Sturmgewehr 44 (StG44) / Maschinenpistole 44 (MP44)

History of Assault Rifle 44 (StG44) / Submachine Gun 44 (MP44)

The submachine gun 44 or MP44, or even more broadly the StG 44, is often referred to as the father of modern assault rifle design. This is actually a revolutionary weapon developed by Germany, which was defeated in World War II.

An early design in the form of the Walther MKb42(W), the weapon's production process relied on rapid punching, welding and pressing - in contrast to the turning and machining that was common at the time.

From the beginning, the goal was to provide Germany with a weapon that could be mass-produced, as resources became scarce every year during the war. From July 1943, the Russian front was used as a development test bed and in its current form developed into the MP43 series, the MP43/1.

This new shape allows the grenade launcher to be mounted to the barrel and includes means to mount an optical sight.

As the war progressed, the MP43 evolved into the MP44 system, eventually giving way to the new name of the StG44 Assault Rifle - which translated into what we now call an Assault Rifle. This effectively turns the idea of ??the submachine gun name (referring to a submachine gun) into a whole new branch of weapons in the form of an assault rifle.

In all respects, the system provides a smooth firing action utilizing a 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge fired from a 30-round magazine.

One of the more interesting attempts at "utility" MP44 design is the Krummlauf 44 submachine gun, sometimes commonly referred to as a "gun that can shoot in corners". The idea behind this design is to equip the soldier in the vehicle with a weapon capable of engaging enemy combatants who manage to get into the firing angle of the operator's position.

Regardless, the weapon system may also prove valuable in the tight house-to-house combat that occurs throughout the war, especially at the end of the war. However, the "practicality" of such a system is still debated to this day.

The market for weapons capable of suppressing enemy combatants remains as fascinating as it has been for more than half a century.

Manufacturers of the MP44/StG44 system include C. G. Haenel Waffen- und Fahrradfabrik AG, Erfurter Maschinenfabrik B. Geipel GmbH, Mauser-Werke AG and Oberndorf-am-Neckar.

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