Historical Document · 1953

CIA Information Report — New Type Soviet Submachine Gun and Carbine (29 April 1953, SECRET)

A five-page CIA information report distributed 29 April 1953, classified SECRET / SECURITY INFORMATION and declassified in 2009 (CREST CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5). Source: a member of the Krasnoselskiy Guards, Order of Aleksandr Nevskiy Rifle Regiment. It describes two new Soviet weapons issued alongside the old PPSh — the AK-47 and the SKS — with two hand-drawn memory sketches. NOTE: the report is marked UNEVALUATED and it gets two things about the carbine WRONG, which is exactly why it is worth reading: it says the carbine 'could be fired automatically or could fire single shots' (the SKS is semi-automatic only) and that 'the clip was placed into the magazine from the bottom part of the stock' (it is charged from a stripper clip through the top, over an open bolt). Its account of the SECRECY is first-hand and accurate: the weapons were military secrets issued only to the Leningrad and Far Eastern military districts, and only to troops in settlements away from inhabited localities.

Author: US Central Intelligence Agency
Year: 1953
Type: Historical Document
Pages: 5
Credit: US Central Intelligence Agency. Declassified and approved for release via the CIA Records Search Tool (CREST). US government work — public domain.

sks
ak-47
simonov
7.62x39
soviet small arms
crest
declassified
intelligence report
leningrad oblast
cia-rdp80-00810a001000900006-5

← Back to the Reference Library

a , Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY " This Document contains inf th frecting the Na- tional Defense of the United States, within the mean- ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents ] N FO RMATION RE PO RT . to or receipt by an unauthorized person Is prohibited by law. The reproduction of this form 1s prohibited. SECRET. SECURITY INFORMATION 25X1 COUNTRY USSR (Leningrad Oblast) REPORT SUBJECT New Type Soviet Submachine Gun DATE DISTR. 29 April 1953 and Carbine ‘ : NO. OF PAGES 5 DATE OF INFO. REQUIREMENT NO, RD PLACE ACQUIRED REFERENCES 25x This is UNEVALUATED Information THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE. THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT iS TENTATIVE. (FOR KEY SEE REVERSE) 25X1 25X1 1. f the Krasnoselskiy Guards, Order of Aleksandr Nevskiy Rifle Regiment, three original companies, composed of old soldiers, were being used to clear away some mine fields in the Leningrad and Novgorod oblasts. Only service per~ sonnel such as signal men, drivers, and cooks were then living in the barracks. |. 25x1 2, Soldiers of the Krasnolselskiy Regiment were‘ equipped with new type. submachine - unis and carbines The regiment's new recruits » who were organized into three companies at the start of basic training, were issued old type PPSh submachine guns and the old type of carbine. 3. The new Soviet submachine gun [note sketch on p. L/ had a removable wooden stock and was equipped with a handle grip. Some of these submachine guns had, instead of wooden stecks, collapsible metal frame stocks similar to those of the German World War II machine gums, A new feature of the Soviet weapon was a.gas mani~_ fold (a gas-returning metal tube) placed on the top of its body to cause the recoil of the bolt and to eject the cartridge cases. The body of 25 YEAR RE-REVIEW| SECRET STATE | #ac[ army | fx |navy | faoclarr ix | Fat a | | 23, ' 25x1 Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5 5. Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5 SECRET Soe [| 25x1 -2- this submachiné gun was considerably longer (400 mm.) than that of . thé PPSh, but the jacket was much shorter. The barrel was not entirely covered by the jacket but protruded approximately 80 mm. This submachine ‘gun was provided with a removable knife-type bayonet. The magazine was flat and held 30 rounds. Cartridges were somewhat longer than for the PPSh and the top of the projectile was more pointed. These cartridges could be used fom both this new submachine gun and the hew type carbine gsee next paragraph/. The rear sight was the Same | type as that ‘used'onthe rifle. The submachine -like the.PPSh, eould be used for either single or automatic fire... “ate weight was one 2OM1 slightly heavier than that of the PPSh. ‘THe opening on the right side of the action.was very narrow, sufficient only for horizontal manipula-~ tion of the bolt's handle. | 95x4 the weapon was not collapsible in the middle like the PPSh. In general, the new submachine gun looked very ‘Similar to the German World War II submachine gun. The new Soviet carbine was of the same length as the old MAH, but somewhat heavier /Nate sketch on p.57. It was provided with a non- removable, collapsible knife-type bayonet. When not in use, the bayonet was switched back to lie in a special groove in the bottom of the stock. Like the new submachine gun, this carbine was provided with a gas manifold for the recoil of the bolt and the ejection of cartridge. The bolt was completely covered from the sides and top, except for a slit on the right side fer the bolt's handle. The clip held 10 rounds of the universal new submachine gun - carbine ammunition. This carbine eould be fired automatically or could fire single shots. The prineiple of volley firing was the same as with the submachine guns. The clip. was placed into the magazine from the bottom part of the steck. | | : 25X1 Until they had taken the military oath at the end of the basic training period, new recruits in Svobodnoye were not allewed by their superiors to come close to these new submachine or rbines \these new weapons 25X41 were considered military secrets and were issued only to some troops of the Leningrad and Far Eastern military districts. Even in these military districts, in order to preserve the required degree of secrecy, ‘they Were issued only to troops stationed in military settlements away from inhabited localities. 25X1 25X1 [a new AAMG. It probably had a caliber of 12 mm, It.had two barrels and was air-cooled. The ammu- nition for this AAMG was placed in belts. The firing was done by foot pressure. The’ carriage was on two wheels. No firing could be SECRET Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5 Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5 ’ 25X1 SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION C._d Géne while this weapon was being mounted on the carriage ° = cu" ""this -AANG could be used both against ground tdrgets and aircraft. The-erew consisted of five members, and the weapon was 25x1 towed by a GAZ-51 .. 4-wheel, 2% ton truck. ‘The sighting device for. this machine gua was in the form of a box 15 x 10 x 6 om. with “a oombination of reflecting mirrors and a dim sereen with sight lines forming a cross. This sighting device was co-axial, fastened permanently on the machine gun's barrel. Sighting and firing were done: simultaneously, always following the target in the sight. _ SECRET Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5 PTE ag 0 te ; SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION i -ke- Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5 Lege nd A. Bayonet B. Barrel C. Front sight D. Jacket B. Gas manifold 3. Rear sight G@. Stock H. Handle grip I, Magazine with 30 cartridges Hew SHG and Carbine Cartridge SHG-PPSh TE-M-19350 Cartridge —Ga—— SOO MM. i | | Memory Sketch of the New Type H . Soviet SHG Total length: 1100 mm. Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5 SECRET 25X11 Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5 SECKET/SECURITZ INFORMATION Ae Stock B. Rear sight C. Gas manifold DB. Front sight E. Bayonet F. Barrel G. Magazine with 10 cartridges H. frigger housing Memory Sketch of the New Type Soviet Carbine =“ ‘ Total length: 1350 mm. SECRET Approved For Release 2009/03/05 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001000900006-5