THE SUOMI SUBMACHINE GUN LEROY THOMPSON THE SUOMI SUBMACHINE GUN LEROY THOMPSON Series Editor Martin Pegler Illustrated by Adam Hook CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 DEVELOPMENT 7 Towards the Suomi USE 29 The Suomi goes to war IMPACT 57 Redefining the submachine gun CONCLUSION 75 BIBLIOGRAPHY 78 INDEX 80 INTRODUCTION The Suomi submachine gun (SMG) saw extensive combat with the Finns against the Soviets during the Winter War (1939–40) and the Continuation War (1941–44), and against the Germans during the Lapland War (1944–45). Arguably, it may have accounted for more dead Soviets than any other weapon used by the Finns since it was a favourite with ski troops who would strike from ambush, felling Soviet troops with the Suomi, then skiing away into the woods. Since the Suomi was designed to be more accurate than the typical SMG and was supplied with two barrels, both regulated to the weapon, it was often even used as a sniping weapon. Initially, though, the Finns ‘misused’ the Suomi as a light machine gun (LMG) deployed in support of infantry. Once the Finns had a substantial number of captured Soviet Degtyaryov DP-28 LMGs, they replaced the Suomi, freeing it to be used in the more characteristic SMG role, though in many cases it continued to be used as a squad automatic weapon (SAW). A point worth noting with regard to captured Soviet weapons is that the rifles and machine guns were chambered for the same 7.62×54mmR cartridge used by the Finns, who also captured substantial amounts of Soviet ammunition. The Soviets did not use 9×19mm pistols or SMGs, however; hence, ammunition to feed the Suomi SMGs had to be produced in Finland or purchased from other countries. The availability of a 50-round box magazine or a 70-round drum magazine, as well as the ability to change barrels to counter overheating, allowed the Suomi to perform the SAW role better than a typical SMG. The primary disadvantage of the Suomi during the assault was its weight, especially with the operator carrying the ‘standard’ ammunition load of five 70-round drum or seven 50-round box magazines. Note that in combat, this much ammunition was frequently only available when firing from an entrenched position, often with the assistance of a loader. The 4 effectiveness of the Suomi was enhanced by issuing it to select soldiers who were strong enough to carry it and its spare magazines and effective Early in the Winter War, only one enough as marksmen to maximize its capabilities. Suomi SMG per Finnish patrol was normally available, while The Suomi remained in Finnish service from 1931 until the 1980s, an other troops were armed with the indication of its durability. In addition to the Suomi’s service with the Mosin-Nagant M1891 rifle. That Finnish Army, Sweden produced its own version. Other countries that appears to be the case with this used the Suomi included Bulgaria, Denmark, Nazi Germany and Norway patrol, as only the soldier second from the left has a KP/-31. As the among others. The Soviets also captured Suomi SMGs during both the Suomi proved its usefulness and Winter War and the Continuation War. Copies of the Suomi were more examples became available, produced in Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition, the KP m/44 a larger percentage of Finnish SMG, the Finnish copy of the Soviet PPS-43 SMG, was produced in troops were armed with it. (SA-kuva) Finland as a cheaper alternative to the Suomi. Combat use of the Suomi was primarily in the Winter War, Continuation War and Lapland War. Since Nazi Germany ordered over 3,000 Suomi SMGs, presumably the weapon saw some use with German troops. Israel also acquired some Suomi SMGs and used them in the 1948 War of Independence. Sweden produced 35,000 of their version of the Suomi, but they would have seen little combat use unless after being sold to other countries or used by Swedish volunteers in the Winter War. Still, it was one of the weapons designed to ensure Swedish neutrality. One interesting user of the Hispano-Suiza MP 43/44 version of the Suomi produced in Switzerland was the Vatican Swiss Guard. Reportedly, the 5 A Suomi in use during the warmer Suomi was also used in the Chaco War (1932–35) and the Spanish Civil months; note that the shooter War (1936–39). rests the drum magazine on his As with other Finnish weapons, the Suomi was designed to be palm, in much the same manner especially durable and to keep working in Arctic conditions. It was also as a rifleman would rest the forearm of his rifle. (SA-kuva) designed to be easily maintained by replacing springs that wear. Just as Finnish soldiers who used the Suomi considered it an excellent weapon, so do most historians and collectors of World War II-era SMGs think highly of the weapon. It frequently makes lists of top infantry weapons of World War II. Those who used it lauded it, while those who faced it – normally the Soviets – feared it. It is important to remember that the effectiveness of the Suomi during the Winter War was one of the first instances in which the SMG’s value was proven in combat. This in turn had at least some influence on the deployment of other SMGs during World War II. In a US intelligence report on Finnish tactics, it is stated that: The chief offensive weapon of the Finns is the Suomi machine carbine, similar to our sub-machine gun … Ordinary Central European military tactics demands [sic] fire beginning at long ranges in the form of artillery preparation and increasing gradually in intensity over a considerable period of time. Something entirely different is required for warfare in the Finnish woods. Here the weapons must be located far forward and maximum fire power attained immediately. This demands an automatic weapon which is light and mobile. This weapon must be unusually well-balanced to ensure good aim under difficulties incident to forest fighting. The Suomi carbine is the weapon which 6 fulfills all these requirements. (Tactical and Technical Trends 1942) DEVELOPMENT Towards the Suomi ORIGINS As so much of Finland is forest, it has traditionally been a land of hunters and trappers; and like the United States, Finland has traditionally been a land of riflemen. After Finland declared its independence from Russia in December 1917, a civil war was fought between the ‘Whites’ who supported the independent Finnish government and the ‘Reds’, a revolutionary workers’ movement sympathetic to the Soviet Union. Germany intervened on the side of the Whites, helping to defeat and disarm the Reds. Most of the arms captured during the civil war were Mosin-Nagant M1891 rifles, and this weapon would become the primary Finnish infantry weapon through the Winter War and Continuation War. Though Finland used the M1891 for decades, it did not manufacture its own rifles. Instead, the Finns would rebuild and upgrade rifles captured from the Russians, as well as some manufactured in the United States during World War I, and some French versions. Although Finnish marksmanship was generally excellent, and combined with a deep knowledge of the terrain to allow them to fire a few rounds from cover and then ski away, Finnish firepower was still limited. The Finns soon realized the potential of the SMG. As early as 1922, the Finnish Civil Guard acquired Bergmann M/20 SMGs chambered for the 7.65×21mm Parabellum (.30 Luger) cartridge, the same cartridge used in Finnish Luger pistols. The M/20 was an improved version of the MP 18/I, which the Germans had used in World War I. Developed initially in 1916, the MP 18/I had been used primarily by ‘Storm Troopers’ who raided trenches and infiltrated behind enemy lines. The Germans were banned from using SMGs after World War I, however, with the exception of a few for the police; hence, production was licensed to Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) in Switzerland. 7 Mauser round, but Finland demurred due to the complications of adding another calibre to the supply system (Jaeger Platoon 2013). As Mauser C 96 pistols were widely used by Finnish troops, however, 7.63×25mm ammunition should have been in the supply chain. The MP/20 SMGs were used during the Winter War and Continuation War, and surviving examples remained in Finnish armouries until 1960. During the Continuation War, the M/20 SMGs were issued primarily to coastal-defence forces and some home-front security troops (Jaeger Platoon 2013). As was normal with Swiss arms, the M/20 was a high- quality weapon. However, according to Thomas Nelson, each magazine was hand-fitted and numbered (Nelson 1977: 439). This would seem to A left-side view of a Bergmann Problems with reliability caused by use of the Luger ‘Snail Drum’ magazine have presented a potential problem in combat, where magazines from M/20 with magazine removed. were corrected in the M/20 SMGs supplied to Finland by SIG, as they different weapons could become mixed. The Finns were more cognizant The M/20 was produced in used a 50-round box magazine. Although SIG produced the M/20 in of firearms operation and maintenance than many armies, however, which Switzerland by SIG and used by 7.63×25mm Mauser calibre for some customers – especially the Chinese, may have mitigated the problem. The M/20’s side-feeding magazine may the Finnish Civil Guard during 1922–39. During the Winter War, who had large numbers of C 96 Mauser pistols, and for the Imperial have also been a disadvantage for the Finns, as it would have had a greater the M/20 was used by the Finnish Japanese Navy, whose version of the M/20 mounted a bayonet – those for tendency to catch on branches in the forests where the Finns operated. Army, but by the Continuation the Finns were in 7.65×21mm Luger calibre. A Finnish copy of the M/20 was produced under licence at Leonard War it had been relegated to use By 1922, the Finnish Civil Guard had purchased about 1,000 M/20 Lindelof’s machine factory, but – due to production problems – few if any by coastal forces and home-guard Aimo Lahti, the inventor of the troops. While its German SMGs from SIG. Over the next ten years another 415 Bergmann M/20s were delivered to the Finnish Civil Guard, which had ordered them (Jaeger KP/-31, as well as other Finnish predecessor, the MP 18/I, had were purchased, though the Swiss had halted production in 1927. Owing Platoon 2013). weapons. (SA-kuva) used Luger ‘Snail Drum’ to Finland’s desperate need for weapons, a further 108 MP/20 SMGs were magazines, the M/20 used purchased from Switzerland during the Winter War. Switzerland had standard box magazines. By 1932, the Civil Guard had purchased offered Finland another 290 M/20 SMGs chambered for the 7.63×25mm 1,415 of the M/20 SMG. It used TOWARDS THE SUOMI the same 7.62×21mm Parabellum Aimo Lahti, a weapons designer who lent his cartridge as the Finnish Luger name to the L-35 pistol, the Lahti-Saloranta pistols. The Finnish company Leonard Lindelof received a m/26 LMG and the L-39 anti-tank rifle, felt licence to produce Bergmann that the Bergmann M/20 SMG was expensive SMGs in 1922, but SIG undercut and did not perform to the high standards he Lindelof’s price and few were set for weapons designs. Confident of his produced. The M/20’s influence on the Suomi can be discerned in capabilities, Lahti believed that he could the rifle-style rear sight. (© Royal create a more effective SMG. After being Armouries PR.7394) hired in June 1921 as an armourer by the Keski-Suomi Regiment, Lahti began design work on his SMG. As part of its development, he had a reduced-scale model chambered for the .32 ACP (7.65×17mm Browning) cartridge fabricated by a local blacksmith. This scaled- down SMG was only 30cm in overall length; but despite its small size, it allowed Lahti to prove that his design was viable (Heidler 2015: 10). A Finnish Home Guardsman on The m/22 watch with a Bergmann M/20 at By 1922, Lahti had had the first full-sized the prisoner-of-war camp in prototype of his SMG built by the Leskinen & Viipuri in September 1942. 8 (SA-kuva) Kari Machine Works in Tampere. This version Mauser round, but Finland demurred due to the complications of adding another calibre to the supply system (Jaeger Platoon 2013). As Mauser C 96 pistols were widely used by Finnish troops, however, 7.63×25mm ammunition should have been in the supply chain. The MP/20 SMGs were used during the Winter War and Continuation War, and surviving examples remained in Finnish armouries until 1960. During the Continuation War, the M/20 SMGs were issued primarily to coastal-defence forces and some home-front security troops (Jaeger Platoon 2013). As was normal with Swiss arms, the M/20 was a high- quality weapon. However, according to Thomas Nelson, each magazine was hand-fitted and numbered (Nelson 1977: 439). This would seem to have presented a potential problem in combat, where magazines from different weapons could become mixed. The Finns were more cognizant of firearms operation and maintenance than many armies, however, which may have mitigated the problem. The M/20’s side-feeding magazine may have also been a disadvantage for the Finns, as it would have had a greater tendency to catch on branches in the forests where the Finns operated. A Finnish copy of the M/20 was produced under licence at Leonard Lindelof’s machine factory, but – due to production problems – few if any Aimo Lahti, the inventor of the were delivered to the Finnish Civil Guard, which had ordered them (Jaeger KP/-31, as well as other Finnish Platoon 2013). weapons. (SA-kuva) TOWARDS THE SUOMI Aimo Lahti, a weapons designer who lent his name to the L-35 pistol, the Lahti-Saloranta m/26 LMG and the L-39 anti-tank rifle, felt that the Bergmann M/20 SMG was expensive and did not perform to the high standards he set for weapons designs. Confident of his capabilities, Lahti believed that he could create a more effective SMG. After being hired in June 1921 as an armourer by the Keski-Suomi Regiment, Lahti began design work on his SMG. As part of its development, he had a reduced-scale model chambered for the .32 ACP (7.65×17mm Browning) cartridge fabricated by a local blacksmith. This scaled- down SMG was only 30cm in overall length; but despite its small size, it allowed Lahti to prove that his design was viable (Heidler 2015: 10). A Finnish Home Guardsman on The m/22 watch with a Bergmann M/20 at By 1922, Lahti had had the first full-sized the prisoner-of-war camp in prototype of his SMG built by the Leskinen & Viipuri in September 1942. (SA-kuva) Kari Machine Works in Tampere. This version 9 was designated the m/22. Lahti received support from two ranking officers of the Keski-Suomi Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel W. Hagglund and Lieutenant-Colonel E. Heinricks, but when the weapon was sent to the Finnish Defence Ministry for evaluation little interest was expressed. Lahti did not lose his resolve to create a more effective SMG, however. In June 1924, he established Konepistooliosakeyhtiö (Submachine Gun Ltd) with Captain V. Korpela, Lieutenant Y. Koskinen and Lieutenant L. Boyer-Spoof, all of whom were officers of the Keski-Suomi Regiment. The 150 shares were divided, with 45 each for Lahti and Korpela and 30 each for Koskinen and Boyer-Spoof. (As a side note, Boyer-Spoof later changed his surname to Poijärvi.) The company proved to be underfinanced, however, and Korpela soon left as a result of a marketing disagreement with the other shareholders – he had attempted to sell the SMG abroad without consulting them (Heidler 2015: 10). The KP/‑26 Lahti continued to improve his SMG design, patenting innovations in Finland. As development progressed, the Finnish Defence Ministry showed greater interest in the design, which was chambered for the same 7.65×21mm cartridge as the Bergmann. Konepistooliosakeyhtiö ordered 100 of the improved model from Ab Tool Oy in August 1924. Ab Tool Oy actually shared a large manufacturing facility with Leonard Lindelof Oy, which was producing copies of the MP 18/I, though not especially satisfactory ones (Kekkonen; no date). All parts for the 100 examples of the improved model were produced in Finland, with the exception of the barrels which were ordered from the UK and Swiss recoil springs which were ordered of the type for the Bergmann M/20. Barrels for the transitional SMG (later adopted as the KP/-31) continued to be imported from Birmingham Small Arms until 1930, when Tikkakoski Oy began producing barrels (Kekkonen; no date). In February 1925, 13 examples of the SMG were supplied to the Finnish Ordnance Department for evaluation. Functioning of the weapons was good, but the evaluators identified two problems: the magazines were fitted to the individual weapons rather than being interchangeable, and the barrels were prone to corrosion. Still, the SMG was considered promising and, from the initial 100 examples produced, about 60 were supplied to the Finnish Army, with a few others going to the Civil Guard and Frontier Guard. In addition, five examples were supplied to Estonia for evaluation. As produced, the SMG would be designated the KP/-26, though it appears that this designation was assigned after the fact to delineate the weapon from the later KP/-31. Contributing to the appeal of the KP/-26 was its cost – less than half that of a Bergmann M/20; about 2,200 Finnish Marks each compared to 4,500 Finnish Marks for the M/20 (Heidler 2015: 11). Among the features of the KP/-26 were a quick-detachable barrel (as later used on the KP/-31) and a curved 36-round magazine. According to 10 Nelson, the KP/-26 was the first SMG to use a quick-detachable barrel