Group photos of German WWII guns-MP44, MP40, P.08s, K.98. Mg34, Mg42

[bearhunter]

Sarge, look on page 451 of WHB Smiths Small Arm of the world, 7th edition, revised. There are pics of Machine Pistol 43, 43/1, 44 and Stg 44.

You're more correct with your nomenclature than I am. I apologise.

There were quite a few of those floating around Africa at one time. Stg (Stermgewher) 43 was the common name for them. My Bad.

[chuckchili]

Thanks for posting. Great collection.

[drm2m]

The MP43, MP44 and StG44…..a little background.

The MP43, MP44, and StG44, are fundamentally the same gun with some production differences.
The MP43 was officially renamed April 25 1944 to MP44, October 22 1944 the MP44 was renamed StG44.
‘Sturmgewehr’, literally translated, is 'storm rifle', more commonly known as 'assault rifle'. (In fact, somewhat the predecessor to the AK47.)
The gun functions in both semi and full automatic mode, it utilizes a 30 round magazine, and fires the 7.92x33mm Kurtz cartridge (short cartridge).(KurzPatr43mE)
There is an interesting story regarding the delayed adoption of this gun that had a lot to do with the politics of the Third Reich in 1942. Hitler played an important role in stalling its acceptance.

The earlier guns were all blued, the later guns were partly or totally phosphated, or finished with a clear lacquer-like coating.

MAIN ASSEMBLERS AND PRODUCTION OF; MP43/1, MP43, MP44, StG44.
Haenel 185,000 (including Mkb42)
Erma 104,000
Steyr 80,000
Sauer 55,000

Total Production 424,000 (depending on who's book you read)

Service Cartridge 7.92mm
Metric Size 7.92x33mm
Bullet Weight (g) 8.1
Velocity m/s 686
Energy Joules 1900

Magazine Capacity 30 rounds
Rate of Fire 500 RPM in full auto mode.
The gun fires from the closed-bolt position.
Prior to adoption, earlier models fired from
the open bolt position, until it was determined
that accuracy was being comprised.

From what I understand, Hitler still wanted to pursue the planned production of the K98k rifle that he had great faith in , and the thought of adding a new arm that imposed a different cartridge to the manufacturing process was a negative issue for him .
As a result, he resisted the adoption of this model on several occasions even though there were many high ranking officers in the military establishment that wanted to move forward.
The required production implications of the new 'Kurz' cartridge perhaps also had an influence on the number of these guns eventually manufactured.

Ammunition wastage because of the higher rate of fire of this gun certainly seemed to be a factor that Hitler was concerned about.

It appears that the eventual adoption of the 'Sturmgewehr44' could also have been tied to some political issues as the tide of the war was starting to severely turn against the Germans on the Eastern Front, and a new weapon of this sort may have been viewed as a morale booster???

Prior to the eventual acceptance of this gun, the supporting element within the German military establishment were suggesting that the G43 would replace the bolt action K98k and the MP43 would replace the MP40 SMG.

Karl Otto Sauer finally convinced Hitler at a meeting at Hitler's headquarters on September 30 1943 to replace the MP40 with the production of 30,000 MP44s at short notice.

In order to ensure for the start (of production) the (necessary) ammunition, 30 million rounds of pistol ammunition that were scheduled to be produced, were switched to production of ammunition for the MP43.

A soldier could carry 50% more of the new 'Kurz' ammunition as compared to the 7.92x57mm rifle ammunition (by weight), thus, increasing the potential fire power of the individual soldier in the field.

The cost savings in material, gunpowder, and manpower in the production of the new 'kurz' cartridge (because of its smaller dimensions) was one of the arguments that were put forward by the supporters of the adoption of the gun.
The recoil with the new Kurz round was also less than with the 7.92x57mm rifle cartridge.

The book shown below is a good reference on this subject.





The phosphate finished Sauer assembled StG44, 1945 dated gun shown below belongs to a friend.






Blued MP44, Erma assembled dated 1944.



The new cartridge for these guns.



David

Post WWII use of the MP44.

Somewhere in Africa....I suspect.



DDR...VOPO.

[Bill Hollinger]

I bow at your greatness! My goodness that is a gorgeous collection.

[drm2m]

Thanks Bill,

This guy may not agree with you.



David

Happy holidays to all, and have fun (and good luck) collecting in 2011.





MG34 markings.



Both the MG34 and MG42 pictured below were manufactured by "Gustloff Werke". This company was originally known as Simpson & Co. the only company that was allowed to manufacture Lugers and machineguns for the Reichwehr during the 1920s owned by Jewish businessmen Dr.Julius and Arthur Simpson, the company was taken over by the Nazis in the mid 1930s.

The company was renamed Berlin-Suhler Waffen-und Fahrzeugwerke (BSW) and later became "Gustloff Werke".
This manufacturing evolution might be of interest to Simpson & Co. Luger collectors, as part of this company's destiny after the Nazis took over.

This MG34 is dated 1939, Sn 4995d, the Gustloff Werke's manufacturer's code at this time was "936" with a WaA4 inspector's acceptance stamp.

This MG42 is dated 1943, Sn. 5447. Gustloff Werke first started assembling MG42s in 1943 and their assigned manufacturer's code at this time was "dfb", still using a WaA4 inspector's acceptance stamp. Sub-contracting of various components became more prevalent at this time with different manufacturer's codes found on certain parts.

"arz" was the code for the manufacturer of part of the receiver, "Deutche Kul-u Kraftmaschinen GmbH, Werk, Brand-Erbisdorf bri Freiberg". Also shown is an eagle over a Swastika over a 1, which may or may not be a firing proof. (See photo above.)
--------------------------------------------------------

MANUFACTURERS:
Mauser-Werke AG, Berlin.
Grossfuss, Dobeln/Sachsen.
Maget, Berlin-Tegel.
Steyr-Daimler –Puch AG, Steyr.
Gustloff-Werke, Suhl.


The MG42 was adopted by the Wehrmacht due to the fact that many of the guns components were stamped, resulting in lower costs and faster production delivery. The MG42 was also manufactured to wider tolerances which made the gun less susceptible to problems from dust or temperature.

The MG42 is an air-cooled light machinegun capable of only full automatic fire. It features a quick-change barrel and is largely made of stamped parts as well as machined parts from both bar stock and steel forgings.

Type of feed- 50 and 250 round disintegrating link metal belts.
Length-1230mm
Length of barrel-530mm
Weight with bipod-11.6 kg
Muzzle velocity-820m/sec
Rate of fire (cyclic)-1500 rpm

"Hitler's Buzz Saw."
The rate of fire from this gun probably had a devastating psychological effect on Allied forces that confronted the MG42.
Probably the best light machinegun of its type in WWII.

[drm2m]

Some more photos of the Gustloff Werke assembled MG42 dated 1943, the first year they were produced by Gustloff.
Serial number 5447.
Gustloffs’ total wartime production of MG42s is estimated at 105,000 guns.
The total number of MG42s produced during the war is estimated at 750,000.

The MG42 was officially adopted by the German Army on October 12 1943, although thousands of guns were already in use at that time.





Top cover markings – Serial number 5447, with two WaA519 stamps, WaA519 was for Carl Eikorn, Waffenfabrik,Solingen,Nordrhein-Westfalen.



A 1943 dated MG42 dated sling.







David

[hgbanks]

That is one beautiful collection. Thank you for sharing.

[ww2freak]

Nice collection!