Danuvia 43M submachine gun

Danuvia 39.M

Hungarian soldiers in the Carpathians in 1944, the kneeling soldier displaying his Danuvia 39.M.
Type Submachine gun
Place of origin Hungary Kingdom of Hungary
Service history
In service 1939 to early 1950s
Used by Hungary
Wars World War II
Production history
Designed 1930s
Produced 1939–1945
Number built ~8,000 to 10,000
Variants 39M - Wooden stock version
39M/A - Folding wooden stock version
43M - Modernized version
Specifications
Weight 3,63 kg without magazine
4,46 kg with magazine
Length 953/749 mm
Barrel length 424 mm
Cartridge 9 mm Mauser Export
Action Lever-delayed blowback
Rate of fire 750 round/min
Muzzle velocity 450 m/s (1,476 ft/s)
Feed system 40 rounds

The 9×25mm Danuvia submachine guns (Király géppisztoly) were designed by Hungarian engineer Pál Király in the late 1930s. They were issued to Hungarian army troops in 1939 and remained in service throughout World War II until the early 1950s. A total of roughly 8,000 were made between 1939 and 1945. The Danuvia was a large, sturdy weapon, similar to a carbine. Although inspired by the 9×19mm Parabellum Beretta Model 38/42, the Danuvia used the more powerful 9×25mm Mauser round. Like the Beretta, the Danuvia's magazine can be folded forward into a recess in the stock where a plate then slides over it.

The original Danuvia was the 39M: it was redesigned in 1943 as the 43M. This, the most common version, had a shortened barrel and was provided with a forward-angled magazine. It had a folding metal buttstock and wood forestock fitted with a pistol grip. The Danuvia featured a patented two-part delayed blowback bolt. The fire selector switch is a circular cap on the rear of the receiver and is rotated to one of three settings: E (Egyes)(semiautomatic fire), S(Sorozat) (full automatic), or Z (Zárt)(the safety setting). The ejection port and cocking handle are on the right side of the receiver. It had a ramp-type rear sight above the ejection port and a post foresight at end of the barrel.

The gun was well-liked by troops it was issued to; it reportedly functioned well in the sub-zero, muddy conditions on the Eastern Front. The only difficulty was the availability of 9×25mm Mauser ammunition. It was used by the Hungarian army, military police and police forces and stayed in service until the early 1950s when it was gradually replaced by the PPSh-41 and the Kucher K1.

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