MP 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 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)
Production history
Designer	Heinrich Vollmer Berthold Geipel
Designed	1938
Manufacturer	Steyr-Mannlicher[1] Erma Werke Haenel
Unit cost	57 ℛ︁ℳ︁ (1940) 250 EUR 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)[2][3]
Length	833 mm (32.8 in) stock extended/630 mm (24.8 in) stock folded[4]
Barrel length	251 mm (9.9 in)[4]
Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum[4]
Action	Straight blowback, open bolt[3]
Rate of fire	500–550 rounds/min[4]
Muzzle velocity	400 m/s (1,312 ft/s)[4]
Effective firing range	100–200 m (330–660 ft)[3]
Maximum firing range	250 m (820 ft)[3]
Feed system	32-round detachable box magazine, 64-round with dual magazines[3]
Sights	Hooded front blade

The MP 40 (Maschinenpistole 40) is a submachine gun chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. It was developed in Nazi Germany and used extensively by the Axis powers during World War II.

Designed in 1938 by Heinrich Vollmer with inspiration from its predecessor the MP 38, it was heavily used by infantrymen (particularly platoon and squad leaders), and by paratroopers, on the Eastern and Western Fronts as well as armoured fighting vehicle crews.^[5][6] Its advanced and modern features made it a favorite among soldiers and popular in countries from various parts of the world after the war. It was often called "Schmeisser" by the Allies, after Hugo Schmeisser, who designed the MP 18, although he was not involved in the design or production of the MP 40. The weapon's other variants included the MP 40/I and the MP 41. From 1940 to 1945, an estimated 1.1 million were produced by Erma Werke.