MP 40

The MP 40, or Maschinen Pistole 40, was a blowback-operated, fully automatic submachine gun used by Germany during World War II.

Description
The MP 40 fired the 9 x 19 mm Luger/Parabellum cartridge, had a rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute with what was a fairly controllable recoil for the time.

Derived from the MP 38, the MP 40 was easier to manufacture, with a 32 round box magazine and a metal, collapsable stock. The empty weight was about 3.97 kilograms and the length was 83.3 centimeters with the stock extended. The effective range was about 100 meters and the muzzle velocity was about 366 meters per second. Because the MP 40 had the same magazine and cartridge size as the British Sten Mk II, the weapons and ammunition were interchangeable.

History
The MP 40 was the successor of the MP 38, which had several problems including that it did sometimes fire without the trigger being pulled. The MP 40 was mainly made out of stamped steel and one of the common misconceptions about the MP 40 is that the its magazine is meant to be used as a foregrip, but in reality the magazine will jam if this is done. It was used extensively by German troops in all theaters that they were present.

The MP 40 will often be seen used exclusively by NCO's and Officers only, as the enlisted men will usually use rifles.