CODE 03-040-944
NAME – StG 44 mit Vorsatz Pz
NAME (NATIVE) – StG44 mit der Gebogene Lauf [Storm Rifle 44 with the Curved Barrel]
COMMON NAMES – Krummen Lauf [Crooked Barrel]
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Germany
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1944
CALIBER – 7.92×33 mm
BARREL LENGTH – 44.35 cm (17.46 in)
RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 4 groove, Right hand twist, 1 turn in 24 cm (9.45 in)
LOAD – Full jacketed ball with iron core
BULLET DIAMETER – 8.23 mm (0.324 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 8.19 g (126.4 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 690 m/s (2364 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 2127 j (1569 ft/lb)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 2.040 kg (4 lb 8 oz) Weight of curved barrel and connecting piece only
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 7.54 kg (16 lb 10 oz) Barrel only mounted on StG 44 loaded with 30 rounds Pist.Patr.43 SmE
TYPE OF MOUNT – Non-removable Ball and Socket mount in roof of tank turret
WEIGHT OF MOUNT – 20 kg (44 lb 1.5 oz)
SIGHTS – Busch periscope Zf 1.25 power, 12 degree field of view
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 300 m
MANUFACTURER – Rheinmetall-Borsig , Unterluss, Germany
STATUS – Obsolete
SERVICE – Very limited production (possibly 500 units) late in WWII. Not known to have been introduced for active field use
This is a barrel attachment for the MP44-StG 44 series of automatic rifles. It is intended to supply a 90 degree bent barrel to allow an armored vehicle to defend itself against close-quarter enemy troops. The original designation of this device, Vorsatz P, was changed in late 1944. The “P” designation officially stands for Platzpatrone [blank cartridge] while “Pz” stood for Panzer [tank]. As the 90 degree barrel was intended for use from an armored vehicle, and to prevent confusion in official documents, the designation was changed to Vorsatz Pz, though it is still commonly called the Vorsatz P.
