Light machine guns of the Russian army. New Russian machine guns, their characteristics and photos
Light machine guns, superior in combat capabilities to assault rifles and machine guns, are designed to destroy manpower at distances where the latter’s fire is ineffective - up to 1000 meters. Light machine guns usually have the same caliber as the machine gun in service, differing in a heavier barrel, larger magazine capacity or the possibility of belt feeding, and firing supported by a bipod. This provides better accuracy and a higher combat rate of fire - up to 150 rounds per minute in bursts. The weight of light machine guns when fully loaded is usually 6 - 14 kg, and the length is close to the length of rifles. This allows machine gunners to operate directly in the combat formations of units. Modern light machine guns fill the gap between individual and group weapons. The main method of firing from a light machine gun is with support on the bipod and the butt resting on the shoulder, but it is also necessary to be able to fire from the hip while moving.
The main problem of a light machine gun is the need to combine small size and weight with a higher intensity of fire, accuracy and supply of ammunition than a machine gun. This problem has several solutions. Simple and cheap is to equip an assault rifle or assault rifle with a bipod and a slightly more capacious magazine (Israeli machine gun "Galil" ARM, German MG.36). The second option involves creating a light machine gun based on an assault rifle with the installation of a heavier barrel and changing the controls, as was done in the Soviet RPK and RPK 74 or the British L86A1 (L86A1). In this case, in the platoon section, the weapons are unified in terms of cartridge and system. Finally, it is also possible to develop an independent design. An example of this approach is the Belgian Minimi machine gun and the Singaporean Ultimax 100.
Easel and single machine guns.
Easel and single machine guns make it possible to hit various fire weapons and enemy personnel located openly and behind light shelters at a distance of up to 1500 m. The recoil of the weapon when firing is perceived by the installation (machine), as a result, the stability and controllability of the machine gun increases. Stability, a massive replaceable barrel and a significant cartridge belt capacity provide the ability to conduct targeted fire in long bursts. The combat rate of fire reaches 250-300 rounds per minute.
The design of the machine makes it possible to quickly and accurately transfer fire from one target to another, fire with predetermined settings, and also hit air targets.
It is clear that such weapons are heavier than light machine guns: the weight of a machine gun on a tripod machine is 10-20 kg, with a wheeled machine gun (remaining on some outdated models) - 40 kg or more. A heavy machine gun is usually serviced by two crew numbers. Changing positions takes two to three times longer than with a light machine gun.
The so-called “single” machine guns, so named for qualities that combine the properties of light and heavy machine guns, turned out to be more promising. Single machine guns retain the firing capabilities of easel ones, but maneuverability is significantly increased due to light tripod machines (the weight of a single machine gun with a machine gun is 12-25 kg) and the ability to fire from a bipod (the weight of a machine gun on a bipod is 7-9 kg). Fire from a bipod is carried out at a range of up to 800 m. Single machine guns have wide capabilities to destroy enemy fire weapons and manpower, low-flying and hovering air targets.
Attempts are being made to develop single machine guns for low-pulse small-caliber cartridges (for example, the Spanish “Amelie” or the Israeli “Negev”). Such machine guns already fall into the “weight category” of manual ones. They, in particular, found application as light group weapons in airborne and reconnaissance sabotage units. In some armies, single machine guns are used instead of light machine guns. A number of experts say that in the near future it is possible that the light machine gun will “fall out” of the weapon system due to an increase in the accuracy of fire of machine guns, on the one hand, and the lighter weight of single machine guns, on the other.
But for now, light machine guns retain their importance and their positions. Of the various designs of field machines, the obvious victory was won by light tripod machines with variable height of the firing line and horizontal and vertical guidance mechanisms, and the requirement for anti-aircraft shooting is not considered mandatory - in a number of armies, special installations are preferred for firing machine guns at air targets.
Modern sights - optical, collimator, night, and combined - significantly expand the capabilities of machine guns. Optical and red dot sights are becoming increasingly common on machine guns.
Reducing the mass of single machine guns, as well as increasing their accuracy when firing from a bipod, remains an important area for their improvement. It must be remembered that the crew, in addition to the machine gun and ammunition, has to carry an automatic grenade launcher system, hand and rocket-propelled grenades.
Heavy machine guns.
Large-caliber machine guns significantly complement the fire system in all types of combat. Anti-aircraft heavy machine guns have found widespread use as a means of air defense for units. For the same purposes, such machine guns are installed on tanks, armored personnel carriers, and infantry fighting vehicles. Thus, heavy machine guns are the most powerful type of small arms for hitting ground and air targets, but also the least mobile. Nevertheless, interest in them does not decrease. This is due to the firing range of heavy machine guns, which allows them to fight important targets (snipers, machine gunners in cover, fire crews) and air attack weapons.
The most common in the world are two old models of 12.7 mm machine guns - the Soviet DShKM and the American M2HB (M2HB) "Browning" (chambered with a less powerful cartridge). The mobility of heavy machine guns is limited by their significant mass and size. Machine guns are placed on universal or special (ground or anti-aircraft) field machines. With a universal machine gun, the weight of machine guns can be 140-160 kg, with a light ground machine - 40-55 kg. But the appearance of significantly lighter heavy machine guns - the Russian NSV 12.7 and KORD, the Singaporean CIS MG50 (CIS MG50) - brought their mobility and camouflage capabilities closer to single machine guns on the machine. It is worth noting that for several years now other attempts have been made to replace large-caliber machine guns with light automatic cannons of 20-30 mm caliber. However, the development of sufficiently light (taking into account the weight of the weapon itself, installation and ammunition) and mobile samples poses serious difficulties. So far, such guns have found application as weapons for light army vehicles and light helicopters.
Characteristics
Modern light machine guns have a significantly smaller caliber than heavy machine guns, and are usually much lighter and more compact. Some light machine guns, like the Russian RPK, are modifications of existing assault rifle designs and use the same ammunition. Changes from the original weapon usually include a larger ammo magazine, a heavier barrel to avoid overheating, a more powerful mechanism for sustained fire, and a bipod for the stand.
Light machine guns are divided according to their areas of use: general purpose guns can be used for hand-held or bipod shooting. Mounted on a bipod or on a machine for sustained fire, this is primarily an easel machine gun, although it can also be used manually, when mounted on a bipod and the machine gunner works in a prone position in front of him, firing in short bursts.
Light machine guns are also designed to be fired from the shoulder or on the move to suppress enemy resistance or hinder his actions. Fire on the move is a specific tactic that utilizes this warfare ability.
Ammunition supply
Many modern light machine guns (like the Bren or Browning M1918) are magazine-fed. Others, such as the MG-34, may use a belt or magazine. Modern light machine guns are designed to fire longer, but with a smaller caliber, and use belt-fed ammunition. or from a detachable magazine, particularly the FN Minimi with belt as the primary source and with the magazine as a secondary source when other ammunition is exhausted.
Comparison of characteristics of light machine guns from different countries
Comparison of features of light machine guns from different countries | ||||||
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Type, country | Caliber, mm | Length, mm/barrel length, mm | Weight, kg | Rate of fire rounds per minute |
Power type | Automation operating principle |
Browning M1918A2 (USA) | 7.62×63 mm | 1194 (619) | 10 | 370-600 | Removal of powder gases | |
Chatellerault arr. 1924/29 (France) | 7,5 | 1080 (500) | 9,5 | 550 | 25-round box magazine | Removal of powder gases |
Shosha (France) | 8 | 1150 (450) | 8,7 | 240 | 20-round box magazine | Long barrel stroke |
DP (USSR) | 7.62×54 mm | 1266 (605) | 8,4 | 600 | 47-round flat disc magazine | Removal of powder gases |
Story
Light machine guns appeared in World War I to increase the firepower of infantry. By the end of the Second World War, light machine guns were used, as a rule, within a single squad or detachment, and in modern troops they create a special infantry unit with tactics based on the use of a light machine gun for suppressive fire.
Machine guns | ||
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Story |
At the international presentation of weapons "Army-2016", held in September 2016, the RPK-16 machine gun, the brainchild of domestic gunsmiths, was demonstrated. This will be discussed in this article.
New domestic Kalashnikov light machine gun
The RPK-16 was created with the aim of potentially replacing the RPK-74 machine gun both in the conventional branches of the Russian military and among special forces.
Without deviating from the traditional layout of Kalashnikov models or assault rifles, the designers implemented all the developments obtained during the creation of the same automatic gas exhaust system with a long piston stroke, a locking bolt, firing from a closed bolt.
Provision is made for mounting an additional body kit on Drawing an analogy with the latest innovations in domestic weapons, it should be noted that the RPK-16 is presented with a replaceable barrel. It is possible to install a short barrel for firing at a short distance or in a confined space, as well as a long one for fighting in open areas. The kit also includes a quick-release muffler for special operations.
The RPK-16 machine gun is capable of using any magazines from the AK-74M or RPK-74. A drum magazine with 96 rounds of ammunition was also developed specifically for this model.
Machine gun rifle
In modern combat conditions, it is always necessary to have at hand a weapon that can adapt as much as possible to the conditions in which the battle takes place. This is precisely the goal that the Kalashnikov concern pursued when creating the new RPK-16 machine gun.
Creating a weapon that combines a machine gun and an assault rifle is not the first attempt. Suffice it to recall the Israeli Galil assault rifle, a development by Israel Galili based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle. An attempt to combine these types of weapons was unsuccessful.
Another thing is the Singaporean Ultimax 100 model, created by James Sullivan's team of engineers. A similar model is still in demand today. It is for this reason that the concern was tasked with creating weapons that would not only be in demand as weapons for military units or special forces, but would also be exported.
Advantages and disadvantages
The appearance of the new weapon allows us to conclude that the product is intended for combat in urban environments. Power is supplied by mm cartridges. It is believed that the Russian National Guard and special services will be interested in the new product.
- Due to its low weight, the RPK-16 with a replaceable barrel is convenient to use. The drum magazine allows you to forget about frequent reloading.
- There is no need to select ammunition, because the classic, common caliber of AK cartridge is used.
- The RPK-16 light machine gun has a low recoil coefficient, which increases the accuracy and accuracy of fire.
Of the negative aspects of the new weapon, only the assumptions of a number of skeptics regarding whether this weapon will justify itself. If the already proven "Pecheneg" was created with the aim of maintaining control over the territory, then the new RPK-16 was created more likely for lightning attacks.
However, the capacious magazine for 96 rounds and the possibility of installing an extended barrel make it clear that the possibility of using it for the same purpose as the mentioned “Pecheneg” is still present.
Ultimax 100 vs RPK-16
The machine gun, performance characteristics and other information about which have been kept secret for a long time are of interest to many. But at the moment there are no official sources that allow us to draw conclusions about the existing characteristics of the new weapon.
However, if we assume that the concern’s intentions include the goal of ousting the Ultimax 100 from the world market, then we should consider the characteristics of the specified weapon in order to get an idea of what the RPK-16 is, first of all, a machine gun.
The characteristics of the Ultimax 100 reveal that the machine gun was designed to be powered by 5.56 caliber and has a length of 1024 millimeters from the beginning of the butt to the end of the barrel. At the same time, the barrel itself is 508 mm long.
4 kilograms and 900 grams is the weight of the gun without cartridges. Accordingly, the firing rate varies from 400 to 600 rounds per minute. With a magazine capacity of only 100 bullets, you can’t shoot much. The sighting range covers 800 meters. The characteristics of the most common Mk 3 model, mass-produced since the second half of the 1980s, are presented.
Compared to the ancestor
Speaking about the new Kalashnikov RPK-16 light machine gun, we should also mention its predecessors.
The RPK model was put into service in 1961 to replace the outdated Degtyarev RPD-44 machine gun. The new product was almost a third lighter than its predecessor and proved itself well in the ranks of Soviet motorized riflemen, paratroopers and marines.
Models with a folding stock were also developed, called RPKS; later, after modernization, it became possible to mount optical sights of the NSPUM and NSPU brands of domestic production.
The appearance of the PKK became a landmark event in the domestic defense industry, because the Soviet military was the first in the world to receive an assault rifle and a machine gun of similar designs.
The RPK-16 machine gun inherited the best qualities inherent in the manufacturer of this line of weapons: high strength, reliability and a very long service life.
TTX RPK
Thanks to the analogy between the structure of a machine gun and an assault rifle, there is no need to search for the necessary spare parts.
For 15 years, the PKK remained the leader in armaments of the Soviet army.
PKK in other countries of the world
In addition, the PKK is in service in approximately 19 countries around the world to this day. In 1964, an assault rifle under the code Model K was adopted by the troops. In its functions and appearance, it is the same domestic RPK.
Yugoslavia, Romania and Vietnam still produce exact copies of the RPK or slightly modernized versions of the domestic machine gun.
The appearance of the RPK-74
With the development of domestic weapons and the advent of a new cartridge for the AK-74 assault rifle, the next action was to create a machine gun powered by a new caliber.
This is how the RPK-74 was born. This model suffered the same fate - a folding version of the RPKS-74 and variations with optical sights RPKN-74 and RPKSN-74 appeared.
It was mentioned above that the new Russian RPK-16 machine gun should replace the RPK-74. For a better understanding, you should consider the performance of the predecessor machine gun.
Obvious shortcomings
With the spread of the RPK-74, the question of the advantages and disadvantages of the new model began to develop widely.
The 45-round magazine does not have a very convenient design from the point of view of both use and transportation in a soldier’s uniform. Foreign analogues at that time already had a much more convenient tape-box ammunition supply. Because of this, it was necessary to use AK-74 magazines designed for 30 rounds.
Another drawback is common to all world machine guns developed on the basis of a machine gun or assault rifle - this is a fixed barrel. A machine gun muzzle subject to wear over time begins to have a negative impact on the rate of fire.
These shortcomings, identified long ago, formed the basis for the task of creating a new RPK-16 5.45 mm. These mistakes should have been avoided.
Advantages
These include the most obvious advantages based on the identity of the machine gun and machine gun from the same manufacturer. This is the undoubted presence of interchangeable components and elements.
An innovation in the design of the RPK-74 was a chrome-plated barrel with a thick wall, allowing for the most intense shelling, and a folding bipod was installed on the machine gun for firing while lying down or from cover.
Compared to the RPK, the butt has been strengthened many times over. The new Russian light machine gun RPK-16 has absorbed all the best from its predecessor.
Tape or store?
Returning to the global arms market, special attention should be paid to the fact that simultaneously with the advent of the PKK in the 70s, interest in weapons with replaceable power supply began to grow. And here you cannot pass by the Belgian FN Minimi machine gun, which proved itself to be excellent at that time.
The Minimi system is powered by a NATO small-caliber cartridge. It is worth noting that the developers abandoned the idea of bringing the machine gun model into uniformity with the range of assault rifles produced by the same company. That is, FN Minimi was created from scratch and has a unique design.
What this entails, what risks the designers took in finding the necessary parts (if replacements were necessary), can be assumed without going into a detailed study of the design documentation. The risk paid off.
The main feature of Minimi is its replaceable power supply. The choice between belt-fed and magazine-fed is a subject of long-standing debate among weapons designers around the world. More than a dozen children and more than a dozen people worked on this issue. And each time, one of the sides gained the upper hand in the discussion, while the other remained unconvinced and on its own path of development. As a result, various weapon models with different types of ammunition were created. That is, machine guns and assault rifles (with a separate magazine type), belt machine guns.
On the one hand, the belt links weigh extremely little, and when loaded with cartridges, they fit conveniently into machine gun boxes of any shape, which makes it possible to carry a significant amount of ammunition. On the other hand, the parts of the tape are easily susceptible to corrosion, which, if it gets into the cartridge dispensing system in a machine gun, can lead to a misfire or completely disable the weapon. Not to mention the fact that with such a system for feeding cartridges, dirt, dust and sand can also get into the chamber, which will definitely lead to the weapon stopping, if not immediately, but after a certain time.
Stores make this task much easier. This means using a magazine from an assault rifle, which is very convenient, but this method of feeding has a bad effect on the amount of ammunition and transportation, which is not in reasonable compliance with the carried weight.
Loose, designed for 200 rounds, placed in a plastic box. The flax supply compartment is located on the left side of the product. In this case, the box with cartridges is attached from below. This functionality was implemented on the Soviet RPD long before the appearance of the FN Minimi.
If the tape runs out and there is no other one at hand, it is possible to use a magazine from an assault rifle with the same cartridges. This is exactly the principle that the new RPK-16 incorporates.
Weapons conclusion
If we take into account all the listed samples that the designers intend to surpass by creating the RPK-16 weapon, and also remember that in addition to this machine gun, the Tokar assault machine gun is also being developed as part of the equipment of the “Soldier of the Future” called “Warrior”, the brainchild of The domestic arms industry should make a real splash on the world market.
Progress does not stand still; the need to create advanced types of weapons that meet the modern realities of combat and objective global integration processes requires constant improvement of both the economic and defense industries. The products of the Kalashnikov concern are known all over the world. Samples of the famous machine gun are still in service in many countries.
What the new Kalashnikov RPK-16 light machine gun will be like and how it will prove itself will be known very soon.
In this section we will tell you about machine guns, both domestic and foreign. You can learn about the history of the creation of this weapon, get acquainted with the structure of machine guns and their combat use. We have prepared materials about the best machine guns from different historical periods.
A machine gun is an individual or group automatic small weapon that uses the energy of powder gases for operation and has a high rate of fire. Machine guns have a longer sighting range and more capacious power supply devices.
Machine gun calibers can vary significantly: most modern light machine guns have a caliber of 6-8 mm, and heavy machine guns have a caliber of 12-15 mm. In addition to manual ones, there are also heavy machine guns, which are mounted on a special machine, also called a turret. Almost all large-caliber machine guns are mounted; ordinary light machine guns are often mounted on turrets - this significantly increases shooting accuracy.
They have been trying to create rapid-fire weapons since the 16th century. However, before the invention of the unitary cartridge and smokeless powder, these attempts were obviously doomed to failure. The first operational example of an automatic weapon was the Gatling machine gun, which was a block of manually rotating barrels.
The first truly automatic example of this weapon was the machine gun, invented by the American Maxim in 1883. This is truly a legendary weapon, which was first used in the Boer War and remained in service until World War II. The Maxim machine gun is still used today.
The machine gun began to be used as a mass weapon during the First World War. It was the machine gun that made a real revolution in military affairs. German gunsmiths managed to develop excellent machine guns. German MG 42 machine guns are rightly considered the best examples of such weapons of the Second World War.
It is necessary to say a few words about Russian machine guns. Active development of this weapon began in the pre-war years, during this period excellent domestic models of machine guns appeared: DShK, SG-43, Degtyarev machine gun. After the war, a whole series of Kalashnikov machine guns appeared, which in their reliability and efficiency were in no way inferior to the famous AK-47. Today Russian machine guns are a recognizable brand known all over the world.
There is another type of weapon, the name of which in Russian literature contains the word “machine gun”. These are submachine guns. This type of automatic individual weapon uses pistol ammunition. Submachine guns first appeared during the First World War to increase the firepower of attacking infantry.
The “finest hour” of this weapon was the next world war. All the main countries participating in this conflict were armed with submachine guns. This weapon was very cheap and simple, but at the same time it had great firepower. However, submachine guns also had serious drawbacks, the main ones being a short effective firing range and insufficient power of pistol ammunition.
Soon an intermediate cartridge was invented, which led to the advent of modern machine guns and automatic rifles. Currently, submachine guns are used as police weapons.
We have prepared information about the most famous examples of submachine guns. You can learn about the Soviet PPSh and PPS assault rifles, the German MP-38, the American Thompson assault rifle, as well as other legendary examples of these weapons.
The idea of unifying the automatic small arms of a platoon and squad based on one system in the USSR was worked out back in the 20s under the leadership of Fedorov, and after the adoption of the intermediate cartridge of the 1943 model of 7.62 mm caliber, they took a clear direction to select and develop a base model for further unification . As a result, the Kalashnikov assault rifle became such after its modernization. In 1956, several light machine guns and “light” machine guns were tested - the Kalashnikov (Izhevsk), Konstantinov (Kovrov), Korobov (Tula) systems were presented at the competition, and the Korobov machine gun was powered by a belt. In 1959, the USSR Army adopted the AKM assault rifle, and in 1961, the RPK light machine gun (product index 6P2, “Kalashnikov light machine gun”), created on its basis.
The design of the RPK is almost similar to that of a machine gun; their components and parts are for the most part interchangeable. The main differences are an elongated heavy barrel, folding bipod and a larger capacity standard magazine. The barrel, whose length is 590 millimeters, made it possible to increase the effective firing range to 800 meters. Increasing the magazine capacity and increasing the thickness of the barrel walls allows for more intense fire. When shooting from a rest, the bipod improved accuracy.
The automation implements a scheme for removing powder gases through a side hole made in the barrel wall. By turning the bolt, the barrel bore is locked, while a pair of bolt lugs fit into the grooves of the receiver. The gas piston and rod with the bolt frame are rigidly connected. The bolt frame is the leading element of the automation: the frame sets the direction of movement of the moving parts, absorbs most shock loads, and the return spring is placed in its longitudinal channel. The reloading handle and bolt carrier are made as one piece and are located on the right. During a shot, the powder gases move into the gas chamber, and the bolt frame and gas piston begin to move backwards. After the frame moves to the required distance, the exhaust gases escape into the atmosphere through holes opened in the gas tube. The bolt frame travels a certain distance before the pressure drops, after which the bevel cut on its inner surface presses on the bolt protrusion with its edge and rotates it. When the bolt is unlocked, a preliminary rotation and “movement” (displacement) of the cartridge case located in the chamber occurs. This reduces the adhesion of the cartridge case and the walls of the chamber, and also prevents its rupture during subsequent extraction. After disengaging the bolt and receiver, the spent cartridge case is removed using a spring-loaded ejector. The bolt and bolt carrier begin to move backward, cocking the hammer and compressing the return spring. The spent cartridge case, after hitting the hard reflector of the receiver, flies out through the receiver window to the right. Having reached the rear extreme point, the bolt and bolt frame move forward under the action of the return spring, the next cartridge is captured by the bolt and sent into the chamber. The bolt frame stops moving, and the bolt continues to move forward under the influence of inertia, turning along the bevel of the frame, locking the barrel bore. The relatively large weight of the bolt frame with a relatively light bolt, as well as the suspended position of the moving parts in the receiver with relatively large gaps, made it possible to ensure the operation of the system even in very dusty conditions. In addition, the bolt is covered by the bolt carrier, thus protecting it from clogging and impact. The rear stop of the recoil spring guide rod is the latch of the stamped lightweight receiver cover.
Iraqi soldiers train to fire PKK guns
Trigger impact mechanism with a trigger rotating on an axis and a U-shaped mainspring, which is made of double twisted wire. The trigger mechanism allows for single and continuous fire. A single rotary part is a translator (switch) of fire modes and a double-action safety lever: being in the safety position, the trigger, the sear of continuous and single fire is locked and prevents the bolt frame from moving backward, partially blocking the groove between the receiver cover and the receiver. In this case, the bolt can be pulled back to inspect the chamber, but its travel is not enough to cock the hammer and chamber the next cartridge. All parts of the trigger mechanism and automation are compactly mounted in the receiver, which thus plays the role of the trigger housing. The receiver was made by stamping, some parts were made by lost wax casting and powder metallurgy.
The experimental light machine guns had a slightly modified butt of the machine gun, but for the production model the shape of the butt of its predecessor, the RPD machine gun, was taken. When shooting from a rest, the thinned neck of the butt makes it possible to grasp it with your left hand. The sight has a mechanism for lateral corrections for target movement or wind. Firing from a point-blank position made it possible to do without a compensator. The magazine power system, inherited from the machine gun, forced the development of larger capacity magazines - a sector box with a capacity of 40 rounds and a drum (disc) with a capacity of 75 rounds. RPK and automatic magazines (capacity 30 rounds) are interchangeable.
Mongolian soldier with PKK
Several types of cartridges can be used for firing: with an ordinary “PS” bullet having a heat-strengthened steel core (bullet weight 7.9 grams, cartridge index 57N231), “T-45” tracer bullet (bullet weight 7.45-7.67 grams , the warhead is painted green), armor-piercing incendiary "BZ" (bullet weight 7.47-7.87 grams, the warhead is painted black and has a red belt), incendiary (bullet weight 6.47-6.8 grams , the head part is painted red). The mass of a cartridge with an ordinary bullet is 16.2 grams, and the gunpowder charge is 1.8 grams. Fire can be fired from a bipod or from the hands with the butt resting on the shoulder. Shooting from a belt “from the hip” is allowed while moving - it does not provide aiming, however, at a certain moment in the battle it can have a psychological effect on the enemy, which explains the preservation of this method from the First World War to the present day. Shooting from a closed bolt does not increase the risk of spontaneous firing as a result of heating the chamber if the fire is fired in short bursts.
For the Airborne Forces, they developed the RPKS model, which has a butt folding to the left of the same shape as the RPK. The folding stock is secured in the firing position using a special latch. As a result, the RPKS was 0.3 kg heavier than the RPK. For the RPK and RPKS light machine guns, modifications were created for the RPKN and RPKSN, respectively, which were adapted to install a night sight. RPK and RPKS machine guns began to support the airborne (motorized rifle) squad. In some conflicts, the RPKN equipped with an optical sight was used as an “ersatz” sniper rifle - this became possible due to the fact that the light machine gun inherited the single-fire mode from the basic machine gun.
The widespread unification of parts and components with the AKM, already mastered in production, has greatly simplified the production of the RPK light machine gun, as well as its study by the troops (especially since the Kalashnikov assault rifle system is one of the easiest to master and study). Ease of repair, disassembly and maintenance is also important. Thoughtfulness, technological and constructive perfection, unique elegance and comparative simplicity of the design with the widespread use of the principle of multifunctionality of parts determined high reliability of operation in any conditions. The Vyatskopolyansk machine-building plant "Molot" became the main manufacturer of RPKs.
Designers K.T. Kurenkov and N.F. Makarov, based on the RPK, developed a “curved-barreled” tank machine gun with a bullet trajectory deviation of 90°, but it was not accepted, although subsequently they tried to use these machine guns in caponier installations. During the landslide conversion, the Molot plant produced the Vepr hunting carbine based on the RPK light machine gun - after several years of improvements, this unique example of transferring machine guns to the “hunting” area gave an excellent result.
The RPK light machine gun has been adopted by the armies of more than 20 countries. Variants or copies are produced in some countries. For example, in Yugoslavia, light machine guns of the “Kalashnikov system” 72В1 were produced under the 7.62x39 cartridge, which was distinguished by the introduction of fins along part of the barrel length and 72АВ1 having a metal butt. The export modification of the 77B1 machine gun chambered for the 7.62x51 NATO cartridge was equipped with a different shaped box magazine and a carrying handle. Together with the 80 and 80A assault rifles, as part of the 5.56x45 (M193) family of weapons, the 82 model light machine gun had a permanent stock and the 82A folding machine gun, both models had a carrying handle. In turn, Yugoslav machine guns were supplied to some countries - for example, the M72B1 came to Iraq. Chinese copies of Type 73 and 81 have retained the general design of the RPK light machine gun, but have a number of differences. The M78 Valmet light machine gun was produced in Finland.
Technical characteristics of the RPK light machine gun:
Cartridge – 7.62x39;
Machine gun weight without magazine 4.8 kg;
The weight of the machine gun with a loaded magazine for 40 (45) rounds is 5.6 kg;
The weight of the machine gun with a loaded magazine of 75 rounds is 6.8 kg;
Machine gun length – 1040 mm;
Barrel length – 590 mm;
Number of grooves – 4;
Rifling pitch – 240 mm;
Initial bullet speed – 745 m/s;
Muzzle energy – 2192 J;
Rate of fire – 600 rounds per minute;
Combat rate of fire - 150 rounds per minute;
Sighting range – 1000 m;
The range of a direct shot at the chest figure is 365 m;
The range of a direct shot at a tall figure is 540 m;
The lethal range of the bullet is 1500 m;
The maximum flight range of a bullet is 3000 m;
Magazine capacity - 40.75 rounds.