The MP44 (or the StG44 (Sturmgewehr 44 or "Assault Rifle model 1944")) is an Assault Rifle in the Day of Defeat Series. It also has the honor of being the first Rifle of its kind to see major deployment, considered by many historians to be the first modern Assault Rifle. It is also known under the designations MP43 and MP44 (Maschinenpistole 43, Maschinenpistole 44 respectively), which denotes earlier development versions of the same weapon.

Contents 1 History 2 Day of Defeat 3 Day of Defeat: Source 4 Trivia

History Edit

MP43, MP44, and StG44 were different designations for what was essentially the same rifle, with minor updates in production. The variety in nomenclatures resulted from the complicated bureaucracy in Nazi Germany. Developed from the Mkb 42(H) "Machine Carbine", the StG44 combined the characteristics of a carbine, Sub-Machine Gun and Automatic Rifle. StG is an abbreviation of Sturmgewehr, which meant 'Assault Rifle' in German. The name was chosen for propaganda reasons and literally means Storm Rifle as in "to storm an enemy position" (i.e. "Assault", leading to the modern terminology "Assault Rifle"). After the adoption of the StG44, the English translation "Assault Rifle" became the accepted designation for this type of infantry small arm.

The rifle was chambered for the 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge, also known as 7.92 mm Kurz (German for "short"). This shorter version of the German standard (7.92x57mm Mauser) rifle round, in combination with the weapon's selective-fire design, provided a compromise between the controllable firepower of a submachine gun at close quarters with the accuracy and power of a Karabiner 98k bolt action rifle at intermediate ranges. While the StG44 had less range and power than the more powerful infantry rifles of the day, Wehrmacht studies had shown that most combat engagements occurred at less than 300 m with the majority within 200 m.

Day of DefeatEdit

The MP44 serves as the long assault weapon of the Axis in Day of Defeat. Although having higher recoil than a submachine gun, its still more moderate that other high powered weapons in Day of Defeat. The weapon has a large thirty round magazine, ten more than the American BAR, and a slightly faster rate of fire; making this weapon more suited for close range combat that the BAR or the Bren. On the other hand; the MP44 is weaker than the BAR or the Bren and does less damage; reducing the usefulness of this weapon at longer range.

Day of Defeat: SourceEdit

The MP44 in Day of Defeat: Source is the direct comparison to the American BAR. The MP44 has ten more rounds than the BAR in its magazine and has less recoil, but weaker and less accurate than the BAR. The MP44 now has the ability to switch into semi automatic fire, improving its usefulness at longer ranges.

Trivia Edit

• For such a little produced weapon, the Stg44 had many different attachments created for it, including a Telescopic Sight (pictured above), a Night Vision Sight (right), rifle grenade attachment, and a curved barrel for firing out of tanks (left.)

Weapons of Day of Defeat
Bolt-Action/Sniper Rifles	Kar98k · Springfield · Lee-Enfield
Semiautomatic Rifles	M1 Garand · M1 Carbine · K43
Submachine Guns	MP40 · M1 Thompson · Sten · M3
Light Machine Guns	BAR · MP44 · FG42 · Bren
Medium Machine Guns	M1919 · MG34 · MG42
Sidearms	M1911 · Luger · Webley
Rocket Launchers	Bazooka · Panzerschreck · PIAT
Grenades	Mk 2 · Stielhandgranate · Mills Bomb
Miscellaneous	Satchel

Weapons of Day of Defeat: Source
Bolt-Action/Sniper Rifles	Kar98k · Springfield
Semiautomatic Rifles	M1 Garand · M1 Carbine
Submachine Guns	MP40 · M1 Thompson
Support	BAR · MP44
Machine Guns	M1919 · MG42
Sidearms	M1911 · P38 · C96
Rocket Launchers	Bazooka · Panzerschreck
Grenades	Mk 2 · Stielhandgranate · Smoke Grenade · Rifle Grenade
Miscellaneous	Satchel