Who designed the PPD-40 submachine gun?
Vasily Degtyaryov unveiled his submachine gun design in 1934. The weapon chambered the new Soviet 7.62×25mm Tokarev pistol cartridge.
Questions about PPD-40
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did official military service begin for the PPD-40?
Official military service began with the Red Army in 1935 under the designation PPD-34. Production numbers remained critically low during those initial years with only 44 units rolled off assembly lines in 1934 alone.
Why was the PPD-40 replaced by the PPSh-41?
The superior and cheaper PPSh-41 officially replaced the PPD by the end of 1941. Shpagin's innovation involved the large-scale introduction of stamped metal parts which reduced material costs significantly compared to the milled components required by the older design.
How many PPD-40 units were produced in 1940?
Mass production began in earnest during 1940 with 81,118 units produced that year. Factory output dropped sharply again by 1941 when only 5,868 units were manufactured due to the approaching obsolescence of the complex manufacturing method.
Which Soviet forces utilized the PPD-40 during World War II?
Soviet forces utilized the weapon during the Winter War against Finland and also saw action in the Continuation War with Finnish troops. Sailors of the Baltic Fleet carried PPD-40 models into battle alongside users of the newer PPSh-41 in May 1943.