The Soviet PPSh-41 submachine gun was designed by Georgy Shpagin as a robust combat SMG firing a 7.62 x 25 round.

It was fed by its characteristic 71 round drum magazine and could also be fed by 35 round detachable box magazines. With a high cyclic rate of fire (up to 1000 rounds per minute) it was a highly compact and effective weapon for Infantry close quarter combat.

Produced in large number as a small arm for the Red Army in WW2, it was also popular with German forces when captured due to its reliability and high rate of fire. Post WW2 the weapon was also widely adopted and used by Chinese forces in the Korean War and by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.

MAJOR STATISTICS OF THE WARTIME PPsH SMG

Designed: 1941

Produced: 1941 - 1947 (USSR)

Cartridge: 7.62 x 25mm Tokarev

Action: Blowback, Open Bolt

Rate of Fire: 900 - 1000+ rounds per minute

Muzzle Velocity: 488 m/s

Effective Firing Range: 125 - 150 m

Maximum Firing Range: 200 - 250 m

Feed System: 35 round detachable box or 71 round drum mag

Weight: 3.63kg

Length: 843 mm

Barrel Length: 269 mm