Orita M1941
Cugir Arms Factory · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1941
Also known as: Orița Md. 1941, Pistol mitralieră Orița
Overview
The Orita M1941 is a Romanian 9x19mm Parabellum submachine gun developed during World War II. It uses a blowback action firing from an open bolt with a floating firing pin and lever system, feeds from a 25- or 32-round detachable box magazine, and offers selective fire. Fielded by the Romanian Army from 1941, it was a well-made, wood-stocked weapon manufactured at Copșa Mică and later at the Cugir arsenal, and remained a distinctive symbol of Romanian small-arms production into the early Cold War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3450 g (121.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4000 g (141.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 894 mm (35.20") |
| Barrel Length | 278 mm (10.94") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 32 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 596 J (440 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 600 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
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: Wooden Stock, Graduated Rear Sight, Selective Fire
Variants
- Orita M1948 - Postwar Update
- Orita M1949 - Folding Stock Paratrooper
Service history
Operators
- Romanian Land Forces · adopted 1941 · as Orița Md. 1941
Conflicts
- World War II (1941-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 6,000 · Production years: 1941-1943
Over 6,000 units produced through October 1943; monthly output reached about 666 pieces in 1942
Origin
Country of origin: Romania
Designer: Marin Orița
Discontinued: 1943
Notes
Produced in relatively small numbers (roughly 6,000 units through October 1943). Postwar models 1948 and 1949 continued development, with the 1949 adding a folding stock for paratroopers.
Background
The Orița was credited to Romanian Army captain Marin Orița, working with Czech engineer Leopold Jašek, and became the Kingdom of Romania's principal domestically designed submachine gun of World War II.