Action of automation of the majority modern machine guns based on the use of recoil of the barrel during its short stroke or on the principle of removal of powder gases through a hole in the barrel wall. The machine gun is fed with cartridges from a belt or magazine. Firing from a machine gun can be carried out in short (up to 10 shots), long (up to 30 shots) bursts, continuously, and for some machine guns - also with single fire or a burst of a fixed length. The barrel is usually cooled by air. To conduct targeted shooting, machine guns are equipped with sights (mechanical, optical, night). The crew of the machine gun consists of one, two or more people (depending on the characteristics of the machine gun).
Types of machine guns
There are machine guns of small (up to 6.5 mm), normal (from 6.5 to 9 mm) and large (from 9 to 14.5 mm) caliber. Depending on the design and combat purpose, machine guns are divided into hand-held (on a bipod), mounted (on a tripod, less often on a wheeled machine), large-caliber infantry, anti-aircraft, tank, armored personnel carrier, casemate, ship, and aviation. In a number of countries, in order to unify a machine gun chambered for a rifle cartridge, so-called single machine guns have been developed and adopted as the main machine guns, allowing firing both from a bipod (light machine gun) and from a machine gun (machine gun).
Light machine guns
The food was supplied from flat disk magazines - “plates”, in which the cartridges were located in a circle, with bullets towards the center of the disk. This design ensured reliable supply of cartridges with a protruding rim, but also had significant disadvantages: large dimensions and the mass of an empty magazine, inconvenience in transportation and loading, as well as the possibility of damage to the magazine in combat conditions due to its tendency to deform. The magazine capacity was initially 49 rounds; later 47-round cartridges with increased reliability were introduced. The machine gun was equipped with three magazines with a metal box for carrying them.
It should be noted that, although the DP magazine externally resembles a Lewis machine gun magazine, in fact it is a completely different design in terms of its operating principle; for example, in Lewis, the cartridge disk rotates due to the bolt energy transferred to it complex system levers, and for the DP - due to a pre-cocked spring in the magazine itself.
At the end of the war, the DP machine gun and its modernized version DPM, created based on the experience of combat operations in - years, were removed from service in the Soviet Army and were widely supplied to countries friendly to the USSR. The ATS was in service with the participating states until the 1960s. Used in Korea, Vietnam and other countries.
Combat experience on the fields of World War II showed that infantry needs single machine guns that combine increased firepower with high mobility. As an ersatz substitute for a single machine gun in a company link, on the basis of earlier developments in 1946, the RP-46 light machine gun was created and put into service, which was a modification of the DPM for belt feeding, which, coupled with a weighted barrel, provided greater firepower at maintaining acceptable maneuverability.
Degtyarev light machine gun (RPD)
7.62 mm Degtyarev light machine gun (RPD, GAU Index - 56-R-327) - Soviet light machine gun, developed in 1944 and chambered for 7.62x39 mm cartridge. The RPD became one of the first weapons chambered for the 1943 cartridge to be put into service. From the early 1950s to the mid-1960s, it was the main squad-level support weapon, and then gradually began to be replaced by the PKK, which was more preferable from a unification point of view. However, the RPD is still in the warehouses of the army reserves. Like many other samples Soviet weapons, the RPD was widely exported to countries friendly to the USSR, and was also produced abroad, for example, in the PRC under the designation Type 56.
The range of a direct shot at the chest figure is 365 m. Fire at air targets is carried out at a distance of up to 500 m. The bullet retains its lethal action at a distance of up to 1.5 km.
Combat rate of fire - up to 150 rounds per minute. Intensive burst fire without barrel cooling is possible up to 300 rounds.
Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK)
7.62 mm Kalashnikov light machine gun (PKK, GRAU Index - 6P2) - Soviet light machine gun, created on the basis of the AKM assault rifle. Adopted by the Soviet army in 1961.
Madsen
FN Minimi
Bisal MK 2
Breda 30
Stoner
Lewis
Bren
Single machine guns
MG-34
MG-42
PC
MG-3
UKM-2000
FN MAG
Pecheneg
Heavy machine guns
Maxim machine gun
Maxim machine gun (“Maxim”)- an easel machine gun developed by the American gunsmith Hiram Stephens Maxim ( Hiram Stevens Maxim) in 1883. The Maxim machine gun became the ancestor of all automatic weapons; it was widely used during the Boer War, World War I and World War II.
The Maxim system machine gun (or simply “Maxim”) is an automatic weapon based on automatic recoil with a short-stroke barrel. As the shot is fired, the powder gases send the barrel back, setting in motion the reloading mechanism, which removes the cartridge from the fabric tape, sends it into the breech and at the same time cocks the bolt. After firing the shot, the operation is repeated again. The machine gun has an average rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute, and the combat rate of fire is 250-300 rounds per minute.
To fire a 1910 model machine gun, 7.62x54 mm R rifle cartridges with 1908 model (light bullet) and 1930 model (heavy bullet) bullets are used. The trigger system is designed only for automatic fire and has a safety lock against accidental shots. The machine gun is powered by cartridges from a slider-type receiver, with a fabric or metal belt with a capacity of 250 cartridges, which appeared later. The sighting device includes a rack-mount sight and a front sight with a rectangular top. Some machine guns could also be equipped with an optical sight. The machine gun was initially mounted on bulky carriages, modeled after mitrailleuse carriages; then portable machines appeared, usually on tripods; in the Russian army since 1910 a wheeled machine developed by Colonel A. A. Sokolov was used. This machine gave the machine gun sufficient stability when firing and, unlike tripods, made it possible to easily move the machine gun when changing position.
Machine gun "Maxim" model 1910 in comparison with other machine guns:
| Name | A country | Cartridge | Length, mm | Weight, kg | Rate of fire, rds/min | Sighting range, m | Initial bullet speed, m/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Maxim" model 1910 |
Russian empire/USSR | 7.62×54 mm | 1067 | 64,3 | 600 | 1000 | 865 (bullet model 1908) 800 (heavy bullet model 1931) |
Schwarzlose M.07/12 |
Austria-Hungary | 8×50 mm R Mannlicher | 945 | 41,4 | 400-580 | 2000 | 610 |
MG-08 |
German Empire | 7.92×57 mm | 1190 | 64 | 500-600 | 2400 | 815 |
Vickers |
Great Britain | .303 British | 1100 | 50 | 500-600 | 740 | 745 |
Lewis |
Great Britain | .303 British | 1280 | 14,5 | 500 | 1830 | 747 |
Hotchkiss M1914 |
France | 8×50 mm R Lebel | 1390 | 23.58 (46.8 on the machine) | 500 | 2000 | 746 |
Browning M1917 |
USA | 7.62×63 mm | 1219 | 47 | 450-600 | 1370 | 854 |
Vickers heavy machine gun
Browning M1917
Maschinengewehr 08
SG-43
DS-39
Heavy (large-caliber) machine guns
Browning M2
DShK
CPV
NSV-12.7
Cord
CIS 50MG
Large-caliber infantry machine guns are mounted on wheeled or tripod-mounted machines or attached to the embrasures of bunkers, and are used in these units to combat lightly armored ground targets. Infantry machine guns are usually used as anti-aircraft, tank, armored personnel carrier, casemate and ship-mounted ones, somewhat modified taking into account the specifics of their installation and operation at sites.
Aviation machine guns
Breda-SAFAT
MG-15
MG-17
MG-81
MG-131
Type 92
PV-1
ShKAS
UB
Tank machine guns
DT
Kalashnikov tank machine gun (PKT)
KPVT
NSVT
BESA
Machine gun design
A machine gun consists, as a rule, of the following main parts and mechanisms: barrel, receiver (box), bolt, impact trigger mechanism, return spring (return mechanism), sight, magazine (receiver). Light and single machine guns are usually equipped with butts for better stability when firing.
Thanks to the use of a massive barrel, easel and single machine guns provide a high practical rate of fire (up to 250-300 rounds per minute) and allow intense shooting without changing the barrel up to 500, and large-caliber ones - up to 150 shots. When overheating, the barrels are replaced.
Due to the barrel heating factor at a high rate of fire, all machine guns (with the exception of light machine guns developed on the basis of automatic rifles) have the following fundamental difference from other automatic weapons in the device and in the operation of the mechanism. When cocking the weapon, the cartridge is not in the breech of the barrel - as is done in automatic rifles, pistols or submachine guns. In machine guns, the cartridge is located in the bolt group on the line of chambering into the barrel, not inserted into the breech. This is done in order to prevent jamming of the cartridge case in the breech of an overheated barrel and sintering of the cartridge case with the breech during breaks between firing.
Invention and development of machine guns
Machine guns appeared on the battlefield as a result of a constant and persistent search for a way to increase the density of fire against an advancing enemy by increasing the rate of fire of weapons in service with the army. One of the ways to increase the rate of fire was to create weapons that provide continuous fire. This is how the machine gun appeared.
The prototypes of machine guns were a block of rifle barrels mounted on an artillery carriage, firing alternately with continuous fire. Reloading and firing a shot was carried out using the muscular energy of the crew.
Since the 16th century, attempts have been made to create revolver-type pistols and shotguns (with drums). In 1718, the English lawyer James Puckle patented the Puckle gun, which was a gun mounted on a tripod and equipped with a drum. The rate of fire more than doubled compared to a conventional gun (from 4 to 9 rounds per minute), but the gun was also more cumbersome to handle, requiring several servants who otherwise could fire themselves. It was of no interest to anyone and was not adopted. In addition, the appearance of the drum freed up the reloading of cartridges, but not the manipulation of adding primer to the flintlock, which also took considerable time during reloading. Thus, before the advent of a unitary cartridge, there could be no talk of a true rate of fire in our understanding, and therefore a cannon firing buckshot remained the simplest, cheapest to manufacture and effective weapon, providing mass destruction enemy.
The immediate predecessor of the machine gun is the mitrailleuse - a burst-firing weapon chambered for a unitary cartridge, manually operated and with several barrels. Usually they consisted of several single-shot mechanisms combined into a block.
On May 17, 1718, James Puckle patented his gun, which became the prototype of the machine gun. Since that time, military engineering has come a long way, but machine guns still remain one of the most menacing species weapons.
"Pakla's Gun"
Attempts to increase the rate of fire of firearms were made repeatedly, but before the advent of a unitary cartridge they failed due to the complexity and unreliability of the design, the extremely high cost of production and the need to have trained soldiers whose skills would go significantly beyond the automatic manipulation of a gun.
One of the many experimental designs was the so-called “Pakla gun”. The weapon was a gun mounted on a tripod with a cylinder with 11 charges acting as a magazine. The crew of the gun consisted of several people. With coordinated crew actions and no misfires, a rate of fire of up to 9-10 rounds per minute was theoretically achieved. This system was supposed to be used at short distances in naval battle, however, due to unreliability, this weapon did not become widespread. This system illustrates the desire to increase the firepower of rifle fire by increasing the rate of fire.
Lewis machine gun
The Lewis light machine gun was developed in the United States by Samuel McClane, and was used as a light machine gun and aircraft gun during the First World War. Despite the impressive weight, the weapon turned out to be quite successful - the machine gun and its modifications were kept for quite a long time in Britain and its colonies, as well as the USSR.
In our country, Lewis machine guns were used until the Great Patriotic War and visible on the chronicle of the parade on November 7, 1941. In domestic feature films, this weapon is found relatively rarely, but a frequent imitation of the Lewis machine gun in the form of a “camouflaged DP-27” is present very often. The original Lewis machine gun was depicted, for example, in the film “White Sun of the Desert” (except for the shooting shots).
Hotchkiss machine gun
During the First World War, the Hotchkiss machine gun became the main machine gun of the French army. Only in 1917, with the spread of light machine guns, its production began to decline.
In total, the easel "Hotchkiss" was in service in 20 countries. In France and a number of other countries, these weapons were kept during the Second World War. Hotchkiss was supplied to a limited extent before the First World War and to Russia, where a significant part of these machine guns was lost during the East Prussian operation in the first months of the war. In domestic feature films, the Hotchkiss machine gun can be seen in the film adaptation of Quiet Don, which shows a Cossack attack on German positions, which from a historical point of view may not be typical, but is acceptable.
Maxim machine gun
The Maxim machine gun went down in the history of the Russian Empire and the USSR, remaining officially in service much longer than in other countries. Along with the three-line rifle and revolver, it is strongly associated with the weapons of the first half of the 20th century.
He served from the Russo-Japanese War to the Great Patriotic War inclusive. Powerful and distinguished by a high rate of fire and accuracy of fire, the machine gun had a number of modifications in the USSR and was used as an easel, anti-aircraft and aviation one. The main disadvantages of the easel version of the Maxim were the excessively large mass and water cooling of the barrel. Only in 1943 was the Goryunov machine gun adopted for service, which by the end of the war began to gradually supplant the Maxim. In the initial period of the war, the production of Maxims not only did not decrease, but on the contrary, it increased and, in addition to Tula, was deployed in Izhevsk and Kovrov.
Since 1942, machine guns were produced only with a receiver under a canvas tape. Production legendary weapons was stopped in our country only in the victorious year of 1945.
MG-34
The German MG-34 machine gun has a very complicated story adoption, but, nevertheless, this model can be called one of the first single machine guns. The MG-34 could be used as a light machine gun, or as an easel machine gun on a tripod, as well as as an anti-aircraft and tank gun.
Its low weight gave the weapon high maneuverability, which, combined with a high rate of fire, made it one of the best infantry machine guns of the early World War II. Later, even with the adoption of the MG-42, Germany did not abandon the production of the MG-34, until now this machine gun is in service with a number of countries.
DP-27
From the beginning of the 30s, the light machine gun of the Degtyarev system began to enter service with the Red Army, which became the main light machine gun of the Red Army until the mid-40s. First combat use DP-27 is most likely associated with the conflict on the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1929.
The machine gun performed well during the fighting in Spain, Khasan and Khalkhin Gol. However, by the time the Great Patriotic War began, the Degtyarev machine gun was already inferior in a number of parameters such as weight and magazine capacity to a number of newer and more advanced models.
During operation, a number of shortcomings were identified - a small magazine capacity (47 rounds) and an unfortunate location under the barrel of the return spring, which was deformed from frequent shooting. During the war, some work was carried out to eliminate these shortcomings. In particular, the survivability of the weapon was increased by moving the return spring to the rear of the receiver, although general principle The operation of this sample has not undergone any changes. New machine gun(DPM) began to enter the troops in 1945. On the basis of the machine gun, a very successful DT tank machine gun was created, which became the main Soviet tank machine gun of the Great Patriotic War.
Machine gun "Breda" 30
One of the first places in terms of the number of shortcomings among mass-produced samples can be given to the Italian Breda machine gun, which, perhaps, collected the maximum number of them.
Firstly, the magazine is unsuccessful and only holds 20 rounds, which is clearly not enough for a machine gun. Secondly, each cartridge must be lubricated with oil from a special oil can. Dirt, dust gets in and the weapon instantly fails. One can only guess how it was possible to fight with such a “miracle” in the sands of North Africa.
But even at sub-zero temperatures, the machine gun also does not work. The system was distinguished by its great complexity in production and low rate of fire for a light machine gun. To top it off, there is no handle for carrying the machine gun. However, this system was the main machine gun of the Italian army in World War II.
In 1945, the career of 14.5 mm anti-tank rifles ended. But the service of the cartridges intended for them (14.5x114) was still at the very beginning. And the reason for this was the need of the troops for a powerful heavy machine gun.
NEW LARGE CALIBER
In the classic work of D. N. Bolotin “Soviet Rifle” a letter written by a group of front-line soldiers to the famous designer V. A. Degtyarev on August 23, 1942 is quoted: “We are often tempted by the thought of what a formidable weapon an anti-tank machine gun would be against tanks... An anti-tank machine gun could be a decisive weapon in repelling enemy attacks and destroying his manpower.”
True, the idea of an anti-tank machine gun was not new - it dates back to the First World War. And in the 20s - early 30s, large-caliber machine guns were created taking into account “anti-aircraft” and “anti-tank” requirements. The Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR in December 1929 reported to the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks that “the adopted system infantry weapons The Red Army envisages the introduction in the near future... of a large-caliber machine gun - to combat armored units and airborne enemies, caliber 18-20 m/m.” However, as you know, the Red Army received a 12.7 mm machine gun. But in 1938, a more powerful 14.5-mm cartridge, designed for use in automatic weapons, had already appeared, and the designer of the Small Arms Scientific Testing Range Simonin developed a 14.5-mm tank machine gun based on it. However, further prototype things didn’t work out, and the new cartridges served as ammunition for anti-tank rifles.
Meanwhile, at the height of the Great Patriotic War, in the same 1942, when Degtyarev received the above-mentioned letter, the designers of TsKB-14 Salishchev and Galkin had already designed an anti-tank machine gun, although now it should have been called anti-armor. In addition to fighting armored vehicles, it was intended to solve other problems. For small infantry units needed rapid-fire weapons to fire at concentrations of manpower and equipment, enemy firing points at ranges of up to 1,500 meters.
In addition, enemy bombers and attack aircraft increasingly attacked from low altitudes, and the aircraft themselves had armor and protected tanks. Therefore, the 12.7-mm DShK had to be supplemented with a machine gun with a high armor-piercing effect of the bullet, surpassing the weapons of Degtyarev and Shpagin in range and height. In December 1942 Main artillery department approved the tactical and technical requirements for a 14.5 mm machine gun.
The Main Armored Directorate also showed great interest in such a model. In the work plan for 1944, approved by the head of the department self-propelled artillery GBTU Major General N.N. Alymov on November 11, 1943, listed “the development of a 14.5-mm anti-aircraft machine gun with an initial bullet speed of up to 1300 m/s for installation on tanks” with completion (readiness for testing samples) in May 1944- go and “development of a tank anti-aircraft installation for a 14.5-mm machine gun” for “anti-aircraft protection of motorized mechanized troops” with completion in July 1944.
In 1943, the creation of a new machine gun began in Kovrov at the State Union Plant No. 2 named after. K. O. Kirkizha several designers (note that in parallel at the plant they were modernizing the DShK). The KB-2 team presented three variants of weapons, all with an already used automatic gas engine, but with different locking units. In accordance with the decision of the Artcom of the GAU, a sample was made with a rotary bolt, belt feed and with a Garanin machine only for ground shooting. However high pressure, created by the 14.5-mm cartridge, made the operation of the automatic gas engine harsh, made it difficult to extract the spent cartridge case, and the survivability of the barrel turned out to be low when firing armor-piercing bullets.
In May 1943, an employee of the plant’s chief designer’s department, S.V. Vladimirov (1895-1956), began developing his own version of the machine gun, using his 20-mm as a basis. aircraft cannon B-20 with an automatic recoil engine (in 1942, this gun lost to the B-20 Berezin gun). Together with Vladimirov, the machine gun was created by V. A. Ryzhkov, A. I. Bulanov, P. P. Protasov, A. P. Finogenov, V. V. Kalinin, S. A. Kharykin, A. A. Prokofiev. The work went on intensely, and already in November 1943 the first machine gun entered factory testing. In February 1944, the Vladimirov machine gun with the modernized Kolesnikov universal wheeled tripod machine was tested at the Scientific Testing Ground for Small Arms and Mortar Weapons.
Russian weapons historian S. B. Monetchikov cites the conclusion of the NIPSMVO, which, among other things, said: “...4. In terms of survivability of parts, the design of the machine gun satisfies the tactical and technical requirements and significantly exceeds all previously tested 14.5-mm machine guns (note that Vladimirov’s machine gun was not the first to be brought to field testing. - S.F.)... 7. Automation 14 The .5mm machine gun deserves attention. Machine guns can be used to combat enemy vehicles, firing points and in the defense of fortified areas. 14.5mm machine guns can also be widely used in air defense.”
In April 1944, the GAU and the People's Commissariat of Armaments ordered Plant No. 2 to produce 50 machine guns and one anti-aircraft gun for military testing. The machine gun received the designation KPV-44 (“Vladimirov heavy machine gun model 1944”). On military tests a machine gun and an anti-aircraft gun were hit immediately after the end of the Great Patriotic War - in May 1945.
Universal machines turned out to be either unstable or heavy, and the choice was made in favor of separate installations for ground and anti-aircraft shooting. Already in 1946, the Department of the Chief Designer of Plant No. 2 developed single, twin and quad anti-aircraft guns for the KPV-44. It is interesting that at the same time E.V. Ivanov, V.A. Vvedensky and S.M. Krekin designed an ultra-high-speed multi-barreled machine gun chambered for a 14.5 mm cartridge, but this work was stopped.
In May 1948 there were field testing KPV-44 on infantry machines of several systems - G. S. Garanin (KB-2), G. P. Markov (OGK plant No. 2), S. A. Kharykin (Leningrad OKB-43) and Kuibyshev Machine-Building Plant. The choice ultimately fell on Kharykin’s machine, modified in Kovrov at KB-2.
And the following year, the ground-based “14.5-mm Vladimirov infantry heavy machine gun (PKP)”, as well as its anti-aircraft version, were put into service. In the same 1949, for the development of anti-aircraft weapons as part of the KPV-44 machine gun and ZPU-1, ZPU-2, ZPU-4 installations, designers S. V. Vladimirov, A. P. Finogenov, G. P. Markov, I. S. Leshchinsky, L. M. Borisova, E. D. Vodopyanov and E. K. Rachinsky were awarded Stalin Prize. The production of the Vladimirov machine gun was established by the Plant named after. V. A. Degtyarev (this name was assigned to Kovrov plant No. 2 in the same year). Already in 1952, the plant supplied the Armed Forces with eight thousand anti-aircraft CPVs. At the same time, work was carried out on installing a 14.5 mm machine gun on tanks.
DEVICE
The automatic operation of the Vladimirov machine gun operates according to the recoil scheme of the barrel with a short stroke using additional energy from the powder gases discharged through the muzzle device (recoil amplifier). Cartridge with large powder charge requires weighting the barrel. With a movable barrel, this even has a positive effect, allowing you to make the operation of the automation smoother, without increasing the stroke length of the system too much, that is, with relatively small box sizes. The barrel is covered with a casing with windows to improve cooling. The machine gun box is a stamped and riveted structure.
The leading link of the automation is the bolt with bolt frame. The barrel bore is locked by turning the bolt. A copy-type accelerator passes through the inclined grooves of the bolt frame in the form of a transverse axis with five rollers freely mounted on it to reduce friction. The shutter is rotated by the accelerator due to the interaction of the accelerator rollers with the inclined groove of the box. The bolt and barrel have their own return springs.
The trigger mechanism provides only automatic fire. Shooting is carried out from the rear sear. The shot is fired upon completion of locking when the moving system reaches its extreme forward position, so that part of the recoil energy is spent on its braking. The machine gun has automatic safety locks that prevent the bolt from locking and firing when the barrel is incorrectly attached, and the belt from feeding when the cartridge is not removed from the link. The machine gun trigger sear lever interacts with the installation's trigger rod.
The cartridges are fed from a solid metal link strip with an open link. The slide-type feed mechanism is assembled in the receiver cover. Changing the direction of feeding the tape from right to left is done by rearranging the parts of the feeding mechanism. The ability to switch the direction of feed of the tape made it easier to install the machine gun on complex installations. For the same purpose, the reloading handle can be installed in the groove of the box on the left or right side.
The flight range of a 14.5 mm bullet reaches 7000-8000 m, and its lethality in manpower remains the same at the entire distance, but sighting range limited to 2000 m, at long ranges the dispersion of hits is too large, in addition, it is difficult to observe the results of shooting and its adjustment.
The advantages of the system include relatively smooth operation of the automation (due to the mass of the moving system and rollers on its elements), no need for precise adjustment of gaps, high reliability in different conditions operation.
MULTIPLE INSTALLATIONS
The wheeled machine gun for the PKP machine gun was developed by S. A. Kharykin, similar to a lightweight artillery carriage with sliding frames. The machine gun on the machine could be transported in the back of a GAZ-51 or GAZ-63 truck, disassembled into several parts for transportation, towed by a car for short distances, or rolled by crew forces across the battlefield. But already in 1952, K. A. Baryshev began developing a lightweight machine with a wheel-tripod design. By equipping the machine with a front support coulter, he was able to reduce its weight compared to a wheeled one by 2.8 times, while simultaneously improving the accuracy of fire (by moving the contact point into the ground forward) and horizontal guidance angles. In 1955, Baryshev’s machine was put into service.
In 1949, along with a machine gun, I. S. Leshchinsky’s quadruple anti-aircraft machine gun mount was adopted under the designation ZPU-4 (as a divisional short-range air defense weapon), paired by S. V. Vladimirova and G. P. Markov - ZPU-2 ( for the regimental level). A single ZPU-1 installation was created by E. D. Vodopyanov and E. K. Rachinsky. Note that the 14.5-mm machine gun was intended for use in air defense of tank formations, armored personnel carriers, armored trains, and to cover artillery formations, so at first anti-aircraft guns were developed for mounting on self-propelled carriers. But as the work progressed, the requirements changed and all the ZPUs adopted for service were towed. Unlike the universal mounting of the DShK and DShKM machine guns, there were horizontal and vertical guidance mechanisms, a seat for the gunner (and his assistant), more comfortable sights. For firing at air targets, the ZPU-2 was equipped with a VK-4 angular collimator sight, and at ground targets it was possible to fire at a distance of up to 1000 m using the OP-1-14 telescopic optical sight.
The design of the ZPU-2 and ZPU-1 had the following features: the rotation axis of the swinging part in the center coincided with the center of the machine gun receiving window and the feed of tapes from the boxes through the bed axles, which contributed to the balancing of the installation. To fire at air targets from the ZPU-4, an APO-3-S automatic collimator anti-aircraft sight was used, which included a counting and solving mechanism that made it possible to solve the problem of meeting a bullet with a target, taking into account the speed, course and dive angles of the latter. The calculations entered these parameters manually, which, of course, reduced the installation capabilities in the conditions of the rapidly growing flight characteristics of aircraft, but this was already a step forward compared to previously used anti-aircraft sights. By the way, it was the 14.5 mm ZPU-4 that was “played” in the famous movie “The Dawns Here Are Quiet...” instead of the 7.62 mm quad Maximum installations.
ZPU-2 and ZPU-4 were also installed on armored personnel carriers - BTR-40, BTR-152 and BTR-50. Thus, ZPU-2 became the basis for installing ZTPU-2 on the BTR-152 chassis: 719 were manufactured on this chassis in 1952-1955 self-propelled units(BTR-152A), and in 1955-1957 - another 160 BTR-152E. An experimental ZTPU-4 using ZPU-4 and BTR-152 was manufactured in 1952, but did not enter service - the small-sized troop compartment made it difficult to accommodate a crew of five people and additional ammunition boxes during all-round fire.
In 1950, the Scientific and Technical Committee of the GAU issued an order for a lightweight twin installation for the Airborne Forces. It was created at NITI-40 by E. D. Vodopyanov, E. K. Rachinsky and V. I. Gremislavsky, unifying a number of elements from ZPU-1. The installation received an automatic anti-aircraft sight, a second (right) gunner's seat, and an additional frame for the second cartridge box. In 1955, it entered service under the designation ZU-2. Reducing the weight of the installation and the ability to roll it across the field by crew forces made it possible to make the ZU-2 no longer a regimental, but a battalion air defense weapon. Subsequently, the ZU-2 was replaced by a 23 mm cannon anti-aircraft installation ZU-23.
ZU-2 could be disassembled into parts weighing up to 80 kg. This made it possible to use it in mountainous areas, but here a lighter device was required. The ZGU-1 anti-aircraft mining installation was developed in 1954 by R. Ya. Purtsen and E. K. Rachinsky. However, its approval for service was delayed. Since it was decided to leave only the tank KPVT in production, the installation was successfully modified for it in 1955. But then “rocket mania” intervened, which gripped the government leadership in the second half of the 50s and suspended much work on barrel systems. As a result, the dismountable ZGU-1 entered service only in 1968. At first, these installations were supplied to the army of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as part of the USSR's assistance to this country in the fight against the American aggressor. The ZGU-1 entered the Soviet Army only in the 70s, but then they were no longer equipped with the KPVT, but with the new 12.7-mm NSV-12.7 machine gun. 14.5-mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounts were widely supplied to “developing” countries, where they are still fighting.
The tank version of the machine gun, the KPVT, was created to be mounted in tandem with a cannon, as well as for turret, pivot and turret mountings. Accordingly, the KPVT received a detachable receiver, a shortened box, an electric trigger, and the spent cartridges were removed forward. A long casing has completely covered the barrel since 1956. All KPV and KPVT machine guns were manufactured with such a casing. Except Soviet tanks T-10, armored personnel carriers BTR-60PB, -70 and -80, reconnaissance armored vehicle BRDM-2, armored vehicles of other countries were armed with a KPVT machine gun Warsaw Pact, for example, the Polish-Czech armored personnel carrier OT-64, the Hungarian PSZH. Together with the ZPU, this contributed to the widespread distribution of KPV and KPVT machine guns. Of the entire family of 14.5 mm machine guns, it was the tank KPVT that turned out to be the longest-lived.
The Vladimirov machine gun was adopted for armament not only Ground Forces. Yes, according to orders Missile Forces strategic purpose Tula TsKIB SOO has developed machine gun mounts to protect stationary and mobile missile systems: in particular, in 1964, an installation was created using a turret from the BRDM-2 with a 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT.
In March 1946, the leadership Navy approved the tactical and technical specifications for the design of three models of twin 14.5 mm installations. The development was entrusted to OKB-43 under the leadership of M. N. Kondakov. Installation 2M-5 was created for torpedo boats, 2M-6 for armored boats, and 2M-7 for minesweepers. The pedestal deck vertically coupled mount 2M-7 was adopted by the Navy in 1951, and in 1952 - the deck turret mount 2M-5 and the turret mount 2M-6. The 2M-5 installations were equipped with torpedo boats of the "123 bis" and "184" projects, the 2M-6 installations were equipped with the armored boats of the "191M" project and some of the boats of the "1204" project, 2M-7 - the "Grif" type patrol boats of the "1400" project and project “368T”, minesweepers of projects “151”, “361T”, etc. These installations were produced by Tulamashzavod.
Already in 1999, the Plant named after. V. A. Degtyarev presented a 14.5-mm single-barrel marine pedestal machine gun mount MTPU with a KPVT machine gun for arming boats.
ABOUT THE SERVICE
Although the Vladimirov machine gun remained in service with the Ground Forces mainly in the tank version, its “easel” modifications were also used during various wars and conflicts. Yes, during Afghan war A 14.5-mm machine gun on an infantry machine was located along with the DShKM and NSV-S-12.7 at many checkpoints. In battles in gorges and lowlands, the combination of flat fire from heavy machine guns and mounted fire from automatic grenade launchers proved effective.
14.5-mm machine guns were also used by Afghan spooks - mostly copies of the Vladimirov machine gun, made in China and on Chinese installations.
In conflicts last decades tank KPVT often undergoes a “reverse transformation” - it is converted into an “infantry” version, installed on makeshift portable or towed installations. Similar installations could be seen in Yugoslavia, Chechnya, and Armenia.
The “monopoly” of the 14.5 mm machine gun as an armament for armored personnel carriers was somewhat broken by the appearance of the BTR-80A, armed with a 30 mm cannon, but the number of these armored personnel carriers is not so large.
A number of foreign armies (Germany, France, Switzerland, etc.) adopted light 20-mm automatic guns to solve the same problems for which the CPV was created. True, in the 80s of the 20th century, the 15.5-mm machine gun BRG15 MILO of the Belgian Fabric National with a ground-mounted machine attracted wide attention. But it never left the experimental stage, just like, by the way, the attempts made at the same time to install 25-30 mm caliber guns on “infantry” machines. The competition between heavy heavy machine guns and automatic small-caliber guns began a long time ago and is still ongoing.
AMMUNITION
But let's return to the basis of any weapon - the cartridge. For firing from the Vladimirov machine gun, at first, already produced 14.5x114 cartridges with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-32 and a BS-41 bullet were used, as well as a version adopted with the machine gun with an armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet BZT, intended for firing at low-flying targets, lightly armored vehicles, group targets, shooting adjustments. The B-32 and BZT variants became the main ones, but the tasks for which the Vladimirov machine gun served required an expansion of the family of 14.5 mm cartridges. In the 50-60s, cartridges with a sighting-incendiary bullet PZ and an instant-action incendiary bullet MDZ were adopted (for hitting air targets and unarmored weapons and military equipment). There are, of course, both blank and practice cartridges. Already in 1989, a 14.5-mm cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet BS with an aluminum jacket, a carbide core and increased armor penetration was developed. A cartridge with a modernized MDZM bullet was also adopted, and in 2002 a cartridge with a modernized BZT-M bullet was adopted. It is characteristic that its main innovation was the ignition of the tracer at a distance from the muzzle, which dazzles the shooter less and reduces the illumination of night sights. 14.5 mm cartridge (the most powerful commercially produced small arms ammunition), apparently, will remain in service for a long time.
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS KPVT
Cartridge 14.5x114
Machine gun body weight, without ammunition 52.5 kg
Length:
- machine gun body 2000 mm
- barrel 1350 mm
Initial bullet speed 990-1000 m/s
Range:
- aimed shooting at ground targets 2000 m
- direct shot at a target height of 2.7 m 1050 m
- aimed shooting at air targets 1500 m
Rate of fire 600-650 rounds/min
Combat rate of fire 70-90 rounds/min
Belt capacity 50 rounds
Weapons often appear in films, some machine guns appear especially often on screens, but here the question of generations arises,
those born in the USSR remember well numerous films about the Great Patriotic War and the corresponding weapons, while children of the 90s remember American action films and “meat grinders” more.
1 3-line / 7.62mm Maxim machine gun model 1910 on a Sokolov machine gun(film "Chapaev")
Maxim M1910 machine gun is automatic weapons with water-cooled barrel. The barrel casing is steel, most often corrugated, with a capacity of 4 liters. On machine guns produced after 1940, the neck for filling the casing with water is made larger (similar to Finnish machine guns the same system), which made it possible to fill the casing not only with water, but also with snow or crushed ice. The automatic machine gun uses the recoil of the barrel during its short stroke. The barrel is locked by a cranked pair of levers located between the bolt and the receiver rigidly connected to the barrel. The cartridges are fed from a canvas (later non-loose metal) tape, from right to left. The machine gun allows only automatic fire. Additionally, machine guns could be equipped optical sight model 1932 with a 2X magnification, for which a special bracket was made on the receiver.
2 (film “About these days the soldiers marched...”)
The DP (Degtyarev infantry) light machine gun was adopted by the Red Army in 1927 and became one of the first models created from scratch in the young Soviet state. The machine gun turned out to be quite successful and reliable, and was widely used as the main weapon of fire support for infantry of a platoon-company link until the end of the Great Patriotic War. In terms of its combat qualities, the machine gun was superior to similar foreign models, in particular the German MG-13 machine gun.
3 (films “Rambo”, “Special Forces”)
In the mid-1950s, the Soviet Army began a program to develop a new complex small arms, designed to replace the Kalashnikov AK assault rifle, SKS carbine and manual RPD machine gun. The complex was supposed to include an assault rifle and a light machine gun (squad support weapon) that was maximally unified with it, both chambered for the 7.62x39 M43 cartridge. Based on the results of the competition in 1961, the SA was adopted modified machine gun Kalashnikov AKM and the Kalashnikov RPK light machine gun, unified with it in design and magazines. The RPK served as the main support weapon for the squad until 1974, when it was replaced by its counterpart chambered for 5.45x39 - the RPK-74 light machine gun.
4 (Rambo movie)
The M60 machine gun entered service in the late 50s. The main manufacturer was Saco Defense. The original design allows the rod and shock absorber to move when rolling back into the butt, which reduces the overall length of the machine gun.
The large receiver pad is convenient for carrying weapons, and the folding bipod protects your hands from burns.
Often such machine guns are called a meat grinder, but this applies to older models with manual drive. The key advantages of modern, apparently Powered Gatling-type cannons are the extremely high rate of fire, typically 4 to 6 thousand rounds per minute (RPM), and sometimes up to 10-12 thousand rpm. This shooting rate is necessary to combat fast-moving targets. Such indicators are mainly of aircraft or ground targets, fire from aircraft. The downfall of many barreled systems is their relative complexity, heavy weight, and requirements for external power supply (electrical, air pressure or hydraulic). There are several self-powered (gas-action) Gatling guns, but they are still much larger and heavier than conventional single-barreled guns. Another disadvantage of Gatling guns, which is important for air combat, is that the machine gun requires some time to spin up the barrels in order to hit the target at full speed (rate of fire). For the M61 Vulcan cannon, for example, the “speed” of barrel rotation is about 0.4, that is, first “from the screw”, and then “fire”
6 (film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet”)
The MG-34 machine gun was developed German company Rheinmetall-Borsig, commissioned by the German army. The development of the machine gun was led by Louis Stange, however, when creating the machine gun, the developments of not only the Rheinmetall company and its subsidiaries, but also other companies, such as Mauser-Werke, for example. The machine gun was officially adopted by the Wehrmacht in 1934 and until 1942 it was officially the main machine gun not only of the infantry, but also of the German tank forces. In 1942, instead of the MG-34, the more advanced MG-42 machine gun was adopted, but production of the MG-34 did not stop until the end of World War II, as it continued to be used as a tank machine gun due to its greater adaptability to this compared to MG-42.
7 (film “Battalions Ask for Fire” “Rambo”)
heavy-caliber machine guns chambered for 12.7x108 mm.
The machine gun has a fairly high rate of fire, which makes it effective at firing at fast-moving targets. Maintaining a high rate of fire, despite the increase in caliber, was facilitated by the introduction of a buffer device in the butt plate of the machine gun. The elastic buffer also softens the impacts of the moving system in the rearmost position, which has a beneficial effect on the survivability of parts and shooting accuracy.
DShKM was installed on T-54 and T-55 and T-62 tanks.
8 NSV-12.7 “Utes” heavy machine gun(film "War")
The NSV-12.7 heavy machine gun (code designation during development "Utes") was developed in the period 1969 - 1972 by designers Nikitin, Sokolov and Volkov to replace the outdated DShKM heavy machine gun. The development initially took into account the versatility of the new machine gun - it could be used as an infantry support weapon from a light infantry tripod, as an anti-aircraft machine gun from special installations, as well as for arming armored vehicles and small ships. The machine gun was put into service in 1972 and was mass produced in the USSR; in addition, its copies were produced in Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. After the collapse of the USSR, the main manufacturer of NSV machine guns, the Metalist plant, ended up in independent Kazakhstan, and in Russia, the Kord heavy machine gun was developed to replace this machine gun. The NSV version is also produced in independent Ukraine.
9 (film "White Sun of the Desert")
Lewis machine guns appeared in Russia in 1917 (9,600 American-made and 1,800 English-made machine guns). Lewis machine guns were also used during the Civil War. In the film “White Sun of the Desert” it is implied that the fighter Sukhov uses it. However, in fact, another famous machine gun was filmed in the film - the DT-29 with a false barrel casing, making it look similar to a Lewis machine gun.
10
In the late twenties and early thirties, the German company Rheinmetall developed a new light machine gun for the German army. This model was based on the design of the Dreyse MG 18 machine gun, created during the First World War in the same concern by designer Hugo Schmeisser. Taking this machine gun as a basis, the designers of Rheinmtetal, led by Louis Stange, redesigned it for magazine feeding and made a number of other changes. During development, this machine gun, according to German tradition, received the designation Gerat 13 (Device 13). In 1932, this “device” was adopted by the Wehrmacht, which began to strengthen itself, under the symbol MG 13,
I remember well this perforated barrel casing in Soviet films about the Second World War. Oh, how we watched these films as boys, everyone brought weapons and we shot at every fascist, helping our soldiers.
Materials used: https://world.guns.ru
War may never change, but its tools have changed many times. Ever since humanity moved from spears and arrows to firearms, it never ceases to improve it every year. In this review, we invite you to consider the best representatives of the “weapons family”. We will talk about both large-caliber and light machine guns- new products and classic models, competing in rate of fire, power and lethality.
Single German machine gun The HK 121 replaced the famous MG 3. No matter how good the “troika” was, it all ends sooner or later. The Bundeswehr needed a more powerful option to support its army, which was the creation of the weapons Heckler company& Koch. Smart layout, lethal power, quick-change barrel, possibility of installation on military equipment– what else is needed to make a machine gunner happy?
Caliber: 7.62x51 NATO
Weight: 10.8 (with bipod)
Length: 1165 mm
Barrel length: 550 mm
Power: Tape
Rate of fire: 640 - 800 rounds per minute
The Negev machine gun, produced by the Israeli concern Israel Military Industries, has proven itself to be a powerful and mobile support weapon. But its firing range and lethality were clearly not enough for modern military conflicts. That is why the updated Negev NG7 entered service with the Israeli army, which corrected all the shortcomings of its predecessor.
Caliber: 7.62x51 NATO
Weight: 7.6 (with bipod)
Length: 1000 / 820
Barrel length: 508 mm
Power: Tape
Rate of fire: 850 – 1150 rounds per minute
FN MAG can rightfully be called the “Belgian horse” in the small arms class. The gunsmiths from Fabrique Nationale did their best, creating a truly good machine gun. A fairly simple and reliable design, combined with flexibility of use and adequate ammunition, has secured this machine gun a place in the weapons systems of over 50 countries, including Belgium itself, the UK, Australia, Canada, the USA, Sweden and many other countries.
Caliber: 7.62mm NATO
Weight: 11-13 kg with bipod (depending on modification), tripod weight 21 kg
Length: 1260 mm
Barrel length: 545 mm
Feeding: loose metal strip
Rate of fire: 650 - 950 rounds per minute
The single Pecheneg machine gun is intended to destroy enemy personnel and light equipment. It can also be used as an anti-aircraft gun. Thanks to its characteristics, it is rightfully considered one of the best examples of single machine guns in the world.
"Pecheneg" is capable of firing about 650 rounds per minute without reducing combat characteristics. This increase in survivability made it possible to abandon the replacement barrel. However, the Pecheneg barrel, as before, remains quick-detachable.
Caliber: 7.62x54mm R
Weight without cartridges: 8.2 kg on bipod; 12.7 kg on a tripod machine
Length: 1155 mm
Barrel length: 658 mm
Power: 100 or 200 round belt
Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute
Most domestic and foreign experts agree that heavy machine gun"CORD" ( Large Caliber Weapon Dyagterevtsev) is the best of its kind.
In the armed forces, the KORD is called a “sniper machine gun” for its amazing accuracy and mobility, which is unusual for this type of weapon. With a caliber of 12.7 mm, its weight is only 25.5 kilograms (body). Also, “KORD” is highly valued for its ability to fire both from a bipod and from the hands at a speed of up to 750 rounds per minute.
Caliber: 12.7x108 mm
Weight: 25.5 kg (machine gun body) + 16 kg (6T7 machine) or 7 kg (6T19 machine)
Length: 1980 mm
Barrel length: no data
Power: 50 rounds belt
Rate of fire: 650-750 rounds/min
Loading...
