Armament of the Finnish infantry in the Second World War. Finnish submachine gun "Suomi": photo, description, characteristics, years of operation

Finnish submachine gun of the Aimo Lahti system.

It was in service in Finland (since 1931) and a number of other countries, and was used in the Soviet-Finnish War and the Great Patriotic War.

Development

Aimo Johannes Lahti has been creating submachine guns since 1921. The Suomi Model 1931 was developed in the early 1930s based on the design of the 7.65 mm KP/-26 (konepistooli Suomi m/26) submachine gun, produced in small quantities since 1926. The word Suomi is the self-name of Finland.

In 1931, it was adopted by the Finnish army under the designation Suomi-KP Model 1931. The total production volume, which continued until 1953, was about 80 thousand.

From the very beginning, the Suomi was seen as a squad-level support weapon for close-range combat, a kind of ersatz light machine gun, of which the Finnish army was experiencing a serious shortage. Hence, a number of design features of the weapon, such as a relatively long and, moreover, quick-change barrel, large-capacity magazines, the presence of bipods on some models, and so on. Although the light machine gun was also created by the same designer (Lahti-Saloranta L/S-26) and put into service in 1926.

But still, the short range of effective fire and the rather low lethality of pistol bullets did not allow the use of PP as a full-fledged support weapon for an infantry squad. As a result, the Finns had to reconsider their military doctrine and supplement the infantry squad’s armament with a light machine gun for rifle-machine-gun ammunition, the role of which was played first by the Finnish “Lahti-Saloranta L/S-26”, then also by the captured, more successful Soviet DP, while simultaneously increasing the number of PP from 1 to 2-3 per squad .

And yet, on the whole, “Suomi” itself turned out to be a fairly successful model, although not without certain, and quite significant, shortcomings. To handle the Suomi, highly trained personnel were required, because the vacuum shutter retarder included in it was very sensitive to dirt, dust and fogging of the weapon.

The submachine gun was exported. Produced under license in Denmark (m/41), Sweden (m/37) and Switzerland (MP.43/44, 22,500 copies).

Design

The Suomi device as a whole was typical of the first generation PCBs, which trace their “pedigree” to the MP18 and other early samples. In particular, the design of the shutter is very reminiscent of the German Rheinmetall MP19, which in turn is also the ancestor of the Austro-Swiss Steyr-Solothurn S1-100. But still this weapon had a number of very characteristic features that were not found at that time on the control panels of other systems.

The weapon was made very well, with high quality and the extensive use of metal-cutting machines. For example, the bolt box was made entirely from a steel forging. The downside of this decision was the very large mass (more than 7 kg in running order) and the high cost of the Suomi, which never allowed it to become a truly mass-produced model.

The submachine gun consists of a solid wooden stock, a solid-milled round receiver, a barrel, a removable casing, and a trigger mechanism. The fuse in the form of an L-shaped part, which also serves as a fire mode switch, is located in the front part of the trigger guard.

Automatic reloading works by rolling back the free bolt from recoil when fired. The fire is fired from the rear sear (from the open bolt), the firing pin is fixedly fixed in the bolt cup, the barrel is not locked at the moment of firing.

To slow down the rate of fire, a vacuum braking system of the bolt is used: the receiver, its cover and the bolt fit tightly, so that the bolt moves like a piston in a cylinder, there is practically no air breakthrough between the walls of the receiver and the bolt. A valve is installed in the buttplate of the receiver, allowing air to pass only from the inside to the outside, but not vice versa. When the bolt moves back (after firing), air from the rear of the receiver escapes through the valve (at the same time, the excess pressure somewhat slows down the bolt's rollback). When the bolt moves forward, the valve closes, creating a vacuum behind the bolt, which slows down the bolt. Due to this system, it was possible to slightly reduce the weight of the bolt, improving the accuracy of shooting, especially with single shots.

To ensure tightness, as well as to prevent dust and dirt from entering the receiver through the slot for the bolt cocking handle, the latter was placed separately from it, at the rear under the butt plate of the receiver, and remained motionless during firing. For a weapon with a firing pin fixedly fixed to the bolt mirror, such as the Suomi, this also gave the advantage that if the cartridge was not loaded into the chamber, the shooter who was not trained or was in a stressful situation was physically unable to manually push the bolt forward due to the lack of a rigid connection between him and the cocking handle; in a weapon with a more complex firing mechanism, such as an automatic or regular repeating rifle, this is a completely normal way to eliminate such a delay when firing, but in the case of a submachine gun with a fixed firing pin, manually pushing the bolt forward would lead to an accidental shot and inevitable injury to the shooter's hand with the cocking handle .

Another design feature of the Suomi is that the barrel casing and the barrel itself can be easily removed and reinstalled. This allows, if there are spare barrels, to conduct active shooting without fear of overheating and failure of the barrel - an overheated barrel can always be replaced directly during the battle.

Sector sight, adjustable up to 500 meters. The actual effective fire range, like most submachine guns, does not exceed 200 m when firing in bursts.

The magazine receiver had an unusual “open” design, which allowed the use of wide, high-capacity magazines. Several types of magazines were designed specifically for Suomi: a 20-round box magazine, a 40-round disc magazine developed directly by Lahti, and a 70-round disc magazine designed by Koskinen, adopted in 1936 and weighing the same as a 40-round magazine. Later, the 70-round Suomi magazine, along with its receiver, was copied by Soviet gunsmiths and used on the PPD-40 and early releases of the PPSh, but it turned out to be impractical and was subsequently replaced by a sector magazine with 35 rounds. Also used were Swedish-made four-stack 50-round box magazines, better known by the nickname "coffin" due to their distinctive shape. Much later, already in the 1950s, box magazines for 36 rounds from the Swedish submachine gun also began to be used Carl Gustaf M/45, backwards compatible with the Suomi, previously in service in Sweden.

It is curious that fighters were strictly forbidden to hold the PP by the magazine when shooting, in order to avoid loosening the latch and receiver. However, this was also prohibited in the Red Army in relation to the PPSh. However, this prohibition was very often violated in battle.

Some Suomi were equipped with a bipod near the muzzle. In addition, a small (about 500 copies) batch of “Suomi” was produced for arming bunkers and other fortified objects, which had a pistol grip instead of a butt, a shortened barrel casing and a special stop near its muzzle for firing from an embrasure.

Characteristic

"Suomi" is a fairly effective and reliable weapon by the standards of its class, which has proven itself when used in difficult conditions, in particular in winter in Finland, at extremely low temperatures. The quick-change barrel also turned out to be a very useful innovation (before Suomi, replaceable barrels were made only for machine guns) - although not widely used, it was still used later on a number of successful models of submachine guns, like the Uzi.

Despite the small volume of production, the Finns’ skillful use of their Suomi during the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939–1940 made a great impression on the rank and file and command staff of the Red Army, essentially giving impetus to the expansion of production and mass armament army with this type of weapon. It should, however, be borne in mind that plans to expand PP production were in the USSR even before the Finnish War, which thus played the role of a “catalyst” for this process.

Among the disadvantages, one can note the rather large mass of the weapon: a machine gun with one fully loaded disk magazine weighs about 7 kg. Another disadvantage of Suomi was the high cost and complexity of manufacturing. In particular, due to the vacuum retarding mechanism of the bolt, the bolt itself, the receiver and the receiver cover required very precise machining during manufacture, which led to additional costs.

During the Winter War, there was limited use of Fedorov assault rifles by the Red Army. According to the testimony of combat participants, machine guns demonstrated an undeniable advantage over submachine guns of the Finnish army. It is curious that the weapon, firing an incomparably more powerful cartridge, turned out to be lighter than the Finnish submachine gun.

The use of a large-capacity drum magazine, as practice has shown, is mostly unjustified. A drum magazine is much more complex and expensive to manufacture, but it is also less reliable than simple box magazines. It weighs more than several box magazines of the same total capacity and adds significant weight to the weapon. The time required to change a magazine is not so long, and it is more convenient for a soldier to carry an additional supply of ammunition in a pouch rather than directly on the weapon. It is significant that in the USSR, having produced drum magazines based on the Suomi model for the later version of the PPD and PPSh, already in the second year of the Great Patriotic War back to the carob shops again.

Operating countries

Finland - adopted by the Finnish Army in 1931, remained in service with the Finnish Army until the early 1990s.
-Bulgaria - 5505 units purchased. in 1940-1942.
-Denmark - more than 1,400 copies of the submachine gun called M/41 were produced at the Madsen and Hovea factories; The official name is the Lettet-Forcegs submachine gun.
-Poland - in 1933, 20 pieces. purchased for the police.
-USSR - during the Soviet-Finnish war, captured Suomi were transferred to the arsenal of reconnaissance groups of the Red Army, operating in the "no man's land" and near the enemy's rear. Also used during the Great Patriotic War.
-Switzerland - 100 units purchased, produced under license under the name MP 43/44.
-Sweden - 420 units purchased, produced under license (35 thousand units were produced under license under the name M/37; specially adapted for the 9x19 Parabellum cartridge).
-Independent State of Croatia - 500 units purchased. (according to other sources, 1250 units) in 1942-1943.
-Estonia - 485 units were purchased in 1937.
-Third Reich - 3,042 pcs. Finnish-made Suomi entered service with Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS units (most of them were used in units that fought in Karelia and Lapland, as well as in the 3rd Finnish battalion of the Nordland regiment of the 5th SS Viking Panzer Division). In addition, after the occupation of Denmark in 1940, the Wehrmacht had at its disposal a number of Madsen-Suomi P2 submachine guns, produced under license in Denmark (they were used under the name MP.746(d))
In addition, several Suomi units were used during civil war in Spain 1936-1939, but the source of their appearance in Spain has not been established.

TTX

Weight, kg: 4.6 kg
-Length, mm: 870 mm
-Barrel length, mm: 314 mm
-Cartridge: 9x19 mm Parabellum; 7.65x17 mm
-Caliber, mm: 9; 7.65
-Working principles: blowback
-Rate of fire, rounds/min: 750-900
-Initial bullet speed, m/s: 396
-Sighting range, m: 200 m
-Type of ammunition: box magazine for 20, 36, 50 rounds; disk for 40 or 70 rounds
-Sight: non-adjustable, open, at 100 m, with a folding stand at 200 m

During the interwar period, searches were conducted in many countries effective means anti-tank defense. One of the most popular areas was the development of anti-tank rifles (ATR) with a caliber from 7.92 to 20 mm, intended for arming infantry units. This trend did not bypass Finland, which watched the development with caution. armored vehicles its “big neighbor” – the Soviet Union.

Initially, Finnish experts settled on a caliber of 13.2 mm. However, while the development of PTR of this caliber was underway, the military began to doubt its effectiveness against the armor of new tanks. To be on the safe side, it was decided to create a 20-mm anti-tank rifle, and then make the final choice by conducting comparative tests. At the beginning of 1939, the development of a 20-mm gun was entrusted to the most famous Finnish gunsmith designer, Aimo Johannes Lahti. By this time, Lahti already had an L-35 pistol, and in 1938 he created a very successful 20-mm aircraft cannon. Lahti used the experience gained during its development to create an anti-tank rifle.

Design

The 20x138V Solothurn cartridge was chosen as ammunition for the PTR, which was used not only in anti-tank rifles of the Swiss company of the same name, but also in anti-aircraft guns - the German Flak 30 and Flak 38 and the Italian Breda M/35.

The heavy anti-tank rifle known as the L-39 is self-loading weapons, the automation of which operates on the principle of gas removal. The gas outlet is located approximately in the second third of the length of the barrel, immediately behind its perforated casing. The gas outlet tube is located under the barrel and is equipped with a four-position regulator, ensuring normal operation of the automation in various atmospheric conditions and at varying degrees barrel contamination. The barrel is equipped with a box-shaped muzzle brake with five holes on each side. In the transport position, a tin case is put on the muzzle brake. To make it easier to carry the PTR, its barrel is equipped with a perforated wooden casing.

The bolt box has a rectangular shape. On its back side there is a shoulder rest with a rubber shock-absorbing pad, and on the left (at the level of the arrow’s cheek) a wooden pad is screwed on. At the bottom there is a pistol grip with trigger. The shutter handle is located with right side bolt box, safety lever - on the left.

The PTR is equipped with a lightweight folding biped, attached to the front of the bolt box. It is complemented by a removable machine with two wide and short runners. Sights – open type(front sight and sector sight with graduation from 100 to 1400 m). They are shifted slightly to the left of the barrel axis, since a detachable box magazine (double-row, 10 rounds) is located on top of the center of the lock box.

One of the features of the Finnish PTR was the original machine
Source: en.wikipedia.org

The PTR crew consisted of two people. In winter conditions, the gun was transported either on a sled or on long runners that had fastenings for two cartridge boxes.

Tests

In the summer of 1939, comparative tests of two models of anti-tank rifles began - 13.2 mm and 20 mm. Their results were mixed - with a much larger mass, the 20-mm PTR was only slightly superior in armor penetration to its competitor. However, they took into account another advantage of the “twenty-millimeter” - a significantly better armor effect. Its shell produced more fragments after penetrating the armor, which means it was more likely to disable the “stuffing” of the tank and its crew. As a result, on August 11, 1939, it was decided to stop fine-tuning the 13.2 mm PTR and further develop the 20 mm model as the one that most fully meets the requirements.

On September 6, 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II, General Eirik Axel Heinrichs, who was responsible for the armament of the Finnish army, signed an order for the immediate adoption of the 20 panssarintorjuntakkivääri L-39 anti-tank rifle (abbreviated as 20 pst.kiv. L-39). The production of anti-tank guns was established at the state arms factory "Valtion Kivaeritedas" in the city of Jyväskylä. Hence another designation for PTR - VKT-L (an abbreviation of the manufacturer and the name of the designer).

PTR L-39 in combat position
Source: en.wikipedia.org

Service and combat use

Light anti-aircraft gun L-39/44 in combat position. Kouvola area, October 1944
Source: SA-kuva, photo No. 167128

In the mid-50s, Finland made an attempt to modernize the L-39/44 by redesigning the gas exhaust mechanism to increase the weapon's rate of fire. In 1956, prototypes 20 ltkiv/39–54L and 20 ltkiv/39–55/ST were tested, but were unsuccessful. On the one hand, the theoretical rate of fire actually increased to 500 rounds/min, on the other hand, the increased load on the automation led to its failure after 250 rounds. In addition, the modified ersatz anti-aircraft guns weighed about 10 kg more than the original sample. At this point, the development of 20-mm light anti-aircraft guns in Finland stopped.

However, 20 pst.kiv. L-39/44 was not the first anti-aircraft weapons, created on the basis of the L-39 PTR. At the beginning of 1940, Aimo Lahti designed an automatic cannon based on it with a theoretical rate of fire of 700 rounds/min and a practical rate of 250 rounds/min. Such guns were used in a twin installation (on a carriage similar to the German Flak 30/38), adopted for service under the designation 20 ltk/40 VKT (the name L-40 “Vekotin” was also used). In the Finnish army, these anti-aircraft guns were used for training purposes until the 70s, and were in the mobilization reserve in the 80s.

The only time the L-39 PTR was used to arm armored vehicles was in December 1940, when it was installed on the Landsverk L-182 armored car instead of the 13.2 mm L-35/36 machine gun.

A total of 2076 L-39 and L-39/44 anti-tank guns were manufactured. The first contract for 410 L-39 rifles was completed by June 1941, and in March of the same year another 496 units were ordered (delivery took place by December). In November 1941, a third order was issued for 1000 guns at once, 946 of which were delivered in the basic version by May 1944, and the last 54 in the L-39/44 version. Finally, in July 1944, another 170 units were ordered - all of them were produced as “ersatz anti-aircraft guns”. However, the Finnish army did not receive 224 L-39/44 units, but about a hundred more. The fact is that in November 1944 it was ordered that 606 L-39 anti-tank missiles be converted into this version, and only a small part of it was completed before this order was cancelled. They were in service until the 60s. After this, approximately 1,000 anti-tank rifles and 200,000 rounds of ammunition for them were sold to collectors, mainly in the United States.

The Lahti L-39 PTR, like other 20-mm caliber anti-tank guns (Swiss Solothurn of various modifications, Japanese Type 97), was the result of an attempt to create a kind of “hand cannon” with high ballistic characteristics. The result turned out to be disappointing - by 1940, the armor-piercing characteristics of 20-mm shells ceased to meet the requirements of fighting modern tanks, and the PTR itself turned out to be too heavy. Suffice it to say that the Lahti weighed a good half centner - 2.5–3 times more than anti-tank rifles of 13.97–14.5 mm caliber (English Boys, Soviet PTRD and PTRS). However, due to the chronic shortage of anti-tank artillery in the Finnish army, the L-39 PTR remained in demand throughout the war. The good accuracy of the gun made it possible to hit such difficult targets as viewing slits of tanks and loopholes of field fortifications. We should not forget about the specific conditions in which the battles took place on the Soviet-Finnish front. The 20-mm anti-tank gun, which was relatively successfully used in wooded areas, would hardly be useful in open spaces, where armor-piercing positions were detected by the enemy at a distance significantly exceeding the effective firing range of the gun.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the 20 mm anti-tank rifle 20 pst.kiv. L-39

	20 pst.kiv. L-39
Caliber, mm
Weight of anti-tank rifle (with two legs, without magazine), kg
Weight of loaded magazine, kg
Combat weight (with magazine and machine with runners)
Projectile mass, g: armor-piercing armor-piercing tracer
Cartridge weight, g
PTR length, mm
Barrel length, mm
Initial projectile speed, m/s
Rate of fire, rds/min: theoretical practical
Maximum range shooting, m
Armor penetration at an encounter angle of 60°, rated (according to tests in 1943): at a distance of 300 m at a distance of 500 m at a distance of 1000 m

List of sources and literature:

1. Ochman M.H. Ciężki karabin przeciwpancerny Lahti L-39 (VKT-L) // Nowa technika wojskowa. – 2003. – No. 8
2. jaegerplatoon.net
3. winterwar.com
4. militaryfactory.com

During the process of separation from Russian Empire and the subsequent civil war, the Finnish armed forces used mainly weapons they inherited (or captured) from the Russian army. In the period from 1918 to approximately 1920, the Finnish army received some of the equipment from England and the USA under old Russian orders (rifles, machine guns and pistols). In addition, in the 20s, it launched its own production and work on modernizing weapons. But the cartridge was not changed (a rather tough debate in the 20s), which in the future had very funny consequences for the Finnish army. Initially, we relied on our own resources (VKT, Tikka, SAKO, AV-1, AV-3 etc.), and not on supplies from other countries. In addition, a lot of weapons were acquired during the 1940 war. In general, most Finnish historians believe that without the “help” of the USSR, the Finnish armed forces would not have been able to avoid a weapons shortage. So rifles with a triangular bayonet can be seen in photographs of Finnish soldiers until 1944. Although, of course, the help of Western powers during the Winter War was significant.

An important role in the modernization of infantry weapons belongs to the voluntary organizations "Schützkor" and "Lotta Svärd". On their initiative, the design of the Mosin-Nagant rifle was finalized. In addition, the contribution of the outstanding designer-nugget Aimo Johannes Lahti is very great. All this allowed us to further strengthen firepower Finnish division by 1941. As an example, we give data for the Finnish division of the 1939 model. By staff: rifles - 11,000, machine guns - 250 (submachine guns), light machine guns - 250, machine guns - 116, quad air defense machine guns - 0, 12.7mm machine guns - 0, mortars 81 -82mm - 18, 120mm mortars - 0, anti-tank guns 37-45mm - 18, etc. According to various estimates, the mobilization capabilities of the Finns are 530-550 thousand people or even 600-650 thousand.

Pistols and revolvers

In 1918, the Finns inherited a number of Smith-Wesson mod.3 Russian (virtually not used even in 1918) and Nagan M1895 Russian. By 1939, most revolvers were no longer used in the army. The focus was on pistols. True, in 1939-1944 there were a lot of captured revolvers, usually M1895/30 and possibly M1895/42. Although we came across several dozen “commander” ones (M27, it seems) with an integrated “Bramit”, several with a butt mount and a “hatchet” handle. Models with a long barrel are not remembered (even by fan collectors).

Of the earliest, many Brownings should be noted various designs(1900, 1903 and 1910/12), up to the exotic - 1903 and an extended magazine and butt, as well as several HP M1935. We purchased Bergman-Bayard, Mauser in small quantities... Because. in 1917-1918, part of the English and American order from Russia was “intercepted” by the Finns (plus part of the Entente supplies for the whites in the North), then we can talk about a certain number of Mausers K96 M1912 (made in England), Colt M1911 (made in the USA) etc. For example, Russia’s total order for Colt was estimated at 51,000 units (47,500 were delivered before 1917, of which 5,000 were precisely on the Caucasian front) plus 14,700 units paid for by the Entente for the Whites. The question is how much exactly “fell” to the Finnish military and militia. In 1941-1944, ChZ-24, ChZ-27 and ChZ-38 were supplied - approximately 3300. The number of Mausers model 1910/14 under 7.65K is estimated at 500 pieces

The most popular can be considered Parabellum in numerous variants. Firstly, several pieces (out of about 1000) of the “Russian” model and commercial samples (from the time of the Russian Empire, 7.65 Par.). Secondly, German P08 versions (usually 08-14 and 08-17), a number of commercial “old German M23”. And finally, our own production of “pistoolit M23” in caliber 7.65 Par (produced until 1939 and again since 1940, possibly with interruptions). An alternative (and apparently for the purpose of unification under 9Par.) was the Lahti M35 model (“pistoolit L-35” among the Finns), adopted after much testing. In fact, the troops began to receive them only in 1939, by the beginning of the Second World War - about 100 pieces, and after the production of 500, production was suspended (according to other sources, by February 1940 - approximately 1000). Apparently expensive and low-tech. However, the need for the mobilized army was great and graduation was resumed in 1941. The model was somewhat simplified and until 1944 VKT produced 4,500 units for the army (those rejected by receivers were sold to citizens, but less than 1,000 in total). There is evidence that in 1941 - 2500 and another 3000 until December 1945. On the first models (exactly 500, I don’t know further) there was a groove for attaching a holster-butt, although no more than 200 of these holsters were produced in total. Swedish M-40s were apparently also used in the Finnish army during the war. Browning M1903 (Swedish M1907) were supplied in significant quantities in 1939-1940 and apparently later. During hostilities with the USSR, TTs were caught as trophies (even the 1930 model was rare). In the army they used it unofficially, because of the cartridge, although it was prestigious to have such a trophy. Mausers M1903, M1912 and M1920, found among the command staff of the Red Army, could have ended up in single copies.

Rifles (including automatic)

The basis of the Finnish infantry weapons were rifles of the Mosin-Nagant system. Usually there are 16 main modifications. In Finnish they are designated as Jalkavaenkivaari m/91 (kiv/91, Russian infantry 1891/10), Ratsuvaenkivaari m/91 (kiv/91 rv, dragoon 1891/10), Jalkavaenkivaari m/91-24 (kiv/91-24), Sotilaskivaari m/91-30 (kiv/91-30), Jalkavaenkivaari m/27 (kiv/27), Tarkka-ampujakivaari kiikiv/27 PH, Ratsuvaenkivaari m/27 (kiv/27 rv), Sotilaskivaari m/28 (kiv/ 28), Tarkka-ampujakivaari kiikiv/28, Sotilaskivaari m/28-30 (kiv/28-30), Tarkka-ampujakivaari kiikiv/33, Sotilaskivaari m/39 (kiv/39), Tarkka-ampujakivaari kiikiv/39 PH, Tarkka -ampujakivaari kiikiv/39 SOV, Tarkka-ampujakivaari kiikiv/39-43, Tarkka-ampujakivaari kiikiv/39-44

First of all, of course, the M1891 and M1891/10 infantry, dragoon and a little M07 inherited from the Russian Expeditionary Force (sometimes called the “M91 carbine”, used until 1944) and captured from the “Reds” during the civil war. It is believed that by 1918 there were approximately 200,000 infantry. In the 20s they changed the sight frame (to metric). They also produce more than 25,000 (the first 200 units in 1919). There are not many Dragoons - about 3000. A fair number of “Russian” M95 Winchesters (in the Civil Guard and auxiliary units). I don’t know exactly about Arisaka rifles type 30, 35 and 38, but I’m guessing about 30-40 thousand. Some were exchanged for three-line rifles (8,170 rifles and 4,800 bayonets were sent to Albania in 1928 in exchange for 13,000 Mosinok from Czechoslavakia and Romania - intermediary B. Spiro, 15,000 were exchanged for rifles and artillery in 1932-1934 - intermediary "Transbaltic"), 500 pieces were converted into 7 ,62x54. A small number of obsolete Berdan No. 2 and Mosin M1891 were used in 1939 by especially needy units, but during the war they were replaced by captured M1891/30. Some of the “American” Mosin-Nagant M1891/10 were “intercepted” from the last deliveries under the Russian contract and from the Entente supplies for the Whites, some were purchased later.

By the 1930s, many obsolete M1891s were either converted into M24s or transferred to reserve. The first 200 pieces were commercial (SAT, 1922-24) - the military was not interested. Later, the work was entrusted to AV-1, based on the Italian “Salerno-Method” technique, 13,000 were converted in 1925-1927, another 77,000 (there is evidence that 77,000 VKT and 12,000 Tikka) were converted in 1941-1944. Other companies were also doing this. Known modifications are VKT, B Barrel, 1942 Tikka, P-26 M91, etc.

In 1919, almost 100,000 captured Russian rifles were purchased through France from Germany (apparently some of them were converted into German bayonets). Approximately 7,000 rifles were traded from Poland in the 1920s in exchange for Mausers “98” (from Russian trophies). Supplies of Soviet trophies from Spain cannot be ruled out (by the Francoists in 1939 through Italy), but there is no data. In addition, the Western powers supplied about 100,000 different rifles as part of military assistance in 1939-1940. There were German Mausers (in the army as m/20 7x57) and Belgian (all with diopter sights) m/25 and m/30. The Italians also sent 94,500 M38 rifles and carbines (cal. 7.35), which went to various rear units, artillery and navy. In general, there were more supplies. I will provide data on some. In 1922, the Poles returned 2151 M91 Dragunskaya, in the same year the Italians transferred 43,000 restored M91s (from those received through reparations, there is evidence that by 1940 Italy had transferred a total of 300,000 M91 rifles). In 1924, barrels were ordered in Germany and Switzerland, sold from German screw guns previously transferred by France - 5420 “98a” and “98” with 8000 bayonets. In 1928, in exchange for German cartridges, another 2,200 M91s were received through France, and in 1929, another 4,247 units. - in both cases the intermediary is Transbalt. With his help, 2039 Mannlichers 1888/90 and 1895 and several machine guns were exchanged in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia for 18400 M91 and 8500 bayonets. At the end of the 20s, Hungary transferred the rest of its M91s to the Finns. There is no data for Japan (whether there was an exchange). In 1936, several thousand M91s were exchanged from Estonia for several hundred Madsens. In 1939-40, small supplies of three-rulers from Montenegro. Czechoslavakia transferred the remainder of the M91 to the Finns. A few were sold to the USA from the remnants of those produced before 1919 under the “Anglo Order” (approx. 10,000). Sweden supplied 77,000 during the Winter War in 1939 and 7,000 in 1940 (a total of 80,000 according to other sources) plus 8,000 volunteers with their weapons, mainly Mauser M96 (there are only about 250 M94 carbines in the mountainous parts). In 1941-42, Swedish rifles were replaced with three-line rifles.

It should be noted right away that although the standard caliber of the Finnish rifle is called 7.62X53R (or 7.62X54 - in some of our sources), there were actually 4 different diameters. They were usually designated by the mark A (.3106\'\' - .3100), B (.3091\'\'), C (.3087\'\' - .3082\'\') and D (M1891/ thirty).

In 1922, they tried to change the belt fastening on some dragoon rifles. But in fact, the first Finnish modification dates back to 1924. On the initiative of "Schützkor" and, to a large extent, "Lotta Svärd" (with money raised by the latter), new, thicker barrels for three-line guns were ordered in Germany (18,000 barrels) and Switzerland (8,000 barrels), and in Finland from expensive breeds The stock and butt were made from wood (some of it was converted from old three-rulers). The rifles were transferred for symbolic money to local Lotta branches and, possibly, to the Shutskor detachments. Brand "S.A." typical for military rifles, and “S.K.Y.” - for shutskor. M24s were produced in 1923-1927; according to various sources, the total output was from 25,000 to 38,000. 5,000 barrels in 1925-1926 were made in Suhl. 650 M24 converted into carbines. Of the first 3,000 barrels made by SIG, 2,500 were in m/91-24 (with a new stock), and 500 were for the Arisaka conversion (mentioned above).

The experience was considered positive, but they decided to shorten the barrel to 1190 mm. In the army version it is M1927 (or m/27, from February 1927 to 1940-41), and for the military equipment it is m/28. For cavalry (as well as paratroopers and motorcyclists) in 1933-34, the M27 carbine with a 1120 barrel and a bolt handle bent to the bottom was adopted. There was also a mountain carbine (since 1932, approximately 3000). In total, it was planned to produce 120,000 M27s, but in reality by the beginning of 1941 - approximately 60,000 (Nos. 20000-81000) (according to other sources, 55,000 in 1928-1939 and another 1000 until the end of the Winter War). M28 in 1928-1930 produced approximately 33,000 (Nos. 1-33016) (according to other sources, approximately 40,000 in 1927-1935), M27 carbine - only 2,000 pieces (by 1944 only half survived - 1,000 pieces). In 1933-1941, the M28-30 was produced (minor changes, for example, the sight frame) - approximately 40,000 (No. 33017-70000). Moreover, until 1937, the stock of the M1891 type was made of valuable wood, and after that it was made of composite birch (two parts with a tenon joint in the middle). The gunfighter emblem was burned on the butt. In addition, 2000 M28-30 pieces were released for open sale (Nos. 100001-102000), and 500 (440 according to others) pieces were specially designed for the World Shooting Championship with the competition emblem on the butt (after the competition, 80 of them were awarded best shooters of the Shutskor). Models M27, M28 and M28-30 were called “PYSTYKORVA” (if I’m not mistaken - “dog ears”) or “Spitz” - for the shape of the wings that protect the front sight. There are a number of clarifications to the history of m/28. So 12,916 barrels were manufactured by Tikka (Tikkaskoski) and 20,100 in Switzerland (SIG) in 1927-1928, the first 3 years they produced approximately 10,000 rifles per year. The first 6000 were collected at SAKO. The latter were completed by April 1933 (last serial no. 33016). Starting with M/28-30, a new sight design is introduced (and no longer changes). The m/28-30 model itself was developed at the end of the 1930s, but the first 2,700 units were produced in 1933 (SAKO). That. No. 35710 was released in April 1934, from 1934 to 1941 - 2000 pieces. A number of M91 and M28 were converted into M28-30.

At the beginning of the Winter War, the Finns were in great need of rifles, but by December there were enough trophies for everyone. After the war, the retirement of rifles, according to various reasons, was not completely covered by trophies (some Soviet rifles needed repairs, etc.). The need for MODERN rifles in case of mobilization was significant, so it was developed in 1939, and since 1941, instead of the M27, the M39 was produced, known among the troops as “UKK0-PEKKA” (i.e. “old man Pekka”, in honor of President Pekka Svinhufvud). The rifle had a pistol grip (except for the first 7000 units). In total, approximately 101,000 units were produced in 1941-1945 (the most conservative estimate is 60,000 by mid-1944, there is a figure of 96,800 before 1945), numbers started at 200,000. Shyutskor received 10,500 M39 rifles (nos. 500001-510500). In principle, according to Finnish sources, 5000-6000 m39 uses Belgian type B barrels that are non-standard for this model (at least 5000 m39 manufactured by Tikka). The prototype of the M39 was the M/91-35, and its actual adoption took place on February 14, 1939. By the beginning of the Winter War, 10 rifles were produced. Mass production from the end of 1940 until 1942 at Valmet (approximately 30,300 barrels only), until 1943 at Tikka and until 1945 at SAKO (66,500 rifles were produced, with 6,500 in 1945). As a rule, trunks are marked A or C, but the Belgian ones were type B (a little more than 20,000).

During the two wars, a fair number of M1891/30 and a few M38 were captured (M44 - a few). So in the Winter War alone, the Finns got at least 28,000 M1891/30. There were great trophies in 1941-1942. They were actively used by Finnish units (but I don’t know how many). Soviet captured rifles in 1941-1942 (maybe later) were transferred by the Germans as part of assistance to the Allies. The Finns called the ring protecting the front sight a “ring sight.” The Finns produced about 10,000 more (according to another 24,000 in 1943-1944) M1891/30, and many rifles were redesigned.

It is difficult to estimate the movement of weapons during the three wars (from 1939 to 1945), it is known that in 1940 and 1944 the decline in rifles was particularly high. For example, by June 9, 1941, the Finns (according to Soviet estimates) had 556,000 conventional rifles and 14,500 rapid-fire rifles (I quote the term), and this seems to be without taking into account the junk in warehouses. According to Finnish sources, there were 254,581 rifles directly in the troops in 1939, 507,601 in 1941, and 366,079 in 1944.

Automatic and self-loading. During the “Winter War”, ABC-36 (a few) and SVT-38 were received by the troops. In total, about 4000. Most of them went home. In the army they were considered not very reliable (especially SVT-38). In contrast, the SVT-40 (both shortened and regular) has been adopted by the army. According to various estimates (not always reliable), their approximate number ranges from 2000 to 10,000. I admit a maximum of another two to three dozen captured Fedorov machine guns. Very funny information about Western aid in 1939-1940. This refers to automatic rifles supplied from England (124), France (5000) and Sweden (500). Possibly due to translation inaccuracy we're talking about about Browning M1918 and Shosha M1915. Otherwise there is no guesswork.

Sniper rifles and scopes for them. Back in the First World War, the Russian army used a periscope sight along with a covert shooting device (from a trench, etc.). Some of them were produced by the Finnish JSC Solberg. These devices were used practically unchanged in the Finnish army. During the “Winter War”, many captured M91/30 sniper rifles (to a lesser extent SVT-38 and ABC-36) came across. Most M91/30 snipers are from 1935-1937, but with different sights. This is how the Finns got the PE, PEM, VP and PU sights (there are hybrids - a PEM bracket with a PU sight). Among the trophies there were faulty rifles and sights without rifles, so they started producing Finnish mounts and brackets. Many (perhaps even more than half) of sights were sent home by soldiers, on the other hand, volunteers fought with hunting or machine gun sights. There were only 213 sniper M1891/30 with PE/PEM at the end of the Winter War. Later it became difficult to “get” them. So in 1941-1942 32 M1891/30 sniper rifles were captured, in 1942-1943 - 24 and in 1944 another 11 (67 in total from 1941 to 1944). It is difficult to estimate the share of rifles with PU. M39 with a Soviet sight (m/39 SOV) in 1943-1944 (dating 1941-1942 is found) approximately 150 (according to other sources, more than 200, with PE/PEM).

Although Finnish experiences in the 30s with their own sniper rifles considered by many to be generally unsuccessful, they managed to create sights of their own design. So, 250 prismatic sights with 3x magnification for M39 rifles were ordered from the Helsinki JSC Physics (initially installed on top, then slightly on the side). In principle, it was envisaged to install them on machine guns, but in fact this was not encountered. In 1942, 2000-2500 “Ajack” sights (length 290mm) with 4x magnification were ordered in Germany. In 1943, 500 were delivered (and deliveries stopped). In the army they were designated m/43. At the same time, JSC Väisälä received an order to develop the same sight. In 1944, trial batches went to the troops. But I didn’t go into the M/44 series, because... The war was ending for the Finns. Sniper ABC-36 with PE/PEM were not popular, and SVT-40 with PU were not often found among trophies. Based on indirect data, I would venture to estimate the total number of sights at 600-900 pieces.

The situation with rifles with sights is essentially similar. The first, excluding sports and hunting ones, was the m/27 PH with a sight from JSC Physics. Total output - 150 pcs. Its development was the m/39 PH with the same aim. 100 of them were produced, but most of the M27s released earlier were converted to M39s. Thus, they are often spoken of as a single model.

It is difficult to say how many M28s were produced with a 4x Zeiss sight. Only 25 prototypes of the M33 with a 4.5x Busch Visar sight were produced. Based on the German 4x Ajax, about 300 rifles (m/39-43) were produced in 1943-44 and later another 200. With its Finnish version, until the summer of 1945, only 50 m/39-44.

Submachine guns (machine guns)

Interest in this weapon arose in 1920-1921. On his own initiative, A. Lahti created his own KR m/22 at 7.65 Par. The Finns studied the design of the MP-18/1 (up to 50 pieces), Thompson M1921 and 1928 (especially the magazine), etc. As part of military assistance, very few MP-28/2 and MP-35/1 could reach Finland. There is no data, but I don’t rule out one-time batches of MP-38/40. In 1941, the Finns became familiar with the Thompson M1A1.

However, returning to the topic, the KR m/22 was produced very little (it was seen in the “Winter War” among the Shutskor). It was replaced by the more advanced KP m/26, which was adopted without armament (several options, for example KP m/26.sta - with a bipod). Subsequently it is changed by KR m/31. There are still many mysteries here for me. So, they use 4 of their own (box-shaped for 20-25 and 40-45 rounds and disk for 40 and 70) and 2 Swedish magazines (for 36 and 50 rounds). By the way, 70 cartridge magazines were approximately 49,000 by 1937, 50 cartridge magazines - 250 by the end of 1939, and 120,000 were produced in 1941-1943. According to some sources, production of the Swedish 36-round magazine began at the end of 1945 - beginning of 1946.

I counted at least 7 modifications of the m/31 Suomi missile launcher. The most important can be considered: m/33 (“Persian”), m/34 (I don’t know), m/39 “Bunker Suomi” (only 500 pieces in 1941-1944), m/31.SJR or m/31-42 ( m/42) aka “Kursu-Suomi” (with a compensator, from 1942 to 1944, many in the military), m/31 “Tank-Suomi” (the first 30 pieces in July 1940, could also be produced with a regular barrel), m /31 Barrel Unit SS-II (not aware), I also don’t know the designation of the version with a bipod. In total, approximately 60,000 M/26 and M/31 (in variations) were transferred to the armed forces by 1944. At the beginning of 1939, 1 submachine gun was cocked, by the end of 1939 - two, in 1941-1944 the norm increased to 4.

In fact, “Suomi” was produced in Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, used in Norway (in 1942, local Nazis handed over 120 units to German units in Finland), Poland, Spain, Bolivia, Paraguay, Iran, etc. Egypt. In Sweden they produced a regular version as M37-39F and a shortened version as M37-39, maybe. still a tank one. In 1940, Sweden supplied about 6,000 machine guns and about 30,000 in 1941-1944.

During the battles, PPD-34 and PPD-34/38 were captured and are practically not used. They are trying to re-barrel the PPD-40 and especially the PPSh-41, but unsuccessfully. There was evidence of their use, in particular in intelligence. Limited use. PPS-42 and -43. They are popular with scouts, but due to the cartridge they are rare.

At the beginning of 1944, on the basis of the PPS-43, the m/44 “Pelti-Heikki” (in English “Tim Henry”, etc.) was created. In total, approximately 10,000 of them will be produced, of which 2,000 will be produced before the end of the war. In addition, the Swedes donated 250 m/44 of their own production for testing, which were used near Vyborg.

In a Finnish photograph from 1941, I happened to see a soldier either with the Swiss Neuhausen M33 (M34) or with the M39 Kiraly (Hungary), but there is no mention of deliveries, or even reliable versions.

Machine guns

According to Soviet sources, as of June 1941, the Finnish Army had 13,500 machine guns. The figure gives me some doubts.

Light machine guns. Of the old stocks, mention should be made of a small number of Lewis (7.62 and .303), Shosh and Madsen M1903 inherited from the Russian army, as well as captured in 1918 from the Finnish Red Guard and units of the Red Army. After 1918, a number of Lewis were purchased from the Russian order at 7.62X54. In 1920, the Purchasing Department of the Finnish Army acquired (in 1920-1928) approximately 700 Madsens under 7.62x54 (I don’t know only M1903 or M1918). They did not satisfy the army (reliability in winter), and besides, they were expensive (and could not be produced). Quite a lot of MG08/15 and MG08/18 were purchased in 1919 through France in Germany.

In the early 20s, Aimo Johannes Lahti developed a submachine gun (m/22) and ventured into the machine gun business on his own initiative. Since October 1924 official order. Because of distrust, Lieutenant A.E. was assigned to the self-taught man. Soloranta (with a higher technical education), who did a lot for the commercial promotion of the model. At the suggestion of the inventor, the machine gun is known as Lahti/Soloranta. The first prototype was ready by the summer of 1925. Then there were tests with Madsen, MG 25 (Switzerland), Colt BAR M1918, Vickers-Bertier, Hotchkiss, Breda. L/S 26 - recognized as the best and on August 13, 1926 adopted for service as “Picakivaari m/26”. Produced at the VKT plant in Jyväskylä. The troops began to receive them in 1930, with an annual production of approximately 500 pieces. The last batch was in 1942. In total, the army received approximately 4,200 pieces (7.62x54). It is worth mentioning the originally aviation modification m26/31 with a disk magazine for 75 rounds and m26/32 with the ability to use both magazines (using an adapter). Samples began to reach the troops during the Winter War in the amount of several dozen. In particular, in 1939-40, ground units received approximately 30 m26/32 units (most with a welded receiver for a 20-round magazine, since the disk ones were transferred to aviation). All kits included from 5 to 10 magazines, two barrels with the same number (the barrel needed individual adjustment). For shooting from loose snow, a “sieve” (a metal circle with fabric ribbons crosswise) was attached to the bipod; several models were adapted for a machine-gun sight for the M32/33. A total of 4,700 (according to other sources, more than 5,000) machine guns of all modifications under 7.62x53R (aka 7.62x54, depending on the source) were produced. Modifications were produced for 6.5x51 Arisaka, 7x57 (Argentine Mauser), .303 British and 8x56 Solothurn (Hungary). There is no data on deliveries. In 1937, an order was received for a 7.92mm model for China. Of the 40,000 ordered (according to the other 30,000), approximately 1,200 were shipped (mostly m26/32). Under pressure from Japan, production was stopped. Several pieces from this order could be used in the Winter War.

In the early 30s, almost all machine guns chambered for foreign cartridges were sold abroad (primarily MG-08/15 and MG-08/18). “Madsens” were also withdrawn from the troops and partially (or completely?) sold. During the Winter War, small supplies light machine guns took place from Germany (maybe MG-34 and MG-30, however, at 7.92), perhaps very little from Italy, Hungary, France and Sweden. There are no exact data. There is no doubt about the supply of ZB-26/30 and Knor-Brems MG-35/36 via Germany. Sweden sent approximately 2400-2500 light machine guns during the Winter War, apparently mostly Knor-Brems LH33 (aka MG35/36 but in a different caliber) and Kulspruta m/21 (BAR M1918) both 6.5mm. Subsequently, they were replaced with captured Soviet ones (perhaps not completely).

More than 10,000 DP-27s were captured by Finnish units from 1939 to 1944 (more than 3,000 in 1939-1940, according to other sources 1,500 units). In the army they received the nickname “Emma” (a hit in 1929-1945). The production of Finnish stores and spare parts has been established. Quoted above the Lahti design. Perhaps a certain amount was transferred by the Germans in 1941-1942. The saturation of the army with this model served as the motivation for stopping the production of the Lahti/Solranta machine gun. By the summer of 1944 there were 3,400 Lahti and 9,000 DP in the army. There are other data, so in total in the army in 1939 there were 2900 light machine guns, by the summer of 1941 - 14601 and at the end of 1944 - 6355.

Single machine guns practically never met. A few MG34s (precisely on vehicles and boats) and maybe. "Madsen" M37 (although unlikely). During the battles of 1941-1944, the troops received several units of single m/41s under the 7.62x54 Lahti design (it seems they were not put into mass production).

Heavy machine guns. A large number of Maksimov on a Sokolov machine model 1910 from the Russian and Red Army (by 1918 approximately 600). And even several Russian Maximovs from 1905. Of the foreign models, there are many MG-08. A few Schwarzlose could have ended up together with the Hungarian volunteers. A few Vickers were acquired in 1917-1918; some were purchased after 1918, produced by US Colt under a Russian contract at 7.62x54. In addition, in 1940 England supplied 100 Mk1 .303 caliber and 100 class F, C and K models under the same .303 British. M.b. several ZB-37 and M1917 but no data. A number of Russian Maxims were purchased or traded in the 20s and 30s. So from Poland in 1928 - 405 machine guns, from Italy - 600. At least 122 MG08, 10 Schwarzlose and 600 Madsens were sold or exchanged.

In 1939 the situation changed - there were a lot of trophies (3000-4000 in 1939-1944, 1768 in 1939-1940). The number of Maxims supplied by the Germans since 1941 from Soviet trophies is unknown. Due to the saturation of the army in 1942, the production of machine guns was curtailed. The total number in the troops in 1939 was 2405 (under 7.62x54), by the summer of 1941 - 5252 (with trophies) and by the end of 1944 - 2483.

In fact, the Finnish army has 4 models in service heavy machine guns: m/09-09, m/09-21, m/32-21 and m/32-33.

Under the M09-09 is hidden the Russian M1910 on the Sokolov machine. Later, some will be adapted for bunkers. Some will be converted to a tripod. So there will be hybrids on the machine from Vickers and from MG-08 (manufactured by DWM m1909).

In 1921, the m/09-21 modification on a tripod was introduced. The machine is manufactured at Tikka, ArmsDeport No.1 (AV-1), Crichton-Vulcan, etc. 150 are mounted on a special “winter” machine. However, the M21 machine is inconvenient for shooting at aircraft. It was modernized in the 30s, many machine guns were converted to a metal belt in the 40s.

In 1931 A.Y. Lahti took up the task of modernizing the machine gun. The result was two models: m/32-21 and m/32-33. The first was produced until a maximum of 1935 (from 1933) on the m/21 machine. The machine gun had two rates of fire - 600 and 850 rounds per minute. Also, metal tape is introduced for the first time. In 1933, a second modification was developed on a universal machine m/33 and with a wide neck of the cooling casing (the so-called “snow”). Since 1939, early models will be remade to fit this neck. A total of 1200 m/32s were produced or converted. Heavy losses during two wars.

In general, there were many different machines. For example, m/30 in the Civil Guard, m/40 “Bunker” (maximum 1250 pcs.), m/VKT, two “front-line” models from Ordnance Dept., light assault machine m/43 “Salakari”, “rucksack” m/ Wigren, etc.

Heavy machine guns. Information on them is extremely scarce. Most likely, there were practically only a few of them in service before 1939. Perhaps several 13mm Hotchkiss for air defense. However, the Finns did receive several DShKs as trophies. The tireless Aimo Lahti created the L-34 machine gun chambered for the 13mm French cartridge, but I know nothing about its production. The so-called automatic guns from 20mm to 37mm.

Grenades, flamethrowers and anti-tank weapons

Grenades. Among the foreign ones, apparently Swedish, German and Soviet grenades, maybe. Italian, English and French. There is no reliable data. Our own: manual fragmentation with a wooden handle, type M24 (I don’t know the Finnish designation, there are also non-Finnish ones), M32A fragmentation, M32B fragmentation, M41-MG mortar and as manual, M44SN incendiary, “Molotov cocktail” in the Finnish version 0.75 l with thickened with gasoline and an anti-tank grenade (I don’t know whose). Although there were several thousand of them in the army by the end of the Winter War and by September 1944. Several mortars designed by Dyakonov for the VDG 1930 grenade were captured during 1939-1940, but there is no data on combat use.

In 1944, the Finnish army received a new anti-tank weapon - the Panzerfaust. As a rule, models 30 and 30m were supplied. They were used in Karelia and were called “Panssarinyrkki” or “Nyrkki”. In total, more than 25,000. In addition, the Panzerstrek was also supplied. There are about 1800 pieces in total.

Flamethrowers. As a rule, the photographs show Finnish soldiers with German flamethrowers model 1934 (much less often 1941). Apparently there was also a version. The number of ROXs is insignificant. There was a funny development based on “Suomi” (!?), a flamethrower fired portions at a distance of 15m. Apparently she remained experienced.

AT guns. Own design of A. Lahti LS/39 chambered for 20mm cartridge. It is believed that in northern war lightly used. Part of it was given to fortified areas in 1940. The total production is about 1800 pieces. England supplied several Boyce Mk1 14mm caliber in 1939-1940. There could have been isolated deliveries of Polish guns from Germany, but there is no data about German ones. Just as there are none for captured Soviet anti-tank rifles.

Light anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns. Aimo Lahti designed a 20mm automatic anti-aircraft gun (single and twin). Many German APs after 1941. Possibly several Oerlikons. The basis of anti-tank defense in the Winter War were 37mm PstK/36 guns (possibly German), there were 164 of them by the end of the war. 37mm Bofors were supplied, there is no data on the number, but in total Sweden supplied 85 anti-aircraft guns and 104 anti-aircraft guns in 1939-1940. 200 (according to others only 75) anti-tank guns were supplied by Great Britain (but I don’t know which ones). By the end of the war, the army had 22 French 25mm Hotchkiss, marked PstK/34. Since 1941, the Germans have supplied a number of small-caliber anti-tank guns. Among Finnish trophies in 1939-1940 there were approximately 55 Soviet 45mm PT guns. In total, there were 34 20mm anti-aircraft guns in the army at the end of 1939, and 649 in 1944 (though 40mm and 20mm AP combined). At the end of the Winter War, anti-tank guns of caliber from 25mm to 45mm -241.

Mortars. Brand's main system. Apparently our m/32 “Tampella” 81mm. Under the same brand, after 1940 they produced 120mm. In the army in 1939 - 360 (81mm), in 1941 - 887 (81-82mm, including trophies) and 153 (120mm), in 1944 - 533 (81-82mm, with trophies) and 361 (120mm with trophies). By trophies I mean captured Soviet 82mm and 120mm mortars. By 1944, the army retained 1,380 17-60mm mortars, including obsolete designs, its own mortars, German supplies (possibly with Polish and French models) and captured Soviet ones.

The Finns were even armed with rocket launchers. These are the German light models 150 Rkh 41 (6-barrel) and the Finnish version with 4 barrels - 280 Rkh 43.

Cold steel and stuff

Bayonets and knives. Knives in the army were mainly used traditional ones. More graceful "pukko" and larger Lapland ones. They could be used in pairs, the larger one as a combat weapon and the smaller one as a utility weapon. In essence, a “pukko” knife is not a combat knife, but it turned out to be quite useful in this capacity.

Bayonets in the Finnish army were of the following models: m/91 (old Russian), m/91 rv (shortened Finnish - 3000 in 1927-1935), M91/30 (from Soviet rifles), m/38 (Italian), m/27 (57600 pcs., 42 cm and 0.4 kg), m/28, m/28-30 (Shutskorovsky handle is made of Karelian birch), m/35 (option m/27), m/39 (29 cm and 0.3 kg) and an experienced m/42 (150 units in total). For m/91, a metal sheath with a leather strap was created in the variants. The order for 10,000 m/39 was not fully completed in 1942. The m/27, m/28, m/28-30 and m/35 bayonets are very similar and have a highly developed crosshair.

Other (a little about helmets). The Finns' problems with form in the Winter War are well known. This is most clearly seen in the example steel helmets(helmets). Until November 1939 - more than 75,000, including old German and Austrian ones (m/16, m/17 and m/18). In addition, in the period 1939-1940 they delivered 75,000 Hungarian m/38 (actually German m/35), 30,000 Italian m/33, 50,000 Czechoslovakian m/34, 10,000 others (8,000 Swiss m/21 and more than 1,000 Polish m/35) . Since 1940, the Swedish m/37 was produced under the brand name m/40. By June 25, 1941, 25,000 German m/35-40 and 20,000 Swedish m/37 were also added. And in the summer of 1943, more than 24,000 German m/35-42. Soviet helmets various models were also used quite widely, but there are no exact figures.

I'm finishing this review. That's all for today. Special thanks for the help and support to Messrs. Denisov Mikhail, Trifanov Dmitry and Korobeinikov Andrey

Finland is a young country in a historical sense; it became independent only after the second Russian revolution (or the October Revolution of 1917). Before this, the territory was more often called Chukhonia, and this province was not among the most developed. Having become a sovereign power, the country began to develop, and soon it had its own industry. Finnish weapons did not become particularly widespread, except for the famous knives, so beloved by hunters and robbers both in Russia and abroad, but they were also made not only by Finnish craftsmen. Despite the peaceful disposition of the inhabitants and short history, the country still had to fight. In both international conflicts in which the Finnish army took part, it was armed with designs created by self-taught designer Aimo Johannes Lahti. The Suomi submachine gun was not a masterpiece, but it couldn’t be called completely bad either. The guarantee for this is the popularity of this sample throughout the world, even if it did not lead to its mass production. More than a dozen countries have armed their police and military units with it.

A war that few people know about

In 1932, the bloodiest war in history began. Latin America war. It lasted three years, claimed the lives of tens (or even hundreds of thousands of people, no one was puzzled by the exact count of victims), and, in the end, turned out to be almost useless. The desert region of Chaco became the subject of a dispute between Paraguay and Bolivia, where oil fields were proposed. In fact, Royal Dutch Shell and Standard Oil were in conflict, and it was these two companies that started a war for control of the fields. The armies of Bolivia and Paraguay were supplied with various types of weapons, including guns and aircraft. Even Finnish submachine guns were used in this carnage against an exotic backdrop. The war could not have happened without Russians, on both sides - these were tsarist and White Guard officers who showed themselves to be excellent military specialists. Oil was never found in Chaco, but there was still a result. Latin American soil became, along with Spain, a testing ground where the latest types of weapons were tested. In particular, in close combat (a feature of the Paraguayan-Bolivian theater of operations was precisely the short distances between opponents), the Finnish Suomi submachine gun perfectly demonstrated its deadly capabilities. This was his debut.

Inventor Lahti in his youth

Aimo Johannes didn't get a special technical education, which was partly manifested in some engineering naivety of the design of his brainchildren. But he was undoubtedly a talented man. The son of a peasant, after working for the first month at a glass factory (he had completed only six full years of school), Lahti spent five marks on an old Russian Berdan and immediately began tinkering with it, trying to improve it. Realizing that this was much more interesting than routine work, he asked the gunsmith Sateri to become an apprentice. By the time the young man was mobilized, he was already well versed in rifles and strived for more.

Dream of a rapid fire pistol

In 1922, Lahti came across a German MP-18 rapid-fire carbine and became fascinated by the ingenious mechanism. He served in the army at a weapons repair shop, but was creative in his work. He managed to improve the three-line, and a new model entered service with the Finnish army - the Lahti-Saloranta M-26 (the corporal had to perpetuate the name of his immediate superior, Captain Saloranta, who became a co-author). And at the same time he invented other types, including a pistol and a machine gun. They were not very successful, but looked like homemade products (which, in essence, were what they were). The Suomi M-26 submachine gun became a police weapon. By the way, the tradition of naming their samples in honor of their native country, Lahti, remained true in the future. He rose to the rank of general and retired in 1944 after scandalous story with missing weapons. It was not his fault, but the residue, as they say, remained, and this happens not only in the Finnish army. His Suomi M-31 submachine gun was put into service back in 1931.

Winter War

The end of the thirties of the 20th century is usually called the pre-war period. In fact, the process of redistributing spheres of influence in Europe had already begun, and stopping it was as impossible as avoiding a bullet flying out of the barrel after the firing pin hit the cartridge primer. According to the official version, 1939-1940 began with a provocation from the side adjacent to the USSR. The term “White Finns” was immediately coined, suggesting the presence of representatives of another, “red” part of this people, and a large one at that. There was no reason to assume any aspirations of the “military clique,” ​​and there could not be any. Finland did not have strong aviation, and the tanks also could not be compared with the Soviet ones. Most of the military budget was spent not on offensive, but on exclusively defensive programs. The construction of the “Mannerheim Line” has become a matter of national importance, the attack was expected and prepared for precisely this. The fortifications truly amazed the imagination with their scale and inaccessibility, which was also facilitated by the terrain. Nevertheless, the Red Army managed to overcome it, despite huge losses. In the conditions of the harsh polar winter, the Suomi submachine gun demonstrated its combat qualities. The use of weapons revealed his both strong and weak sides. The slightest contamination of the bolt mechanism led to failure; it was heavy, but, most importantly, the quantity did not satisfy the needs of the army.

Questions of tactics

The Latin American experience, despite the obvious difference in climate, became the reason for reconsidering the tactical aspects of the use of the Finnish Army field regulations established the presence of one unit in the platoon, with the commander. The industry simply could not produce a sufficient number of “barrels,” although by the beginning of 1940 it was possible to issue a “Suomi” submachine gun to each squad commander, bringing total number up to four. But this was also not enough. Then - in violation of the regulations - separate combined companies of machine gunners began to form, setting up ambushes and opening unexpected heavy fire, making maximum use of the total firepower. After the raid, this unit again dispersed to its companies and platoons.

It should be noted the ability of the commanders of the Red Army to adopt the experience of the enemy. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, companies of machine gunners became a regular structure in the Soviet armed forces. Thus, along with Molotov cocktails, the Finnish method of massive fire impact was used in the fight against fascism. In addition, the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940 became a catalyst for a significant increase in the production of automatic weapons in the USSR.

It is generally accepted that after the capture of the Mannerheim Line and the conclusion of a peace treaty, this international conflict ended. Some territories were taken away from Finland, the border from Leningrad moved away, and in return the Soviet side provided other lands of approximately the same area. However, the conditions of this world were imposed by force, and after the German attack on the USSR, Finland made an attempt to return what had been taken away. The second phase of the war began. The Finns strongly emphasized the absence of an alliance with Hitler and claimed that they were fighting on one's own. The Suomi submachine guns, however, somehow found their way into the Third Reich (just over three thousand units) - some units of the Waffen-SS were armed with them.

The Finnish venture failed.

Device

The submachine gun uses a blowback action. The loading handle is made separately; it remains motionless during firing. Another design feature is the ability to regulate the rate of fire using a special membrane-spring pneumatic device with five holes of different diameters.

Protection against accidental shooting and switching to single fire is carried out by a switch located behind the magazine below.

There is no fore-end as such, so shooting in long bursts is problematic: you cannot grasp the casing with your left hand - it gets hot, and holding the weapon by the magazine is prohibited, so as not to loosen the articulation unit. However, the same situation was with the PPSh. “Bunker-Suomi” were also produced without stocks (500 in total), which were used not only for firing from fortifications, but also for tanks.

TTX

Suomi is designed for a 9mm Parabellum cartridge.

Large weight (4600 g unloaded and up to 7000 g with a magazine), low initial bullet speed (200 m/s) and insufficient reliability - these are the three main drawbacks that the Suomi submachine gun suffered from. Its characteristics are inferior to those of both the Soviet and German ones. But the main flaw was not even technical, but technological in nature. It was almost impossible to launch the sample into mass production. The receiver was milled from a solid forging, which greatly increased the cost and lengthened the process. It is impossible to produce millions of machine guns without stamping; weapons technologists understood this long before the start of the war. Small batches of "Suomi", however, were distributed around the world in the 30s, and production continued until 1953, until the Soviet teaching staff was copied in Finland.

The quick-change barrel solution was considered successful; a similar technique was used in the Israeli Uzi.

Shop

The Suomi submachine gun and the PPSh look similar from afar. There are two reasons: firstly, the rifle butt without a pistol grip, and secondly, the disc clip, which can hold a lot of cartridges. Two options have been developed for Suomi (for 40 and 70 pieces). But, as practice has shown, this type of store, although it has a large capacity, does not justify itself. It is expensive due to the complexity of the device, but in terms of reliability it is inferior to conventional box-type ones. In the second half of the war, both PPSh and Suomi began to be equipped with them, which were simpler and more trouble-free. The same was done in other countries where this Finnish submachine gun was produced under license (Denmark, Sweden). In just 32 years, eighty thousand M-31s were produced.

The Soviet-Finnish war for the Soviet Union became a test of weapons and the readiness of troops; it was then that many types of weapons were used for the first time.

Submachine guns

First Soviet submachine gun The Degtyarev PPD system was adopted for service in 1934 with a box magazine for 25 rounds. However, it was produced in small quantities, and the weapon itself was clearly underestimated. It was believed that this was more of a police weapon; in addition, adventurous proposals to introduce a submachine gun as the main model were rejected small arms. In the battles of Khasan, Khalkhin Gol, and the Polish Campaign, the use of submachine guns was not noted. However, in Finland, where the fighting took place on rough terrain, fast-firing and powerful weapons showed their power. The Finnish Suomi, used even in small quantities, turned out to be very effective in close combat. The reaction from the Soviet side was immediate. Already during the assault on Vyborg, photographs can be seen of Soviet assault groups armed with the PPD-40 - a Soviet submachine gun with a disc magazine for 71 rounds. In the year and a half before the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, no less than 70 thousand PPD-40s were produced, which were very unevenly distributed among the Red Army troops, and the total production of this submachine gun by 1943 exceeded 350 thousand. units.

Cruiser "Kirov"

The Soviet-Finnish War became the military debut of Soviet light cruisers of the Kirov class. These ships were distinguished by high speed and very powerful weapons for their class, consisting of nine 180-mm guns in three turrets. According to international agreements (in which the USSR did not participate), the main caliber of light cruisers of the leading world powers could not exceed 155 mm. Only the lead ship of the series of six cruisers, the Kirov, took part in the Finnish war, which on December 1, 1939 entered into a risky artillery duel with a Finnish battery on the island of Russare. In a short-lived battle, the Kirov fired 35,180 mm. shells, damaging the pier and barracks, but without damaging the enemy guns. With return fire, the Finns achieved several close explosions of shells, but again without serious consequences for the Soviet cruiser. Later, four Soviet cruisers of this type (two each in the Black and Baltic Seas) performed well during the Great Patriotic War, and not a single one was sunk.

Mine detectors

If the first samples of a mine detector were created in the USSR back in 1934, then the first mass combat use was noted during the Soviet-Finnish war, when Soviet troops it was necessary to overcome well-prepared enemy defenses, saturated with minefields. Mass production of induction mine detectors was launched in Leningrad. The location of the mine was determined by the maximum sound in the headphones when approaching the metal body of the mine.

On water and on land

The Soviet-Finnish War was marked by the first combat use of Soviet amphibious tanks for their intended purpose. T-37 and T-38 tanks, armed with one 7.62 mm machine gun and with a crew of 2 people, crossed water obstacles, depending on conditions, on ice, and sometimes by swimming. So, for example, in the battles near the Pensin-Joki River, the T-38 company, having lost two tanks, crossed the river by swimming and with its fire ensured the successful crossing of the infantry. During the battles, the shortcomings inherent in amphibious tanks of the 30s, identified a few months earlier in Mongolia, again emerged - weak armor and insufficient weapons. Later, during the Great Patriotic War, these combat vehicles were more often used as conventional tanks and extremely rarely in their own way. special purpose(for example, in the battles near Nevskaya Dubrovka).

Heavy tanks

The Soviet-Finnish War was the first conflict where heavy tanks with ballistic armor were used. The main disadvantage of most tanks of the second half of the 30s was weak armor, which was penetrated by fire anti-tank guns And heavy machine guns. During the Soviet-Finnish war, Soviet heavy tanks KV and multi-turret SMK and T-100 were tested at the front. If in tank battles, which were a rare occurrence in the Finnish War; the latest vehicles did not take part, they turned out to be indispensable in breaking through enemy fortifications. The KV-1 withstood hits from almost any anti-tank gun shell and showed good maneuverability. At the same time, based on the experience of the Soviet-Finnish war, it was decided to abandon the creation of heavy multi-turret tanks, which turned out to be expensive and difficult to operate. It is noteworthy that in 1941 Soviet Union turned out to be the only state armed with heavy tanks capable of withstanding the fire of most anti-tank artillery systems.

Field of Mercy

The Finnish War brought significant changes to Soviet military medicine. In a combat situation, it became clear that the most important task was the rapid evacuation of the wounded to rear hospitals in order to provide specialized surgical care, and the presence of a doctor in the battalion was not necessary, since complex surgical operations in close proximity to the front line were difficult. After the Finnish War, doctors in the battalions were replaced by paramedics, whose actions were often enough to provide emergency care and prepare for the evacuation of the wounded to the rear. At the same time, the importance of medical instructors, whose task included providing first aid and removing the wounded from the battlefield, increased sharply. The losses among medical instructors were also significant. Yes, in the 70th rifle division, which went through the Finnish War from beginning to end, the junior medical staff actually changed three times.

Sniper weapon

IN Soviet-Finnish war For the first time, snipers were deployed en masse. Fighting in the winter of 1939-1940. took place in very harsh winter conditions, when the temperature dropped to -30, and sometimes - 40 degrees, high snow cover 110 -125 cm, and sometimes more, dense forests - all this forced combat operations mainly along the roads, where the Finns actively used ambush actions. “Cuckoos” - Finnish soldiers armed with Suomi submachine guns - often acted. Having taken a successful and well-camouflaged position, the Finnish rifleman could inflict very serious damage to a Soviet rifle unit at close range. The reaction of the Soviet leadership to the enemy's successful use of automatic weapons in close combat was immediate. Already during the fighting with Finland, PPD-34/38 appeared in the Red Army, and at the final stage, PPD-40. They differed from their prototype PPD-34 by the presence of a disk magazine copied from the Finnish Suomi. Subsequently, the idea of ​​the “cuckoo”, as a Finnish fighter armed with a submachine gun, in our country was very much transformed into legendary image Finnish sniper, often operating from trees.