Armaguerra OG-44
Societa Anonima Revelli Manifattura Armi Guerra · Submachine Gun · Prototype · 1944
Also known as: OG-44, Armaguerra 1944, OP-44
Overview
The Armaguerra OG-44 is an Italian prototype submachine gun designed during the final years of World War II by engineer Giuseppe Oliani at the Armaguerra plant in Cremona. A refined development of the earlier bullpup OG-42 and OG-43, the OG-44 adopted a conventional layout with a dedicated pistol grip and a forward magazine housing ahead of the trigger guard. Built around a simple blowback action firing from an open bolt in 9x19mm Parabellum, it used a stamped steel receiver and was offered with either a folding metal stock or a solid wooden stock. The design was never adopted, as the Italian forces of the period were already well supplied with the Beretta MAB 38, TZ-45, and FNA-B M43.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3180 g (112.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 787 mm (30.98") |
| Barrel Length | 292 mm (11.50") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Select Fire |
| Magazine Capacity | 40 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Effective Range | 150 m (164 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 500 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Safety Notch
- Features: Folding Stock, Stamped Steel Receiver, Forward Magazine Housing, Detachable Magazine
Service history
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 14 · Production years: 1943-1944
Approximately 14 examples of the entire OG submachine gun series were manufactured, most of them OG-44 pattern; development ceased for lack of commercial and military interest.
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Designer: Giuseppe Oliani
Discontinued: 1944
Notes
Only about 14 guns of the OG series (OG-42/OG-43/OG-44) were built, the majority of them OG-44s. The weapon accepted 20, 30, or 40-round detachable box magazines. It was harvested into the source list under the erroneous designation 'OP-44'; the correct designation is OG-44.
Background
The 'OG' designation comes from the initials of its designer, Giuseppe Oliani, an engineer at Armaguerra's Cremona works. Development ran from the bullpup OG-42 of 1942, whose magazine doubled as the pistol grip, through the OG-43, to the conventionally laid-out OG-44 of 1944.