The_Soviet_Army_troops_organization_and_equi

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CHARACTERISTICS

CALIBER (mm)

LENGTH, overall (m)

WEIGHT, loaded ( k 1 )

WEIGHT, empty (kg)

FIREMODE

FEED

AMMUNITION (type)

PERFORMANCE

Muzzle velocity

(m/sec)

Range

Maximum (m )

Effective (m)

Armor penetration

(mm @ 0"		obliquity
@ 500/1,000 m)
Rats of	fire (rd/min)
Cyclic
Practical
UNIT OF	FIRE (rd)
STATUS
			-
FOOTNOTES.		*40-rd magazine.
		**Fully	atu t m a t i c / s e m i a u t o m a t i c .
		***PKM	( squad)/PKT (vehicle-mounted)

NSV

INA

automatic

belts

in 60-rd boxes

12.7x108-mm API, API-T,

HEI

7,850 ground

1,000 AA

2,000 ground

(800 against armor)

20/13.2

300

early 1970s

standard

DESCRIPTION:

The RPK is a variant of the AKM assault rifle. I t h a s a longer, heavier barrel (591 millimeters versus 414 millimeters); a stamped metal bipod; and a heavier type of fixed, wooden buttstock. The modified receiver of the RPK can accommodate its larger-diameter barrel. The RPK normally feeds ammunition from either a 40-round curved box magazine or a 75-round spring-loaded drum magazine: However, it can also use the 30-round curved box magazine of the AKM, if necessary. It has a chrome-plated barrel, chamber, and gas piston. It also h a s a cyclic rate reducer built into the trigger mechanism. The Soviets usually install luminous night sights on the front and rear sights. Some RPKs can mount an infrared night-sighting device.

The Soviets issue a folding-stock version, the RPKS, to airborne troops. With stock folded, it is only 820 millimeters long (versus the RPK, which is 1,035 millimeters long).

CAPABILITIES:

The RPK has a maximum effective range of 800 meters in either automatic or semiautomatic mode. It also has a practical rate of fire of 150 rounds per minute automatic or 50 rounds per minute semiautomatic. In offensive operations, the

machine gunner normally attaches the 75-round drum magazine beneath the weapon at the beginning of a n attack. He subsequently replaces it with a 40or 30-round magazine during the assault or in the early stages of defense. Almost all of the moving parts of the RPK are interchangeable with those of the AK or AKM assault rifles.

LIMITATIONS:

Because the RPK fires from a closed bolt, it tends to "cook off" its cartridges after prolonged firing. Since the barrel cannot be changed, the sustained rate of fire must not exceed about 80

rounds per minute. The lack of a gas regulator causes roueh action and vigorous ejection to the

right rear when the gun is clean. It also causes the rate of tire to slow down gradually as residue and dirt accumulate in the gas port.

REMARKS:

The Soviets first produced the RPK in 1961. It

entered service around 1964. It was first displayed in the 1966 May Day parade in Red Square. It

has become the standard squad automatic weapon in most Warsaw P a d armies. However, the 5.45-mm RPK-74 is now replacing it in Soviet units.

5.45-mm Light Machine Gun RPK-74

RPK-74

DESCRIPTION:

J u s t a s t h e RPK i s t h e s q u a d machine g u n version of the AKM, the RPK-74 is a machine gun version of the AK-74, firing the same ammunition. T h e RPKS-74 i s a folding-stock version of t h e weapon. Instead of the prominent muzzle brake used on the AK-74, the machine gun h a s a short flash suppressor. The magazine is longer than that

normally used with the AK-74, but the magazines are interchangeable. The RPK-74 has a bipod.

CAPABILITIES:

The 5.45-mm round of the RPK-74 h a s a considerably higher muzzle velocity t h a n the 7.62-mm

round of the RPK. However, both weapons probably have the s a m e maximum range (2,500 meters) a n d effective range (800 meters). Unlike the RPK, t h e RPK-74 i s compatible with t h e front firing ports of the BMP.

REMARKS:

Since i t s introduction i n t h e l a t e 1970s,t h e RPK-74 h a s become the standard squad machine gun in Soviet motorized rifle units. I t is replacing both the RPK a n d PKM 7.62-mm weapons. Airborne squads also employ the RPKS-74.

7.62-mm General-Purpose Machine Guns, PK Series

PKM

DESCRIPTION:

The 7.62-mm general-purpose machine gun Pulemyot Kalashnikov (PK) is a gas-operated,

belt-fed, sustained-fire weapon. The Soviets based its design on the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Notable differences from the assault rifle are the gas cylinder below t h e barrel and the hollow-frame stuck resembling that of the SVD sniper rifle. The PKM fires 7.62 x 54R rimmed cartridges using a metal nondisintegrating belt.

The basic PK model is bipod-mounted. It is fed by a 100-round belt carried in a box fastened to the right side of the receiver. It weighs 9 kilograms a n d is 1,161 millimeters long. It is constructed partly of stamped metal and partly of forged steel.

The PKS is a PK mounted on a lightweight (4.75-kg) tripod. It uses either a 200or 250-round

belt. The belt feeds from a box placed to the right of the weapon.

The PKT is the tank-mounted version of the PK. Late-model Soviet tanks, turreted APCs and ICVs, and amphibious scout cars mount it as a coaxial machine gun. It has a longer and heavier barrel than the PK. It also lacks the PK's stuck, sights, bipod, and trigger mechanism. The PKT has a solenoid at the rear for remote-controlled firing, although it also has an emergency manual trigger.

The PKB i s a variant of the PKT. I t is intended for use as a pintle-mounted gun on APCs and SP guns. It differs from the PKT by having a butterfly trigger rather than a solenoid trigger and by having double space grips and front and rear sights. There may also be a PKMB, derived from the PKM rather than from the PK.

7.62-mm General-Purpose Machine Guns, PK Series (continued)

The PKM is a n improved, lighter version (8.4 kilograms) of the PK, using stamped metal components instead of machined metal. Joinable 25-round sections of nondisintegrating metallic belts feed the bipod-mounted PKM. An assault magazine attached to the rails under the receiver

can carry 100 cartridges belted in this way. Either 200-or 250-round belt boxes can also feed the PKM.

The tripod-mounted PKMS is a lightweight version of the PKS. It has the same characteristics

as the PKM. from which it is derived.

CAPABILITIES:

The effective range of the PK-series machine guns is 1,000 meters. They have a cyclic rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute and a practical rate of fire of 250 rounds per minute. Ammunition types

include the following: ball, ball-tracer, armorpiercing incendiary, armor-piercing incendiary-

tracer, and incendiary-ranging.

The PKM is currently organic to the machine

gun platoon of a BMP-equipped MRC and to the machine gun/antitank platoon of a BTR-equipped

MRC. It normally fires from its bipod mount but can also fit in vehicle firing ports.

The PKS and PKMS are also infantry weapons. Used as heavy machine guns, they provide longrange urea fire. Their tripod provides a stable mount for long-range ground fire. The tripod opens quickly to elevate the gun for antiaircraft fire. The

machine gun has a n effective range of 600 meters against slow-moving aircraft.

The PKT serves as a coaxial machine gun on

most modern Soviet tanks,ICVs,and APCs. The PKB (PKBM)serves as a pintle-mounted gun on

older armored vehicles s u c h a s t h e BRDM, BTR-50, and BTR-60.

LIMITATIONS:

The nondisintegrating belt can get in the way if the gunner must move the weapon during firing. Barrel changing is not as fast and effective as in the more recent Western machine guns. Although designed by Kalashnikov, the weapon's moving p a r t s a r e not interchangeable with those of AK-series weapons.

REMARKS:

The Soviets introduced the basic PK machine

gun in 1964. They followed it with the PKS, PKT, PKB (1968), PKM (1971), and PKMS. Compared

to the US M-60, the PK-series machine guns are easier to handle during firing, easier to care for, and lighter. They use a more powerful cartridge and have a slightly shorter effective range (1,000 meters versus 1,100 meters for the M-60). The PK and PKM once served as squad machine guns in BMP-equipped motorized rifle squads, but now the 5.45-mm light machine gun RPK-74 has that function. The vehiclemounted PKT continues to be standard equipment on many armored fighting vehicles.

12.7-mm Heavy Machine Gun DShK 38/46

DShK 38/46

DESCRIPTION:

The DShK is one of the standard heavy machine g u n s of t h e Soviet Army. I t i s a g a s - operated, belt-fed, air-cooled weapon which fires from the open-bolt position. The model 38/46 has a shuttle feed housed in a flat, rectangular cover. It has reversible feed; that is, the ammunition belt can feed from either the left or the right side with minor adjustment. I t also h a s a quick-change barrel.

CAPABILITIES:

The Soviets use the DShK extensively as a n antipersonnel a n d antiaircraft armament on

medium tanks and armored personnel carriers. It is capableof full automatic fire only.

REMARKS:

The Soviets adopted the original DShK (model 38 or M1938)in 1938 a s a ground-mounted, dual-

purpose antiaircraft and antitank gun. Largely superseded by the 14.5-mm ZPU-seriesweapons in

the antiaircraft role, the ground-mounted version

h a s become obsolete. In 1946, the Soviets adopted the improved version (model 38/46 or M1938/46,

also known as DShKM) with a modified feed mechanism and a quick-change barrel. It is still

in use as a vehiclemounted armament. When used as a tank machine gun, it is known as the DShKT.

12.7-mm Heavy Machine Gun NSV

NSVT on T-64B

DESCRIPTION:

The NSV is a gas-operated, belt-fed, air-cooled automatic weapon with a horizontal sliding wedge breechblock and a quick-change barrel. It has a long, smooth, unfinned barrel with a conical flash

suppressor. It features a rectangular stamped-and- riveted receiver. Ammunition loaded in nondisinte­

g r a t i n g belts feeds i n t o t h e weapon from a 50-round-capacity metal container.

by means of an electrical solenoid when the tank i s buttoned up. An optic serves this purpose. Instead of the normal 50-round ammunition belt container, the NSV on the T-64 may use a larger belt container, which probably holds 200 rounds.

CAPABILITIES:

A tripod-mounted version of the NSV is available for infantry use in a ground role. However, the NSV appears more commonly mounted on the turrets of T-64, T-72, and T-80 tanks as an antiaircraft machine gun. On the T-72 and apparently also on the T-80,it has a rotating mount; there is no provision for firing it from within the tank. The tank commander employs the K10-T reflex sight to engage aircraft. On the T-72/T-80 mount, he engages ground targets with the metallic sights (tangent leaf rear and folding front post) on the gun itself.

The T-64 tank mounts a modified version with a fixed mount on the commander's cupola. It fires

On a vehicular mount, the NSV can engage both aerial and ground targets. The weapon fires from an open-bolt position. It fires the same 12.7 x 108-mm cartridges a s the older DShK model 38/46. Although the NSV i s approximately 11 kilograms lighter than the DShK, the ruggedness of t h e g a s regulator and cylinder suggest t h a t barrel vibrations would be dampened, resulting in accuracy comparable to that of the DShK. The firing mechanism does not provide for semiautomatic fire. The weapon h a s a 360-degree traverse and an elevation capability of -5 to +75 degrees. It has an estimated barrel life of 5,000 rounds, and its barrel change time is approximately 5 seconds.

12.7-mm Heavy Machine Gun NSV (continued)

LIMITATIONS:

Although ammunition can feed from either side, the manufacturer determines direction of feed; soldiers cannot easily change it in the field. Evidence indicates that NSV mounts on the T-72 and T-80 permit only left-hand feed, a n d that the NSV mount on the T-64 provides for right-hand feed only. The left-hand-operated trigger mechanism on the vehicular mounts i s awkward, but training can overcome this awkwardness. Due to

the configuration of the tripod, the ground-mounted NSV has only a limited antiaircraft capability.

REMARKS:

The NSV was first observed in 1976 but was probably introduced in the early 1970s. The desig­

nation incorporates the initials of its designers (Nikitin. Sokolov, a n d Volkov).

NSV on T-72

14.6-mm Heavy Machine Gun KPV

KPV

DESCRIPTION:

The Soviets use the 14.5-mm heavy machine gun Vlaimirou (KPV) in both ground and antiair-

craft roles. In its antiaircraft role, the KPV is the basic machine gun mounted on the ZPU series of antiaircraft gun mounts. It also serves a s the

main turret armament of the BRDMS amphibious scout car and the BTR-60PB,BTR-70, and BTR-80

APCs. In this armored vehicle role, the weapon is known a s KPVT.

CAPABILITIES:

The KPV is a recoil-operated, fully automatic weapon which fires from the open-bolt position.

Metallic nondisintegrating link belts, coupled together in 10-round sections, can feed it either from the left or the right of the receiver. The quick-change barrel is removable with the barrel jacket as a unit. The bore is chromium-plated to increase barrel life. The weapon fires the Soviet 14.5 x 114-mm cartridge.

The gun is simple in design and rugged in construction. It is considered to be reliable.

REMARKS:

The Soviets first produced the KPV in 1953.

ARMORED FIGHTING VEHICLES

Light Armored Vehicles (Wheeled)

Light Armored Vehicles (Wheeled) Characteristics

		VEHICLE			BRDM-2	BTR - 60P B	BT R -7 0		B T R - 8 0
CHARACTERISTICS
CREW					2 to 4 or 5	3 (cdr, driver ,	3 (cdr,	driver ,	3 (cdr, d r i v e r
					(variesw/mission)+	gunner) + 8	gunner)	x 8	gunner) + 8
					up to 4 (varies	passengers	passengers		passengers
					w/mission)
WEIGHT		(mt)			7.0	10.2	11.5		11.0
LENGTH
Gun forward			(m)		5.70	7.22	7.535		7.535
Without gun			(m)		5.70	7.22	7.535		7.535
WIDTH,		overall		(m)	2.35	2.82	2.800		2.800
HEIGHT,		overall		(m)	2.31	2.31	2.235		2.235
ENGINE					V-8 140-hp,	2x6-cyl 90-hp,	2x8-cyl 120-hp,		V-8, 260-hp diesel
					gasoline	gasoline	gasoline		(turbocharged)
SPEED
Road	(km/hr)				100	80	80		80-85
Water	(km/hr)				10	10	10		10
FUEL CAPACITY (liters)					290	290	290		290
ROAD RANGE (km)					750	500	500		500
TRENCH CROSSING (m)					125~1.60	2.00	2.00		2.00
VERTICAL STEP				(m)	0.40	0.40	0.40		0.40
GRADABILITY (c)					30	30	30		30
FORDING (m)					a m p h i b i o u s	amphibiou s	amphibiou s		amphibious
ARMOR (maximum)
Hull (mm)					14	9	10		25
Turret	(mm)				7	7	7		7
INFRARED
Driver					yes	yes	yes		yes
Gunner					no	no	no		no
Commander					yes	yes	yes		yes
NBC PROTECTION					filtration and over­	filtration and over­	filtration and over­		filtration and over-
					pressure system	pressure system	pressure system		pressure system
DO1					1966	1961 (BTR-60P)	mid-1970s		1984
STATUS					standard	standard	standard		standard