Brother and sister gunnutzs, answer me this, I was looking at some reenactor sites/grioups that do Russian ww2, and one group in its information page said that the M44 was hardly ever used in combat. Is that true? they also state that they where never issued in large numbers to the comabt troops, but stayed in storage. So brother and sister gunnutzs, what is the real story?
Question about the M44, was it used in comabt?
- Thread starter TGC
- Start date
50,000 for troop trials at the front in 1943.
3,620,000 made in 1944 from January on.
3,472,245 made in 1945.
(From : http://www.mosinnagant.net/ussr/russian-m44-carbine.asp )
Even if only 1/6 th of the total made were issued, that still puts more than a million in the hands of troops. The Red Army of WWII was the greatest military force ever fielded.
With over 4 million on the ground in 1941, Russia had 6 million troops in the field at the end of WWII and cycled almost 30 million through the ranks from 1941-45 (!)
Red Army KIA alone were over 6 million during that time.
PS: Hey! It's official: I have no life as of this post!
3,620,000 made in 1944 from January on.
3,472,245 made in 1945.
(From : http://www.mosinnagant.net/ussr/russian-m44-carbine.asp )
Even if only 1/6 th of the total made were issued, that still puts more than a million in the hands of troops. The Red Army of WWII was the greatest military force ever fielded.
With over 4 million on the ground in 1941, Russia had 6 million troops in the field at the end of WWII and cycled almost 30 million through the ranks from 1941-45 (!)
Red Army KIA alone were over 6 million during that time.
PS: Hey! It's official: I have no life as of this post!
Last edited:
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
http://www.mosinnagant.net/ussr/russian-m44-carbine.asp
Izhevsk Model 1944 Production
1943 50,000
1944 3,620,000
1945 3,472,245
Of nearly 7 million rifles available to even a big army, it seems absurd to suggest that they would not have been used in combat.
Izhevsk Model 1944 Production
1943 50,000
1944 3,620,000
1945 3,472,245
Of nearly 7 million rifles available to even a big army, it seems absurd to suggest that they would not have been used in combat.
I imagine they were primarily issued to rear echelon units, police forces, NKVD, etc. However, I can't see them not being used in combat. Percentage wise compared with the PPSH and 91/30, I would be interested to see the numbers in front line use.
A lot, I'm sure. It was intended to replace the M91/30 and M1938 as a universal "short" rifle. Even with the phenomenal numbers made of all types, the Red Army still remained chronically short of small arms throughout the war due to equally tremendous losses.
- Location
- Smithers, B.C.
From what I've heard, whenever one became availiable to a unit, it was often traded for gold or other war booty, as they were considered much handier rifles, despite a horrible flash and recoil from what I've heard, again, this is heresay.
I can attest to the flash. When there was a WWII shoot on around here, a guy brought his Polish M44 one year. Quite the flame show even in broad daylight.
WELL NOW;
Not only were they issued all over Eastern Europe, to all their allies and komrades. They gave away very large number during and after WW-11to almost anyone who wanted one.
We purchase very substantial number out of warehouses all over the for Yugoslavia as well as a major quantity out of Bulgaria.
In most cases still in the original packing crates dated 1945-46-47
John
Not only were they issued all over Eastern Europe, to all their allies and komrades. They gave away very large number during and after WW-11to almost anyone who wanted one.
We purchase very substantial number out of warehouses all over the for Yugoslavia as well as a major quantity out of Bulgaria.
In most cases still in the original packing crates dated 1945-46-47
John
DESPORTERIZER;
The quality of the packing crates in most instances was so poor that we simply scrapped them and repacked the rifles for shipment....
I won't mention the kind of crates we have burned over the years, Mg-34, Mg-42, rifle crates of many types, SMGs of many types, 88mm ammo baskets.... On and on.... Simply too costly to ship.
John
The quality of the packing crates in most instances was so poor that we simply scrapped them and repacked the rifles for shipment....
I won't mention the kind of crates we have burned over the years, Mg-34, Mg-42, rifle crates of many types, SMGs of many types, 88mm ammo baskets.... On and on.... Simply too costly to ship.
John
