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The PPSch-42 or PPSh was the standard issue Soviet submachine gun during World War 2. Its name is an acronym for "Pistolet Pulemjot Schpagina model of 1941" or Shpagin submachinegun, 1941. It has a simple blowback operated action which fires from an open bolt with an integrated striker instead of a firing pin. As a wartime design, it was designed to be cheap and simple, and used mostly stamped metal parts in its contsruction. Over six million were produced during the war, and as a common Soviet weapon became a symbol of the "Great Patriotic War" until its retirement soon after the conflict was over. Afterwards, many found their way into Soviet bloc nations such as in Vietnam and Africa.
The PPsh fires a 7.62 X 25mm TT pistol round and is reasonably accurate, which gave it a longer effective range than comparable Axis or Western Allied submachineguns. It has a cyclic rate of about 900 rounds per minute, and fires in either fully automatic or semi-automatic modes via a selector switch. The front stamped-steel barrel shroud also doubles as a muzzle brake/compensator during automatic fire. It is said that the very high rate of fire that made it deadly in close combat like what happened during the Battle of Stalingrad. All feature hardwood stocks. It was originally issued with a large 71-round drum magazine similar to that of the PPD-40, but the drums were difficult to refill and tended to jam. In 1942, a curved 35-round box magazine also became available which was more reliable and easier to carry. The typical infantryman's combat ammunition load consisted of one loaded drum magazine and 5-6 smaller box magazines.
Although it was more accurate and reliable than comparable submachine guns of the era such as the German MP38/40, the British Sten, or the American Thompson and M3, it was also much heavier and bulkier which made it more difficult to maneuver in close quarters. Additionally, a well-used PPSh was prone to accidental discharge if dropped.
