MPL-50

MPL-50 is an abbreviation for malaja pehotnaja lopata-50 (МПЛ-50, малая пехотная лопата-50, small infantry spade-50). It is a small spade (50 cm length), which was invented by the Danish officer Mads Johan Buch Linnemann in 1869 and used by the low-ranking military personnel in the Soviet Union and its successor states since late 19th century. While nominally an entrenching tool, MPL-50 saw a wide range of wartime applications ranging from a close quarters combat weapon to a cooking utensil.

History
MPL-50 was invented in 1869 by the Danish officer Mads Johan Buch Linnemann. In 1870 it was patented and supplied to the Danish Army. Next year it was adopted by the much bigger Austrian Army, and Linnemann founded a factory in Vienna for producing his spade. It was later introduced to Germany, France, Romania and Russia, though only Russia recognized the Linnemann's patent rights, paid him 30,000 rubles and ordered 60,000 spades. MPL-50 remained almost unchanged through its history in Russia and Soviet Union; attempts to introduce a folded-handle design have not been approved.

Design
MPL-50 has a total length of 50 cm; the steel blade is 15 cm wide and 18 cm long. It is sharpened on its working edge and often on one side, for axe-like use. The wooden handle is not painted, but polished with sandpaper and singed on fire for creating a smooth surface that does not slide in hand. The blade carries the manufacturer's seal, which indicates the production year and distinguishes original products from primitive forgeries.

Use
The main purpose of MPL-50 is entrenching, which is carried out at a rate of 0.1–0.5 m3/hour depending on the soil type and physical condition of the soldier. The spade is also used as an axe, and one side of its blade is sharpened for this purpose, or as a hammer, with the flat side of the blade as the working surface. It serves as an oar for paddling on improvised rafts, as a frying pan for cooking food, and as a measuring device, as its length and width are standardized.

Soviet Spetsnaz units had advanced training with MPL-50, which they mostly used not for entrenching, but for close quarters combat. The spade is well balanced, which makes it an efficient throwing weapon.