PPS-43
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Designed by Aleksei Sudaev and first issued during the Siege of Leningrad, PPS-43 (Pistolet-Pulemet Sudaeva, Russian: Пистолет-пулемёт Судаева) was a result of further simplification of the PPSh-41, and it is often considered the best submachine gun of World War II.
It was initially produced as PPS-42, but soon after improved and redesignated PPS-43. The use of a folding stock allowed the weapon length to be reduced from 820 mm to 615 mm. This compactness made it ideal for tank crews, paratroopers, and reconnaissance units.
In technical terms, the PPS is a fully automatic weapon, based on the simple blowback principle, and is fired from an open bolt. The gun can be fired in full automatic mode only. The safety catch is located in the front side of the trigger guard. The receiver and barrel shroud are made of stamped steel. Rear sight is of an L-shaped flip type and is marked for 100 and 200 meters distance, front sight is fixed blade type. The barrel is equipped with a simple muzzle brake. The folding stock is made from steel and folds under the receiver. Finding too many flaws with the heavy, bulky ammunition drums used by PPD and PPSh, PPS was designed to utilize 35-round box magazines. This magazine would also fit the PPSh, but PPS could not use the PPSh drum. While the weapon had a slightly slower firing rate of 700 round/min compared to PPSh, it more than made up for this with its lighter weight, small size and greater ease of manufacture. About 500,000 were made during the war.
Captured PPS-43s were used by the Germans as the MP719(r). Unlike the MP717(r), they were not converted to use German 9 mm Parabellum rounds.
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