AS-44

The AS-44 is a prototype Soviet assault rifle designed by Alexei Sudaev during World War II, developed starting in mid-1943 and first tested in 1944 for the new 7.62×41mm M1943 intermediate cartridge.^[1] It was the Soviet Union's earliest attempt at an automatic rifle chambered in an intermediate round, featuring a gas-operated mechanism with a tilting bolt, select-fire capability (semi-automatic and full-automatic modes), and a 30-round detachable box magazine.^[1] Weighing approximately 5.2 kg with its folding bipod attached, the rifle included a muzzle brake to reduce recoil, a bayonet lug, and an overall length of about 90 cm, making it a robust but heavy design suited for frontline use.^[1] Seven prototypes were built in 1944–1945 at the Tula Arms Factory for evaluation.^[2] The AS-44 underwent field trials in mid-1945, where it demonstrated reliable operation in various conditions, achieving a cyclic rate of fire of about 600 rounds per minute.^[2] A lightened variant was tested in 1946, but development ceased following Sudaev's death in August 1946, and the rifle was ultimately not adopted due to its excessive weight, accuracy issues at longer ranges, and competition from other designs.^[1]^[2] This paved the way for subsequent Soviet assault rifle competitions, culminating in the adoption of the AK-47 in 1949.^[1]

Development History

Background and Requirements

During World War II, the Soviet Union recognized the limitations of existing infantry small arms, as bolt-action rifles like the Mosin-Nagant proved cumbersome for close-quarters combat while submachine guns such as the PPSh-41 lacked sufficient range and power beyond short distances. This gap became evident in 1943–1944, particularly after Soviet forces encountered German intermediate cartridge rifles, such as the Mkb 42(H) and the Sturmgewehr 44 (StG 44), the world's first mass-produced assault rifle, which utilized an intermediate cartridge to balance firepower, controllability, and effective engagement distances. Prompted by these battlefield observations and captured samples, the Soviet military initiated efforts to develop a comparable automatic rifle to enhance infantry tactics in the ongoing Eastern Front campaigns.^[1] In response, the Main Artillery Directorate organized a formal competition in 1944 for designers to create automatic rifles chambered in a new intermediate cartridge. This cartridge, designated 7.62×41mm in its experimental form, was developed in 1943 as a reduced-power round between pistol and full rifle calibers, serving as the direct precursor to the postwar 7.62×39mm standard. The competition's tactical specifications, approved in August 1943, emphasized weapons that could bridge the roles of submachine guns and full-power rifles, enabling selective fire modes for both semi-automatic aimed shots and full-automatic suppression.^[1]^[3] Alexey Sudayev, renowned for his successful PPS-43 submachine gun that had entered mass production in 1943 for its simplicity and reliability, was selected to lead one of the design efforts due to his proven expertise in economical stamped-metal firearms suitable for wartime manufacturing. Key requirements for the new rifle included high reliability under harsh field conditions such as mud, dust, and extreme cold; construction primarily from stamped sheet metal to facilitate rapid, low-cost production; selective fire capability for versatile combat use; and an effective range of 400–800 meters to support infantry advances. These priorities reflected the Soviet emphasis on equipping vast armies with durable, producible weapons amid resource constraints.^[1]^[4]

Design Process

The design of the AS-44 began in early 1944, following the Soviet adoption of an intermediate cartridge suitable for automatic fire, with Alexei Sudayev leveraging his experience from the PPS submachine gun to address wartime production needs.^[1] By May 1944, Sudayev had completed and submitted the first and fourth prototypes for initial testing, marking rapid progress in the iterative development process.^[5] Over the course of 1944 and into 1945, Sudayev constructed seven prototypes in total, with the first six employing a gas-operated mechanism featuring a tilting bolt for locking, while the seventh incorporated a shift to a recoil-operated mechanism to refine reliability and simplify operation.^[2] Key innovations emerged during these iterations, including the integration of a folding bipod for enhanced stability during sustained fire, a bayonet mount for close-quarters versatility, and a 30-round detachable box magazine compatible with the 7.62×41mm cartridge; concurrent efforts focused on reducing the rifle's weight from earlier heavier configurations through material optimizations and design simplifications.^[6]^[1] In spring 1945, following promising early evaluations, an experimental batch of approximately 100 units was manufactured at the Tula Arms Factory, utilizing stamped steel components to promote cost efficiency and mass-production potential amid ongoing wartime constraints.^[1] These units incorporated the evolving design refinements, paving the way for planned field applications. However, further iterations were abruptly terminated by Sudayev's death from illness on August 17, 1946, at age 33, leaving the AS-44 without additional enhancements.^[6]^[7]

Technical Description

Specifications

The AS-44 assault rifle prototypes incorporated several key physical and performance characteristics that varied across their iterations, reflecting wartime design constraints and the emphasis on reliability for intermediate cartridge use.

Specification	Value
Mass (unloaded)	5.67 kg
Overall length	1033 mm
Barrel length	505 mm
Cartridge	7.62×41 mm
Action	Gas-operated (tilting bolt or gas-delayed blowback variants)
Rate of fire	600 rounds per minute
Effective range	800 m
Feed system	30-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Adjustable iron sights

These specifications are representative of Prototype Model 1; later prototypes, such as Model 3, featured reduced weight (to approximately 4.5 kg), shorter overall length (to 900 mm), and shorter barrel (400 mm) for improved portability.^[2]^[8] The rifle's construction utilized primarily stamped steel components for the receiver and other metal parts, paired with wooden furniture for the stock and pistol grip, as polymer materials were unavailable due to wartime production limitations.^[6] The design included a folding bipod and bayonet lug as standard attachments to enhance its utility in squad support roles.^[8]

Mechanism and Features

The AS-44 assault rifle primarily employed a gas-operated mechanism utilizing a long-stroke gas piston located above the barrel, with powder gases diverted through a port in the upper barrel wall to cycle the action.^[8] Locking was achieved via a tilting bolt that rotated vertically to engage and disengage from the barrel extension, similar in principle to earlier Soviet designs like the Tokarev SVT-40.^[8] This system was used in the first six prototypes, providing reliable operation under varied conditions.^[8] The seventh prototype shifted to a gas-delayed blowback mechanism, where gases vented into a chamber to retard bolt movement and simplify construction by eliminating the tilting bolt and associated parts.^[8] Fire modes were selective, allowing semi-automatic and full-automatic operation in most prototypes, with the third variant limited to automatic fire only.^[8] The trigger mechanism was a conventional pistol-type assembly integrated into the receiver, featuring a standard single-stage trigger pull.^[5] Safety and selector functions varied by prototype: early models used a combined flag-type lever on the left receiver side for safe, semi-automatic, and automatic positions, while later ones employed a separate push-button safety above the pistol grip and a lever selector above the trigger guard.^[8] Among its key features, the AS-44 included an integral folding bipod mounted forward on the barrel to support prone firing and enhance stability during sustained automatic fire.^[8] A bayonet lug was present on several prototypes, compatible with standard Soviet bayonets for close-quarters utility.^[8] The receiver was fabricated from stamped sheet metal, a design choice aimed at facilitating rapid, low-cost wartime production while maintaining structural integrity.^[5] The rifle was chambered for the experimental 7.62×41 mm intermediate cartridge. Ergonomically, the AS-44 featured a separate wooden pistol grip and an inline fixed wooden stock, which positioned the barrel in line with the shooter's shoulder to mitigate muzzle rise and improve controllability in full-automatic mode.^[5] No provisions for optical sights were incorporated in the prototypes, which relied solely on adjustable iron sights for aiming.^[8]

Testing and Evaluation

Field Trials

The field trials of the AS-44 assault rifle prototypes commenced with initial testing in May 1944, where Alexey Sudayev presented early models for evaluation by Soviet military authorities.^[5] An experimental batch was produced at the Tula Arms Plant in spring 1945, followed by extensive military tests during the summer of 1945 across multiple Soviet military districts, including Moscow, Leningrad, Central Asian, and Transcaucasian regions, as well as with the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany and at the Higher Officer Rifle Courses "Vystrel."^[5] These trials encompassed diverse environments such as mud, snow, and dust to assess performance under wartime conditions.^[5] The AS-44 demonstrated high reliability during endurance tests, with one prototype enduring 10,270 rounds and experiencing only 19 jams, equating to a malfunction rate of 0.19%.^[9] It performed effectively in short bursts up to 400 meters, meeting tactical requirements for automatic fire in submachine gun roles when equipped with a bipod.^[5] Overall, the trials yielded mostly positive results, with evaluators recommending adoption for specialized platoons due to its robust gas-operated mechanism.^[1]^[9] However, several drawbacks were identified, including excessive weight of approximately 5.2 kg (unloaded, with bipod), which caused user fatigue during prolonged maneuvers.^[1]^[9] Accuracy diminished beyond 300 meters owing to barrel heating, recoil, and a dispersion of up to 1.5 meters at that range, rendering it inferior to standard rifles like the Mosin-Nagant for precise shooting.^[9]^[5] Additional concerns included occasional part failures, such as extractor breakage after 5,640 rounds in one sample, and strong recoil impacting controllability during movement.^[9] A small batch of AS-44 rifles was issued to Soviet infantry units in mid-1945 for troop-level evaluation following the victory in Europe, with trials continuing until the end of the year; reports highlighted good controllability in bursts but noted logistical strains from the weapon's weight and ammunition supply needs.^[1] These evaluations occurred amid competition with other prototypes but focused on the AS-44's standalone performance.^[9]

Comparison with Competitors

The AS-44 participated in the Soviet Union's 1944 assault rifle competition alongside key prototypes such as Mikhail Kalashnikov's AVT-40-based AK-44, Nikolai Bulkin's AB-44, Fyodor Tokarev's AT-44, and Georgy Shpagin's ASh-44, all chambered in the experimental 7.62×41mm intermediate cartridge.^[1]^[10] In trials, the AS-44 exhibited advantages in reliability and production simplicity over more intricate competitors like the Bulkin AB-44, which employed a complex camming and rotating bolt mechanism and failed endurance tests after fewer than 7,000 rounds, leading to its early withdrawal.^[10]^[11] The AS-44's stamped sheet-metal construction with a tilt-locking bolt allowed for fewer machined parts and greater durability in field conditions compared to the AB-44's design, which prioritized minimized machining but at the cost of mechanical complexity.^[10]^[1] Despite these strengths, the AS-44's unloaded weight of 5.2 kg made it heavier than Kalashnikov's lighter AK-44 prototype, which tipped the scales at under 5 kg and offered better balance for infantry use.^[1]^[12] Additionally, its full-automatic fire resulted in lower accuracy than the semi-automatic Simonov SKS carbine, an alternative considered for its superior precision in semi-auto mode during comparative evaluations.^[1]^[13] Overall, the AS-44 achieved a high ranking for durability in 1945 field trials but was ultimately passed over due to ergonomic shortcomings, such as awkward handling from its weight and bipod integration, favoring lighter designs like Kalashnikov's for further development.^[1]^[10] The competition's outcomes influenced the cartridge's evolution, shortening the 7.62×41mm case to the standardized 7.62×39mm for improved ballistics and production.^[12]^[1]

Legacy and Influence

Impact on Soviet Firearms Development

The AS-44 prototype played a pivotal role in validating the concept of an intermediate cartridge for Soviet small arms, as it was the first domestic rifle chambered in the 7.62×41mm M43 round developed in 1943 and tested extensively in 1944–1945 trials.^[1] This success contributed directly to the cartridge's refinement—the 7.62×41mm was later shortened to the standardized 7.62×39mm in 1947—and its eventual adoption alongside the AK-47 in 1949, marking a doctrinal shift toward lighter, automatic infantry weapons over full-power rifles.^[14]^[10] The AS-44's performance in early competitions, where it satisfied key tactical requirements, underscored the viability of selective-fire designs for intermediate rounds, influencing the structure of post-war trials.^[14] Technically, the AS-44's use of stamped metal construction for its receiver anticipated cost-effective manufacturing techniques later refined in early AK prototypes, such as the AK-46, which explored similar sheet-metal fabrication to reduce production complexity.^[14] Its long-stroke gas-operated mechanism with a tilting bolt, combined with an emphasis on rugged reliability in harsh conditions, informed the evolution of Kalashnikov's gas system designs, prioritizing durability over precision in subsequent rifles.^[1] These elements helped establish benchmarks for Soviet automatic weapons, ensuring that later models like the AK balanced firepower, weight, and ease of maintenance.^[14] The AS-44's non-adoption stemmed primarily from its excessive weight of approximately 5.2 kg including bipod, which highlighted the need for lighter and more accurate automatics in infantry service, prompting intensified competitions in 1947–1949 that Kalashnikov ultimately won.^[1] Designer Alexey Sudayev's death in August 1946 further terminated the project, preventing further iterations despite a small experimental batch of around 100 units produced at the Tula Arms Factory for field evaluation.^[14] With no mass production achieved, the AS-44 remained confined to prototypes, yet its legacy accelerated the Soviet transition to intermediate cartridge-based assault rifles as the standard.^[1]

Post-War Depictions and Replicas

Since the end of the Cold War, the AS-44 has garnered renewed attention in popular media, particularly through video games that fictionalize it as an operational World War II-era Soviet weapon. In Call of Duty: WWII (2017), it appears as the "AS-44" based on the Model 4 variant, introduced via a free DLC update in August 2018, where it functions as a high-rate-of-fire assault rifle with attachments for customization. Similarly, Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021) features it as the "AS44," emphasizing its rapid fire rate but challenging recoil, often depicted in multiplayer modes as a versatile close-to-medium range option. The game Enlisted (2021) includes both the Model 4 with a bipod for squad-based historical battles and the Model 5 variant with a bayonet, portraying it in simulated Eastern Front scenarios despite its prototype status. These representations, while not historically accurate in terms of widespread deployment, highlight the AS-44's innovative intermediate cartridge design to appeal to players interested in WWII armaments.^[2]^[15] Surviving AS-44 prototypes are exceedingly rare, with only a handful known to exist, primarily preserved in Russian institutions like the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps in Saint Petersburg, where one example is held in its vault. No official military replicas have been produced, and modern reproductions remain limited to informal efforts by Russian firearms enthusiasts working from declassified blueprints, though these are not commercially available and focus on historical accuracy rather than functionality. The scarcity drives significant collector value, as the weapon's status as an early intermediate cartridge rifle predating the AK-47 elevates its desirability among militaria specialists, with private sales of related artifacts occasionally fetching high prices at international auctions, though direct AS-44 transactions are undocumented due to export restrictions on Soviet prototypes.^[6] In 21st-century analyses, experts have praised the AS-44 for its forward-thinking features, such as the long-stroke gas piston and tilting bolt system, which demonstrated reliability in trials despite its around 4.5 kg weight for lighter variants—innovative for 1944 but heavier than contemporaries. A 2018 review by The Firearm Blog noted its promising performance in Soviet evaluations, where it outperformed initial competitors in automation and controllability, though accuracy limitations at longer ranges and manufacturing complexity prevented adoption. These assessments emphasize the AS-44's conceptual impact over its practical flaws, fostering ongoing hobbyist fascination.^[6]