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Erma EMP

October 28, 2023

This article is about the Erma submachine gun. It is not to be confused with the Bergmann MP35 or the Austrian MP 34.

The German submachine gun EMP (Erma Maschinenpistole) also known as MPE (Maschinenpistole Erma) was produced by the Erma factory, and was based on designs acquired from Heinrich Vollmer. The gun was produced from 1931 to 1938 in roughly 10,000 exemplars (in three main variants) and exported to Spain, Mexico, China and Yugoslavia, but also used domestically by the SS. It was produced under license in Spain by the arsenal of A Coruña under the designation M41/44.

EMP
An EMP displayed in Warsaw Uprising Museum
TypeSubmachine gun
Place of originGermany
Service history
In service1931–1958
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
Designed1930
ManufacturerErma Werke
Produced1931–1938
No. builtApprox.10,000
Specifications
Mass4 kg (8 lb 13 oz)
Length95 cm (37 in)
Barrel length32 cm (13 in)
Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum, 7.63×25mm Mauser, 9×23mm Largo, 7.65×21mm Parabellum[1]
Caliber9 mm
ActionBlowback
Rate of fire550 rpm
Muzzle velocity380 m/s (1,200 ft/s)
Effective firing range150 m (490 ft)
Maximum firing range250 m (820 ft)
Feed system32-round magazine
SightsIron

History edit

In the early 1920s, Vollmer started to develop his own sub-machineguns. His early models, named VPG, VPGa, VPF and VMP1925 were fairly similar to the MP18. The VMP1925 had a wooden handgrip and was fed by a 25-round drum magazine. The VMP1925 was secretly tested by the Reichswehr, along with competing designs from Schmeisser and Rheinmetall. (The Reichswehr was prohibited by the Versailles Treaty from having sub-machine guns in service, although the German police were allowed to carry a small number.) Secret funding was given to Vollmer to continue development, and this resulted in the VMP1926, which mostly differed from its predecessor by the removal of the cooling jacket. A subsequent development was the VMP1928, which introduced a 32-round box magazine sticking from the left side. The final development of this series was the VMP1930. (It can also be seen at the WTS.) This model introduced a substantive innovation—a telescoping main spring assembly, which made the gun more reliable and easier to assemble and disassemble in the field. Vollemer applied for a patent for his innovation in 1930 and it was granted in 1933 as DRP# 580620. His company, Vollmer Werke, produced however only about 400 of these, and most were sold to Bulgaria. In late 1930, the Reichswehr stopped supporting Vollmer financially; consequently he sold the rights to all his designs to the company known as Erma Werke (which is an abbreviation for Erfurter Maschinenfabrik, Berthold Geipel GmbH).[2]

The submachine guns that Erma started to sell in 1932 under the names EMP (Erma Maschinenpistole) or MPE (Maschinenpistole Erma) was basically just the VMP1930 with the cooling jacket restored. Although there were several variants with varying barrel lengths and sights made to customers' specifications, roughly three main variants were produced: one with a 30 cm barrel, tangent rear sight and bayonet lug was apparently sold to Bulgaria or Yugoslavia. The second model, sometimes called the MP34, or the "standard model", had a 25 cm barrel and no provision for a bayonet; the rear sight on these varies—some had a tangent sight, others a simplified flip-up "L" sight. A third variant was basically similar in the metallic parts, but replaced the foregrip with an MP18-style stock with finger-grooves. Overall, at least 10,000 of these Vollmer-based designs were made by Erma.[2] They were adopted by the SS and the German Police, but also sold to Mexico, Yugoslavia and Spain.[3] During the Spanish Civil War, the EMP was used by both the Republicans[4] and the Nationalists.[5]

In the spring of 1939, a large number of defeated Spanish Republicans fled to France, where they were disarmed. Some 3,250 EMPs formerly in the possession of these fighters ended up in a French warehouse at Clermont-Ferrand. The EMPs were usually referred to as the "Erma–Vollmer" in French documents. The French tested the weapons and decided to adopt them for their own service. A provisional manual was printed in French as Provisoire sur le pistolet-mitrailleur Erma – Vollmer de 9mm, issued on December 26, 1939 and updated on January 6, 1940. However, the French had obtained only some 1,540 suitable magazines for these guns, so only 700-800 EMPs were actually distributed to the French forces, mostly to the Mobile Gendarmerie. After the Germans conquered France, some EMPs armed the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism, which eventually became part of the SS Charlemagne division. This division was practically destroyed in February 1945 in Eastern Prussia, now part of Poland. Numerous EMPs have been found in the last-stand battlefields of the SS Charlemagne division; most of these guns lack any German military stamps or marks.[6] The EMPs which arrived in German hands via the French route were given the (Fremdgerät) designation 740(f).[7] The Yugoslav purchased EMPs were used by both the Partisans and the Chetniks.[8]

In Francoist Spain, the EMP, chambered in the 9mm Largo cartridge, was locally produced until the mid-1950s. It was designated Model 1941/44[9] or "subfusil Coruña" but commonly known as Naranjero.[10] [11] It performed poorly during the Ifni War.[12]

Design edit

Its arming lever is on the right. The magazine housing, which is on the left, is slightly canted forwards to assist in feeding ammunition. The weapon could be fired either in semi-automatic or fully automatic modes.

Influence edit

The final development at Erma is known as the EMP 36. This can be considered an intermediate model between the EMP and the MP38. Although many details of the mechanism were changed from the EMP, it retained Vollmer's telescoping main operating spring basically unchanged. On the exterior, the most obvious differences are that the magazine housing was now almost vertical, although still canted slightly to the left and forward. The solid wood stock was replaced with a wood frame and a folding metal butt. It is not entirely clear who designed the EMP 36, although Berthold Geipel himself is usually credited. Apparently, the features of the new design were the result of another secret contract with the German army.[2] The EMP's telescopic cylinder return spring guide was retained for the Maschinenpistole 38.

Users edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Smith 1969, pp. 153m³154.
  2. ^ a b c d G. de Vries, B.J. Martens (2001). The MP 38, 40, 40/1 and 41 Submachine gun. Propaganda Photos. Vol. 2. Arnhem: Special Interest Publicaties BV. pp. 8–13. ISBN 90-805583-2-X.
  3. ^ Smith 1969, p. 428.
  4. ^ Smith 1969, p. 156.
  5. ^ Smith 1969, pp. 153–154.
  6. ^ The Erma EMP submachine guns – Translation to English of text from Martin Helebrant's Samopal MP38 a MP40, Nakladatelstvi Elka Press, ISBN 978-80-87057-02-5 at mp40.nl
  7. ^ Thorsten Heber (1942). Kennblätter fremden Geräts. BoD – Books on Demand. p. 135. ISBN 978-3-8370-4042-5. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  8. ^ Scarlata, Paul (1 October 2017). "Yugoslav Part II: World War II small arms: an assortment of small arms from friends and foe alike". Firearms News.
  9. ^ Smith 1969, p. 544.
  10. ^ "República - Armas - Infantería - Subfusiles". www.sbhac.net. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  11. ^ Juan Tous Meliá (2000). Guía histórica del Museo Militar Regional de Canarias. p. 93. ISBN 978-84-7823-752-4.
  12. ^ Piñero, Juan Pastrana (2015). "El ejército español en la Guerra de Ifni-Sahara". In Viñas Martín, Angel; Puell de la Villa, Fernando (eds.). La historia militar hoy: investigaciones y tendencias [Military History Today : Research and Trends] (PDF) (in Spanish). pp. 295–314. ISBN 978-84-617-2104-7.
  13. ^ a b Alejandro de Quesada (20 November 2011). The Chaco War 1932-35: South America's greatest modern conflict. Osprey Publishing. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-84908-901-2.
  14. ^ a b "EMP Submachine Gun". WW2DB. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  15. ^ Scarlata, Paul (June 2017). "French World War II Small Arms: Part II". Firearms News (15): 34.
  16. ^ World War II Vichy French Security Troops. Osprey Publishing. 2018. p. 41. ISBN 978-1472827753.
  17. ^ Magnar Skaret (2017). Politiets Våpen. Norsk Politihistorisk Selskap. p. 109-110. ISBN 978-82-998108-4-5.
  18. ^ "La Guerra del Chaco: fighting in El Infierno Verde: Part II: tanks, airplanes, submachine guns".
  19. ^ Scarlata, Paul. "Polish WWII Weapons Part 1". Firearms News. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  20. ^ "República - Armas - Infantería - Subfusiles". www.sbhac.net. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  21. ^ Smith 1969, p. 723.

Further reading edit

  • K.R. Pawlas (1994) "Die Maschinenpistole Erma (MPE)", Waffen Revue Nr. 95, pp. 47–56
  • L. Guillou (1994) "Le pistolet mitrailleur Erma-Vollmer de 1931 cal.9 mm Para." Gazette des armes numéro 254
  • Les P.M. Allemands (1918-1945) - Gazette des armes hors-serie n° 19
  • Smith, Joseph E. (1969). Small Arms of the World (11 ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Stackpole Company.

External links edit

October 28, 2023
erma, this, article, about, erma, submachine, confused, with, bergmann, mp35, austrian, german, submachine, erma, maschinenpistole, also, known, maschinenpistole, erma, produced, erma, factory, based, designs, acquired, from, heinrich, vollmer, produced, from,. This article is about the Erma submachine gun It is not to be confused with the Bergmann MP35 or the Austrian MP 34 The German submachine gun EMP Erma Maschinenpistole also known as MPE Maschinenpistole Erma was produced by the Erma factory and was based on designs acquired from Heinrich Vollmer The gun was produced from 1931 to 1938 in roughly 10 000 exemplars in three main variants and exported to Spain Mexico China and Yugoslavia but also used domestically by the SS It was produced under license in Spain by the arsenal of A Coruna under the designation M41 44 EMPAn EMP displayed in Warsaw Uprising MuseumTypeSubmachine gunPlace of originGermanyService historyIn service1931 1958Used bySee UsersWarsChaco WarSpanish Civil WarSecond Sino Japanese WarWorld War IIIfni WarProduction historyDesigned1930ManufacturerErma WerkeProduced1931 1938No builtApprox 10 000SpecificationsMass4 kg 8 lb 13 oz Length95 cm 37 in Barrel length32 cm 13 in Cartridge9 19mm Parabellum 7 63 25mm Mauser 9 23mm Largo 7 65 21mm Parabellum 1 Caliber9 mmActionBlowbackRate of fire550 rpmMuzzle velocity380 m s 1 200 ft s Effective firing range150 m 490 ft Maximum firing range250 m 820 ft Feed system32 round magazineSightsIron Contents 1 History 2 Design 3 Influence 4 Users 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksHistory editIn the early 1920s Vollmer started to develop his own sub machineguns His early models named VPG VPGa VPF and VMP1925 were fairly similar to the MP18 The VMP1925 had a wooden handgrip and was fed by a 25 round drum magazine The VMP1925 was secretly tested by the Reichswehr along with competing designs from Schmeisser and Rheinmetall The Reichswehr was prohibited by the Versailles Treaty from having sub machine guns in service although the German police were allowed to carry a small number Secret funding was given to Vollmer to continue development and this resulted in the VMP1926 which mostly differed from its predecessor by the removal of the cooling jacket A subsequent development was the VMP1928 which introduced a 32 round box magazine sticking from the left side The final development of this series was the VMP1930 It can also be seen at the WTS This model introduced a substantive innovation a telescoping main spring assembly which made the gun more reliable and easier to assemble and disassemble in the field Vollemer applied for a patent for his innovation in 1930 and it was granted in 1933 as DRP 580620 His company Vollmer Werke produced however only about 400 of these and most were sold to Bulgaria In late 1930 the Reichswehr stopped supporting Vollmer financially consequently he sold the rights to all his designs to the company known as Erma Werke which is an abbreviation for Erfurter Maschinenfabrik Berthold Geipel GmbH 2 The submachine guns that Erma started to sell in 1932 under the names EMP Erma Maschinenpistole or MPE Maschinenpistole Erma was basically just the VMP1930 with the cooling jacket restored Although there were several variants with varying barrel lengths and sights made to customers specifications roughly three main variants were produced one with a 30 cm barrel tangent rear sight and bayonet lug was apparently sold to Bulgaria or Yugoslavia The second model sometimes called the MP34 or the standard model had a 25 cm barrel and no provision for a bayonet the rear sight on these varies some had a tangent sight others a simplified flip up L sight A third variant was basically similar in the metallic parts but replaced the foregrip with an MP18 style stock with finger grooves Overall at least 10 000 of these Vollmer based designs were made by Erma 2 They were adopted by the SS and the German Police but also sold to Mexico Yugoslavia and Spain 3 During the Spanish Civil War the EMP was used by both the Republicans 4 and the Nationalists 5 In the spring of 1939 a large number of defeated Spanish Republicans fled to France where they were disarmed Some 3 250 EMPs formerly in the possession of these fighters ended up in a French warehouse at Clermont Ferrand The EMPs were usually referred to as the Erma Vollmer in French documents The French tested the weapons and decided to adopt them for their own service A provisional manual was printed in French as Provisoire sur le pistolet mitrailleur Erma Vollmer de 9mm issued on December 26 1939 and updated on January 6 1940 However the French had obtained only some 1 540 suitable magazines for these guns so only 700 800 EMPs were actually distributed to the French forces mostly to the Mobile Gendarmerie After the Germans conquered France some EMPs armed the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism which eventually became part of the SS Charlemagne division This division was practically destroyed in February 1945 in Eastern Prussia now part of Poland Numerous EMPs have been found in the last stand battlefields of the SS Charlemagne division most of these guns lack any German military stamps or marks 6 The EMPs which arrived in German hands via the French route were given the Fremdgerat designation 740 f 7 The Yugoslav purchased EMPs were used by both the Partisans and the Chetniks 8 In Francoist Spain the EMP chambered in the 9mm Largo cartridge was locally produced until the mid 1950s It was designated Model 1941 44 9 or subfusil Coruna but commonly known as Naranjero 10 11 It performed poorly during the Ifni War 12 Design editIts arming lever is on the right The magazine housing which is on the left is slightly canted forwards to assist in feeding ammunition The weapon could be fired either in semi automatic or fully automatic modes Influence editThe final development at Erma is known as the EMP 36 This can be considered an intermediate model between the EMP and the MP38 Although many details of the mechanism were changed from the EMP it retained Vollmer s telescoping main operating spring basically unchanged On the exterior the most obvious differences are that the magazine housing was now almost vertical although still canted slightly to the left and forward The solid wood stock was replaced with a wood frame and a folding metal butt It is not entirely clear who designed the EMP 36 although Berthold Geipel himself is usually credited Apparently the features of the new design were the result of another secret contract with the German army 2 The EMP s telescopic cylinder return spring guide was retained for the Maschinenpistole 38 Users edit nbsp Bolivia used the VMP1930 during the Chaco War 13 nbsp Bulgaria 14 nbsp France 15 Vichy France small amount issued to Milice francaise 16 nbsp Germany nbsp Republic of China 2 Exported by Nationalist forces and used during the Second Sino Japanese War 14 nbsp Mexico nbsp Norway The Norwegian Police Service Assault Group Statspolitiet bought 8 VMP1930 submachine guns in 1932 17 nbsp Paraguay A few were bought before the Chaco War 18 also fielded captured Bolivian guns 13 nbsp Poland Obtained for trial purposes possibly issued to police forces and the presidential guard 19 Around 3000 were supplied to Republicans during the Spanish Civil War 20 nbsp Spain nbsp Yugoslavia in 9 19mm Parabellum 21 See also editMP 40 PM wz 39M EMP 44 List of submachine guns List of World War II firearms of GermanyReferences edit Smith 1969 pp 153m 154 a b c d G de Vries B J Martens 2001 The MP 38 40 40 1 and 41 Submachine gun Propaganda Photos Vol 2 Arnhem Special Interest Publicaties BV pp 8 13 ISBN 90 805583 2 X Smith 1969 p 428 Smith 1969 p 156 Smith 1969 pp 153 154 The Erma EMP submachine guns Translation to English of text from Martin Helebrant s Samopal MP38 a MP40 Nakladatelstvi Elka Press ISBN 978 80 87057 02 5 at mp40 nl Thorsten Heber 1942 Kennblatter fremden Gerats BoD Books on Demand p 135 ISBN 978 3 8370 4042 5 Retrieved 11 August 2013 Scarlata Paul 1 October 2017 Yugoslav Part II World War II small arms an assortment of small arms from friends and foe alike Firearms News Smith 1969 p 544 Republica Armas Infanteria Subfusiles www sbhac net Retrieved 2023 06 16 Juan Tous Melia 2000 Guia historica del Museo Militar Regional de Canarias p 93 ISBN 978 84 7823 752 4 Pinero Juan Pastrana 2015 El ejercito espanol en la Guerra de Ifni Sahara In Vinas Martin Angel Puell de la Villa Fernando eds La historia militar hoy investigaciones y tendencias Military History Today Research and Trends PDF in Spanish pp 295 314 ISBN 978 84 617 2104 7 a b Alejandro de Quesada 20 November 2011 The Chaco War 1932 35 South America s greatest modern conflict Osprey Publishing p 24 ISBN 978 1 84908 901 2 a b EMP Submachine Gun WW2DB Retrieved 2022 11 25 Scarlata Paul June 2017 French World War II Small Arms Part II Firearms News 15 34 World War II Vichy French Security Troops Osprey Publishing 2018 p 41 ISBN 978 1472827753 Magnar Skaret 2017 Politiets Vapen Norsk Politihistorisk Selskap p 109 110 ISBN 978 82 998108 4 5 La Guerra del Chaco fighting in El Infierno Verde Part II tanks airplanes submachine guns Scarlata Paul Polish WWII Weapons Part 1 Firearms News Retrieved 2023 06 16 Republica Armas Infanteria Subfusiles www sbhac net Retrieved 2023 06 16 Smith 1969 p 723 Further reading editK R Pawlas 1994 Die Maschinenpistole Erma MPE Waffen Revue Nr 95 pp 47 56 L Guillou 1994 Le pistolet mitrailleur Erma Vollmer de 1931 cal 9 mm Para Gazette des armes numero 254 Les P M Allemands 1918 1945 Gazette des armes hors serie n 19 Smith Joseph E 1969 Small Arms of the World 11 ed Harrisburg Pennsylvania The Stackpole Company External links editSpringfield Armory Museum item 1712 http www iwm org uk collections item object 30029386 http www iwm org uk collections item object 30029289 http www armeetpassion com ermavollmer html https archive today 20130811141900 http www coebaleares com index php es armamentocoe subfusil mod c More photos Modern Firearms Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erma EMP amp oldid 1176382396, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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