TM-44 DI regiment commander. Bakradze, transferred to Kiev Museum of the Great Patriotic War.
For obvious reasons,, Soviet partisans had to fight in extremely difficult conditions. They did not have access to a full supply, and each weapon has been in the account. Therefore, in all detachments were armourers, is engaged in repair, and sometimes the creation of new models. AT 1943-44 master's one of the major compounds formed their own submachine gun, became famous under the name TM-44. Besides, they have managed to establish a small-scale production of such weapons.
The authors of the original design were two of partisan detachment them. GI. Kotovskogo, it was part of the team. S.M. Pinsky compound Budennogo, - James I. Temyakov and Yakov Abramovich Menchini. Shortly before the outbreak of war YA.I. Temyakov graduated from the Kiev Tank School and received the rank of military technician 2nd rank. During the battle for Minsk he was captured wounded, but later managed to flee. Later he managed to join one of the local guerrilla units. YA.A. Menchini before the war, worked as a mechanic in the service cinemafication, but with the beginning of the occupation he was sent to Slutsk ghetto. He also managed to escape and join the partisans.
The submachine gun TM-44, belonged to Major-General Komarov.
Temyakov Menchini and have experience in working with complex mechanisms, and, hitting the partisans, They apply their skills in practice: they have to maintain and repair small arms, were in existence. Through their hands passed a lot of domestic and trophy samples. A little bit later, by seeking the tools and materials, two gunsmith mastered the production of new parts for the repair of cash weapons. The next step was the release of an independent handicraft copies submachine guns PCA.
In the workshop YA.I. Temyakova and YA.A. Menchini had various equipment, required for the repair and production of weapons. These or other ways they could get or make yourself different tools, vise, forge and anvil, as well as turning and boring machines. recent, for obvious reasons, We had a manual transmission. However, and a modest equipment provides normal work workshop.
Finally, spring 1943 years enthusiasts have proposed the creation of their own design with automatic weapons under the pistol cartridge, which could make the forces of his workshop. For a number of objective reasons, "Designing" new weapons considerably delayed, and ready to sample submitted only in 1944 year.
In most cases, an improvised guerrilla weapons had a special name. Temyakov and Menchini corrected this defect. Their development they called "Machine TM-44" (or TM-1944). Under this name is known for interesting example is still.
One of TM-44, stored in Minsk. Photo from the book «partisan weapon»
Not having access to normal weapons material and technologies, ME AND. Temyakov and YA.A. Menchini were forced to use any of the available raw materials. In the course were the water pipes, bicycle frames, sheet metal, old barrels and other "resources", which could be obtained by various routes. Besides, the source of some of the details became a downed German plane. At the same time, some units are planned to borrow from the finished weapons and alter as desired. Firstly, is concerned barrel and trigger housing.
From the standpoint of the overall architecture of a submachine gun TM-44 was similar to German product MP-38/40. Thus there were some notable differences. So, partisan sample was barrel shroud, and I had to use different ammunition, which affected the gate structure, the receiver and store. In this way, in the "machine" in appearance and design can be found certain traits PCA or product PPP.
The main part of the new weapon has a tubular receiver, front part of which had a characteristic store the receiver and barrel mount. For the manufacture of boxes could be any pipe of sufficient diameter, including discontinued bicycle frames. Behind the front part of the box, destined for the installation of the barrel, It was a magazine well with a rectangular shaft. box provided above it for ejection. The main part of the receiver is a tube with a smooth or grooved external surface. Left on the gun had a length of the slot for the bolt handle.
Under the tubular receiver placed L-shaped trigger housing, like a piece of German arms. Forged aggregate had a long front portion, reaches almost to store receiver. Behind it were pistol grip and collapsible buttstock mount. Protruding rear portion of the housing served as base receiver cover. Aluminum inserts for housing parts manufactured from German plane.
Top and side views, seen some internal parts. Photo from the book «partisan weapon»
Submachine gun barrel was the average length of the caliber 7,62 mm. Barrel for the very first TM-44 was derived from the damaged rifles. His shortened as required and set a new box. Outside the trunk covered by a cylindrical casing with four rows of holes. This item is manually hammered sheet metal.
Weapon use simple automatics on the basis of free shutter. Cylindrical shutter the required size and mass produced independently. Workpiece for him was the section of the mill shaft, burned by invaders. The gate had a fixed firing pin and a simple spring-loaded extractor. Behind the gate inside the weapon was placed back-action spring. Wire to its self-production of the partisans armourers removed from the balloon trophy.
Submachine gun equipped with a trigger of the simplest designs, provides only automatic fire. the shooting is controlled by a standard trigger. Own a part of the fuse mechanism was absent. Instead, he used a groove, departing from the slit under the bolt handle - like in German weapons. Setting the handle blocked in the groove move the shutter.
ammunition supply system was based on Soviet and German operating time. The tubular receiver by receiver, similar to that used on the MP-38/40, proposed to put a curved box magazine. The latter was a handicraft shop made version of submachine gun Shpagin. It contained 35 7,62h25 mm pistol ammunition type CT. probably, due to low performance "guerrilla" springs full store gear excluded to avoid problems. The original "machine" had a relatively high receiving shaft, and therefore could not use other structures stores, such as a drum for PCA.
TM-44 was equipped with the sighting devices protozoa, fully consistent with the objectives and characteristics of weapons. In front of the barrel jacket was a small base with irregular front sight. a base positioned on the receiver plate with the whole, designed for shooting at distances of no more than several hundred meters. Setting range was not provided.
TM-44 DI regiment commander. Bakradze, transferred to Kiev Museum of the Great Patriotic War.
The German sub-machine gun "borrowed" the overall ergonomics. Hold arms suggested using the pistol grip under the rear of the receiver. On the basis of such metal handles were fixed lining, carved from cow horns. Handguard project does not involve. The second hand can be maintained "machine" for the shop or, if there is any protection, per barrel shroud.
Butt design as assembled, the German gunsmiths. Folding metal butt pivotally fastened to the housing and trigger mechanism can be installed in one of two positions. A hinge installed metal plates of desired length, Rear connecting oval shoulder rest. Apparently, one sub-machine guns TM-44 was prepared butts, removed from MP-38/40, and other similar products manned handicraft.
When assembling your weapon YA.I. Temyakov and YA.A. Menchini only used available technology. So, part of the compounds was performed by soldering using boric acid and glass. To protect against external influences, most parts covered with an oxide film. Burnishing was carried out in the simplest way: the unit was heated red hot, and then wiped bulb or immersed in birch tar.
Ready TM-44, despite the external similarity to the captured samples, It was larger and heavier. On the weight and dimensions of weapons, Firstly, affected with the raw materials and technology issues. Nevertheless, "Automatic" Temyakova-Menchini showed acceptable firing characteristics and it could be used in combat. And he even found himself in a small arms deficit indispensable.
The first TM-44 appeared at the beginning of 1944 of the year. This product with an inscription was transferred to the commander of the partisan detachment them. Kotovskogo Major General VZ. Komarov. Soon two other samples have gone to Moscow, they were intended KE. Voroshilov and PK. Ponomarenko. In the response telegram, Comrade Ponomarenko thanked gunsmiths guerrillas for their work, and also expressed the wish to preserve the unique workshop to further its premises in the museum.
Submachine gun TM-44 from the Central Museum of Armed Forces, Moscow.
In the first months 1944 , the sub-machine guns TM-44 went into series. Further, in the next few months, ME AND. Temyakov, YA.A. Menchini and their colleagues collected about available materials 45-50 new "machine". All of them entered service guerrilla group and noticeably stepped up its firepower.
Production of the submachine guns Temyakova-Menchini, as well as other guerrilla developments, It was halted in the summer of the same year. During "Bagration" operation with the assistance of the Red Army guerrilla groups liberated territory Belarus SSR from invaders. After that, the need for makeshift weapons collected missing, and themselves guerrillas were able to return from the woods and begin to peaceful work for the public good.
The known data, collected from fifty TM-44 to our time just survived half a dozen. Thus preserved samples represent not only a technical, but also of historical interest. The thing is, that survived, Firstly, "Machines" with engravings, It is a gift to those or other persons. Now all of these samples are in museums, where they can see everyone.
The first submachine gun, handed to General Komarov, now kept in the State Museum in Minsk of the Great Patriotic War. "Machine", the commander of the regiment belonged to DI. Bakradze, part of the exhibition in Kiev Museum of the Great Patriotic War. Also, the TM-44 is at the Central Museum of the Armed Forces in Moscow and other similar organizations. Other samples guerrilla weapons or were lost in combat, or disposed of after the war as unnecessary.
Soviet partisans, finding themselves in a difficult situation, We continued to fight and do everything possible to accelerate the expulsion of the invaders. One way to combat this was an independent production of the desired weapon. Submachine gun or machine-Temyakova Menchini TM-44 became one of the most popular models in its class, produces in partisan shops. This weapon appeared quite late, but still able to contribute to the success of the army in decisive operations.
