the Italian Villar-Perosa M1915 double submachine gun was made for aircraft armament. According to the report of the General Staff in 1945, the device was out of date and unsuitable as a weapon of war.
In May 1940, the KTA (War Technology Department) was asked to buy the 9 mm Parabellum submachine guns stored in Swiss arms factories, and W + F and SIG Neuhausen were commissioned to develop a submachine gun in the same caliber. The W + F model was chosen.
function
The MP 41/44 is a firing recoil loader with a briefly sliding back barrel and knee joint lock, the function corresponds to that of the 1925 light machine gun . The loading lever is attached to the right behind the magazine shaft. The positions of the safety lever on the front of the magazine shaft are F - single fire, M - series fire and S - safety. In position S the lock is blocked and in the closed and open position. The ammunition is supplied from the right from a double-row magazine with 40 rounds. The shells are ejected to the left. The folding visor can be adjusted to 100/200 m. The barrel jacket with bayonet holder is perforated.
The manufacturer was the Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik, the design of the weapon came from the director of the weapons factory, Colonel Adolf Furrer. The MP 41 was expensive to manufacture because of the complicated lock construction. Due to manufacturing problems, the first 100 test models could not be delivered until April 1942. Troop trials showed other problems that could be corrected in series production. The weapon was considered accurate, somewhat heavy and, due to the low manufacturing tolerances, prone to contamination. Problems occurring in the deployment of troops led to further modifications to existing and newly manufactured weapons, which is why the weapon originally called MP 41 was renamed MP 41/44.
commitment
The MP 41 was intended to increase the firepower of infantry units. In the fusilier group, it should be used for assault and close combat. From January 1943, 60 to 70 instead of the planned 600 units were produced and given to the troops per month. The number of weapons delivered was not sufficient, and they were expensive, complicated to dismantle and prone to contamination. In order to meet the demand for submachine guns in World War II , the Federal Military Department therefore approved the application of the War Technology Department in November 1942 to acquire 5000 Suomi submachine guns in Finland; 100 of this war-tested weapon were delivered as early as December 1942. In February 1943, a license agreement was also signed with the Finnish arms factory. The Hispano-Suiza company in Geneva was commissioned with the production .
An obvious further use of the MP 41/44 was then in fortresses and with secondary troops, where pollution and maintenance were a minor problem. An unknown number of the MPs produced were melted down in late 1960, which is why they are sought-after collector's items these days.
Versions
The Lmg.-Pistol Mod. 1941 is the originally manufactured version with a Bakelite shaft.
The Lmg.-Pistol Mod. 1941/44 shows the following modifications:
- Lateral knee joint protective cover can no longer be removed. Welded with 3 points
- Cams to secure the loading lever, the loading lever also had to be adjusted.
- Reinforcement of the extractor axis.
- Fore grip without cord wrapping.
- Bakelite shaft replaced by wooden shaft.
literature
- Christian Reinhardt, Michael am Ryhn, Armament and Equipment of the Swiss Army since 1817 , Stocker-Schmidt, 1972, Volume 13, ISBN 3 7276 7014 2
- Report from the Chief of the Army General Staff to the Commander-in-Chief on active service 1939–45
- Armes Individuelles du Soldat Suisse, Clement Bosson, Editions Pierre-Marcel Favre, Publi SA Lausanne, 1980.
Web links
- [1] Knee joint closure