MP 40

Maschinenpistole 40
Maschinenpistole 40
	A Maschinenpistole 40 made by Erma Werke in 1943 with the stock unfolded.
Type	Submachine gun
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Service history
In service	1939–1945 (Nazi Germany); 1940–present (other countries);
Used by	See Users
Wars	World War II; Continuation War; Guerrilla war in the Baltic states; Greek Civil War; Indonesian National Revolution; First Indochina War; 1948 Arab–Israeli War; Palestinian Fedayeen insurgency (1949-1954); Algerian War; Malayan emergency; Vietnam War; West New Guinea dispute; Rhodesian Bush War; Lebanese Civil War; Guatemalan Civil War; Yugoslav Wars; Iraq War (limited); Syrian Civil War (limited); Russo-Ukrainian War (limited);
Production history
Designer	Heinrich Vollmer; Berthold Geipel;
Designed	1938
Manufacturer	Steyr-Mannlicher; Erma Werke; Haenel;
Unit cost	57 ℛ︁ℳ︁ (1940); €130 current equivalent;
Produced	1940–1945 (MP 40)
No. built	1,100,000 (estimated)
Variants	MP 36; MP 38; MP 40; MP 40/1; MP 41;
Specifications
Mass	3.97 kg (8.75 lb)
Length	833 mm (32.8 in) stock extended/630 mm (24.8 in) stock folded
Barrel length	251 mm (9.9 in)
Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum
Action	Straight blowback, open bolt
Rate of fire	500–550 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	400 m/s (1,312 ft/s)
Effective firing range	100–200 m (330–660 ft)
Maximum firing range	250 m (820 ft)
Feed system	32-round detachable box magazine, 64-round with dual magazines
Sights	Hooded front blade

The MP 40 (Maschinenpistole 40) is a submachine gun chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. Developed in Nazi Germany, it saw service with the Axis forces during World War II and extensive use post-war globally with various fighting forces.

Designed in 1938 by Heinrich Vollmer with inspiration from its predecessor the MP 38, it was heavily used by infantrymen (particularly by platoon- and squad-leaders), and by paratroopers, on the Eastern and Western Fronts as well as by the crews of armoured fighting vehicles. Its advanced and modern features made it a favorite among soldiers and popular in countries from various parts of the world after the war.

The Allies often referred to the MP 40 as the "Schmeisser", after the firearms-designer Hugo Schmeisser (1884-1953). In 1917 Schmeisser had designed the MP 18, which was the first mass-produced submachine gun. He did not, however, have anything to do with the design or development of the MP 40, although he held a patent on the magazine.

The MP 40's variants included the MP 40/I and the MP 41. Erma Werke produced an estimated 1.1 million MP 40s between 1940 and 1945.