PPSH 41 (Pistolet-Pulemyot Shpagina)

Silhouette (Visual Identification)

PPSH 41
Category Submachine Guns
Operating system Blowback-operated, fired from open bolt
Cartridge
Length 843 mm
Feeding Drum magazine

The PPSh 41 was one of major infantry weapons of the Soviet troops during the World war 2. Retired from Soviet Army service soon after the WW2, the PPSh was widely exported to some pro-Soviet countries around the world, including China, Vietnam and many African countries. It was an effective, but somewhat crude weapon, reliable in combat but not without certain flaws. It has an excessive rate of fire, and its drums were uncomfortable to carry and prone to feed problems once the spring is weaken. The weapon was in service with several armed forces, both regular and irregular, and it can be found in many countries in Asia and Africa. Nearly 6 million items were produced.

Global distribution map

Weapon prevalence origin Country of origin licensed Licensed production unauthorized Production without a license
X
Scale dependend aggregation of production sites

The PPSH 41 is found in 42 countries

This map is a reflection of data on global distribution and production provided primarily by the BwVC. It is not exhaustive. If you would like to add to or amend the data, please click here.


Global distribution list

The data on global distribution and production is provided primarily by the BwVC, but also from national and regional focal points on SALW control; data published by think tanks, international organizations and experts; and/or data provided by individual researchers on SALW. It is not exhaustive. If you would like to add to or amend the data, please click here.

Origin Country of origin
Production Licensed production
Non-Licensed Production Production without a licence
G Government: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is held by Governmental agencies.
N Non-Government: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is held by non-Governmental armed groups.
U Unspecified: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is found in the country, but do not specify whether it is held by Governmental agencies or non-Governmental armed groups.

It is entirely possible to have a combination of tags beside each country. For example, if country X is tagged with a G and a U, it means that at least one source of data identifies Governmental agencies as holders of weapon type Y, and at least one other source confirms the presence of the weapon in country X without specifying who holds it.

Afghanistan (AFG)
G
N
Albania (ALB)
U
Armenia (ARM)
U
Austria (AUT)
G
Azerbaijan (AZE)
U
Belarus (BLR)
U
U
China (CHN)
O
G
Congo (COG)
U
Croatia (HRV)
U
Cuba (CUB)
G
G
Finland (FIN)
G
U
France (FRA)
G
Georgia (GEO)
U
Germany (DEU)
G
Guinea (GIN)
G
G
Hungary (HUN)
G
Indonesia (IDN)
G
Iran (IRN)
G
Kazakhstan (KAZ)
U
Kyrgyzstan (KGZ)
U
Laos (LAO)
G
Mauritania (MRT)
U
Moldova (MDA)
U
Montenegro (MNE)
U
North Korea (PRK)
O
G
Poland (POL)
G
Romania (ROU)
G
Russia (RUS)
O
G
Serbia (SRB)
U
Sierra Leone (SLE)
U
Slovenia (SVN)
U
Syria (SYR)
G
Tajikistan (TJK)
U
Turkmenistan (TKM)
U
Ukraine (UKR)
U
Uzbekistan (UZB)
U
Vietnam (VNM)
N
Zimbabwe (ZWE)
G

Visual Identification (Silhouette)

PPSH 41 (5)