Introduction[]
Altering it's outdated version, the PPSh-73 is a Soviet produced and manufactured submachine gun. It's mag resembles that of the MP5k, an early prototype, holding 35 rounds per mag. It's predecessor, the PPSh-41 (Pistolet Pulymet Shpagin c.1941) was a Russian-used, light infantry machine gun holding 75 rounds per drum mag. and 35 rounds for each banana mag. After it was declared obsolete, the United States military created this revamped version from the original version's blueprints and layout, which were stolen by the CIA. After the blueprints were in the US's hands, work began.
The PPSh-73 is a re-creation of the PPSh-41, a Soviet weapon of WWII. This holsters a "Banana Mag", containing 35 rounds per clip. Cooper's Firearms in Philadelphia, PA created this SWAT Urban Warfare variation, as seen in the layout above. It is slowly coming into production.
Production[]
Production began in a small factory on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The factory was called Cooper's Firearms. The design was planned out in 1970 by small arms architects, Andrzej Zygmunt, Burkhardt Zygma, two Scandinavian designers. The process was long and frustrating. After two years of creating, collaborating, and designing, Andrzej and Kurkhardt proposed the idea to chairman of Cooper's. The CEO loved it. Manufacturing began in '72 as part of the "One World" Firearms series. Cooper's hired 75,000 employees and spent $4,460,000 dollars on equipment and parts for manufacturing. After 11 months of production, the PPSh-73 was complete.
The prdecessor of the PPSh-73, the PPSh-41 is the father of the PPSh series. Featuring a rate of 900 rounds per minute, the PPSh WWII era was a very large aid on the battlefield.
Use in the Military[]
The PPSh-73 was complete, and it was almost immediately shipped out to units Echo through Whiskey for Commandos stationed in Cuba, Vietnam, and Laos. Cooper's issued 72,000 shares of the weapon, airdropping them over many countries for stationed agents. Many units picked them up ASAP, aiding them in firefights and escapee routes. Unfortunately, the PPSh's barrel did jam and it's poor accuracy did create some friendly fire.
Attachments[]
The PPSh-73 does come with some attachments, but not many. They include some ACOG 4x and 3x scopes, as well as two Scandinavian chevron sights, both 1.5x zoom multipliers. A QBU-22 and a TT3 suppressor are also adaptable. Unfortunately, they are not compatible with the PPSh's adaptable rail-mounted Mk.4 Grenade launcher. However, the series does come with the ability to change over 17 stocks and barrels.
These are just some of the PPSh's attachments. Shown here are some outdated attachments for the PPSh-41.