In the history of mankind, many examples of small arms firearms have been created. According to military experts, among a wide variety of such products, such models as the German STG 44 assault rifle and Kalashnikov assault rifle stand in a special place. These weapons were widely used by warring parties in World War II. There is much in common between the German STG 44 assault rifle and the AK. About all the design features of both models are informed mainly by professionals. Not everyone knows that the predecessor of the Belgian development of the FN FAL, adopted by NATO and becoming the main competitor to many modern firearms, including the AK-47, is the German STG 44 assault rifle.
This fact gives reason to show greater interest in the weapons of the Wehrmacht soldiers. Information on the creation history, device and technical characteristics of the German STG 44 assault rifle is presented in the article.
Acquaintance with the weapon
The STG 44 assault rifle (Sturmgewehr 44) is a German assault rifle created during the Second World War. In total, 450 thousand units were produced by German industry. According to experts, the German STG 44 assault rifle is the first mass-produced model of assault rifles. Compared to submachine guns used during the war years, the rifle is characterized by an improved rate of effective shooting. This was made possible thanks to the use of more powerful ammunition in the German STG 44 assault rifle (photo of the weapon is presented in the article). Such a cartridge is also called "intermediate". Unlike pistol cartridges used in pistols and submachine guns, rifle ammunition has improved ballistic properties.
About the history of the German STG 44 assault rifle
The development of intermediate cartridges, carried out in 1935 by the Magdeburg arms company Polte, marked the beginning of the creation of a German rifle. A caliber of ammunition of 7.92 mm made it possible to produce effective firing at distances of not more than a thousand meters. This indicator met the requirements for cartridges from the Wehrmacht Arms Office. The situation changed in 1937. Now, after numerous studies conducted by German gunsmiths, the management of the Department came to the conclusion that a more effective cartridge was needed. Since the structurally available weapons turned out to be unsuitable for the tactical and technical capabilities of the new ammunition, in 1938 a concept was formulated according to which the main emphasis was on light automatic rifle models, which would be a worthy replacement for submachine guns, magazine rifles and light machine guns.
Production start
The history of the production of the German STG 44 assault rifle begins with the conclusion of an agreement between the Arms Directorate and CG Heanel, owned by Hugo Schmeisser. According to the contract, the arms company was to manufacture an automatic carbine under the new intermediate cartridge. Such a weapon was the MKb rifle. In 1940, the first samples were handed over to the customer. Walther also received a similar order. Two years later, both firms submitted their samples - the MKbH and MKbW models - to Hitler for consideration. The latter (MKbW rifle), according to experts, was too complicated and "capricious." The device provided by CG Heanel was recognized as the best. This model of the rifle is inherent in: robust construction and high performance characteristics. In addition, the reliability, strength of the weapon and the ease of disassembly were appreciated. In the documentation, this model is listed as MKb. 42. Wehrmacht Minister of Weapons Management Albert Speer put forward a proposal after some structural changes to send several of these samples to the Eastern Front.
What was finalized in MKb.42?
- USM replaced Walter's trigger system. According to experts, such a replacement will have a beneficial effect on the accuracy of the battle during single shooting.
- The changes affected the design of the whisper.
- The rifle was equipped with a safety switch.
- They shortened the tube of the gas chamber and equipped it with 7-mm openings designed to exit the remnants of powder gases. Due to this, difficult weather conditions have ceased to be an obstacle to the use of rifles.
- A guide bush was removed from the return spring.
- The tide for mounting the bayonet was abolished.
- Simplified stock design.
1943-1944 years
The revised model in the documentation was already listed as MP-43A. Soon she entered the arsenal of the German army and was delivered to the Eastern Front for members of the 5th SS Viking SS Panzer Division. In 1943, German industry produced over 14 thousand units of such weapons. In 1944, a new abbreviation MP-44 was provided for the model. Some historians suggest that it was Hitler that the MP-44 was renamed the Stammger STG 44.
The characteristics of the first German assault rifle were appreciated by the Nazis. The use of such weapons had a positive effect on the firepower of the German infantry. German assault rifles (Sturmgewehr) STG 44 were armed with selected units of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS. By the end of the war, Germany had produced at least 400 thousand weapons. However, these models were widely used in the final phase of World War II. The reason for this was the lack of ammunition for the German STG 44 assault rifle. A photo of the ammunition is presented in the article. According to military experts, the lack of ammunition did not allow the weapon to have a big impact on the course of the Second World War.
Post-war time
The Nazi generals paid much attention to the topic of the German STG 44 assault rifle in their memoirs. Despite the lack of ammunition, the weapon showed its best side. Even at the end of World War II, the first German STG 44 assault rifle is not forgotten. The model until 1970 was in service with the police and the army of both Germany itself and several other Western states. According to some information sources, during the conflict in Syria, both warring parties used German STG 44 assault rifles.
Device description
For the rifle, a gas vent type of automation is provided. Powder gases are discharged through special openings in the barrel. The barrel channel is locked by skewing the shutter. The rifle is equipped with an unregulated gas chamber. If necessary, clean the machine and the chamber plugs and auxiliary rod are unscrewed. A special punch is provided for this procedure. The German STG 44 assault rifle is equipped with a trigger type trigger. The weapon is suitable for single and series shooting. The mode is regulated by a special translator, the location of which became the trigger guard. The ends of the translator are displayed on both sides of the receiver and are designed in the form of buttons with a corrugated surface. In order to fire bursts of fire from the German STG 44 assault rifle, the translator should be set to position D. A single fire is possible at position E. In order to protect the owner from unplanned shots, the designers equipped the weapon with a safety catch, which is located on the receiver below the translator. The trigger lever is locked if the fuse is set to position F. The inside of the butt has become the place for the return spring. This design feature of the rifle eliminates any possibility of designing modifications that have a folding butt.
About ammunition
30 rounds of ammunition are kept in a detachable sector double-row magazine. Wehrmacht soldiers equipped rifles with 25 rounds. This was explained by the presence in stores of weak springs, unable to provide high-quality supply of ammunition. In 1945, a batch of stores designed for 25 rounds was made. In the same year, German designers invented special locking devices that limited equipment to 25 rounds of standard magazines.
About Sights
The German rifle is equipped with a sector sight, which provides effective shooting at distances of not more than 800 m. The aiming bar is equipped with special divisions, each of which is equal to a distance of 50 m. The slots and flies in this weapon model are triangular in shape. Variants of rifles with optical and infrared sights were not ruled out.
About accessories
Included with the rifle included:
- Six stores.
- A special machine with which stores were equipped with ammunition.
- Belt.
- Three receiver covers.
- A special tool with which the gas chamber was twisted. In addition, this device was used to dismantle the fences of the trigger.
- Pencil case. It housed a brush for cleaning the barrel channel.
- Manual.
About grenade launchers
The Wehrmacht Weapons Administration formulated a requirement according to which an assault rifle should be suitable for firing grenades. For the first models of weapons was characterized by the presence of a special thread on which flame arresters were mounted. They decided to use a threaded mount for installing grenade launchers on German STG 44 assault rifles. The characteristics of the weapons for this turned out to be insufficiently reliable. It turned out that such a design is unpromising. In order to adapt the grenade launcher to the assault model, a batch of rifles (MP 43) was developed, in which the front of the barrel contained a special ledge. In addition, the pedestals for the flies had to be redone.
Installation of grenade launchers became possible only after completing these design improvements. Since the ammunition for grenade launchers, unlike rifle grenade launchers, was represented by a wide range, the designers faced a problem due to the lack of a special knock-out cartridge. Since during the use of automatic weapons, powder gases are consumed during the supply of ammunition, the required pressure was not enough for firing a rifle with a grenade. The designers should have developed a special device.
In 1944, two knockout cartridges were created: one with a charge of 1.5 g was intended for firing fragmentation grenades, and the second with a charge of 1.9 g - armor-piercing-cumulative. In 1945, the weapon was successfully tested. Nevertheless, according to experts, for rifles firing grenades, it was also necessary to develop special sights, which was never done.
About Crank Devices
Assault rifles were adapted for firing from trenches and from behind tanks. Such firing was made possible thanks to the presence of special curvilinear nozzles. The resource of such devices did not exceed 250 shots. It was originally planned to use a rifle ammunition of 7.92x57 mm. But during testing, it turned out that the power of such cartridges is too large for curvilinear nozzles, which failed after a hundred shots. The gunsmiths decided to use 7.92x33 mm cartridges.
The 1944th was the year of the appearance of the first curvilinear device for an assault rifle. The nozzle was presented in the form of a 90-degree bent rifled barrel. For the product, special holes were provided through which powder gases escaped. The resource of the nozzle, in comparison with the first samples, the designers managed to increase to 2 thousand shots. A bevel angle of 90 degrees was provided. However, the German infantrymen did not like this indicator of curvature. The designers had to change the angle to 45 degrees. However, after the tests, it turned out that such a bevel angle entails rapid wear of the nozzles. As a result, the curvature rate had to be reduced to 30 degrees. With the help of these devices, German soldiers could also fire grenades. Especially for this purpose, the holes in the nozzles were sheathed, since a large amount of gas was required for the departure of the grenade. The firing range of a rifle grenade launcher was 250 m.
In 1945, the Deckungszielgerat45 curved barrel was manufactured. With this device, a German soldier has the opportunity to shoot grenades from a full-fledged shelter. The device was a frame to which a rifle was attached using special latches. The lower part of the frame was equipped with an additional metal butt and a wooden pistol grip. With its trigger, it was connected to the USM rifle. Aiming was carried out using two mirrors mounted at an angle of 45 degrees.
TTX
- STG 44 refers to automatic weapons.
- Weight - 5.2 kg.
- The size of the entire rifle is 94 cm, the barrel - 419 mm.
- Shoots weapons with ammunition of 7.92x33 mm. Caliber 7.92 mm.
- The projectile weighs 8.1 g.
- The fired bullet has a speed of 685 m / s.
- Automation uses the principle of removal of powder gases.
- The barrel channel is locked by skewing the shutter.
- Range of targeted shooting - 600 m.
- Ammunition sector store.
- Within one minute, up to 500-600 rounds can be fired.
- Country of origin - Third Reich.
- The rifle was created by designer Hugo Schmeisser.
- The rifle entered service in 1942.
- The total number of rifle units issued is 466 thousand.
About the advantages and disadvantages
According to experts, the STG 44 is a revolutionary model of automatic small arms. The rifle has the following advantages:
- Excellent accuracy of hits when shooting at short and medium range.
- Compactness. The rifle was very easy to operate.
- Excellent rate of fire.
- Good ammunition characteristics.
- Universality.
Despite the undeniable advantages, STG 44 is not without some disadvantages. The weaknesses of the rifle include:
- The presence of a weak magazine spring.
- Unlike other models of rifles STG 44 has a large mass.
- The presence of a fragile receiver and unsuccessful sights.
- In the German assault rifle there is no forearm.
According to military experts, these shortcomings were not critical. By carrying out a small upgrade, the weaknesses of a German rifle would be easily eliminated. However, the Nazis did not have time left for this.
About the German rifle and the Soviet "Kalash"
According to military experts, the German STG 44 assault rifle and AK are very similar. In 1945, the city of Sul was occupied by the Americans. It was in this city that the firm of H. Schmeisser was located. After making sure that the businessman was not a Nazi, the Americans did not stop him, and showed no interest in STG 44. US soldiers were convinced that their M1 automatic carbines were better than German rifles.
In the Soviet Union, work on the creation of an intermediate cartridge has been carried out since 1943. The impetus for this was the appearance in Soviet designers of captured trophy models. In 1945, all technical documentation for an assault rifle was removed from the Schmeisser enterprises in the USSR.
In 1946, the 62-year-old Hugo Schmeisser went with his family to the Soviet Union, namely to Izhevsk. In this city, Soviet designers were working on a new machine. The German gunsmith was invited to the enterprise as an expert. Soviet designers used the technical documentation for the German Schmeisser assault rifle. For this reason, among experts and amateurs of automatic small arms, disputes about the origin of the Soviet “Kalash” still do not subside. Some claim that AK is a good copy of STG 44.
