PPD-40
The PPD-40 (Pistolet-pulemyot Degtyaryova, or "Degtyaryov submachine gun model of 1940") was a Soviet blowback-operated submachine gun chambered in 7.62×25mm Tokarev, designed by Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyaryov and adopted for service in 1940 as the Red Army's first mass-produced submachine gun.[1] It featured a fixed wooden stock with a cutout to accommodate the drum magazine, and primarily fed from a 71-round double-stack drum magazine inspired by the Finnish Suomi KP/-31, with an effective range of approximately 200 meters and a cyclic rate of fire around 800 rounds per minute.[2] Weighing about 3.2 kilograms empty or 5.4 kilograms loaded with the drum magazine, the weapon measured 788 millimeters in overall length with a 273-millimeter barrel, and it utilized a simple open-bolt, selective-fire mechanism that prioritized reliability in harsh conditions over precision.[2][3] Development of the PPD series began in the early 1930s, evolving from Degtyaryov's initial 1934 prototype (PPD-34), which was initially limited to NKVD border guards and saw limited combat testing in the Spanish Civil War.[1] The PPD-34/38 variant, introduced in 1938, incorporated improvements like the Suomi-style drum magazine, but production remained small-scale until the Winter War (1939–1940) against Finland highlighted the need for more submachine guns, prompting the simplified PPD-40 redesign with a stamped metal body for easier manufacturing.[4] Approximately 81,000 to 90,000 units were produced between 1940 and 1941, primarily in Leningrad, before the German invasion disrupted output and led to its replacement by the cheaper, more robust PPSh-41 in late 1941.[1] In operational use, the PPD-40 equipped Soviet infantry, partisans, and security forces during the initial phases of Operation Barbarossa in 1941, providing close-quarters firepower despite its complexity and high production costs, which limited widespread distribution.[2] Captured examples were redesignated by German forces as the MP.715(r) and saw service on the Eastern Front, while post-war, the design influenced Finnish and other Allied adaptations, with remnants used by North Korean and Albanian forces into the mid-20th century.[1] Its legacy lies in bridging the gap between early experimental Soviet automatics and the iconic mass-produced weapons that defined Red Army tactics in World War II, paving the way for the more widely produced PPSh-41.[4][5]Development and Production
Design Origins
Vasily Degtyaryov, a prominent Soviet firearms designer renowned for inventions such as the DP-27 light machine gun and PTRD-41 anti-tank rifle, turned his attention to submachine gun development in the early 1930s. Motivated by the lessons of World War I trench warfare, which highlighted the need for compact weapons effective in close-quarters combat, Degtyaryov sought to create a reliable automatic firearm for Soviet forces. His work responded to emerging tactics emphasizing rapid fire in confined spaces, drawing inspiration from foreign models like the American Thompson submachine gun and the German MP 18 and MP 28 designs, which he studied during Soviet evaluations of imported weapons.[6][7][8][1] In 1934, Degtyaryov produced the initial PPD-34 prototype, adapted specifically for the Soviet 7.62×25mm Tokarev pistol cartridge to leverage its high velocity and penetration. This design marked a departure from earlier experimental efforts, incorporating a simple blowback operating system firing from an open bolt to ensure reliability under harsh conditions. The weapon featured a wooden stock for improved stability during sustained fire and a perforated barrel jacket for cooling, reflecting practical considerations for infantry use. Early iterations used a 25-round curved box magazine; the 71-round drum magazine was later introduced in the PPD-34/38 variant in 1938, inspired by the Finnish Suomi KP/-31, to enhance firepower in prolonged engagements.[6][7][8][1][9] Prototypes underwent rigorous testing between 1934 and 1935 as part of Soviet military trials evaluating multiple submachine gun submissions. These evaluations revealed significant challenges, including the design's mechanical complexity—stemming from the drum magazine's intricate feeding mechanism—and high production costs, which raised concerns about scalability for mass issuance. Despite these issues, the PPD-34's robust construction and controllable rate of fire around 800-1,000 rounds per minute demonstrated its potential, leading to its provisional acceptance for limited service in 1935. Key decisions, such as retaining the open-bolt configuration to prevent cook-offs and the wooden stock to aid balance, addressed feedback from field tests and solidified the foundational elements of the PPD series.[6][7][1]Adoption and Production
The PPD-34 was formally adopted into Soviet service in 1935, initially for limited use by the NKVD border guard units and select elite formations within the Red Army, marking the first official submachine gun in the Soviet arsenal.[3][2] Production began on a small scale in 1934 at state arsenals, with only a few hundred units manufactured by 1935 due to ongoing design refinements and limited demand.[3] In 1939, amid concerns over its high manufacturing costs and mechanical complexity relative to standard rifles, the People's Commissariat of Defense issued an order to decommission the PPD-34/38 entirely and cancel all factory production runs. This decision was swiftly reversed in late 1939 following personal intervention by designer Vasily Degtyaryov with Joseph Stalin, leveraging their established rapport, which reinstated the program just before the Winter War highlighted the need for close-quarters firepower.[2] The updated PPD-40 variant entered full production in early 1940, primarily at the Tula Arms Plant and Sestroryetsk Arsenal, achieving a peak output of 81,118 units that year alone.[8][2] Wartime conditions exacerbated manufacturing challenges for the PPD-40, as its reliance on machined steel components—without stamped metal fabrication—demanded skilled labor and resources that became scarce after the 1941 German invasion. Total production across all variants reached approximately 90,000 units by early 1942, when output ceased in favor of the simpler, cheaper PPSh-41 submachine gun, which better suited mass mobilization efforts under material shortages and industrial strain.[8][2]Design and Features
Operating Mechanism
The PPD-40 submachine gun employs a simple blowback operating mechanism, relying on the recoil generated by the 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge to cycle the action and chamber subsequent rounds.[1] The bolt is held open when not firing, which facilitates cooling and prevents cook-off—unintended ignition of the cartridge due to residual heat in the chamber during sustained automatic fire.[1] This open-bolt configuration, combined with a fixed barrel, ensures reliable extraction and ejection without the need for a locking system, making the design straightforward and cost-effective for mass production.[10] The weapon features selective fire capability, allowing the operator to switch between semi-automatic and full-automatic modes using a paddle-style selector lever located above the trigger guard on the receiver.[8] In semi-automatic mode, the bolt locks open after each shot, requiring a manual recock for the next round, while full-automatic mode delivers a cyclic rate of approximately 800 to 1,000 rounds per minute, enabling rapid suppressive fire in close-quarters combat.[1][10] The firing pin is integrated into the bolt face, striking the primer upon forward bolt travel, with early testing revealing occasional issues that led to refinements in the pin's cam-operated mechanism for consistent ignition.[8] Ammunition is fed from a 71-round drum magazine, an improved adaptation of the Finnish Suomi KP/-31 design that eliminates the need for an internal feeding tube found in prior models.[10] Loading the drum requires winding a clockwork spring mechanism after inserting cartridges through a side-loading port, a process complicated by the high spring tension that demands careful handling to avoid damage.[8] The open-topped drum design, while providing high capacity for extended engagements, exposes the rounds to environmental contaminants, potentially leading to jamming from dirt or debris accumulation during field use, particularly in muddy or dusty conditions.[4] Ergonomically, the PPD-40 integrates a pistol grip molded into the receiver for intuitive control during firing, paired with a fixed two-piece wooden stock with a separate buttstock and forearm.[4] This two-piece stock assembly—comprising a separate buttstock and forearm—allows for easier field stripping and maintenance compared to earlier one-piece wooden designs.[10] Sighting is provided by basic iron sights, featuring an adjustable front post protected by a spring steel hood and a rear L-shaped leaf sight graduated for 100 and 200 meters, supporting an effective range of up to 200 meters for aimed fire.[10]Specifications
The PPD-40 submachine gun is chambered for the 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge, a high-velocity pistol round that provides a muzzle velocity of 488 m/s and approximately 650 joules of muzzle energy from the weapon's barrel.[1] This ammunition enables an effective firing range of 200 meters, suitable for close-quarters combat.[1] The design emphasizes reliability in adverse conditions, including cold weather operations, with a chrome-lined chamber and bore enhancing durability.[1] Key physical and performance characteristics of the standard PPD-40 are summarized below:| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Overall length (stock extended) | 788 mm |
| Barrel length | 273 mm |
| Weight (unloaded) | 3.2 kg |
| Feed system | 71-round detachable drum magazine; compatible with 25-round box magazine |
| Rate of fire | 800–1,000 rounds per minute |
| Sights | Fixed iron front and rear; tangent rear adjustable to 500 m |