INFANTRY WEAPONS

OF THE FINNISH DEFENCE FORCES 1939 - 1945

 

LIGHT INFANTRY WEAPONS

In 1918 a newly born Finnish Army had inherited a wide variety of former Russian infantry weapons. Thus the rimmed 7.62 mm Russian rifle cartridge (7.62x53R) became standard also in Finland. The most typical Finnish infantry rifle before and during the WW II was Russian 7.62 mm Mosin-Nagant m/91.

Already during the 1920's the performance of old Russian rifles were improved. New Mosin-Nagant type infantry rifle VKT m/27 [VKT = Valtion kivääritehdas = State Rifle Factory] called "the spitz" was developed for the conscripts by the Army. Soon was although noticed that new rifle had several faults and weaknesses and it was not accepted by the Civil Guard [Suojeluskunta] which developed its own Sako m/28 (Sako = Suojeluskuntain asekorjaamo Oy = Civil Guard Weapons Repair Shop Corporation) and improved Sako m/28-30 rifles. Rifles were better than m/27 but the production quantities remained reduced.

During the late 30's Army and Civil Guard designed a new joint infantry rifle Sako m/39 (called "Ukko-Pekka") which was actually a kind of combination of former Finnish models and became the best Mosin-Nagant type rifle ever produced. Captured Soviet m/91-30 rifles were also used in Finland during the war. Although acquired in considerable quantities other rifle models were usually directed to Air Force, Naval Forces and Home Troops.

7.62 mm Lahti-Saloranta m/26 (L/S-26) light machine gun (called as "fast rifle" in Finland) was the standard light automatic "squad weapon" of the Finnish Army until better Soviet 7.62 mm Degtyarev m/27 LMG (called "Emma") partly replaced it during the Continuation War. Degtyarev LMGs were captured in noticeable quantities in Winter War and at the beginning of the Continuation War. In 1939 there were two L/S-26 LMGs in each rifle platoon while in 1941 there were four L/S-26s or Degtyarevs (one for each infantry squad).
.

Captured Soviet 7.62 mm Degtyarev LMG is fired by private V. Broman probably in Armour Training Battalion at Varkaus in winter 1942/43. (Photo: Harri Anttonen)
.
.
At first the standard Finnish pistol cartridge was 7.65 mm Parabellum but there were also pistols using short 7.65 mm and 9.00 mm Browning as well as larger 9.00 mm Parabellum cartridges. During the 1930's more powerful Finnish 9.00 mm Parabellum cartridge (called "SMG cartridge" in Finland) became a new standard because of the introduction of the sub-machine gun.

Reliable German-made 7.65 mm Parabellum m/23 pistol was the most numerous weapon among the officers in regular service but the new Finnish 9.00 mm Lahti L-35 pistol became also popular during the war although it was quite heavy. The growing need for better larger calibre pistols was solved in bying small quantities of almost any available models from Germany and Italy but the lack of powerful pistols continued through the war. The most typical reserve officer's pistol was thus either original 7.65 mm FN model or its weak Spanish-made copy bought from France in 1919.

At the beginning of 1930's a new 9.00 mm Suomi m/31 SMG entered service. This handy and powerful "squad weapon" was especially effective at close range when fighting in forest and caused serious losses to Soviet soldiers during Winter War. In 1939 each rifle platoon had two SMGs, in 1941 it was four but by 1944 the number was already three in each rifle squad (10 - 15 per rifle platoon). Even artillery and supply troops were later equipped with a small quantity of SMGs. Finnish guerrilla ("sissi") patrols were almost solely equipped with Suomi SMGs in addition to captured Soviet automatic rifles and a few ordinary rifles for long range fire.

Finnish modification of Soviet PPS-43 SMG 9.00 mm m/44 did't see action during the WW II.
.

 

Weapon
Designation:
. 
Cartridge:
(cal.[mm],
type]
Number:
[pcs]
Country
of Origin:
Notes: 
         
Pistols (Pistoolit [Pist.]):
.
Walther model 4
.

FN-Browning m/10

Ahlberg
.

Ruby m/19 "Esp."
(Spanish)
.

Beretta m/15, m/19

Beretta m/35

FN-Browning m/10-22

m/23 Parabellum

vz.38
.

Husqvarna m/07

vz.24

Beretta m/34

Mauser m/96

FN m/35 "GP"

Lahti L-35
("Lahtipistooli")
.
.
.
.
.
.

7.65 Br
.

7.65 Br

7.65 Br
.

7.65 Br
.
.

7.65 Br

7.65 Br

7.65 Br

7.65 Pb

9.00 Br
.

9.00 Br

9.00 Br

9.00 Br

9.00 Pb

9.00 Pb

9.00 Pb

500
.

2.500

1.000
.

7.000
.
.

1.500

3.090

2.500

7.000

1.700
.

850

3.280

560

500

2.400

100
2.500
.
1.000

1.150

Ger
.

Bel

Fin
.

Spa/Fra
.
.

Ita

Ita

Bel

Ger

Cze/Ger
.

Swe

Cze/Ger

Ita

Ger

Bel

Fin

Small quantities obtained by civils, Army, Police
and prison authorities
between 1910 and 1930.

Obtained during Winter War.

FN m 1910 copy obtained in 1919 with wooden
grip plates,
15 mm longer barrel and slide.

Weak Spanish FN copies made during
WW I, parts not interchangeable, bought
from France in 1919.

Obtained in 1940.

Obtained 1941 - 1942.

Enlarged version of m/10, obtained in 1940.

Made by DWM, also 9 mm P-08 models.

Made by CZ, obtained from Germany
in 1940.

Pistols of volunteer Swedish SFK in 1940.

Made by CZ, obtained from Germany in 1940.

Mainly bought by Home Troops in 1943.

Also 7.62 mm Pb models.

Obtained during Winter War.

Made by VKT for trials in 1938;
improved version, 1939 - 1940 (1.000)
and 1940 - 1941 (1.500), batch I;
1941 - 1942, batch II;
new simplified version, 1944 (550) and
after Continuation War 1944 - 1945 (600),
batch III.

Sub-Machine Guns (SMG) (Konepistoolit [Kp.]):
.
Bergmann
.
.

m/31 Suomi
.
.
.

Shpagin PPSh-41
.

7.65 Pb
.
.

9.00 Pb
.
.
.

7.62 Rus

1.600
.
.

62.000
.
.
.

2.500

Sui+Fin
.
.

Fin
.
.
.

SU

M/18-I, obtained from Switzerland during
1920's by Civil Guard, 200 Finnish copies
also made by L. Lindelöf Works in 1923.

3.900 produced by Tikkakoski during 1930's,
during Winter War 1.750, 1940 - 1941 3.000,
newer m/31-43 with muzzle brake, also
"bunker SMG" [550 pcs] and "tank SMG".

War booty 1942 - 1944.

Rifles and Carbines (Jalkaväenkiväärit [Jv.Kiv.] ja karabiinit):
.
Mauser m/96
.

Carcano m/38
"Terni"

m/91

m/91 rv
.

m/91 suomal.
(Finnish)
.
.

m/91 rv suomal.
(Finnish)

m/91-24
.

m/27 "pystykorva"
(The spitz)
.

m/27 rv

m/28
.

m/28-30
.
.

m/39
.
*) = no pistol grip
.

m/91-30
.

m/91-30 suomal. 
(Finnish)
.

6.5 Swe
.

7.35 Ita
.

7.62x53R

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R
.
.
.

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R
.
.

7.62x53R

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R
.
.

7.62x53R
.
.
.

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R

+60.000
.

94.500
.

+180.000

+4.000
.

70.000
10.000
13.000
87.000

3.000
.

26.000
.

55.000
.
1.000

2.000

33.000
.

+30.000
.
+10.000

7.000 *)
59.500
10.500
30.300

28.300
+100.000  

5.000

Swe
.

Ita
.

Rus

Rus
.

Rus/Fin
.
.
.

Rus/Fin
.

Rus/Fin
.

Fin
.
.

Fin

Fin
.

Fin
.
.

Fin
.
.
.

SU
.

SU/Fin

Obtained from Sweden during
Winter War (1940).

Bought from Italy in 1940, fixed sights.
.

Mosin-Nagant m 1891 (barrel length  800 mm).

Mosin-Nagant m 1891 dragoon rifle
(barrel length  730 mm).

Re-newed in Finland 1919 - 1923;
re-barreled 1925 - 1927 by Tikkakoski;
re-tubed 1925 - 1927 by A.T.V. 1;
re-barreled during the war.

Cavalry version of m 1891 dragoon rifle,
re-newed in Finland.

Re-barreled 1923 - 1928 by Civil Guard with
SIG and Venus (Böhmer) barrels.

New "Mosin-Nagant" type rifle made
by VKT with shorter barrel (length 685 mm);
made during the war by Arms Depot 1.

Cavalry version of m/27 (barrel length 610 mm).

New "Mosin-Nagant" type Civil Guard
rifle made by Sako (barrel length 685 mm).

Improved m/28 made by Sako,
also for civilian sales, improved sights;
made during the war 1939 - 1941.

New mutual Army and Civil Guard rifle made
mainly by Sako 1940 - 1945;
financed by Civil Guard 1941 - 1944;
made by Arms Depot 3 1942 - 1944.

War booty 1939 - 1940.
War booty 1941 - 1944.

Re-worked version with new stock,
barrel and fore sight.

Sniper Rifles with Scope (Tarkka-ampujakiväärit):

(Most Finnish sniper rifles used during the war were without a scope;
Finnish top sniper Simo Häyhä used his personal extra accurate m/28 hunting rifle without a scope.)

.

m/28

m/33
.

m/37
(m/27 PH)

m/39 PH

m/39 sov
.

m/39-43

m/39-44
.

m/91-30 PE
m/91-30 PEM, PU
.

7.62x53R

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R

11

25
.

150
.

100

200
.

300

50
.

200
70

Fin/Ger

Fin/Ger
.

Fin
.

Fin

Fin/SU
.

Fin/Ger

Fin
.

SU

Sako rifle m/28 with Zeiss scope for Civil Guard.

Sako rifle m/28-30 with Zeiss-made
Busch scope for Civil Guard.

VKT rifle m/27 with Finnish Physica
scope, 1940.

Rifle m/39 with Physica scope, 1943.

Rifle m/39 with Soviet PE or PEM
scope (war booty), 1942 - 1944.

Rifle m/39 with German Ajack scope, 1944.

Rifle m/39 with Finnish Väisälä m/44
scope, 1944.

War booty 1939 - 1940,
war booty 1941 - 1944.

Automatic Rifles (Automaattikiväärit):
.
m/36 Simonov

m/38 Tokarev

m/40 Tokarev
.
.

7.62x53R

7.62x63R

7.62x52R

<1.000

3.950

15.000

SU

SU

SU

AVS-36, automatic, war booty 1939 - 1940.

SVT-38, semi-automatic, war booty 1939 - 1940.

SVT-40, semi-automatic, war booty 1941 - 1944,
also automatic AVT-40 and
sniper models.

Light Machine Guns (LMG) (Pikakiväärit [Pk.]):
.
Chauchat m/18
.

m/21

Lahti-Saloranta m/26
(L/S-26)

Degtyarev m/27
 

FN Browning type D
.

8.00 Fra
.

6.50 Swe

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R
.

7.92 Ger

8.000
.

350

5.700
.

3.400
5.600

700

Fra
.

Swe

Fin
.

SU
.

Bel

Donated from France in 1940. Used by secondary
troops and training units, worthless weapon.

200 used by volunteer Swedish in 1940 (SFK).

Produced by VKT during the 1930's 4.600 pcs,
1940 - 1941 1.100 pcs more.

War booty 1939 - 1940,
war booty 1941 - 1944.

Obtained during Winter War.

.
 

HEAVY INFANTRY WEAPONS

During the WW II the main heavy infantry weapon in Finnish Army was Russian 7.62 mm Maxim m/09 MG. This version was either with original Russian Sokolov m/09 wheel mount (Maxim m/09-09 [called Maxim-Sokolov m 1910 in Russia]) or with newer Finnish m/21 tripod mount (Maxim m/09-21).

Maxim MGs were improved and redeveloped in Finland. Starting in 1927 moving parts were standardized and since 1933 original textile belt was replaced gradually by Finnish-designed steel belt. After reworking MGs were much more reliable and easier to overhaul and repair. Finnish-made Maxim m/32-33 (with a new improved tripod mount m/33) had a rate of fire risen to 1.150 rpm using special Finnish invention called "accelerator".
. 

Finnish 7.62 mm Maxim m/09-21 MG used by Karelian Guard's Regiment (KKR) in Vyborg (Viipuri) during late 1920's. (Photo: Harri Anttonen)
.
.
Another important group of heavy infantry weapons are mortars. Mortar is a very simple and cheap but highly accurate and effective weapon. Mortars with a maximum range of 2,7 to 5,3 kms gave a fast light artillery support for the infantry and replaced infantry guns in Finland.

Finnish Army had bought 81 mm Brandt-Stokes mortars (range 2,7 km) during the late 1920's and these were licence-built and improved in Finland. By 1939 the maximum range had almost been doubled in 81 mm Tampella m/38 (range 4,9 km). In Finland light mortar platoon of infantry battalion consisted of three mortars. During Winter War only separate infantry battalions had organic mortar platoons but during Continuation War mortar platoon was a standard in all Finnish infantry battalions. Infantry regiment's organic mortar company consisted of two light mortar platoons.

By 1940 a new Finnish 120 mm Tampella m/40 heavy mortar (range 5,3 km) was fully developed. In 1941 regimental mortar company could also consist of one heavy (3x 120 mm mortar) and one light mortar platoon (3x 81 mm mortar) and was called heavy mortar company. During spring and summer 1942 all Finnish divisions disbanded one of its three infantry regiments but left its organic mortar and [AT] gun companies to division level units. By 1944 all divisional motorized heavy mortar companies had two heavy mortar platoons (3+3).

Also captured Soviet 50 mm, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars were used mainly during the Continuation War.
.

 

Weapon Designation:
.
Cal:
[mm]
Number:
[pcs]
Country
of Origin:
Notes:
         
Machine Guns (MG) (Konekiväärit [Kk.):
.
m/09-09
.

m/09-21
.

m/32-33
.

MG 08
.
.

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R
.

7.62x53R
.

7.92 Ger

1.000
3.000

1.000
.

1.200
.

1.000

Rus/(Fin)
SU/(Fin)

Rus/Fin
.

Fin
.

Ger

Maxim m/05 and Maxim-Sokolov m/10
MGs with wheel mount, partly re-newed.

Re-newed Maxim with tripod mount, 200 new
guns made in the 1920's by Tikkakoski.

Improved Maxim with new tripod mount, rate
of fire 1.150 rpm, last 400 made 1939 - 1942.

Obtained in 1941 with optical sights for
fortress and coastal troops.

Mortars (Kranaatinheittimet [Krh.]):
. 
Brandt-Stokes m/?

Tampella m/33, m/35,
m/36

Tampella m/38
.

m/3?
.

Tampella m/40
.
.

m/38
.
.

81

81
.

81
.

82
.

120
.
.

120

?

?
?

?
118

?
415

62
356
.

200
50

UK

Fin
Fin,Pol,Ita

Fin
.

SU
.

Fin
.
.

SU

Range 2.7 km.

Licence made Brandt-Stokes mortars,
redeveloped in Finland, range 2,7 - 2,9 km.

Improved model, range 4,9 km;
obtained between 1941 - 1944.

War booty, during Winter War;
during Continuation War.

Obtained after Winter War 1940 - 1941;
obtained during Continuation War,
excellent Finnish design, range 5,3 km.

War booty 1941, range ? km;
bought from Germany in the summer 1944.

.

Sources: PALMA1, PARUN1, KANPE2, TALHI, JATHI
.
:

© 2001 - 29.9.2003 Harri Anttonen

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