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Old 06-20-11, 07:02 AM   #1
Feuer Frei!
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Default The AK-47. How much does it owe to German Design? A LOT!

Ever thought about this? I have, here's the Deal:

Cartridge
In 1943 the USSR made the short M43 (7.62 x 39 mm) as a basis for a new weapon. / In the mid-1930s, the Germans began developing smaller rounds. In 1938, Polte Werke developed a 7.92 x33 mm round the Heereswaffenamt (Armaments Ministry) accepted and designated the 7.92 mm PP Kurz.

Concept
The idea of combining the features of a submachinegun and a bolt-action rifle was German. It came about from the realisation that modern mobile combat tended to present targets at ranges nearer than 300m, for which the standard rifle and its round were over-powered. This hybrid concept naturally lent itself to the incorporation of the now-ubiquitous fire selector switch. This feature was first introduced by Hugo Schmeisser, in 1924, as an upgrade to the MP18. / The idea to copy a clever, innovative design that decimated their soldiers was Russian.

Design Submission
In 1945 (or 46—sources differ), the USSR held a contest to design an automatic assault rifle using the M43 round. In 1946 (or 47—sources differ), designers led by Mikhail Kalashnikov submitted the AK-47. In 1949 it was adopted by the Soviet Army. / In 1939, the Heereswaffenamt issued a contract for competitive development of a Maschinenkarabiner (machine carbine, MKb), chambered for the new Kurz cartridge. Hugo Schmeisser headed the design team at Haenel that produced the prototype MKb 42 in 1942. A limited run of 8,000 units was then produced for field testing and issued to Ostfront troops. The Heereswaffenamt selected it for development over a Walther candidate in 1943. After minor design modifications, the resulting MP43 (later renamed MP44, then StG44) went into full production.

Receiver
Although the initial production run attempted to copy the German stamped sheet metal receiver, this process could not be mastered, and production was switched over to machining the receiver from a 4 lb block of steel into the 1.5 lb finished component. The revised model, AKM, which came on line in 1959, simplified production by re-introducing stamped sheet-metal. / The Germans had incorporated this stamping concept—proven in previous weapons—into their StG44 design from the outset (1943).

Gas Piston
The gas system and layout of the Sturmgewehr 44 were copied. The AK-47’s gas piston stroke is 50% longer than necessary, giving it the capability to overcome fouling or lack of lubrication. / The StG44 gas drive utilises a long-stroke piston.

High Tolerance Concept
Kalashnikov claimed credit for developing the concept of high tolerance, or loose fit, in which the gas piston and bolt carrier’s parts fit loosely in the receiver, making the mechanism less susceptible to jamming owing to carbon build-up, lack of lubrication, rust, dirt or mud. But, in fact, Alexey Sudayev had previously incorporated this principle into his AS-44. / According to C.J. Chivers in the Gun, the AS-44 is a blatant knock-off of the StG44, so it can be surmised that it featured this concept. However, the Germans definitely incorporated this concept into their MG42 design from the outset, when they decided to replace the MG34 specifically because its precision engineered, low tolerance parts were too prone to jamming. And there is no doubt whatever that captured MG42s were closely scrutinised, nullifying any claim of Soviet invention in this regard.

Trigger
The trigger, double locking lugs and unlocking raceway were copied from the US M1 Garand.

Banana Magazine
The AK-47 borrowed this design from the AS-44. It more ergonomically fit the stubby short rounds, thereby reducing jamming. / Again, if the StG44 magazine was not copied directly, it’s copy, the AS-44 certainly was.

The Master Himself
Any lingering doubt ought to be quashed with one last little fact. Herr Schmeisser, who headed the design team at Haenel that produced the prototype MKb 42, and, after the Heereswaffenamt selected it for development, its offspring, the StG44, was one of the German scientists/engineers scooped up by the Soviets in the Operation Paperclip sweep.

Popular Mechanics in 2010 gave, albeit some credit to the German StG44.

Point in case:


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