i know it was a replacement for an old MP40, but i want more information about it, and did soviets made their famous AK47 by this one cause it's so simmilar to MP44? thnx sven
The MP 44 was not a replacement of the MP 40. It was to replace the Mauser 98k rifle. The MP 40 was a normal SMG with a blowback breech firing 9mm Luger ammo, the MP 44 was an automatic rifle/carbine with a gas cylinder system and fired a shortened version of the standard 7,92*57mm cartridge, the 7,92*33mm. Because Hitler did not like automatic rifles it was called a sub machine gun. For propaganda reasons it was later called assault rifle – and it really had all the features of a modern AR: semi and full auto fire, 30 round magazine, similar weight and size. The USSR faced the same tactical problems as Germany and came to a similar solution. Before the war they worked more intense on automatic rifles than Germany and in 1943 they developed a short rifle cartridge cal. 7,62*39mm, first used for the semi-automatic SKS carbine in 1944. The AK 47 is a purely Russian design, not a kind of MP44-copy. The MP 44 looks like an AK, but technically it´s very different, i.e. the gas cylinder.
Wasn't the MP44 actually redesignated the Stg.44 ("Sturmgewehr"), thus giving birth to the modern term "Assault Rifle"? It served on well after the war in several guises (the very similar MP 43 and Stg.45 also existed in smaller quantities) B.
Here is a link to an informative web article: http://www.wwiitech.net/main/germany/weapo...tg44/index.html In spite of the large numbers produced in 1944, I think that the 98k remained the mainstay of the German forces, but a lot of the MP44/Stg44 were produced and I would be interested in any information on how they were distributed, which units, etc. Anyway, it does not look like many made their way to Hollywood etc., because I cannot remember seeing them used as props in war movies. From the appearance of this weapon, it is easy to jump to the conclusion that the AK47 was a copy. They do look very similar and I think that the idea of the short cartridge full auto had a design influence on the Soviet Union, as it did much more widely, but people who know far more about these designs than me say that mechanically they are not similar at all.
Originally posted by angie999@Sep 3 2004, 09:55 AM Here is a link to an informative web article: http://www.wwiitech.net/main/germany/weapo...tg44/index.html Today I find that I cannot get into this site and I get a message to say my "account" has been suspended. Previously I always found it free to view and I never had an "account". If you have problems, please let me know. Or maybe they have a glitch, so I will try again in a day or two.
