I see where you are going with this and respect a period report of perceived shortcomings so lets start there. The PPSH41 started into production in Nov 1941 during a VERY stress filled time for the USSR that was reeling from losses in just about everything Leadership, troops, equipment and land as the Germans rolled right up to Moscow itself. Your report from Jan 1942 shows that yes there where problems from user reports of it but do keep in mind these facts 1. it is still as of Jan 1942 a "new" weapon, rushed into production (and I can only assume that QC was a big issue and production bugs to be worked out) 2. the time from Nov41 to Jan 42 is just a couple months so I question just how much user familiarity there would be as bugs get sorted out and troops feel more comfortable trained up and armed with a "new" PPSH41 ? I doubt there has EVER been a weapon in the history of man kind that has not had detractors or teething problems. Case in point the original M16 was deemed a fail till its shortcomings got sorted with training and simple things like cleaning the damn gun then went on to take its place in history and develop to the respected platform it is today. As for the serialized drums, I just see that as a inventory/accountability thing and do not subscribe to "only the serialized drums/mags will work in the SMG", hell I used drums, made in a totally different country and never had any issues. Fun fact you can use different serialized barrels in C6 and 9 so serialized anything is as I said just a control and accountability device. To blow off the PPSH41 as being substandard and not up to the job is a head scratcher as it went on to be the most manufactured SMG of the Second World War with six million made and good luck with ever trying to keep serialized drum/mags and SMG together in the swirling tumult that was the Eastern front.
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