Firearms / Sub machine guns / Walther MPL
Walther MPL
General Facts
- TYPE
Sub machine gun - ORIGIN
Germany - NICKNAMES
MP3 (MPL in German police service)
MP4 (MPK in German police service) - DESIGNED
Late 1950's - early 1960's - DESIGNER
Walther - PRODUCTION
1963 - 19 - PRODUCERS Germany - Carl Walther
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Simple and rugged design
Controllable automatic fire
Heavy due to all steel construction
Introduction
The MPL is an early Cold War era sub machine gun of German origin. It was developed in the early 1960's by Walther. The name stands for Machinenpistole Lang, German for long machine pistol. The shorter model is known as the MPK.
Design
The MPL is a select-fire blowback operated sub machine gun. It uses a stamped steel receiver and has a side folding steel wireframe buttstock. The barrel is surrounded by a metal cooling jacket.
Firepower
The MPL fires the 9x19mm NATO round from a 32 round magazine. It is a select-fire weapon that fires semi-automatic or full automatic at a manageable rate of fire of 550 rpm. The maximum effective range is quoted as 200 meters for the MPL and 100 meters for the shorter barreled MPK.
Users
The MPL was adoptedby West Germany for law enforcement and navy use. The MPL and MPK were exported, mostly to South America. Nowadays the MPL is no longer in first line service.
Walther MPL and MPK
The Walther MPL and MPK are basic and solid sub machine guns. They are easily identified by their slotted metal barrel shrouds and steel wireframe buttstock.
MPK: Short model Walther sub machine gun. The name stands for Machinenpistole Kurz, German for short machine pistol.
MPL: Long model Walther sub machine gun. The name stands for Machinenpistole Lang, German for long machine pistol.
| Type | Sub machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 32 round detachable box |
| Operation | Gas operated, simple blowback |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel length | 260 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | ? |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 749 mm / 462 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.0 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, 100 and 200 m gradation |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Sub machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 32 round detachable box |
| Operation | Gas operated, simple blowback |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel length | 173 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | ? |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 659 mm / 373 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2.83 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, 100 m gradation |
| Remarks | - |
Media
Franchi LF-57
The Italian LF-57 sub machine gun produced by Franchi look somewhat similar to the contemporary Walther MPL.
