The MP40 was the standard Germansubmachine gun for most of WWII. It was descended from the virtually identical MP38, the only differences being cost-saving alterations to some of the components. A precursor weapon was designated MP36.
The MP40 was a revolutionary weapon as it was made almost entirely out of stamped sheet metal parts, with plastic furniture. It was an economical weapon to produce, reliable, compact and capable of producing a high volume of fire. This approach to weapon design highly influenced the BritishSten, and the AmericanM3 "Grease Gun". The MP40 was a much-prized war trophy, the British forces in particular preferring MP40s over their Sten guns, the ammunition being interchangeable.
Unlike the impression given by films (particularly 'Where Eagles Dare'), television series and pulp novels, MP40s were typically only issued to platoon and squad leaders, the majority of soldiers carrying Karabiner 98k rifles. The MP40 was often called the Schmeisser, after weapons designer Hugo Schmeisser. Although the name was evocative, Hugo Schmeisser himself did not design the MP40, the weapon instead being produced by engineers at Erma. Schmeisser helped design the MP41, a wooden-stocked version of the MP40 which was issued to police units.
The MP40 had a length of 833 mm, though its retracting stock could allow the weapon to shorten to 630 mm. The odd 'spur' near the end of the barrel was designed to allow the troops to hook the MP40 onto the firing ports of armoured personnel carriers and half-tracks.
The MP38 and MP40 were adopted by Wehrmacht in 1938 and 1940.
Initially, MP38 was intended for use by paratroopers and vehicle crews, but later was widely used by german infantry.
The main drawbacks of the MP38/40 were the lack of the front handguards that often resulted burned hands during the sustained fire, and the lack of the effective range, when compared to its soviet counterparts (PPSch-41, PPS-43), chambered for the more powerful 7.62mm TT round.
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