PPS-42 / PPS-43

History

The PPS submachine gun was designed in 1942 by Leningrad engineer A.I. Sudayev. Leningrad was surrounded by German troops in the south and the Finns, German allies in the north.

Because Leningrad was a Soviet industrial zone, the city where thousands died of starvation still produces Red Army tanks and guns in factories across the city.

The PPS-42 was designed with cost-effectiveness in mind, using sheet metal stampings wherever possible. The resulting weapon proved easy to use and operate, and by the end of the war became the Red Army's main submachine gun (its use, in one form or another, continues to this day). What's more, the weapon was manufactured so quickly and brought to the front lines that many tank and infantry weapons were shipped directly from factories to Soviet soldiers.

There are two main variants of PPS - PPS-42 and PPS-43 - both described below.

The PPS-42 was born out of necessity during the siege. The name reflects the weapon's original production year (1942). Specifications for the PPS-42 list a weight of 6.5 lbs. The overall length of the submachine gun is 35.7 inches (stock extended) and 25.2 inches (stock folded). The gun is equipped with a barrel length of 10.7 inches (right side, 4 grooves).

More than 45,000 PPS-42 systems were built before eventually being replaced by the more economical and improved PPS-43 series. The effective rate of fire is 100 rounds per minute, and the cyclic rate of fire is 600 rounds per minute.

The weapon has an effective range of up to 492 feet and a maximum range of 656 feet.

The PPS-43 is an improved version of the base PPS-42, which is cheaper to produce. Since wartime success always dictated production, the PPS-42 was forged into the equally successful PPS-43. Mass production began in mid-1943, and the PPS-43 became the standard Soviet Army weapon throughout the remainder of World War II.

Other important modifications were the shortened barrel and folding stock.

PPS-43 specs reflect 6.7 lbs. The overall length of the submachine gun is 32.3 inches (stock extended) and 24.2 inches (stock folded). The barrel length (right side, 4 grooves) of this weapon is 9.6 inches. Like the PPS-42, the PPS-43 has an effective rate of fire of 100 rounds per minute and a cyclic rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute.

The weapon has an effective range of up to 492 feet and a maximum range of 656 feet.

Both guns fired the 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge - the same cartridge used in the Tokarev TT-30 (M1930) pistol. Fire operation is achieved by automatic blowback using open bolts. Both guns are also fired from the same curved 35-round detachable magazine.

Although they are similar to the PPSh-41, none of the PPS submachine guns are designed to accommodate PPSh-41 magazines, including their cartridge shape. Both the PPS-42 and PPS-43 models feature a folding metal stock above the receiver, reducing the overall length of the weapon to a more compact, more manageable size. The magazine well also extends from the frame and serves as a makeshift foregrip for two-handed controls.

A notable design feature of both PPS models is the forward position of the magazine, which maintains a good distance from the pistol grip and trigger group. The muzzle brake and perforated heat shield are also one-piece body parts, along with a pair of iron sights.

The sight includes a front fixed blade and a rear folding rear sight.

As would be expected from any level of success with Soviet equipment, the PPS series was mass-produced throughout the Warsaw Pact, as well as in the Soviet Union's allies. The submachine gun is made in China as the Type 54 and in Finland as the M/44.

The M/44 was the basis for the Spanish DUX-53 and DUX-59 submachine guns used in West Germany. Vietnam produced the K-50M submachine gun based on the Chinese Type 54. Poland produced the PPS-43 under license and also supplied a modified version of the PPS wz submachine gun. 43/52.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes