SERVICE – Soviet military, licensed production in Poland as the Pistolet Maszynowy wz. 43 beginning in 1948. A later wooden stocked variation was also produced in Poland as the PPS wz 43/52. Produced in the People’s Republic of China as the Model 54 in 1953-56.
In the middle of 1943, efforts were made to improve the PPS-42 in both manufacturing and functioning. The upgrading in design was conducted by Aleksey I. Sudaev, the designer of the PPS-42. The bulk of the weapon was still made from heavy sheet steel stampings with only a few small parts besides the bolt and barrel, needing to be machined.
The perforated barrel jacket was included with the stamping that formed the receiver. This eliminated the joint between the barrel jacket and receiver in front of the magazine well, as seen on the PPS-42. The folding stock was shortened by almost two inches. In the PPS-43, when the stock is folded, the butt plate surrounds the rear sight rather than the ejection port as on the PPD-42. The barrel was also slightly shortened in the PPS-43, making for a more compact weapon.
Further simplification of the design included removing the spent cartridge ejector. Instead of a fixed part striking the extracted cartridge case for ejection, the front of the mainspring guide was slightly modified to acts as the ejector. The enlarged tip of the mainspring guide would pass through the bolt, striking the rear of the fired cartridge case at the appropriate location for ejection. The release mechanism for the folding stock was changed to a button on top of the back of the receiver. Pressing the button in releases the stock for folding or extending. The safety mechanism was also improved. Pulling the lever at the front of the trigger guard back puts the weapon on safe. To fire, the safety is pushed forward with the front of the trigger finger. And addition the safety mechanism would lock the bolt in either the front or rear position when it was engaged.
The PPS-43 was very popular with paratroops, tank crews, and other troops who had to work in a confined environment. It was produced in much greater numbers than its predecessor, the PPS-42. Close to 2 million specimens were produced from 1943 to 1946. Most were given to Soviet satellite countries after WWII and as such it became a common submachinegun seen in Communist hands during the Korean War.
