At the commission for the first competitive tests of submachine guns, chaired by military engineer of the 2nd rank Okhotnikov (Act of 03.27.42), which took place from February 25 to March 5, 1942, the following prototypes were tested: Shpagina lightweight (PPSh light, Degtyarev modernized (DPM), two samples of the Art Academy (the first sample Bezruchko-Vysotsky (we have it), the second Menshikov and Shkvornev), a sample of the Northwestern Front and two samples of the OKB-16 design by his employee (!) E. G. Zaitsev. Another submachine gun designer, whose last name began with the letter “Z”, could have been Zubkov, but he presented his very original design almost a year and a half later - in July 1943. It is here that it is appropriate to return to the origins of these works.
In August 1941 The Department of Small Arms of the GAU KA approved the documentation of serial production (drawings and technical specifications) for the manufacture and acceptance of the 7.62mm submachine gun model 1941 (PP-41). By the beginning of the Second World War, the PP-41 of Shpagin’s design met the requirements for accuracy of fire and bullet penetration, but had a number of complaints from military units. They noted:
–heavy weight of both weapons and magazine;
– not portable enough. With the attached magazine, it is inconvenient when carrying and crawling;
–changing stores is difficult, especially at night and on the move;
–the store is not interchangeable and is sensitive to contamination;
–the recoil spring is weak (failures occur when firing upwards);
–high rate of fire;
–there have been cases of self-opening of the receiver cover during carrying and, therefore, loss of the shutter;
–cutting the scope scale to 500 m is unnecessary.
The sample of the North-Western Front turned out to be essentially an analogue of the outdated PPD-34 at that time. The PPD with a box magazine for 25 rounds was manufactured in the workshops of the NWF with minor changes — the firing mechanism was replaced with a rigid firing pin, and the milling of the casing holes was replaced by drilling round holes. These changes made it possible to reduce the weight of the system by 0.12 kg.
The lightweight Shpagin submachine gun had the following differences from the gross PP-41:
–trigger mechanism without translator for single fire;
–the casing is removed, and a compensator is installed on the muzzle of the barrel;
–simplified sector sight (cutting up to 300 m);
–the fuse and the magazine latch are made by stamping;
–a 40-round box magazine.
These changes reduced the weight of the sample by 0.26 kg.
The upgraded Degtyarev submachine gun differed from the gross PPD-40
by having a folding stock.;
–the abolition of the function of a single flame;
–new fuse design (rotating sleeve on the shutter handle);
–sight with two folding flaps at 150 and 300 m;
–the receiver is made at the same time as the casing, and the back plate is made with the trigger box.;
–most of the parts are made by stamping from sheet steel;
–a box magazine for 30 rounds.
Thus, the total weight decreased by 0.27 kg compared to PPD-40.
The OKB-16 submachine guns designed by E.G. Zaitsev of both modifications are structurally almost identical. The influence of the German MP-40 is noticeable in the design of the second modification. Just like all the submachine guns described above, the Zaitsev samples worked on the principle of free recoil. Regular PPSh-41 magazines were used for shooting. The safety catch was a flag, it blocked the trigger. The firing pin is rigidly fixed in the shutter cup. The ejector is bent from a wire. The front end of the recoil spring guide served as a deflector for spent cartridges. A rubber buffer was provided in the rearmost position to absorb the excess energy of the shutter. The first modification had a permanent 100 m dioptric sight, a rigid metal stock and a reloading handle on the right side of the receiver, the second had a 100 and 200 m folding rear sight, an MP—40 folding stock, a detachable reloading handle on the left side and a Ppshovsky type compensator mounted on the muzzle of the barrel.
OKB-16 initiatively authorizes further refinement of the Zaitsevsky sample, which takes part in the second competitive tests held from 04/20 to 05/12/2012. The PPZ of the third modification differed from the second in the following:
–reduced thickness of the walls of the barrel and receiver;
–a bayonet attachment ring appeared on the barrel;
–a hold handle is installed in front of the mouth of the store;
–the rear sight and the mounting of the back plate have been changed;
–the fuse has been moved to the shutter handle as in the PPD;
–the shutter handle is non-removable and moved to the right side;
–increased the shutter stroke by 11 mm by reducing the buffer length.
Due to these changes, the weight of the system decreased from 3.80 to 3.05 kg.
By the official Decision of the GAU, the manufactured PPZ were prohibited “for combat use,” but it is not a fact that it was carried out. By the way, the officers of the State Agrarian University had no right to act differently due to their official duties. By “assuming” responsibility for the combat use of an insufficiently reliable sample, they provided the punitive authorities with a great opportunity to distinguish themselves. And if the PPZ did end up in service with Timofeev’s division “at the behest” of the party, then their traces should be sought in the reports of the artillery supply service on the availability of weapons in units and subunits.
It can be add for a third br with a 400-490 rof with a drum mag
