The PPSh-41 was a Soviet submachine gun introduced in 1941 and widely used by Red Army troops during the Second World War. Designed for cheap, mass production, it fired pistol-calibre rounds at a very high rate, and its distinctive 71-round drum magazine made it instantly recognisable on the battlefield. After the war it remained in service in many countries and became a staple of war films, documentaries and video games. Editors still reach for its rapid fire today because it immediately evokes that era without needing explanation.