The Suomi KP-31 submachine gun was a key Finnish firearm that inspired the Soviet PPSH-41, which became the most produced submachine gun in World War II.
On September 8, 1942, a Finnish patrol, all of them armed with Suomi KP-31 submachine guns.
The Suomi submachine gun was equipped with a large-capacity drum, a single-burst firing system and a quick-change barrel, which was quite innovative for its time. In this article, the development of the Finnish Army submachine gun and its influence on the development of firearms in later generations will be discussed.
This article is an introductory article published by Armory Life*, written by Peter Suciu, translated and edited by me.
A Finnish soldier near the Isthmus of Onus is armed with a Suomi submachine gun in August 1943.
There are even reports that in the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict, the Ukrainian army also used this 762 PPSH-25 submachine gun of 41mm caliber. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has in its stockpiles about 300,000 pieces of various ** from the Second World War era, some of which have already entered service with second-line troops.
A Finnish soldier armed with a Suomi submachine gun during the continuation of the war.
No one can imagine that the PPSH-41 submachine gun, which can be called the symbol of the Soviet Army in World War II, was actually influenced by the submachine guns of hostile countries and improved on the basis of them.
Finnish patrols are fighting near the Stalin Canal.
This submachine gun is none other than the Suomi KP-31 (sometimes referred to as the Model 1931), which is very similar to the Soviet PPSH-41 submachine gun, especially with a wooden butt and a 71-round drum. Although the PPSH-41 was known for its reliability and won the popularity of both Soviet and German soldiers, the KP-31 is also considered by many to be one of the most successful submachine guns of the Second World War.
The origin of the iconic submachine gun
After the end of World War I, Finland, which had been ruled by Tsarist Russia for more than a century, finally gained its independence. The February Revolution of 1917, which overthrew the Tsarist family that had ruled Russia for centuries, and then the October Revolution, plunged the former empire into civil war, giving Finland a chance for independence.
Aimo Lahti designed a number of light models for the Finnish army, including the KP-31, which was taken in 1940.
Finland was determined to maintain its independent status and began to develop its domestic military industry with few allies. Leading the effort was the master of armament, Aimo Lahti, known as the "Johann Moses Browning of Finland." Soon, he began to design a new type of ** that would provide sustained firepower to infantry in close combat.
Lahti was indeed a visionary, because in the First World War, which had just ended, only a small number of submachine guns appeared, the most famous of which was the German MP-18. However, it became clear to him that a submachine gun could bring hope for close combat.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces, Major General Lauri Malmberg, holds a Somi submachine gun designed by Aimo Lahti and manufactured by Tikakoski.
It is entirely possible that Lahti studied the MP-18, but it is also possible that he studied another ** that did not catch up with the First World War, and that was the Thomson submachine gun. As far as is known, from 1917 to the mid-20s of the last century, a small batch of this American submachine gun was imported and used by the Baltic countries. This may explain why the submachine gun designed by Lahti uses a single-burst fire function. The Thomson submachine gun had this feature, while the MP-18 submachine gun could only fire in bursts.
M-22 and KP -26 submachine guns
In 1922, Lahti designed his first submachine gun, which was simply called Suomi and is now known to gun historians as the M-22. It's worth noting that despite the many **s he has designed, he is not good at names, and Somi means "Finn" in Finnish.
During the continuation of the war, a Finnish soldier with a Suomi KP-31 submachine gun ambushed the Soviet troops.
At the moment, it is not known how many M-22s were produced, so let's say that it was the prototype that led to the development of the KP-26. The KP-26 is produced by Konepistooli OY in Lahti, and like the M-22, the KP-26 is produced in small quantities, but it is a more refined **.
KP -26 launches special 762 21mm ammunition, which was the most important bullet for the Finnish Army at that time. The gun is equipped with a quick-change barrel and recoil buffer, which prevents the bolt from moving backwards by compressing the air inside the buffer, and the theoretical rate of fire can be adjusted by changing the exhaust port of the buffer.
The 1st Finnish Chasseur Battalion near the Mannerheim Line, which was armed with the Somi KP-31 submachine gun.
The KP-26 also had a pull handle under the bolt, so that the soldier in the recumbent position could easily pull the bolt.
The birth of the KP -31
The Somi KP-26 is an excellent one, but Lahti is still refining his design. With the assistance of Lieutenant Koskinen, Lahti succeeded in developing the KP-31, which was a further refinement of the Finnish submachine gun.
In July 1942, a Finnish soldier armed with a KP-31 submachine gun took part in a street battle in Bowenca.
As in the case of the KP -26, the barrel is located in a radiator with a hole inside the barrel guard. While previous submachine guns were fed through magazines, the newly designed submachine guns can be fed both from magazines and from drums with a capacity of 71 rounds. The gun is free bolt automatic, equipped with a quick-change barrel, which allows for almost unlimited sustained fire. This was an uncommon feature for submachine guns, and even now.
Finnish soldiers shoot with a Somi KP-31 submachine gun mounted on a drum, with a magazine next to it.
It is noteworthy that the Suomi KP-31 was launched as Luger P08 9 mm ammunition developed for the 19 pistol, the same caliber as the German MP-18 submachine gun. It can be said that this new ammunition provides a much stronger lethality for the Suomi KP-31. The effective range of the Somi KP-31 is 200 meters, the theoretical rate of fire is 900 rounds.
In March 1942, a Finnish soldier of the 8th Chasseur Battalion, armed with a KP-31 submachine gun with a magazine, reconnoitred enemy movements at an observation post.
As the late famous firearms historian Ian V. Hogg (Ian V. Hogg)Hogg, in his book The Complete Machine Gun – 1885 to the Present (Phoebus Publishing, 1979), described it as "a well-made and reliable machine gun that for many years was the standard by which other designs were judged." It is a bit heavier than most submachine guns, but with higher shooting accuracy, which makes up for a little weight disadvantage. ”
The soldier can operate the KP-31 submachine gun like a carbine, change the magazine with his right hand, and pull the bolt back, completing these operations while maintaining ** stability with his left hand.
Finnish soldiers near the village of Uksujervi in August 1944.
The KP-31 submachine gun was manufactured by the company Tikkakoski Oy. The Sommy KP-31 was upgraded at the end of World War II with the addition of a muzzle device, which helped the shooter to more easily control fully automatic fire.
Sommy KP-31 combat experience
Although the Somi KP-31 was adopted by the Finnish military as a standard**, its first entry into the Chaco War (1932-1935) was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay in South America for control of the Gran Chaco region. This war, which has been forgotten by most people, was actually a new ** proving ground for aircraft to submachine guns, even before the Spanish Civil War.
In March 1942, Lieutenant von Blucher, the son of the German ambassador to Finland, prepared to take part in a ski patrol in the Leningrad region. His KP-31 submachine gun was wrapped in a white cloth.
Many of the Suomi KP -31 Charger *** were equipped with the German Luger PBolivia 08 pistols, during the war, some somi kp -31 were captured by the Paraguayan army and became one of the latter's **.
In July 1944, during the Battle of Vosalmi, a veteran was preparing to fight against Soviet troops.
In the ensuing Spanish Civil War, the Finnish submachine gun was armed by both the Spanish Republican Army and the Franco rebels. Some Soviet military advisers must have seen and even operated the Suomi KP-31 submachine gun during the Spanish Civil War, but none of them could have imagined that this submachine gun would inflict heavy damage on the Soviet army during the Winter War (1939-1940). In the Winter War, the Soviets were surprised by the strong will of the Finnish military and civilians to fight, as well as the excellent performance of the Suomi KP-31 submachine gun.
A Finnish soldier took advantage of the gap in the battle to clean his Suomi KP-31 submachine gun.
After seeing the real combat performance of the Suomi KP-31 submachine gun, it turned out that this ** had a profound effect on the Soviet authorities. The Soviet authorities, who had always been dismissive of the role of submachine guns, soon after the outbreak of the Winter War, decided to copy the 40-round drum for the PPD-41 submachine gun (the predecessor of the PPSH-71).
This is the ** equipment of the Soviet Airborne Forces, two PPD-40 submachine guns equipped with drums can be seen.
The United States also noted the problems encountered by the Soviet army in fighting Finland during the Winter War and the continuation of the war, and greatly appreciated the performance of the KP-31 submachine gun. In 1942, the U.S. Department of the Army pointed out in a report the key design features of the "Suomi submachine gun".
Lieutenant Olawe Alaculpi, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Mannerheim, is demonstrating how to use the KP-31 submachine gun. After World War II, Alakulpi immigrated to the United States and served in the U.S. Army in Korea. When he was a company commander in West Germany, Elvis Presley (Elvis) was his driver.
The war that took place in the Finnish forest required a completely different **. Here, ** must be in front and be able to exert maximum firepower at once. This requires a lightweight automatic** that can move quickly. This ** must be very well balanced so that aiming can be carried out at any time in forest combat. The Suomi KP-31 submachine gun is the ideal to meet all these requirements**.
In 1943, a Finnish soldier near Tusura demonstrated the operation of the Suomi KP-31 submachine gun.
The Finnish army not only used the Somi KP-31 submachine gun against the Soviet troops in the Winter War and the Continuation War, but also fought briefly against Nazi Germany during the Lapland War. In 1948, it was also adopted by the Israeli army to fight the Arab coalition in the Middle East war. In June 1940, Finland supplied Estonia with some Sommi KP-31s for testing, and during World War II, it also supplied a batch of SOMI KP-31s to Bulgaria, which was also an ally of Nazi Germany. At the same time, both German paramilitary and police units were armed with a small number of Suomi KP -31 submachine guns.
In May 1944, Finnish soldiers inspect the various firearms they are equipped with.
During World War II, the captured KP-31 was also used by the Soviet army, which lacked **, and at the same time a copy of the KP-31 Karello-Finsky KF-42 was produced in Leningrad, except that the caliber was changed to the same as the PPSH-4162×25mm。
Many Finnish snipers carry a KP-31 submachine gun with them in addition to a rifle for close-quarters combat.
Interestingly, one of the most famous users of the Somi KP-31 is Simon Heyer, aka the "White Death", who is one of the most famous snipers in Finland. On several occasions, he was assigned to commando teams on missions, and the ** he carried with him was the Suomi KP -31 submachine gun.
Pop culture
The Finnish submachine gun was not popular with pop culture, in fact, it was only featured in a handful of films**, most of which were shot in the Soviet Union during World War II. Its Hollywood debut came in wait until the 1979 film Cuba, in which the guerrillas used the submachine gun. However, it is likely to be a replacement for the PPSH-41 submachine gun, as there is little evidence that the KP-31 was used by either side during the Cuban Revolution.
The Finnish soldiers in the Ostrobenia area also had two drums next to the fortifications for easy access during combat.
Of course, the appearance of this submachine gun in the Finnish film "The Unknown Soldier" is a matter of course. The film tells the story of Finnish soldiers during the ongoing war, when Finland tries to regain territory lost in the Winter War.
Conclusion
Late version of the Suomi KP -31 submachine gun with a muzzle device installed.
The biggest drawback of the KP-31 is its high production costs, but it also makes it a rugged and reliable product**. According to reports, the total production of KP-31 does not exceed 10000 units. Currently, there is a partially defunctionalized KP-31 in the United States, which is generally priced at more than $1,000 due to its rarity model. In September 2018, Rock Island Auctions auctioned off a Class III NFA transferable KP-31 submachine gun for $19,550, which is really impressive.
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