In the movie about the Great Patriotic War ours always shoot from PPSh machine guns (Shpagin submachine gun - with a butt and a round disc). And the Germans go on the attack with Schmeissers, spraying the partisans with bursts from the hip. Was this really so?
What machine guns were actually used by Soviet troops and the Nazis? Who invented the first submachine gun? What are the most powerful machine guns in the world, what are soldiers of modern armies armed with?
The world's first automatic machine
Inventor of the world's first automatic rifle and the first machine gun is considered a subject Russian Empire Vladimir Fedorov. On the eve of the First World War, he began work on automating the main small arms Russian army- Mosin rifles.In 1913, the inventor produced two prototypes of the new weapon. In terms of combat characteristics, it took an intermediate position between a light machine gun and an automatic rifle. That's why it got the name automaton. This world's first machine gun could fire both bursts and single shots.
However, due to the slowness of the Russian bureaucracy, mass production of Fedorov assault rifles was launched only before the revolution itself. The first to test machine guns at the front were the special command of the Izmail Infantry Regiment on the Romanian Front. After the first battles, it became clear that in many cases an assault rifle could successfully replace a light machine gun.
The most powerful machines
What is the situation with weapons now and which types of small arms are considered the most powerful?American M16 automatic rifle
Western military experts consider the M16 automatic rifle to be the undisputed leader among assault rifles of the 20th century. Its creator was the famous arms company Colt. Its latest production modification, the M16 A2, began being delivered to the US Army in 1984. Firing range - 800 meters, caliber 5.56.The rifle's combat qualities were highly praised American soldiers during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq. However, the war also revealed a number of its shortcomings. Among them are the unreliability of the return spring and sensitivity to contamination.
In the USSR, comparative tests of the M16 A2 and AK-74 were carried out. It was noted that American rifle better than its Soviet counterpart in single shooting, and the latter is superior to the American in burst shooting. The recoil of the M16 A2 is a third stronger than that of the Russian assault rifle. Besides, soviet weapons far exceeds the American one in terms of readiness for immediate use in a wide variety of conditions.
But the Yankees continue to improve their favorite weapon. The rifle is still in service with the armies of the United States and many other countries around the world.
American automatic rifle FN SCAR
The American FN SCAR is one of the best modern automatic rifles. This is the most universal system, which can easily be converted into a light machine gun, a semi-automatic sniper or an assault carbine. It is suitable for both long distances and point-blank shooting when storming buildings.Powerful modern rifle FN SCAR
The FN SCAR rifle is equipped with an under-barrel grenade launcher, which can also be detached and used separately. All modern high-tech sights (optical, laser, thermal imaging, night vision, collimator, etc.) are mounted on it.
Currently, the FN SCAR is in service with the American Rangers, used in Afghanistan and Iraq and has proven its convenience and effectiveness. It is assumed that its light and heavy versions in the near future will replace not only the M16 rifle, but also the more powerful M14, Mk.25 sniper rifle and Colt M4 carbine in special forces units.
Powerful German rifles
Automatic rifle NK G36
Automatic rifle G-36 from the German company Heckler and Koch. gas outlet type. From the bore, gases are vented from the barrel through a side hole.Top 10 slot machines
The rifle can be equipped with collimator and optical sights, a bayonet knife, and an under-barrel grenade launcher. According to reviews Russian specialists, the quality of single shooting from it is higher than from the AK-74.
Automatic rifles NK 41 and NK 416
The German automatic rifles NK 41 and NK 416 are made on the basis of merging the best qualities of the G36 and M16 rifles into one product. Considering their advantages, we can confidently speak about the notorious German quality. They have high slaughter characteristics, easy to maintain, resistant to moisture and dust. However, more specific conclusions can be drawn when these weapons show themselves en masse in real combat operations. With modern types of weapons, everything seems to be clear, but what was the situation during the wars, in particular the Great Patriotic War. What rifles and pistols were in service with our army at that time?Degtyarev submachine gun
The Degtyarev submachine gun was created in the USSR in the thirties. It was used in Finnish war and at the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War. Model 1940 machine gun; in the same year, more than 80 thousand copies of the new weapon were produced.Shpagin submachine gun (PPSh)
By the end of 1941, the Degtyarev assault rifle was replaced by the much more reliable and advanced Shpagin submachine gun. It also turned out to be possible to master the production of PPSh at almost any enterprise that has pressing equipment. 
At the front, the PPSh showed high combat qualities, especially its modification with a horn magazine, which at the end of the war replaced the originally used drum magazine. However, the battles also revealed its shortcomings.
PPSh-41 was quite heavy, bulky and inconvenient. If the shutter was contaminated with dust or soot, it would fail to fire. When driving on dusty roads, it had to be hidden under a raincoat.
The shortcomings of the PPSh forced the leadership of the Red Army to announce a competition for the creation of a new mass-produced machine gun. And it was created in 1942 in besieged Leningrad. Sudayev's new submachine gun was put into service under the name PPS-42. 
At first, PPS-42 was produced only for the needs of the Leningrad Front. Then they began to transport him along with refugees along the Road of Life for the needs of other fronts.
A bullet from PPS has lethal force at a distance of 800 meters. It is most effective when firing in short bursts.
The PPS production technology was simple and economical. Its parts were made by stamping, fastened with rivets and welding. The consumption of materials for its production has decreased threefold compared to PPSh-41. During the Second World War, about half a million pieces of PPP were produced.
Automatic "Schmeisser"
The weapon of fascist punitive forces, known from many films, was actually called not “Schmeisser”, but MP 40. Contrary to scenes from popular films, it would have been very inconvenient for the Nazis to shoot from the hip while standing at full height.The machine gun was issued to the command staff German army, as well as paratroopers and tank crews. It has never been a mass infantry weapon.
Experts note among the advantages of this machine gun its compactness and ease of use, high lethality at distances of one hundred to two hundred meters. However, even slight contamination put it out of action.
The most powerful assault rifle - the Kalashnikov assault rifle
The most popular assault rifle in the world was invented by Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov while he was in the hospital in 1942 after being wounded at the front. However, the AK was adopted for service after the war, in 1949. In 1959, its modernized version, the AKM, went into production.Most powerful machine gun Kalashnikov vs M-16
The Kalashnikov assault rifle received its baptism of fire in Hungary in 1956. Subsequently, its various modifications were massively supplied to the allies of the USSR, national liberation and revolutionary movements. Its production was also established in many countries under licenses. According to some estimates, total There are 90 million of these machines in the world.
Its undoubted advantages are the highest reliability, unpretentiousness, insensitivity to moisture, dirt and dust, ease of use, assembly and disassembly. Minus for a long time was a low accuracy of fire. In single-shot shooting, it was also inferior to its foreign counterparts.
Currently, the latest version of the legendary assault rifle, the AK-12, has already been adopted by the Russian army. Experts express the hope that this model, after final development, will surpass all previous ones in its qualities.
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It should be reliable and lightweight for more convenient and productive use.
This article presents the top 10 best slot machines in the world.
It is being improved by American engineers and may become one of the best slot machines in the world. The Americans called the main advantage of the machine gun the insensible recoil from the shot. The weapon is designed for urban conditions, therefore it has a short firing range - only 500 m. The speed of shots can reach 700 rounds per minute. Ferfrans HVLAR weighs 4.5 kg.
M16– American automatic was developed in the 60s of the 20th century. M16 assault rifles remain the main weapon of the American armed forces to this day. The sighting range of the automatic mechanism reaches 800 m, and the speed of shots is 900 m. The weight of the weapon is 3.4 kg. The machine gun participated in all wars involving the United States, starting with Vietnam War. The weapon is recognized as one of the best in the world.
- a machine gun developed by a Belgian company in 2001. The weapon was developed specifically for combat. It can be used by both right-handed and left-handed people. The weight of the FN F2000 with an empty magazine is 3.8 kg. The target range of the weapon is half a kilometer, and the speed of shots reaches 850 m per minute. The model was used in the Afghanistan War (2001-2014). Currently the machine is used in countries such as Belgium, Poland, Pakistan, India, special units.
HK416
HK416- a machine gun created by German designers in 2004. The advantages of the weapon include: ease of use and smooth recoil. It is impossible not to note the versatility of the machine gun - it can be adjusted to almost any type of combat. The sighting range reaches 600 m, and the rate of fire is up to 850 rounds per minute. The disadvantages of the weapon include the barrel, which can lead the weapon away during prolonged shooting. The machine gun is used by many countries for special units. It is one of the most popular slot machines.
– a universal rifle from an Austrian manufacturer. First models Steyr AUG were released in the late 70s. Model A3 is more advanced. The target range of the weapon is 650 m, and the rate of fire is up to 750 rounds per minute. The weight of the mechanism without cartridges is 3.9 kg. The operating countries of the Steyr AUG A3 are: France, New Zealand, Morocco and others. This model is one of the most reliable in the world.
was developed by domestic designers in the 80s of the 20th century. Today, weapons are used by units special purpose: Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB and Armed Forces. The main advantage of the rifle is its noiselessness. It can be easily disassembled and can fit into a case.
The machine allows the use of several types of cartridges, which helps to hit a target that is protected by armor or behind an obstacle. It is possible to install a night sight. The disadvantages include the weapon's sighting range - 400m and a box magazine designed for 20 rounds. Weight without magazine and sight – 2.5 kg. The machine gun was used in the First and Second Chechen war, in the War in South Ossetia, etc.
- Israeli automatic rifle of the 21st century. The main advantages of the model include impact resistance, reliability in extreme operating conditions, and the possibility of both right-hand and left-hand operation. It is also possible to install a night vision device and a grenade launcher. The barrel of the weapon requires the installation of a silencer.
The ergonomics of the model increases the soldier’s chances of not being seen by the enemy. The Tavor is capable of firing up to 900 shots per minute, and its mass is 3.27. A box magazine holds 20-30 rounds, extended magazines hold up to 100 rounds. The sighting range is 500m. The model was developed in 1993. The TAR-21 entered service in 2001 and is still used by troops to this day. The weapon is considered one of the most authoritative rifles of recent times.
– combat assault rifle was developed jointly by Belgian and American companies in 2005. It won the competition for the best assault rifle for American special forces in 2014. The main advantages of the weapon include low recoil, high accuracy when shooting, versatility and unpretentiousness in any conditions.
The model weighs 3.19. The weapon is capable of firing 625 shots per minute. The sighting range is a maximum of 900 m. The magazine holds 20-30 rounds. Currently used only by US Special Forces. Weapons count one of the best modern and expensive machines.
is an adaptive combat rifle developed by an American company. Initially, it was intended to modernize the M16 family of rifles, but the developers did not stop there and decided to introduce several more new design elements. The upper part of the machine's receiver is made of aluminum, and the lower part is made of high-strength plastic. The body of the weapon is rough, which allows the weapon not to slip in the hands of a soldier.
All ACR controls are within easy reach, allowing you to instantly assume a firing position. Automatic rifle barrels are similar to sniper barrels and change quickly. The weight of the weapon is 3.18. The effective sighting range is half a kilometer. The magazine holds 30 rounds. This model was developed in 2007. The disadvantages of the rifle include its high price. This is one of the best models, developed by the USA at the moment.
- a new, improved Kalashnikov assault rifle, which allows the fighter to carry out all operations with one hand: change the magazine, pull the bolt, switch the safety. In addition to the telescopic butt, the machine gun has a plastic butt, which can significantly reduce weight. Now it is possible to install the reloading handle on both sides, which is very convenient for using the machine gun both right-handed and left-handed. The weight of the new model is 3.2 excluding the magazine.
The box magazine is designed for 30-60 rounds, and the drum magazine for 95. The machine gun has a sighting range of a kilometer. This weapon capable of firing up to 650 rounds per minute. The mechanism was developed in 2011 and put into service in 2015. The military greeted him without enthusiasm new model, citing many shortcomings of the invention, so for a long time the weapon was denied testing, which should be funded by the state. However, the new promising machine was chosen due to its light weight and lower price. According to the latest data, this is so far the best machine gun that has been produced in Russia.
Over the past centuries, weapons and military equipment have continuously evolved. Military necessity led to further technical breakthroughs, all-destructive types of offensive weapons were born, making it possible to strike from distances of hundreds and thousands of kilometers. However, today individual small arms are by no means an anachronism. After all, remote methods of warfare are effective only if the goal of the operation is to destroy the enemy’s industrial and military infrastructure.
Over the past centuries, weapons and military equipment have continuously evolved. Military necessity led to further technical breakthroughs; all-destructive types of offensive weapons appeared, allowing strikes from distances of hundreds and thousands of kilometers. However, today individual small arms are by no means an anachronism. After all, remote methods of warfare are effective only if the goal of the operation is to destroy the enemy’s industrial and military infrastructure.
For the final defeat of the enemy, control of its territory, access to raw materials and industrial resources, and the implementation of humanitarian and other tasks, it is necessary to use infantry and special units that come into direct contact with the enemy. And this is where the main thing is actor war becomes a figure in camouflage with an assault rifle in his hands.
Screenshot from the game Battlefield
History of the issue: how it all began
To begin with, let's define the term “assault rifle” (in Russian terminology - machine gun). So, an assault rifle (in the original assault rifle) - a firearm designed for automatic fire with ammunition that occupies an intermediate position in power between rifle-machine-gun and pistol ammunition. Those. assault rifles do not include models capable of automatic fire, but designed to use pistol ammunition (i.e. submachine guns), as well as automatic weapons using rifle cartridges (automatic rifles).
For the first time, weapons, which, with some stretches, can be classified as assault rifles, were created in Russia by the talented gunsmith V.G. Fedorov. In 1916, mass production of a model began, which the author called an automatic machine. In fact, it was an automatic rifle, but with a sector magazine and chambered for Japanese rifle cartridges of 6.5 mm caliber, which had less power and less power compared to the Russian 7.62x54R cartridge.
recoil impulse. One of the Russian units was armed with this weapon. Imperial Army, who took part in the battles of the First World War.
Fedorov assault rifle: photo from Wikipedia
The pioneers in creating a full-fledged model of an assault rifle, which was the ancestor of this class of weapons, were the Germans. In the light combat experience On the Eastern Front, the German command became aware of the excess power and range of traditional repeating and self-loading rifles in conditions of, as a rule, short ranges of fire contact. Submachine guns, being almost ideal weapons
for short combat, say, in a forest or when clearing trenches and buildings, when firing at a distance of over two hundred meters, they had insufficient power and efficiency.
As a result of the implementation of the technical specifications of the German Arms Directorate for a new automatic carbine, the MP 43/44 was created, later renamed SturmGewehr 44, which literally means “Assault Rifle” in German. Thus, the new German model gave its name to a new class of small arms. The Sturmgever was created for the cartridge developed before the war - in 1938 - by the Polte factory, which, although it retained the standard 7.92 caliber for the Wehrmacht, had a sleeve shortened to 33 mm and a lighter bullet and, in terms of power, occupied an intermediate position between the pistol and rifle cartridges. As a result, the Germans got quite good example, allowing accurate fire with single shots at distances up to 600 m and providing high density of fire while maintaining acceptable accuracy when firing in bursts at distances up to 300 m.
In addition, the new assault rifle was intended for mass and cheap production using stamping and casting. The disadvantages of the machine include its not very comfortable grip when shooting prone. In total, before the end of the war, more than 400,000 assault rifles were produced in various configurations, including samples equipped with optical and infrared sights and even such exotic devices as the Krummlauf Vorsatz J curved-barrel device for shooting from around the corners of buildings and in the dead zones of tanks and fortifications. structures.
The appearance on the Eastern Front of new German weapons chambered for an intermediate cartridge immediately caused a response from Soviet gunsmiths. In 1943, designers N.M. Elizarov and B.V. Semin created the 7.62x39 intermediate cartridge, which went down in history as the M1943 and became the most common intermediate cartridge in the world. It was for this cartridge that the Simonov self-loading carbine - SKS was first created, and then the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle.
There is a legend that wanders from one online publication to another that the Kalashnikov assault rifle was copied from the Stg-44 and that German gunsmiths, including Hugo Schmeisser himself, while in Soviet captivity, took part in its development. It is quite obvious that the Kalashnikov assault rifle, not being a direct copy of the Sturmgever, and having a fundamentally different design of many components, was created under strong influence German design. By the way, in the memoirs of Kovrov gunsmiths, published in one of the Russian specialized magazines, there is a mention of one interesting fact. It turns out that the first production samples of the AK-47 were significantly inferior in accuracy in automatic fire mode German machine gun and the plant management assigned a large cash bonus to the employee who, when shooting AKs at the shooting range, could significantly improve the previously achieved results. The prize remained unclaimed.
So, it is impossible not to notice that the development and successful use of the Stg-44 assault rifle by Nazi Germany had a strong and direct impact on the development of small arms, because armies of all countries of the world have made weapons of this class the main individual weapon of the infantryman.
The development and successful use of the Stg-44 assault rifle by Nazi Germany had a strong and direct impact on the development of small arms
To date, samples of modern assault rifles are classified as third-generation assault rifles (zero includes German MP-43 and Stg-44 assault rifles, first - AK-47, AKM and Czech Vz-58, M-14 (USA) G-3 ( Germany), FAL (Belgium). The main feature of the second generation (which includes the AK-74, American M-16, French Famas, Austrian AUG, etc.) was the transition to smaller caliber cartridges - 5.56x45 and 5.45x39) .
Common features of third-generation assault rifles are the widespread use of plastics and light alloys, which makes it possible to significantly lighten the weapon and reduce the cost of its production; the use of a modular design, the use of optical and collimator (red dot) sights as the main ones, the possibility of installing a large range of additional equipment, laid down at the design stage: under-barrel and muzzle grenade launchers, tactical flashlights, laser target designators, silencers.
What are they fighting with today?
Let's try to look at the most interesting examples of third-generation assault rifles, both mass-produced and under development.
The Italian rifle-grenade launcher system ARX-160 developed by Beretta includes a 5.56 mm assault rifle and a 40 * 46 mm under-barrel grenade launcher, which can also be used autonomously. The firing range of the grenade launcher is 400m. In addition to the assault rifle and grenade launcher itself, the complex includes the Aspis small arms fire control device and the Scorpio grenade launcher fire control device. The modular design of the complex allows, after replacing a number of parts, to use cartridges of 5.56x45 mm, 5.45x39 mm, 7.62x39 mm, 6.8x43 mm, i.e. in fact, the entire range of intermediate cartridges produced today. The machine is equipped with quick-change barrels of 406 and 305 mm, the replacement of which takes no more than five seconds, the cocking handle can be reinstalled on both sides, and it is possible to quickly change the direction of reflection of spent cartridges. The automation operates on the principle of a gas outlet with a short stroke of the gas piston.
The folding butt of the machine gun has 5 length adjustment positions. There are 4 Picatinny mounting rails for installing additional equipment, 6 belt attachment points. The front and rear sights fold down. Standard coating colors are black and olive. An assault rifle with a short barrel weighs no more than 3 kg and is an ideal combat transformer with the ability to fine-tune it to the needs of a specific shooter.
The complex is the basis for the promising Italian set of combat equipment “Soldato Futuro”. The machine gun has been entering service with the Italian army since 2012 and is offered for export. In particular, the machine version for Soviet cartridge 7.62x39 (magazines from AKM are used), adopted by the special operations forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The HK-416 assault rifle from Heckler-Koch owes its appearance to the desire of this company to enter the American market of military and police weapons. The idea was to create a model that combines ergonomics and appearance the beloved M-16 by all Americans with significantly increased reliability. To achieve this, the direct gas outlet of the M-16 was replaced by a much more contamination-resistant system with a short stroke of the gas piston, the same as on the G-36 rifle.
Heckler & Koch HK-416
The bolt and return mechanism were also improved and a barrel with increased survivability was used. It is curious that at first the HK-416 was developed as a kit of parts for upgrading machine guns of the M-16/M-4 type. At the same time, the barrel with the gas engine, the forend, the receiver and the bolt group were replaced, and replacement of the return spring and buffer was also recommended. In this case, the stock, magazine, trigger mechanism housing with handle and magazine receiver can be used from the old model.
Otherwise, the HK-416 has much in common with its “classmates” - a telescopic stock of adjustable length, quick-change barrels, four Picatinny rails for attaching various sighting devices, laser designators, tactical flashlights, under-barrel grenade launchers, etc.
The assault rifle was adopted by some special units of the US Army, including the legendary counter-terrorism unit Delta Force, the US Marine Corps, special units of a number of countries and private military companies, where it proved itself to be excellent. It is also known that in the operation to destroy Osama Bin Laden, a team of 6 US Navy SEALs used HK-416 assault rifles. The weapon has high accuracy and accuracy of fire, which, combined with soft and smooth recoil, makes it an ideal tool in the hands of a professional.
in the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden, a team of 6 US Navy SEALs used HK-416 assault rifles
As a result, generalizations tactical experience, received by international coalition troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, it turned out that standard NATO 5.56 caliber cartridges under certain conditions have insufficient range and penetration. In addition, a light bullet of the SS 109 cartridge at a distance of 400 m with a side wind of 17 km/h has a drift twice as large as that of a bullet of the 7.62x51 cartridge. In light of these findings, the Heckler-Koch company, based on the HK-416 assault rifle, developed the NK-417 automatic rifle chambered for 7.62x51 NATO. The new rifle is available with 4 barrel options of different lengths, and when using “sniper” barrels 40 and 50 cm long and corresponding ammunition, when firing single shots, the rifle demonstrates accuracy in the region of one minute of arc, which allows us to classify this version of the NK-417 as a tactical sniper rifle .
Heckler & Koch HK-417
When talking about third-generation assault rifles, it is impossible to ignore the SCAR complex. FN SCAR Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle) - a combat assault rifle for special operations forces) - was developed by FN-Herstal USA to participate in the competition for a new assault rifle for US SOCOM soldiers, announced in 2003 by the US Special Operations Command. According to the requirements of the competition, the rifle had to, firstly, make maximum use of the principle of modularity, i.e., be easily adaptable for specific tactical conditions, and secondly, be superior in reliability to the standard M-4 carbine. The terms of reference also stipulated that promising samples would have retrofit kits for 7.62x39, 6.8 Rem, etc. ammunition.
In 2004, it was announced that the winner of the competition was FN-Herstal USA with rifle-grenade launcher systems, which were later standardized as the Mark 16 / Mk.16 SCAR-L and Mark 17 / Mk.17 SCAR-H.
The head of the US SOCOM weapons program, Troy Smith, emphasized that the design of the SCAR rifles was carried out with the active assistance of the special forces themselves, and the peculiarity of the SCAR rifles is that they are special forces weapons that embody many years of combat experience. After signing the contract for the initial stage of production, military tests in various climate zones, in which Navi Seals operators, US Marine Special Forces soldiers and Army Rangers took part.
Fn SCAR Mk 17
The SCAR family of rifles, in addition to two “basic” options - the “light” rifle Mk.16 SCAR-L (Light) chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO caliber and the “heavy” rifle Mk.17 SCAR-H (Heavy) chambered for more powerful 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition , includes the Mk 13 Mod 0 or FN40GL - a 40mm grenade launcher that can be used as an under-barrel grenade launcher for either variant, or used independently.
Fn SCAR Mk 13
Both basic configurations offer the possibility of installing barrels of various lengths, which determine their tactical purpose. There are three standard options - "S" (Standard), "CQC" (Close Quarters Combat) - a shortened machine gun for close combat, and "SV" (Sniper Variant) - a sniper weapon. The manufacturer emphasizes the principle of modularity of its design - 82% of the parts, of which there are only 175, can be used in weapons of both calibers.
Varieties of Fn SCAR Mk 16
The steel magazine for the MK-16 is interchangeable with the magazine of the M-4 carbine, although, according to the developer, it has best quality. Chromed barrel and overall quality manufacturing guarantees a high service life of the assault rifle. The automatic weapon with a short stroke of the gas piston, in addition to low sensitivity to contamination, guarantees the machine increased stability when firing. The principle of double-sidedness is fully implemented: the safety tab and the magazine release button can be activated on both sides, the cocking handle can be installed on both the right and left sides. The stock, folding to the right, is adjustable in length with locking in six positions. A slightly lower rate of fire compared to other rifles contributes to greater stability of the weapon when firing.
Fn SCAR System
The rifles are currently being mass-produced and have entered service with the 75th US Ranger Regiment. However, for a number of reasons, US SOCOM abandoned the use of the Mark 16 / Mk.16 SCAR-L, purchasing instead 7.62 mm SCAR-H assault rifles with upgrade kits for 5.56x45 ammunition. However, the high combat and operational qualities of the SCAR family of rifles have contributed to their widespread use in the armed forces of countries around the world.
What is Russia fighting with?
The much-advertised AN-94 "Abakan", although it demonstrated record accuracy in the fire mode in bursts of two rounds, otherwise has no advantages over the AK-74, moreover, being an extremely complex and expensive design to manufacture, unsuitable for arming soldiers - conscripts.
AN-94 "Abakan"
AK 100 series assault rifles, the development of which began at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant in the early 1990s, were initially created as commercial weapons designed for foreign markets. The weapon created on the basis of the AK-74 represents its variants for the most common ones in the world intermediate cartridges: 5.56x45 NATO, 7.62x39 and 5.56x45.
AK-101
- The AK-101 is an assault rifle for the widely used NATO 5.56x45 ammunition and, according to the developer, demonstrates better accuracy in burst mode than the M-16 A2.
- The AK-103 uses the well-deserved 7.62x39 (M1943) cartridge, is compatible with the magazines of old AK/AKM assault rifles and is intended to replace them.
- AK-102, 104 and 105 are small-sized assault rifles, built on the basis of their full-size versions and somewhat superior in their combat and operational characteristics to the AKS-74u. They are distinguished from the “basic” models by a shortened barrel with a special muzzle flash suppressor and a modified sighting bar, which has markings only up to 500 m.
AK-105
All AK 100 series are equipped with a side rail for mounting optics. Black polyamide is used to make the stock, fore-end, pistol grip and magazine body, which is why AKs of the 100th series abroad received the commercial name “Black Kalashnikov”. The largest buyer of the 100th series AK to date is Venezuela, with which a contract was concluded for the supply and licensed assembly of 100,000 AK-103 units. A batch of AK-102s was also acquired by Indonesia.
AK-102
AK series 100, although they are commercial successful project, represent only a cosmetic modernization of the AK-74 and are not without its shortcomings. The most significant drawback of the AK family of assault rifles is the difficulty of placing optical sights on them. The problem is primarily due to the fact that at the top of the weapon, where the optics should be installed, there is a detachable receiver cover and gas tube. The side rail with a dovetail mount, which is found on all AK-74m assault rifles, does not solve the problem, because when incomplete disassembly To clean the machine gun or eliminate delays when firing, the sight must be removed. After installing it, naturally, the weapon must be brought back into normal combat. In addition, the sight installed on the AK-74m does not allow the stock to be folded. The sector safety-translator of fire modes on AK family assault rifles is inconvenient, “loud” and causes a lot of complaints.
The 100th series AKs, although a commercially successful project, are only a cosmetic upgrade of the AK-74 and are not without its shortcomings
To eliminate these and other shortcomings and generally “modernize” the design, the Izhmash concern developed the AK-12, which means “Kalashnikov Automatic 2012.” Although the weapon uses classic automatics with a long stroke gas piston, its design has undergone major changes. The trigger mechanism was redesigned, the bolt group and receiver were updated. The receiver cover, which now has increased rigidity, is mounted on hinges and can be tilted up and forward to disassemble and clean the machine gun. These measures made it possible to achieve a constant position of the cover relative to the barrel, which makes it possible to install optical, collimator and night sights on the Picatinny rail located on the cover.
The cocking handle has been moved forward and can, at the shooter’s request, be moved to the left or right side. The fire switch safety now has a different design - it is placed on both sides of the weapon and has four positions - “safety”, “single shooting”, “fixed bursts of 3 shots”, “automatic fire”.
A bolt delay has been added to the design of the weapon, which allows for faster reloading. The folding telescopic stock has a height-adjustable pad and butt plate, which allows you to customize the machine gun to the anthropometric data of a particular shooter. Other innovations of the machine include an abundance of picatinny rails, located, in addition to the receiver cover, also on the upper pad of the forend and on its side surfaces, rifling and bullet entry of the barrel modified to improve accuracy; a new muzzle brake-compensator that allows firing foreign-made muzzle grenades. The manufacturer promises versions of the AK-12 for different ammunition - from 5.56x45 and 7.62x39 to 7.62x51 NATO. The machine gun can be used both with standard magazines of the appropriate caliber, and with a new four-row magazine with a capacity of 60 rounds.
What does Ukraine produce?
As a result of research work on the modernization of the Kalashnikov AK-74 assault rifle, the Scientific and Technical Center for Precision Engineering introduced the Vepr assault rifle in 2003. The machine gun is configured according to the "bullpup" scheme (with mechanics in the butt) and retains the reliable automatic functioning scheme of the AK-74. The developer states that the Vepr is “a quarter shorter than the AK, 200 g lighter and has twice the accuracy.” Cocking handle
and the safety can be moved to either side, while the cocking handle, made as a separate unit, is motionless when firing. It is proposed to standardly equip the assault rifle with a Ukrainian-developed collimator sight. Instead of the forend, it is possible to install a GP-25 under-barrel grenade launcher. The weapon's disadvantages include the inconvenience of changing the magazine (which is typical for all models arranged according to the "bulpup" scheme) and the inconvenient location of the fire mode translator far behind the pistol grip fire control. The Vepr was addressed primarily to special forces soldiers and Ukrainian peacekeepers, but never entered service.
In 2010, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was presented with a new machine gun "Malyuk" (aka Vulkan-M) developed by the Artillery Armament Design Bureau, Kiev. The product is also a bullpup weapon, generally repeating the general concept of the “Vepr”, but with some improvements in terms of ergonomics. The machine gun is equipped with a Picatinny rail and can be equipped with various sighting devices. At the customer's request, Ukrainian-made mufflers can be installed. The machine gun did not arouse interest either from the Ukrainian defense department or from foreign customers.
In 2008, the Ukrainian scientific and production association of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine "Fort" (Vinnitsa) entered into an agreement on the licensed production of the Tavor series of small arms developed by the state-owned Israeli company IMI (Israel Military Industries). The Tavor Tar-21 family of weapons is modular and consists of several samples built on the basis of one main design. The system includes: a standard assault rifle Tar-21 with a barrel length of 465 mm (in Ukraine standardized as “Fort 222”), STAR-21 (CTAR - Commando Tavor Assault Rifle) - a modification with a barrel shortened to 375 mm, intended for special forces ("Fort-221") and a compact machine gun used as a self-defense weapon for vehicle crews - "Micro Tavor" MTAR-21 with a 330 mm barrel, as well as a "Sniper" version - STAR-21 (STAR - Sharp Shooting Tavor Assault Rifle ) - an automatic machine equipped with a bipod and optical sight(standardly equipped with a 4x ACOG sight).
Tavor MTAR-21, photo: WikipediaThe body of the weapon is made of high-strength polymers in combination with light alloys, and in some places reinforced with steel inserts. Tavor barrels chambered for the NATO 5.56*45 cartridge, produced in Ukraine, are supplied from Israel, where they are made by cold forging. Barrels for "Fort 221" assault rifles chambered for 5.45x39, manufactured at industrial base NPO "Fort" in Vinnitsa using its own technology. The trigger mechanism provides firing in two modes - single fire and a burst of arbitrary length. Sights They normally consist of a collimator sight with an integrated laser designator. The sight illumination turns on automatically when the bolt is cocked and turns off when the machine gun is unloaded. During testing, Tavor assault rifles demonstrated good maneuverability, which is especially important when fighting in urban conditions, increased impact resistance and reliability when used in emergency conditions. The weapon is comfortable when shooting offhand and demonstrates good accuracy.
Fort-221
On December 23, 2009, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution on the adoption of the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Security Administration, the State border service and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine assault rifle "Fort-221", "Fort-222" and submachine guns "Fort223/224". These samples did not arouse interest in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, because NATO 5.56x45 ammunition, for which Tavor/Fort was originally designed, is not produced in Ukraine. In this regard, the management of NPO Fort announced the start of preparations for its own production of 5.56x45 cartridges. Somewhat later, a version of the Tavor / “Fort-221” was created chambered for the 5.45x39 cartridge, which is produced in Ukraine at the Lugansk Cartridge Plant.
Fort-224
What are they fighting in the ATO zone?
So what are the Ukrainian military and their opponents armed with in the ATO zone in the South-East of Ukraine? Most mass weapons is still a Kalashnikov assault rifle different modifications. In the hands of our soldiers and national guardsmen are both AK-74 and older assault rifles of the AK/AKM/AKMS family, which are believed to provide some advantages when conducting combat operations in the forest zone due to the lesser tendency for the 7.62x39 cartridge bullet to ricochet at shooting through branches.
The separatists are armed even more variegatedly - in addition to Kalashnikovs of various modifications, they have a variety of exotic weapons, probably brought into the conflict zone from Russian warehouses long-term storage. These are PPSh and even PPD (!) submachine guns, SKS carbines and DP light machine guns. The GRU Spetsnaz groups of the General Staff of the Russian Army operating on the territory of our country, for the most part, use standard AK-74m assault rifles. So, despite the abundance of technically advanced third-generation models on the world market, our soldiers still clutch in their hands the well-deserved Kalashnikov assault rifle, nicknamed by the troops Kalash and, sometimes, a little familiarly, Kalashyan.
Mikhail Kalashnikov, the legendary small arms designer, once said that he would be the first to shake hands with the one who comes up with something better. “For now I’m standing there with my hand outstretched,” joked the “father” of the world-famous AK. Over the 60 years of production of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, more than 100 million units of this weapon were produced in its various modifications. We dedicate a review of the most popular modifications of the world's most famous assault rifle to the memory of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov.
AK-47
In 1947, Mikhail Kalashnikov created an assault rifle that became the most popular weapon of all time. The machine gun was adopted for service in 1949, and was first used during the Chinese Communist Revolution. During the Soviet era, almost every high school student could disassemble and assemble an AK.
The AK-47 is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most common weapon in the world. This machine gun is my favorite weapon Somali pirates, and its price ranges from $10 in Afghanistan to $4000 in India. Currently, the AK is in service in 106 countries around the world. Until 1956, the AK remained classified.
AKM
In the period from 1949 to 1959, the AK47 underwent a lot of changes and became different, both in its combat characteristics and in production technology. The machine gun became lighter, the accuracy of combat increased significantly, almost all operational characteristics improved, and the production cost became higher.
Many parts in the modified model began to be made by stamping; magazines and pistol grips made of plastic appeared. Already in the early 1960s, AKMs began to be equipped with a muzzle compensator-brake, which made it possible to reduce barrel toss and reduce the vertical dispersion of bullets.
Kalashnikov light machine gun
In the 1950s, the USSR began to develop new complex small arms, which was supposed to replace the AK, the Simonov self-loading carbine and the Degtyarev light machine gun. The main requirement for the new weapon was that it had to include a machine gun and a unified machine gun. Both of them were supposed to be chambered in the 7.62x39 M43 cartridge.
The RPK automation operates using the energy of powder gases, which are discharged through the side opening of the barrel. The channel is locked by the bolt lugs by turning to the right around the axis. The RPK can fire both continuous and single fire. Cartridges are fed from a 75-round disc magazine, or from a 40-round box magazine.
Saiga carbine
The history of the Saiga carbine began in the 1980s. Then numerous herds of saigas trampled the fields of Kazakhstan, causing serious damage agriculture. Then the leadership of the KSSR turned to the Politburo with a request for permission to develop hunting weapon to control the population of small antelopes.
We solved the problem simply. The famous Soviet weapon, the Kalashnikov assault rifle, was taken as a model for the future hunting carbine. This is how the Saiga hunting rifled carbine appeared - the first product of civilian unification of army weapons. With the collapse of the USSR, commercial demand for this carbine increased significantly.
It is worth noting that today Saiga carbines are often purchased not for hunting, but for protecting private property, they are very similar to the legendary AKM.
AKS
Especially for Airborne troops A folding version of the AK was created. Initially, this modification was produced with a stamped receiver, and since 1951, due to the high percentage of defects during stamping, with a milled one.
The machine gun can be equipped with a drum magazine for 75 rounds of Kalashnikov light machine gun and a silencer.
In 1993, at the request of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mikhail Kalashnikov's son Viktor developed the PP-19 "Bison", which was based on a folding and shortened version of the AK-74. The PP-19 auger magazine holds 64 9-gauge cartridges. “Bison” was also produced in 7.62 mm caliber.
Pakistani AK
Pakistan has its own version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. In the city of Darry, they have reached such heights in the handicraft production of weapons that they can make almost any copy of it. When the war began in neighboring Afghanistan, entire mini-factories for the production of AK-47 appeared here. You can find a Pakistani version of the AK with Picatinny rails for mounting additional equipment and with a telescopic buttstock. Handicraft craftsmen equip machine guns with a front handle, a biped and an optical sight.
RK 62
The Finns started producing the Kalashnikov assault rifle in 1960. It is worth noting that according to their technical specifications this machine gun is practically no different from its Soviet counterpart. External differences are noticeable: the machine gun has a plastic fore-end and a metal butt. The RK 62 is chambered for the standard 7.62x39 mm AK cartridge.
Galil ACE
On the base Finnish machine gun RK 62, which in turn is a derivative of the Kalashnikov, the Israelis developed the Galil assault rifle. It was intended for the Colombian military. In the line of these assault rifles, the main attention was paid to the ergonomics of the weapon, additional accessories, ease of use and flexibility of application. Galil AC can use the three most common types of ammunition in the world. (5.56x45 NATO, 7.62x39 M43 and 7.62x51 NATO).
North Korean AK
Not long ago, a photo appeared on the Internet in which Kim Jong-un, the leader of the DPRK, communicates with the people, accompanied by military personnel armed with unusual machine guns with auger magazines. Experts believe that this weapon is nothing more than a North Korean variation on the AK theme. The Koreans could use Chinese copies of the Type 88 or Type 98 AK as the basis for their machine gun.
Monuments to the Kalashnikov assault rifle
There are at least 3 monuments to the Kalashnikov assault rifle in the world. One is installed at the Nalychevo border outpost in Kamchatka, the second is on the shores of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, and the third is in the DPRK.
Kalashnikov assault rifle on the coats of arms of states
The image of a Kalashnikov assault rifle can be seen on the coats of arms of a number of countries, in particular Mozambique, Burkina Faso (until 1997), Zimbabwe, and East Timor.
Despite the fact that battle tactics have changed significantly over the last hundred years, machine guns are still the backbone of any army. In this article we look at different kinds automatic weapons, many of which are still used today in the armed forces of many countries around the world.
1
Caliber 5.56x45 mm, capacity 30 rounds, weight 3.4 kg
An assault rifle created in the USA on the basis of the M16A2, initially for arming the crews of combat vehicles and crews of weapons and military equipment. Despite this, the US Special Operations Command accepted this machine gun as one for all American forces special operations. Currently, the entire US Army is switching to it.
2 AK74 (USSR)
Caliber 5.45x39 mm, capacity 30 rounds, weight 3.6 kg
Kalashnikov assault rifle of 5.45 mm caliber, developed in 1970 by designer M. T. Kalashnikov and adopted by the USSR armed forces in 1974. Is further development AKM.
The machine is highly reliable, inexpensive and simple in design.
3
Caliber 5.56x45 mm, capacity 30 rounds, weight 3.63 kg
A weapon developed in the early 1990s by the German company Heckler & Koch to replace the well-known HK G3 automatic rifle. From a design point of view, the weapon's mechanics are a variant of the AR-18 rifle.
4
Caliber 5.56x45 mm, capacity 20, 30 rounds, weight 3.19 kg
The Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle is a weapon system developed by the American division of the Belgian company FN Herstal. The advantages of the weapon include high modularity and versatility, high accuracy and accuracy of fire both with single shots and in automatic mode, low recoil, reliability and unpretentiousness in difficult operating conditions.
Caliber 5.56x45 mm, capacity 9, 25, 30, 42 rounds, weight 3.6 kg
The army universal rifle is a set of small arms produced in 1977 by the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch. This rifle uses a bullpup layout, in which the magazine and bolt assembly are located behind the fire control handle and trigger. The advantages include high reliability, a center of gravity shifted to the butt, which allows the fighter to quickly transfer fire, and good accuracy.
6
Caliber 5.56x45 mm, capacity 20, 30, 60, 100 rounds, weight 3.27 kg
The assault rifle is a model of a modern Israeli assault rifle with a caliber of 5.56×45 mm, produced by the Israel Weapon Industries concern. The name of the machine comes from Mount Tavor (“Favor” in Russian transcription), in northern Israel. The rifle has the following advantages: increased impact resistance, accurate, compact, and relatively short assault rifle with a long barrel, reliable holding and aiming along the front.
7
Caliber 5.56x45 mm, capacity 20, 30, 60, 100 rounds, weight 3.02 kg
German rifle created by Heckler& Koch based on the M4 carbine. Initially, the new weapon was supposed to be a replaceable module for installation on any lower receiver of an M4 or M16 rifle, but later full-fledged machine guns appeared. The name HK416 symbolizes continuity from the M4 and M16.
8
Caliber 5.56x45 mm, capacity 30 rounds, weight 3.18 kg
A small arms complex developed by an American company. Like the Belgian FN SCAR system, the Magpul Masada complex is modular: by quickly replacing some components, you can change the class of the weapon, that is, the cartridge used and the length of the barrel.
The ACR material is polyamide fibers, from which the body is woven and then covered with a moisture-proof layer of elastic plastic; the body itself is corrugated, which prevents it from slipping in the shooter’s hands. The barrels in the Bushmaster ACR are quick-change and thick-walled, just like in sniper versions.
9
Caliber 5.56x45 mm, capacity 5, 10, 20, 30 rounds, weight 4.1 kg
Swiss assault rifle, developed in 1979-1980 based on the SIG SG 540 to replace the outdated SIG SG 510 automatic rifle.
The average deviation when shooting from the SIG SG 550 at a distance of 300 m is 60-70 mm. The SG 550 family has established itself as a reliable and convenient weapon with high combat qualities.
10
Caliber 5.56x45 mm, capacity 25, 30 rounds, weight 3.61 kg
The assault rifle developed by the MAS weapons company in Saint-Etienne) is a French 5.56 mm assault rifle with a bullpup layout. The unofficial name is “kleron” (French “horn”).
Compact, highly accurate, very reliable design.
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