MP38 submachine gun

weapon

Also known as: burp gun

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The MP38 is a submachine gun, a lightweight automatic firearm designed for pistol cartridges and effective at close range, typically under 200 yards. Developed in Germany during World War I, the first true submachine gun was the MP18. The MP38, along with the MP40, was a simplified, mass-producible German design from World War II, known for its relatively high rate of fire and use of box magazines. These weapons were crucial for increasing individual soldier firepower in close-quarters combat, a need highlighted by the changing nature of warfare in both World Wars.12

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The submachine gun
…led the way with the MP38 and MP40. Known to the Allies as “burp guns,” these weapons operated at 450 to 550 rounds per minute, the optimal rate for controlled fire. Also, they were fed by a box magazine, which did not jam as often as a drum, and had…
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…led the way with the MP38 and MP40. Known to the Allies as “burp guns,” these weapons operated at 450 to 550 rounds per minute, the optimal rate for controlled fire. Also, they were fed by a box magazine, which did not jam as often as a drum, and had…
Read More