MPL-50
A versatile entrenching tool used for combat and cooking.
The MPL-50 (МПЛ-50, short for *malaya pekhotnaya lopata-50*, or "small infantry spade-50") is a compact digging tool, measuring 50 centimeters in length. It was created in 1869 by a Danish officer named Mads Johan Buch Linnemann. Since the late 1800s, it has been standard equipment for ordinary soldiers in the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the countries that followed. Though designed mainly for digging trenches, its uses in wartime have been remarkably varied—ranging from a weapon in close-quarters fighting to a piece of cookware.
The spade was patented in 1870 and first issued to the Danish Army. The following year, the much larger Austrian Army adopted it, prompting Linnemann to set up a factory in Vienna. It later spread to Germany, France, Romania, and Russia. Only Russia, however, honored Linnemann’s patent, paying him 30,000 rubles and ordering 60,000 spades. Over its long history in Russia and the Soviet Union, the MPL-50 has stayed nearly the same; proposals to add a folding handle were never approved.
The tool’s steel blade is 15 centimeters wide and 18 centimeters long. It is sharpened along its working edge and often on one side as well, so it can double as an axe. The wooden handle is left unpainted, instead being smoothed with sandpaper and singed with fire to create a non-slip surface. Each blade bears a manufacturer’s stamp showing the production year, which helps tell genuine spades from fakes.
Its primary job is digging, with a typical rate of 0.1 to 0.5 cubic meters per hour, depending on soil and the soldier’s condition. Besides serving as an axe (using the sharpened side) or a hammer (using the flat of the blade), the spade can be used as a paddle on makeshift rafts, a frying pan for cooking, and even a measuring tool thanks to its standardized dimensions. Soviet Spetsnaz units trained extensively with the MPL-50, often employing it as a close-quarters weapon rather than for digging. Its good balance also makes it suitable for throwing. In March 2023, the UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russian reservists in Ukraine had turned to using MPL-50s in hand-to-hand combat due to ammunition shortages.
- Inventor
- Mads Johan Buch Linnemann
- Year invented
- 1869
- Length
- 50 cm (20 in)
- Blade dimensions
- 15 cm wide, 18 cm long
- Nationality of inventor
- Danish
- Primary users
- Russian Empire, Soviet Union, successor states
- Known for
- Entrenching tool, close-quarters combat weapon, cooking utensil
Lore & Background
The MPL-50 was invented in 1869 by Danish officer Mads Johan Buch Linnemann. In 1870 it was patented and supplied to the Danish Army. The next year it was adopted by the much bigger Austrian Army, and Linnemann founded a factory in Vienna to produce his spade. It was later introduced to Germany, France, Romania and Russia, though only Russia recognized Linnemann's patent rights, and paid him 30,000 rubles and ordered 60,000 spades. The MPL-50 remains almost unchanged through its history in Russia and the Soviet Union; attempts to introduce a folded-handle design were not approved.
The design features a steel blade sharpened on its working edge and often on one side for use as an axe. The wooden handle is not painted, but polished with sandpaper and fire singed to create a smooth surface. The blade carries the manufacturer's seal indicating production year. Its main purpose is entrenching at a rate of 0.1–0.5 m³/hour depending on soil and soldier condition. It can also serve as a hammer, oar, frying pan, or measuring device. Soviet Spetsnaz units used it primarily as a close-quarters combat weapon, and it is well balanced for throwing.
Reader's Guide
The MPL-50's significance lies in its enduring role as a standard-issue tool for Russian and Soviet infantry from the late 19th century into the 21st century. Its design remained almost unchanged, reflecting a practical simplicity that allowed multiple uses beyond entrenching. The spade's adoption by the Russian Empire, which recognized Linnemann's patent and paid him 30,000 rubles, ensured its widespread distribution. Its legacy includes use as a close-quarters weapon by Soviet Spetsnaz and, according to a March 2023 UK Ministry of Defence claim, by Russian reservists in Ukraine due to ammunition shortages. The MPL-50 exemplifies how a basic tool can adapt to diverse combat and survival needs, from digging trenches to cooking food, and its standardized dimensions even allow it to serve as a measuring device. Its continued presence in modern conflicts underscores its durability and the value placed on multi-purpose equipment in military contexts.
Did You Know?
- The MPL-50 was invented by Danish officer Mads Johan Buch Linnemann in 1869.
- Only Russia recognized Linnemann's patent rights, paying him 30,000 rubles and ordering 60,000 spades.
- The spade is sharpened on one side for use as an axe and can be used as a frying pan.
- In March 2023, the UK's Ministry of Defence claimed Russian reservists in Ukraine used MPL-50s in hand-to-hand combat due to ammunition shortages.
More in Danish inventions 1-21
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record