Question about the PSS and German ammo pouches

Question 1: Besides wide issue to vehicle crews, was the PPS designed to replace the PPSH-41? And how wide was its issue? Most photos of it seem to appear in Berlin.




Question 2: Why did the Germans abandon the three-clip pouch they used in WW1 and replace it with a small two-clip pouch?

In Guy Sajer's "Forgotten Soldier", the rifleman talks about his full kit being 120 rounds (with the rest being carried in pockets and 4 stick hand grenades. Why replace the larger, more functional WW1 pouches?

45 Rounds WW1 pouch




30 rounds WW2 pouch

 

It had to do with the nature of warfare. You see, WWII warfare was more mobile than the WWI one. Plus the distribution system was refined and more effective (yes even for the Germans). Now if you want your troops mobile, you'll want them lighter. So they didn't need as much ammo at a time since they were replenished faster. Plus, a WWI soldier full kit, weighted more than a set of Gothic plate (2mm plate over body shoulder arms and legs plus helmet!) so, if you want mobility, gotta loose the weight. This was all written from memory from fragments I remember reading here and there so if it's not totally accurate, please don't kill me



Cheers...

 

We don't Kill Rogues here, we stick 'em in the COOLER!

 

The PPS m43 was the winner of a competition to replace the compartively expensive PPSh41 which was designed by Shpagin with a cheaper design. The Shpagin design to superceed his very successful PPSh 41 was the type 2 -but it was rubbish.

The PPS m43 (designer Sudaeva) was superior because it could be churned out in huge numbers 2million+ by the end of WW2 it was about one and a half pounds lighter than the M41 and of course was easier to stow inside a vehicle due to its folding stock, it was also slightly slower firing -which is good! Note the comensator on the muzzle to stp the lighter weapon rising.

The PPSh 41 continued in production at a diminishing rate where plants existed and was supplied from workshops in Iran, who continued to make them post war.

The really good thing about these weapons and the M34-38 too was that they were idiot proof the bolt could be locked in cocked or closed (bolt forward) position without problem, so greatly diminished chance of accidental discharge due to dropping.

The PPSh41 and PPS 43 used different magazines which was rather stupid. With regard to how widespread I had a look at various photos mostly in mechanised units and it seems to be very wide spread from Summer of 1943 onwards, so possibly most of the PPSh 41 were in infantry units although some reece units seem to retain the PPSh 41 with the drumm mag so this may be a preference for the high capactity of the drum mag.

 

Fits in with the change over to the 7.92 x 33 cartridge, lighter rounds more carried!

 

Yes, but the German soldier in WW2, like his predecessor in the WW1, still carried more rifle rounds than the 60 in the small ammo-pouch. In fact, he was likely to carry a 250-round ammo box for his section's MG!

 

Wolfy
I found a photo of 1st guards Tank Army showing soldier with PPSh41 in February 1944, so the Infantry of a premium armoured unit were still holding on to them.

Steve