Chapter 455: PPD Submachine Gun
Dominique arrived by train, despite Steed’s repeated urging: “I hope to get answers quickly. This is critical for Saint-Étienne!”
However, after much hesitation, Dominique ultimately chose the train.
This was not just because Dominique had yet to psychologically accept airplanes as a means of transportation but also because he disliked the feeling of instability in the air.
He only felt safe when he was firmly grounded and could feel the pistol holstered at his side.
The distance between Paris and Antwerp was approximately 350 kilometers. Factoring in stops to yield to military trains, the journey took a full 13 hours. Dominique spent an entire night on the train before arriving.
When the car pulled up to Charles’ headquarters, Dominique was still yawning.
After gaining entry, carrying his suitcase, he suddenly became nervous.
The submachine gun had not been developed entirely according to Charles’ specifications, and Dominique was unsure whether it would meet expectations.
“Hey, Colonel.” Charles warmly greeted him at the door, shaking his hand. “Have you had breakfast?”
Not one for words, Dominique was caught off guard. “No, General. But it’s fine; I’m not hungry, really.”
“That won’t do.” Charles immediately instructed an orderly to prepare food and turned back to Dominique. “Although the meals here may not meet your expectations, there’s no shortage of sustenance.”
Charles led Dominique into the conference room, noting that secrecy around the new equipment was essential for future military operations.
The conference room near the airfield was somewhat disheveled. A section of the wall near the runway was scorched black and hadn’t yet been repainted. The room carried a faint burnt smell.
“My apologies,” Charles said as he settled into a chair. “This place recently endured a significant skirmish.”
“I heard about it,” Dominique replied, nodding as he munched on bread and sipped hot milk. His voice was muffled, but there was admiration in his eyes. “You launched a night assault and reclaimed Antwerp in just a few hours. It was a remarkable victory, General. Everyone is talking about it, and the newspapers are still buzzing even now.”
Charles accepted the praise with a light smile.
The campaign, which began in Cambrai and ended in Antwerp, had spanned just a single day. It was already being hailed as a textbook operation and distributed to Saint-Cyr Military Academy, where every cadet was required to study and discuss it.
“Is that the new submachine gun?” Charles’ gaze shifted to the gun case Dominique had brought.
“Yes, General.” Dominique quickly finished the last of his bread, picked up the case, and pushed it toward Charles. He hesitated for a few seconds.
Under Charles’ curious gaze, Dominique finally mustered the courage to open the case.
Charles let out a surprised “Oh!” when he saw the submachine gun, clearly not expecting what lay inside.
He had assumed he would see an MP18 but was instead greeted by a Soviet PPD—a weapon developed around 1934. Dominique had managed to create it nearly two decades ahead of schedule.
The accompanying description detailed the differences between the PPD, PPSH, and PPS submachine guns. Notably, the PPD featured a two-piece wooden forearm and parts that required milling, which complicated mass production. By contrast, the PPSH had an integrated design that allowed for stamped parts, making it far more suitable for rapid production.
“I... I understand, General,” Dominique stammered nervously as Charles studied the gun. “You had mentioned relocating the magazine to the side, but that created issues due to its high capacity.”
“You said magazine capacity was critical, so I increased it as much as possible. But when loaded with 71 rounds, the drum magazine weighs 3.6 pounds, which makes side-mounting impractical. So I...”
Although Dominique’s explanation was disjointed, Charles understood.
A fully loaded drum magazine was too heavy to mount on the side without throwing off the gun’s balance, so it had to be positioned beneath the receiver.
Charles hefted the drum magazine, noting its significant weight.
“This is excellent, Colonel,” Charles said, genuinely impressed. “Even better than I anticipated.”
That was the truth; the PPD, which was comparable to Germany’s MP38, was certainly a leap ahead of the MP18.
“Really?” Dominique finally relaxed, a look of relief washing over him. “I was worried that the battlefield might demand changes to the magazine placement due to its high rifling rate.”
“While that’s true to an extent, the 71-round capacity makes it manageable,” Charles said, raising the weapon and aiming it experimentally. Without even testing the gun or inquiring about its specifications, he immediately ordered, “Begin mass production. I’ll need two hundred units by next month.”
“Yes, General.” Dominique responded confidently now.
After a moment’s hesitation, Dominique asked, “General, I have a question that perhaps I shouldn’t ask, but my father is deeply concerned.”
“Steed?” Charles looked at Dominique curiously. “Concerned about what?”
“About your collaboration with FN,” Dominique replied, nodding. “We understand this is your prerogative, General, but FN is a formidable manufacturer of small arms.”
Steed worried that if Charles had FN, he might no longer need Saint-Étienne.
Charles laughed heartily. “Tell him not to worry. When it comes to military manufacturing, trust will always lie with our own countrymen.”
Military manufacturing was deeply tied to national interests. Although private enterprises enjoyed considerable autonomy, governments exercised varying degrees of control over their defense industries.
Should France and Belgium ever find themselves at war, Charles and FN would undoubtedly become adversaries—an unavoidable reality.
Dominique shared the same view. “That’s exactly what he thought, but he wanted to hear it from you directly. Your assurance will put him at ease.”
Sometimes, concern led to overthinking.
Charles said no more on the matter. After summoning an orderly, two shotguns were brought into the conference room.
“These are two shotguns produced by FN,” Charles said, gesturing toward them. “The long-barreled one is the Browning A5, and the short-barreled one is the Winchester 1897.”
“I recognize them,” Dominique said, casually picking one up for inspection. “Our company has studied these models, but...”
He looked up at Charles, his expression puzzled. “We concluded that these guns are too short-ranged and better suited for hunting. What’s your intent, General?”
“Combine the strengths of both,” Charles instructed. “Shorten the barrel of the Browning A5 and add a bayonet lug.”
Dominique didn’t comment further.
These modifications were straightforward and easy to implement.
However, adapting the shotgun for military use clearly indicated plans for its deployment. Would it truly be suitable for the battlefield?