StG 44
Sign in to save1943 assault rifle series by Hugo Schmeisser
Key facts
- Type
- Assault rifle
- Place of origin
- Germany
- In service
- 1943–1945 ( Germany ) 1949–1962 ( East Germany )
- Used by
- See Users
- Wars
- World War II First Indochina War Algerian War Vietnam War Lebanese Civil War Ogaden War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War
- Designer
- Hugo Schmeisser
- Designed
- 1938–1943
- Manufacturer
- C. G. Haenel Waffen und Fahrradfabrik Sauer & Sohn CITEDEF (post-war) Steyr-Daimler-Puch
- Unit cost
- 70 ℛ ︁ ℳ ︁ (1944) €550 current equivalent
- Produced
- 1943–1945
- Number span no built
- 425,977
- Variants
- MKb 42(H) , MKb 42(W) , MP 43, MP 43/1, MP 44
- Mass
- 4.6 kg (10 lb 2 oz ) unloaded 5.13 kg (11 lb 5 oz ) loaded
- Length
- 94 cm (37 in)
- Barrel length
- 42 cm (16.5 in)
- Cartridge
- 7.92×33mm Kurz
- Action
- Gas-operated long-stroke piston , closed tilting bolt , selective fire
- Rate of fire
- ~500-600 rounds/min
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
The StG 44 (abbreviation of Sturmgewehr 44, "assault rifle 44") is a German assault rifle developed during World War II by Hugo Schmeisser. It is also known by its early designations as the MP 43 and MP 44 (Maschinenpistole 43 and 44). The StG 44 was an improvement of an earlier design, the Maschinenkarabiner 42(H).
The StG 44 was the first successful assault rifle, with features including an intermediate cartridge, controllable automatic fire, a more compact design than a battle rifle with a higher rate of fire, and being designed primarily for hitting targets within a few hundred metres. Other rifles at the time were designed to hit targets at greater ranges, but this was found to be in excess of the range in which most combat engagements actually took place.