Weapons for shooting in water. Underwater special automatic rifle (APS)
Caliber: 5.6x39 mm
Automation type: gas vent, locking by turning the bolt
Length: 823/ 615 mm (stock unfolded/folded)
Barrel length: no data
Weight: 2.4 kg without magazine, 3.4 kg with loaded magazine
Rate of fire: 600 rounds per minute (airborne)
Shop: 26 rounds
Since the late 1960s, developments have been carried out in the USSR aimed at creating effective weapons for combat swimmers of the Navy. The work was carried out at the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TSNIITOCHMASH) by O. P. Kravchenko and P. F. Sazonov. By the beginning of the 1970s, special ammunition for underwater firearms was theoretically and practically developed, using elongated non-rotating bullets with hydrodynamic stabilization using a cavitation cavity generated when the bullet moves in water. The bullets looked like elongated needles about 20 calibers long, with a head part in the form of a truncated cone. The flat area at the head of the bullet was precisely responsible for creating a cavitation cavity that stabilized the bullet when moving in water. Initially, the 4.5mm SPS cartridge and the SPP-1 4-barrel non-self-loading pistol chambered for these cartridges were developed and adopted by the USSR Navy. Around 1975, the USSR Navy adopted a weapon complex consisting of the Submarine Special APS Automatic, developed by designer V.V. Simonov, and 5.66mm special MPS ammunition. The MPS cartridge is created on the basis of the standard 7N6 5.45x39mm cartridge case, equipped with a 120 mm long needle-shaped bullet, and specially sealed. Later, MPST ammunition with a tracer bullet appeared. In an underwater position at a depth of 5 meters, the MPS cartridge provides an effective firing range at scuba divers of up to 30 meters; at a depth of 20 meters, the effective range decreases to 20 meters, and at 40 meters - to 10 meters. It must be borne in mind that the line-of-sight range at the specified depths without the use of special equipment does not exceed the effective firing range from the APS - that is, if the enemy is visible, he can be hit. The machine also allows shooting in the air, however, due to the fact that the bullets do not have dynamic stabilization sufficient for a significantly less dense air environment, the shooting accuracy is low, and the effective range in the air is significantly less than 100 meters. In addition, even taking into account the use of a gas regulator, the service life of the machine gun when firing in the air is reduced by more than 10 times - from 2,000 shots under water to only 180 shots in the air.
Currently, the APS underwater assault rifle is in service with special units of the Russian Navy and is produced in limited quantities at the Tula Arms Plant. APS is offered for export through RosOboronExport, but there is no data on its supplies abroad.
The APS automatic machine is built on the basis of automatic equipment with a gas exhaust engine and locking by turning the bolt. The design of the gas outlet duct provides an automatic gas regulator, which ensures the operation of automation in such different environments as water and air. The operation of the gas regulator uses differences in the density of media (water or air) to automatically discharge part of the powder gases when firing in air.
Unlike the vast majority of modern assault rifles, the APS fires from an open bolt. The trigger mechanism is striker-fired, provides fire with both single shots and automatic fire, and is driven by a single return spring of the bolt group. The safety switch is located on the left side of the receiver, above the pistol grip. The charging handle is located on the right side of the bolt frame. The receiver is made from stamped sheet steel. The design feature of the APS is that it has a smooth (without rifling) barrel, since the bullets are stabilized hydrodynamically.
Sights are of the simplest design, including a non-adjustable open rear sight on the receiver and a front sight on the gas chamber. The stock is telescopic, retractable, made of steel wire.
APS cartridges are fed from attached carob (box) magazines with a capacity of 26 cartridges, which have a special design that eliminates the skewing of the cartridges with the bullet upward when feeding or double feeding of cartridges into the barrel.
Like the special underwater pistol SPP-1, the special underwater assault rifle APS is designed to arm scuba divers of the naval special forces of the Navy. Research aimed at creating underwater small arms has been carried out in the USSR since the late 1950s.
In the 1960s they were activated, as underwater saboteur units were created in the fleets of a number of NATO countries.
The result of many years of research and development work was a unique, still unparalleled in the world, APS automatic machine (“underwater special automatic machine”), developed by the TsNIITOCHMASH enterprise. Its first versions were designed by P. A. Tkanev, an employee of this enterprise; subsequently, V. V. was the leading designer. Simonov. The assault rifle was adopted by the naval special forces of the USSR Navy in 1975. Its production was organized at the Tula Arms Plant.
Although the APS assault rifle is designed for firing underwater, its design, in principle, differs little from conventional land-based models of automatic small arms. It has automatic reloading mechanisms, the operation of which is based on the use of the energy of powder gases removed from the bore of a smooth barrel when fired. Made as a separate unit, the trigger mechanism allows firing single shots and bursts; the corresponding safety switch is attached to the receiver on the right.
When fired, the bolt moves back, opens the barrel, removes the cartridge case from the chamber and throws it out. The bolt frame compresses the return spring, moves the cutter back and cocks the trigger mechanism. When you press the trigger, it moves forward under the action of the return mechanism. The bolt sends the next cartridge from the magazine into the chamber and closes the barrel. The bolt is locked by turning to the right when its lugs extend beyond the lugs of the receiver. The bolt frame continues to move forward and acts on the firing pin, which strikes the cartridge primer with its striker. A shot occurs.
The automation system has a gas regulator to ensure the weapon operates both under water and in air.
The trigger mechanism is assembled in a separate housing. It allows you to fire single shots and bursts. The rate of fire reaches 600 rapid/min. The flag translator of firing modes also functions as a fuse.
To increase the stability of the weapon when firing, a retractable metal stock is used. The machine is adapted for attachment to the side of an underwater vehicle.
The unique ability to conduct fairly effective shooting underwater is provided through the use of special cartridges 5.66 x 39 mm MPS and MPST (“marine
special cartridge" and "special marine cartridge with a tracer bullet"). In principle, these cartridges are similar to the 4.5 x 39I cartridge. SPS for the SPP-1 underwater pistol, but made on the basis of a 5.45 x 39 mm automatic cartridge case without a rim. The bullet weighing 15 g is a arrow-shaped element 120 mm long with a narrowing of the head in the shape of a double truncated cone. The initial bullet speed is 365 m/s. When moving in water, the bullet does not rotate; it is stabilized thanks to the cavitation cavity created using a flat platform made in the head of the bullet.
The cartridges are fed from box magazines with a capacity of 26 rounds. In the magazine, cartridges are arranged in two rows, with a separating plate installed between the rows. The upper cartridges are held by spring grips from tipping the bullets upward.
Inside the receiver of the machine gun there is a cartridge cutter that prevents sticking or double feeding of cartridges.
The effective firing range of a machine gun depends on the depth at which the shooting is carried out. At a diving depth of 5 m it is 30 m, and at a depth of 40 m it is 11 m. In this case, the bullet defeats a swimmer dressed in a diving suit with foam insulation, and also pierces 5 mm thick plexiglass.
The firing range on land does not exceed 100 m, and in the air the bullet does not stabilize in its flight.
Thus, the combat effectiveness of scuba divers landing on the enemy’s coast is very limited.
To eliminate this shortcoming in the late 1980s. a group of engineers from the Tula Design and Technological Institute of Mechanical Engineering (TPKTIMash), under the leadership of Yu. Danilov, developed a unique double-medium (amphibious) assault rifle ASM-DT “Sea Lion” based on the APS assault rifle.
Underwater, this machine gun is fired with special ammunition with high elongation needle-shaped bullets (structurally similar to the MPS and MPST cartridges from the machine gun APS, but differing from them in the diameter of bullet-needles). When moving into the air, instead of a magazine with underwater cartridges, a standard magazine from an AK-74 assault rifle with 5.45 x 39 mm cartridges (7 НБ, 7 НУ, 7 Н22, etc.) is installed in the machine gun, which allows effective shooting at targets on dryer at firing ranges and with an accuracy close to that of the AKS-74U assault rifle, and much better than that of the APS assault rifle in the air.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the APS Caliber........................................................ ...............5.66 mm |
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The APS assault rifle (“underwater special assault rifle”) entered service with the USSR Navy in the mid-1970s. The leading designer for this machine gun at the Central Research Institute TOCH-MASH was V.V. Simonov. The APS is chambered for special cartridges MPS and MPST type 5.66x39 with high elongation bullets (developed by P.F. Sazonov and O.P. Kravchenko). The MPS cartridges (with a regular bullet) use a cartridge case from a standard 5.45x39 machine gun cartridge.
The bullet is a “needle” with a narrowing head in the shape of a double truncated cone; it moves along the bore with a gap. This design of the bullet is associated with the characteristics of movement in water, which are significantly different from the conditions of movement in the air. When a bullet (or other projectile) moves in water at high speed, not only a change in the shape of the lines of the oncoming flow is observed, but also a violation of its continuity with the formation of a cavity. The bullet of the standard cartridge of the 5.45-mm AK 74 assault rifle has an ogival head and a small relative length under such conditions forms a cavity of large transverse dimensions and soon overturns. If you give the bullet a greater elongation (about 20 calibers) and a flat cut in the head, when moving in water in the mode of developed cavitation, only the flat cut of the bullet is washed by water, which significantly reduces the drag force and contributes to the formation of a cavity of smaller diameter. The stability of the bullet's movement in the cavitation mode is ensured by its oscillatory movements relative to the flat cut of the head part as a result of the interaction of the tail part with the boundaries of the cavitation cavity. That is, the cavity serves as a stabilizer for the bullet. As the bullet slows down, the cavity decreases in size, and as soon as its rear part “captures” the bullet’s shank, the bullet sharply loses speed, and the cavity completely “collapses” - the bullet finds itself “in complete washout mode.”
The destructive power of a bullet depends on the depth of immersion. At depths of up to 5 m, the lethal range is 30 m, at a depth of 40 m it decreases to 10 m. But the use of the MPST cartridge with a tracer bullet allows you to adjust shooting along the routes.
The automatic weapon has a gas engine with removal of powder gases through a hole in the barrel wall and a long stroke of the gas piston; there is a gas regulator. The barrel bore is locked by turning the bolt.
The trigger mechanism of the machine gun is striker type. The shot is fired from the rear sear using the energy of the return spring. The trigger mechanism is assembled in a separate housing and allows single or automatic fire, and is equipped with a non-automatic safety switch.
Food comes from a detachable box magazine. The characteristics of the cartridge required a number of devices to ensure reliable operation of the power system. The two rows of cartridges in the magazine are separated by a plate, the upper bullets are held by spring grips from tipping the bullets upward. A cartridge cutter is mounted inside the receiver to prevent jamming or double feeding of cartridges.
The stock is retractable. The machine is adapted for mounting on board an underwater vehicle.
The production of APS assault rifles was supplied by the Tula Arms Plant.” The assault rifle is equipped with two magazines and accessories. There are no analogues of APS among serial foreign weapons.
Although firing MPS and MPST cartridges “in the air” is possible, high elongation bullets that are not stabilized by rotation turn out to be unstable in the air. For targeted shooting in the air, other ammunition is required.
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Since the late 1960s, developments have been carried out in the USSR aimed at creating effective weapons for combat swimmers of the Navy. The work was carried out at the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TSNIITOCHMASH) by O. P. Kravchenko and P. F. Sazonov. By the early 1970s, special ammunition for underwater firearms was theoretically and practically developed, using elongated non-rotating bullets with hydrodynamic stabilization using a cavitation cavity generated when the bullet moves in water. The bullets looked like elongated needles about 20 calibers long, with a head part in the form of a truncated cone. The flat area at the head of the bullet was precisely responsible for creating a cavitation cavity that stabilized the bullet when moving in water. Initially, the 4.5 mm SPS cartridge and the SPP-1 4-barrel non-self-loading pistol chambered for these cartridges were developed and adopted by the USSR Navy.
Around 1975, the USSR Navy adopted a weapon complex consisting of the Submarine Special APS Automatic, developed by designer V.V. Simonov, and 5.66 mm special MPS ammunition. The MPS cartridge is created on the basis of the standard 7N6 5.45x39 mm cartridge case, equipped with a 120 mm long needle-shaped bullet, and specially sealed. Later, MPST ammunition with a tracer bullet appeared. In an underwater position at a depth of 5 meters, the MPS cartridge provides an effective firing range at scuba divers of up to 30 meters; at a depth of 20 meters, the effective range decreases to 20 meters, and at 40 meters – to 10 meters. It must be borne in mind that the line-of-sight range at the specified depths without the use of special equipment does not exceed the effective firing range from the APS - that is, if the enemy is visible, he can be hit. The machine also allows shooting in the air, however, due to the fact that the bullets do not have dynamic stabilization sufficient for a significantly less dense air environment, the shooting accuracy is low, and the effective range in the air is significantly less than 100 meters. In addition, even taking into account the use of a gas regulator, the service life of the machine gun when firing in the air is reduced by more than 10 times - from 2000 shots under water to only 180 shots in the air.
A number of design solutions used in the APS machine gun, including the automatic gas regulator and the trigger mechanism, are protected by copyright certificates of the USSR and patents of the Russian Federation.
Currently, the APS underwater assault rifle is in service with special units of the Russian Navy and is produced in limited quantities at the Tula Arms Plant. APS is offered for export through Rosoboronexport, but there is no data on its supplies abroad.
The APS automatic machine is built on the basis of automatic equipment with a gas exhaust engine and locking by turning the bolt. The design of the gas outlet duct provides an automatic gas regulator, which ensures the operation of automation in such different environments as water and air. The operation of the gas regulator uses differences in the density of media (water or air) to automatically discharge part of the powder gases when firing in air.
The main parts and mechanisms of the APS assault rifle: 1 - barrel with receiver, trigger mechanism, pistol grip, front sight and retractable butt; 2 - receiver cover with rear sight; 3 - bolt frame with gas piston; 4 – shutter; 5 - gas tube; 6 - return spring; 7 – clamp; 8 – store; 9 - fuse-translator; |
Unlike the vast majority of modern assault rifles, the APS fires from an open bolt. The trigger mechanism is striker-fired, provides fire with both single shots and automatic fire, and is driven by a single return spring of the bolt group. The safety switch is located on the left side of the receiver, above the pistol grip. The charging handle is located on the right side of the bolt frame. The receiver is made from stamped sheet steel. The design feature of the APS is that it has a smooth (without rifling) barrel, since the bullets are stabilized hydrodynamically.
Sights are of the simplest design, including a non-adjustable open rear sight on the receiver and a front sight on the gas chamber. The stock is telescopic, retractable, made of steel wire.
Barr and Kreicher underwater pistol - cartridge-barrel design
The Heckler & Koch company took an original approach to the development of weapons for combat swimmers. In her P11 pistol, she used a replaceable block of five pre-loaded barrels, which ensured a shot without the formation of gas bubbles. The barrels are loaded at the factory and can only be reloaded in a special workshop. The most unusual part of the P11 was the electronic trigger mechanism that initiates the electric primers of the barrels. The electronic mechanism, well known from target sporting weapons, provides a low trigger force and a widely adjustable operating time. But in conditions of such an aggressive environment as sea water, its reliability raises concerns.
Underwater pistol P11
Of particular interest are the Soviet APS assault rifle (special underwater assault rifle) and the non-automatic 4-barreled pistol SPP-1 (special underwater pistol), designed for underwater shooting. These samples were created more than 20 years ago, but only in the early 90s were they officially presented to the public. To say that this complex of underwater weapons and ammunition for them aroused enormous interest among Western specialists is to say nothing. It was a shock. And there was a reason. This is explained by the fact that, for example, in the USA, the problem of creating an underwater machine gun was considered unsolvable in principle for a long time and, in terms of the real prospect of implementation, stood on a par with the development of a perpetual motion machine and a transparent tank (!).
Special underwater pistol SPP-1
Special underwater assault rifle APS.
Ammunition 7.62x39; 4.5x39; 5.66x39 (USSR/Russia).
In the second half of the 1960s, units of combat swimmers appeared in our country: for example, in 1967, a detachment to combat underwater sabotage forces and means (PDSS) was formed in the Black Sea Fleet. The reason for this was the intensified work abroad to create regular units of combat swimmers to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage operations. The memory of the sinking of the battleship Novorossiysk in Sevastopol Bay on October 29, 1955 was also fresh. And although the assumption of sabotage seemed (and still looks) the least likely, such a danger could not be discounted. Soldiers called upon to fight underwater saboteurs needed weapons capable of firing underwater. The 5.66 mm APS assault rifle and the 4.5 mm SPP-1 pistol created for this purpose are of particular interest among underwater weapons due to their unusual technical solutions. The development of weapons was directly carried out by the spouses Elena and Vladimir Simonov (V.V. Simonov is the great-nephew of the famous Soviet gunsmith S.G. Simonov). In 1968 an assignment was issued to develop an underwater pistol, or rather a pistol complex. TsNIITochmash and TOZ created a 4.5 mm cartridge and pistol, which was put into service in 1971. under the designation SPP-1 (special underwater pistol). Note that in parallel with the active SPP, the development of a 7.62-mm underwater jet pistol was being developed, which was preceded by the study of foreign jet models. The development of the SPS cartridge (4.5x39) for the SPP-1 was led by P.F. Sazonov and O.P. Kravchenko. The underwater cartridge bullet looks somewhat unusual. This is a needle weighing 13.2 g of large elongation (about 25:1 - needle length 115 mm), colloquially referred to as a nail. The cluster is inserted into the sleeve of a conventional intermediate cartridge with a charge of gunpowder. Of course, measures are taken to seal and increase the corrosion resistance of the cartridge. The nose of the bullet is double-conical and slightly blunted. A bullet of this high elongation design at high speeds in water forms a cavitation bubble (cavity) around itself, which is held throughout the entire journey under water and serves as a stabilizer for the bullet - a unique solution.
The principle of bullet movement in an aquatic environment - the advantage of the large elongation and special shape of the bullet head is visible.
Thanks to this, the nail is able to maintain stable movement and lethality at a distance of 17 m at a depth of 5 m, 11 m at a depth of 11 m, 6 m at a depth of 40 m. At the indicated ranges and depths, the nail is able to pierce several solid pine boards, i.e. Effective shooting is actually carried out at visual range under water. The length of the 4.5 mm cartridge is 145 mm, weight is 18 g. Actually, the large length of the cartridge forced us to resort to such a weapon design. In the air, the nail quickly loses stability, and shooting with such cartridges is possible at short range. Therefore, for training on shore, the block of smooth barrels can be replaced with 4 rifled barrels chambered for a regular intermediate cartridge 5.45x39. Let us note, by the way, that the shooting of the unique domestic missile-torpedo Shkval, which has significant speed characteristics (100 m/s) and the German Barakuda (400 km/h or 111 m/s), is based on the same principle (movement in the mode of developed cavitation). And Western intelligence services are still actively hunting for the secrets of Shkval’s hydrodynamics, even having samples of it in their hands...
SPP-1 is a type of non-automatic multi-barreled pistol. A block of four smooth trunks is hinged on the frame and rotates around its axles. For loading, it leans down - as in “breaking” hunting rifles, and is locked, again like a gun, on the lower hook and latch. Loading is done with a pack (clip) of four cartridges. When the barrel block is unlocked, the extractor moves the stack of spent cartridges back, making reloading easier and somewhat faster: under water, the reloading process takes about 5 seconds.
The self-cocking firing mechanism ensures consistent firing and operates from a single trigger. Each time you press it, the firing pin located behind the barrels rotates 90 degrees and, moving along the screw pattern, breaks the primer of the next cartridge (this is partly reminiscent of the design of multi-barreled pistols of the second half of the 19th century). The self-cocking trigger force is 3.5 kgf. The characteristic features of the SPP-1M, which appeared in 1979, are a special spring that loads the sear and facilitates the descent, and a trigger guard that is strongly curved forward. The enlarged bracket allows shooting with insulated gloves, which are part of the swimmer’s equipment, especially when operating in northern waters. The pistol handle is plastic, hollow. On the left side, in the recess of the handle, behind the trigger guard, there is a safety lever. You can also operate with gloves. The flag also controls the locking of the barrel block and has three positions: “loading” (barrel block is open), “fuse” and “fire”.
Sights are the simplest: an open front sight and a permanent open rear sight. The SPP is carried in a closed leatherette holster. The combat swimmer's ammunition kit includes from 4 to 10 loaded clips of 4 rounds each. The weight of the equipped SPP-1M is 0.95 kg, length - 244 mm, height - 138 mm, width - 25 mm, barrel length - 195 mm. The initial speed of a bullet in air is 250 m/s, muzzle energy is 412 J. The target firing range at a depth of 5 m is 17 m, at a depth of 20 m - 11 m, at a depth of 40 m - 6 m, i.e. corresponds to the visibility range under water. The production of the SPP-1 pistol along with the APS assault rifle was supplied by TOZ.
There are rumors that the US Department of Defense's Department of Military Inventions at one time refused to accept for consideration any proposals for a “perpetual motion machine, an invisible tank and an underwater machine gun.” However, the “underwater assault rifle” was nevertheless created and has been in service in Russia for three decades. The APS Automatic (“special underwater assault rifle”, not to be confused with the “Stechkin automatic pistol”) is designed to fire special 5.66-mm MPS and MPST cartridges (tracer) type 5.66x39. The cartridge (like the pistol cartridge) was developed at TsNIITochmash by Sazonov and Kravchenko on the basis of an intermediate cartridge case and is also equipped with a “nail”. The length of the “nail” is 120 mm, the weight is 20.3-20.8 g, the entire cartridge is 150 mm and 27-28 g, respectively.
The trunk is smooth. The operation of the automation is based on the removal of powder gases through a hole in the wall of the barrel bore, with a long stroke of the gas piston; there is a gas regulator. Locking the barrel bore is done by turning the bolt. A shot from the rear sear allows you to somewhat compensate for the recoil effect, which is important under water. Nevertheless, the accuracy of fire of the underwater machine gun is low.
The trigger mechanism is assembled in a separate housing and allows single or continuous fire (short bursts of 3-5 shots and long bursts of up to 10 shots), and is equipped with a safety switch. Power comes from a detachable box magazine with 26 rounds of ammunition. The unusual shape of the magazine is associated with the large length of the cartridge and the relatively small width of the feed spring. The long bullet gave rise to a number of problems in feeding cartridges. The two rows of cartridges in the magazine are separated by a plate, the top bullets are held by a spring delay. A cartridge cutter is mounted inside the receiver.
The folding stock is retractable, on two rods. When the stock is retracted, the shoulder rest covers the rear of the pistol grip without interfering with shooting. The barrel of the machine gun has trunnions for mounting on the side of an underwater vehicle - just as a regular machine gun can fire through the side embrasures of an armored personnel carrier.
Until now, there have been no analogues in the world to the APS assault rifle and the SPP-1 pistol in terms of efficiency. However, in January 2010 some information flashed on the Chinese channelCCTV, from which it became clear about the next copying of domestic developments:
At the top is a four-barrel SPP-1 (USSR/Russia), at the bottom is a three-barrel QSS-05 (China)
QSS-05 caliber 5.8mm (according to http://china-defense.blogspot.com)
Chinese machine gun for underwater shooting (even in appearance you can find similarities with the APS)
Chinese 5.8 mm ammunition for underwater shooting.
Well, let's continue...
The length of the APS with the butt extended is 840 mm, with an attached magazine - 252 mm, width - 65 mm, weight of the machine, fully loaded - 3.4 kg, rate of fire - 500 rounds/min. The initial speed of the “nail” under water (depending on the depth) is 240-350 m/s, in air - 365 m/s, respectively. Effective firing range (at which the “nail” pierces a submariner’s suit or the glass of his mask 5 mm thick): at a depth of 5 m - 30 m, at 20 m - 20 m, at 40 m - 11 m. Like the SPP-1, the automatic The APS has a minimum of controls, since it is designed for the actions of a swimmer wearing a thick glove. The target firing range in the air is set at 30 m, but in reality does not exceed 15 m.
Experiments were carried out firing from the APS in two environments.
1. Experiment - shooting underwater. A shooter (expert) in a standard wetsuit with scuba gear and weights in the pool fired at a target at a distance of up to 5 m. As a bullet catcher, a steel sheet (armor plate) 2.5 cm thick was used, installed at an angle to the surface of the bottom of the pool so that in the event of a ricochet, the bullets went to the bottom of the pool. Shooting was carried out both in bursts and single shots. All shots occurred without delay. When a bullet moves in water, a trace is observed in the form of gas bubbles, which form clearly visible tracks and allow you to adjust the pointing of the weapon during automatic shooting without using sighting devices. When hitting a steel sheet, most of the bullets penetrated into it to a depth of 10 mm, and some fell to the bottom. Ricochet is practically absent due to the flat cut of the bullet “biting” the metal of the armor plate, by analogy with the carbide tip made of an alloy with depleted uranium of sub-caliber armor-piercing projectiles. Removing bullets from steel is difficult and was done using pliers. When a bullet hits a solid obstacle, there is a loss of longitudinal stability of the bullet body and its curling into a spiral. Based on the results of the shooting, we can conclude that the weapon is capable of not only hitting a person, but also sea animals, sharks, and also disabling various technical means.
There were no effects on the shooter’s hearing. Moreover, the impression is that the sound is much stronger when shooting in the air. Probably, a bubble of gases softens the critical sound threshold for a person, absorbs and reduces peak values.
Subjective impressions of the expert: - “an excellent weapon for underwater shooting! Now I would like to go on a safari - shoot sharks along the coast of the USA or Australia! That would be fun, adrenaline!!!”
2. Experiment - shooting in the air. The shooter (expert) carried out aimed shooting at targets in a shooting range from a standing position at a distance of 25 m. When shooting, a loss of stability of the bullet in flight is observed almost immediately after leaving the barrel and significant dispersion to the sides from the aiming line. Almost all the bullets did not reach the targets and hit the ground at a distance of 15-20 m. From the experiment we can conclude that the aimed firing range of cartridges with a bullet for underwater shooting is insignificant, shooting is dangerous for others, to hit the target at a distance of 20-30 m practically impossible.
Experiments when firing from an SPP-1 in underwater and surface positions and their results are almost identical to experiments when firing from an APS assault rifle.
It is also worthy of attention that training swimmers in shooting from an underwater pistol and machine gun can be carried out on land. To do this, smooth barrels are replaced with rifled ones and ordinary standard 5.45 mm caliber cartridges are used for shooting.
Note that American specialists, who officially tested samples of Russian special-purpose weapons in early 1998, considered it quite likely to purchase the SPP-1 pistol and APS assault rifle for their special operations forces.
Further development of this still exotic underwater weapon is moving towards the creation of a single model of an amphibious assault rifle. After all, combat swimmers have to operate both on land and under water and be in constant readiness to instantly open fire in case of sudden detection. Therefore, to carry out a combat mission and ensure self-defense, swimmers must carry two weapons with them, which, of course, is very inconvenient.
As recent studies show, creating a single double-medium cartridge, the bullet of which could be equally effective when firing under water and on land, is very difficult. The laws of hydrodynamics and aerodynamics are too different. Therefore, a solution was found in creating weapons with combined power supply from different stores. That is, when shooting on land, it is accompanied by a magazine with conventional cartridges, for example, with automatic 5.45-mm 7N6 cartridges, and when shooting under water - by a magazine with special 5.66-mm MPS cartridges. It should be noted that the cartridge cases for the MPS cartridge and the 7N6 cartridge are the same.
However, a reservation should be made right away. When creating (refining) the APS for a combat swimmer, the developers proceeded primarily from the fact that this weapon is used in the specific conditions of an unsupported space, which is the aquatic environment. Therefore, the weapon must have a sufficiently high degree of stability, ensure quick readiness for shooting (including transfer from the traveling position to the combat position), allow a swimmer occupying any position for shooting to adjust his position (body) in space.
A feature of modern naval special forces is their versatility. After all, it is based on universal combat swimmers, capable of solving any tasks: carrying out sabotage under water in enemy ports, protecting their waters from enemy saboteurs and at the same time acting on land as ordinary reconnaissance saboteurs. Russian and world experience in the use of such units confirms that in 80 - 90 percent of cases they perform “land” missions. Therefore, the need arose to have in service these units special multi-purpose (underwater-surface) weapons, such as a universal double-medium assault rifle. Moreover, in terms of firing efficiency (accuracy, accuracy, armor penetration) on land it would not be inferior to the 5.45 mm AK-74, AK-105 assault rifle, and under water - to the 5.66 mm APS assault rifle.
At the same time, one of the important disadvantages of the APS-5 assault rifle is its low survivability. In accordance with the technical specifications, 2000 shots are fired underwater and only 180 shots are fired on land. The fact is that the shape of the 5.66 mm cartridge, the powder charge, the ballistics of the bullet’s flight, and the operation of the automation are designed for normal operation only under water. When the shooter goes onto land, water flows out of the receiver of the machine gun. When shooting in “unusual” conditions, the bolt frame moves much faster, and the receiver simply cannot withstand the increased loads. Approximately it is just enough for 180 shots.
When we started work, it turned out that this problem could only be solved in conjunction with the others. After all, the machine is also plagued by other troubles. For example, two or even three cartridges are often fed into the chamber at the same time. The result is a delay in firing, which is very labor-intensive to resolve. Other disadvantages are the inability to attach any sighting devices and muzzle devices. It is extremely difficult to transport a weapon while a swimmer is moving in the water (in his hands, behind his back), hence the inability to quickly prepare for shooting.
Today, a number of teams are working on the creation of a single (universal) double-medium machine, not only in Russia, but also abroad. How complex this problem is can be judged by the statement of American experts: “Creating a universal underwater-surface gun is tantamount to creating a “transparent” tank.”
The design of a double-medium machine gun is determined primarily by the cartridge. If we can create a universal double-medium cartridge, there will be no problems with weapons. In the meantime, there is no such ammunition, and the prototypes that have appeared do not meet the requirements that are placed on them.
All about cialis super active, side effects, indcations, overdose.
This winter I recommend everyone to go on holiday to Switzerland (of course, if you are not financially constrained). In addition to being one of the European centers for ski holidays, Switzerland is home to unique monuments and sites protected by UNESCO. So, besides skiing, you will have something to look at.
Many people think that only oligarchs can afford to live in a modern cottage in the Moscow region. In fact, this is not so; there are also economy class cottage villages in the Moscow region. Check out the “Vestafalia” cottage community. This is a piece of germanium in Russian forests for quite reasonable money.