PPD

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	Weapon: PPD Type: Submachine Gun Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1927 Overall Length (mm): 940.0 Overall Length (in): 37.01 Weight (kg): 3.00 Weight (pounds): 6.61

The PPD (Pistolet-Pulemyot Degtyaryova) was a Soviet submachine gun designed by Vasily Degtyaryov in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It was chambered for the 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge, a high-velocity round derived from the Mauser 7.63x25mm. The weapon featured a blowback-operated, open-bolt mechanism and was equipped with a wooden stock, giving it the appearance of a traditional rifle. Early models of the PPD had a simple box magazine, but later versions, such as the PPD-40, introduced a drum magazine capable of holding up to 71 rounds, greatly enhancing its firepower.

Production of the PPD began in 1934 but remained limited initially due to the Soviet Union's focus on other infantry weapons. By the late 1930s, as submachine guns gained recognition for their utility in close-quarters combat, the PPD was upgraded to the PPD-34/38 and then to the PPD-40, with improvements in manufacturing processes and reliability. Despite these efforts, total production numbers for all PPD variants were modest, with approximately 90,000 units produced before it was replaced by the more cost-effective and easier-to-produce PPSh-41 during World War II.

The PPD saw combat in the Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland, where its high rate of fire and drum magazine proved effective in forested and urban engagements. However, it was also criticized for being complex and expensive to produce, particularly in the context of the Soviet Union's massive wartime mobilization. The PPD's legacy lies in its role as a precursor to the iconic PPSh-41, which inherited its drum magazine and cartridge but featured significant design simplifications. Though overshadowed by its successor, the PPD remains a symbol of early Soviet innovation in automatic weaponry.