14.5 mm PKP machine gun
| 14.5 mm PKP machine gun | |
|---|---|
| general information | |
| Military designation: | 14.5-mm machine gun PKP пулемет крупнокалиберный пехотный |
| Country of operation: | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer country: | Soviet Union |
| Production time: | since 1949 |
| Weapon Category: | Machine gun |
| Furnishing | |
| Weight: (unloaded) | 39.6 kg |
| Barrel length : | 1350 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | 14.5 x 114 mm |
| Ammunition supply : | Cartridge belt |
| Cadence : | 500-550 rounds / min |
| Fire types: | Continuous fire |
| Number of trains : | 8th |
| Twist : | Right |
| Visor : | Rear sight and front sight |
| Closure : | Turret lock |
| Charging principle: | Recoil loader |
| Lists on the subject | |
The 14.5-mm machine gun PKP ( Russian пулемет крупнокалиберный пехотный , pulemjot krupnokaliberny pechotny , meaning: large-caliber machine gun of the infantry ) is a machine gun that was developed in the Soviet Union as a supporter of the Second World War in the 1960s the Soviet Army was used.
development
The PM 1910 in caliber 7.62 × 54 mm R was still the most widely used heavy machine gun of the Soviet Army in the 1930s. Since newer models proved to be unreliable, it continued to be produced until 1942. It was not until 1943 that a weapon appeared with the Gorjunow SG-43 , which at least partially replaced the PM1910, but a heavy infantry support weapon was increasingly needed to combat lightly and unarmored targets and field fortifications. With the 14.5 × 114 mm cartridge developed for the Simonow PTRS-41 and PTRD rifles , a suitable ammunition was available. The anti-tank rifles were not suitable for use as an infantry support weapon due to their low rate of fire .
The PKP machine gun was based on the super- heavy anti-aircraft machine gun KPW developed by Vladimirov . Development of the PKP began as early as 1943, and series production did not begin until 1949.
construction
The basic construction of Vladimirov remained unchanged. The weapon is a closing recoil loader with a rigid lock and a short barrel return, the locking is done by a rotary head lock . Characteristic features of the weapon are the perforated barrel casing and the funnel-shaped recoil amplifier on the barrel muzzle, which supports the slide back of the barrel and the loading cycle. Belted ammunition is used; the belt could be inserted either from the left or from the right after the belt feeder had been converted. The barrel is interchangeable.
A wheel carriage developed by Markow was initially used as a carriage . This carriage was clearly too heavy. With a total weight of 161 kg, the weapon could only be moved and positioned in the field by several soldiers. From 1955, a foldable tripod mount developed by Baryschew based on the mount of the 12.7 mm DSchK machine gun was used. Although almost three times lighter than the Markow design , the MG still proved to be too heavy and tactically too immobile in practical use.
commitment
The MG was used in the Soviet Army as an infantry support weapon. Due to its efficiency, it could also fight lightly armored targets at distances of 800 m to 1500 m and unarmored targets up to a distance of 2000 m. Armor with a thickness of 32 mm could be penetrated at a distance of 500 m. Although the ballistic performance corresponded to the intended use profile, the MG was too heavy and immobile: 39.7 kg unloaded and 200 grams per cartridge, i.e. already around 60 kg with only 100 rounds, with 300 rounds already around 100 kg. The production of the PKP was therefore stopped in the 1960s.
Web links
- Maxim Popenker: KPV 14.5. In: Modern Firearms. Retrieved on September 26, 2017 (English, page about the KPW with pictures of the PKP on a wheel mount).
- detailed picture series