Brontekst bekijken van Astra 600

{{Short description|Semi-automatic pistol}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Astra 600
| image              = Pistola ASTRA 600.jpg 
| image_size         = 300
| alt                =
| caption            = 
| type               = 
| origin             = [[Spain]]
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          = yes
<!-- Service history -->
| service            = 1944–1960s
| used_by            = See ''[[Astra 600#Users|Users]]''
| wars               = [[World War II]]
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = 
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = [[Astra-Unceta y Cia SA]]
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 
| number             = 59,400<ref name="spr1">Gangarosa Jr, Gene''Spanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers'' (2001) pp.148</ref>
| variants           = 
<!-- General specifications -->
| spec_label         = 
| mass               = {{convert|1.08|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="pow1">Hogg, Ian ''Pistols of the World'' (2004) pp.412</ref>
| length             = {{convert|205|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}<ref name="pow1"/>
| part_length        = {{convert|135|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}<ref name="pow1"/>
| width              = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = 
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> 
|cartridge=[[9×19mm Parabellum]]
|action=[[Blowback (arms)|Blowback operated]]
|rate= 
|velocity=
|range=
|max_range= 
|feed=8-round [[Magazine (firearms)|box magazine]]<ref name="pow1"/>
|sights=Blade, V-notch
}}
The '''Astra 600''' is a Spanish [[semi-automatic pistol]] that was used during [[World War II]] by the [[German Armed Forces|Wehrmacht]]. Designed by [[Astra-Unceta y Cia SA|Unceta y Cia]], it was a shortened version of the [[Astra 400]] manufactured to fire [[9×19mm Parabellum]], which was the standard pistol ammunition for Germany at the time. The Astra 600 was designated the Pistole Astra 600/43 when used by the German Military during World War II. Approximately 59,400 Astra 600s were manufactured before production ceased.

==History==
In 1943 the German government requested Unceta y Cia redesign the Astra 400 to fire the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. In late 1943, fifty examples of the newly designed Astra 600 were sent to Germany and were approved for issue to German armed forces,<ref name="spr2">Gangarosa Jr, Gene''Spanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers'' (2001) pp.139</ref> receiving the designation Pistole Astra 600/43.<ref name="pihi">Kinard, Jeff''Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact'' (2003) pp.250</ref> Approximately 50,000 were ordered by Germany, with the first delivery of 2,950 pistols taking place on 16 May 1944. A second shipment of 5,000 pistols reached Germany on 23 June, and a final shipment of 2,500 pistols were shipped to Germany on 16 July 1944.<ref name="spr2"/> Supply to Germany stopped when German occupation of the border between Spain and France ceased and supply lines were cut.<ref name="pow2">Hogg, Ian ''Pistols of the World'' (2004) pp.355</ref> The Astra 600s that could not be delivered to the German government during World War II were then stored by the Spanish government.<ref name="spr3">Gangarosa Jr, Gene''Spanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers'' (2001) pp.140</ref> Small quantities of pistols were sold to Turkey, Portugal, Chile, and Costa Rica until 1951,<ref name="spr4">Gangarosa Jr, Gene''Spanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers'' (2001) pp.148</ref> when the remaining Astra 600s were sold to [[West Germany]]. Those pistols were extensively used by West German police forces until the late 1960s when Interarms purchased the remaining pistols for export to the United States civilian market.<ref name="spr3"/>

==Design==
Modeled off the Astra 400, the Astra 600 had a similar design and internal mechanism to its predecessor. The Model 600 had a internal hammer and fired with an unlocked breech, [[Blowback (firearms)|blowback]] mechanism. It had an unusually strong [[recoil spring]] that caused a stiff trigger pull.<ref name="spr3"/> The strong spring could make it difficult for individuals with weak hands to retract the [[Pistol slide|slide]] making disassembly and cleaning difficult.<ref name="spr3"/> Around fifteen pistols were manufactured to fire [[.32 ACP]].<ref name="spr4"/> 

==Markings==
The Astra 600s that were sold to the German military during World War II are commonly referred to as "first contract" Astra 600s. They can be identified by a [[Waffenamt]] stamping on the right rear grip. The colloquially known "second contract" pistols were the batch sold to West Germany and can be identified by having a serial number 31,350 and above.<ref name="spr4"/> Pistols sold to the [[Portuguese Navy]] were marked with the abbreviation "MRP" on the upper left part of the slide.<ref name="spr5">Gangarosa Jr, Gene''Spanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers'' (2001) pp.149</ref>

==Users==
* {{flag|Chile}}<ref name=AmericanRiflemanAstra/>
* {{flag|Costa Rica}}<ref name=AmericanRiflemanAstra/>
* {{flag|Egypt}}<ref name=AmericanRiflemanAstra/>
* {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
* {{flag|West Germany}}<ref name="spr4"/>
**[[Bundesgrenzschutz]] Adopted Astra 600/43 in 1951<ref name=AmericanRiflemanAstra/>
**[[Bundeswehr]] Adopted Astra 600/43 in 1956<ref name=AmericanRiflemanAstra/>
* {{flag|Jordan}}<ref name=AmericanRiflemanAstra/>
* {{flag|Philippines|1936}}<ref name=AmericanRiflemanAstra>{{cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Martin |date=October 2023 |title=Astra 600/43|magazine=American Rifleman |publisher=National Rifle Association}} </ref>
* {{flag|Portugal}}
* {{flag|Thailand}}<ref name=AmericanRiflemanAstra/>
* {{flag|Turkey}}

==See also==
* [[List of World War II firearms of Germany]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Hogg|first=Ian|author2=Walter, John |title=Pistols of the World|edition=4th|publisher=Krause Publications|location=Iola, Wisconsin|year=2004|isbn=0-87349-460-1}}
* {{Cite book|last=Kinard|first=Jeff|title=Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact|publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=Santa Barbara, California|year=2003|isbn=1-85109-470-9}}
* {{Cite book|last=Gangarosa Jr.|first=Gene|title=Spanish Handguns The History of Spanish Pistols & Revolvers|publisher=Stoeger Publishing Company|location=Accokeek, Maryland|year=2001|isbn=0-88317-223-2}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:9mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistols]]
[[Category:Semi-automatic pistols of Spain]]
[[Category:Simple blowback firearms]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1943]]
[[Category:World War II infantry weapons of Germany]]