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Hovea M1949 submachine gun, with Suomi-type 50-round magazine
| Caliber | 9x19mm Luger / Parabellum |
| Weight | 3.35 kg empty |
| Length (stock closed/open) | 548 / 808 mm |
| Barrel length | 216 mm |
| Rate of fire | 600 rounds per minute |
| Magazine capacity | 50 or 36 rounds |
Hovea submachine gun was initially developed in Sweden by Husqvarna Wapenfabrik ams factory for Swedish Army trials. This design competed with the Carl Gustaf submachine gun, which eventually won the trials. During late 1940s Danish Army began the search for the new, modern submachine gun, and in 1949 selected the Husqvarna submachine gun for adoption as Hovea M/49. Manufacturing license was purchased and production set up at state arsenal in Copenhagen.
Hovea submachine gun is a simple blowback weapon which fires from open bolt, in full automatic mode only. The safety was made in the form of the L-shaped cut at the rear of the cocking handle slot, which was used to lock the bolt in rearward position. Feed was from detachable box magazines. Initially, Suomi-type 50-round 4-stack magazines were used, but later on these were changed to more reliable and less expensive 36-round double-stack magazines, designed for Swedish M/45 Carl Gustaf submachine gun. The Hovea submachine gun was equipped with perforated barrel jacket and a side-folding buttstock, made from thin steel tube. The sights consisted of the protected front blade and L-shaped flip-up rear sight, marked for 100 and 200 meters range.
