PK (machine gun)

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Machine gun PKM
general information
Country of operation: Soviet Union , Warsaw Contracting States , Finland , Sri Lanka
Developer / Manufacturer: Michail Timofejewitsch Kalaschnikow / Ischmasch , Degtjarjowwerk
Manufacturer country: Soviet Union
Production time: since 1969
Model variants: PK, PKS, PKT, PKMB, PKM, PKMS
Weapon Category: Machine gun
Furnishing
Overall length: 1173 mm
Weight: (unloaded) 9 kg
Sight length : 663 mm
Barrel length : 658 mm
Technical specifications
Caliber : 7.62 × 54 mm rows
Ammunition supply : Ammunition belt
Cadence : 650 rounds / min
Fire types: Continuous fire
Number of trains : 4th
Twist : right
Visor : open
Closure : Turret lock
Charging principle: Gas pressure charger
Lists on the subject

The MG PK ( P ulemjot K alaschnikowa , in German "Kalaschnikow machine gun") is a universal machine gun in the 7.62 × 54 mm R caliber , which has been in service with the Soviet and Russian armed forces since 1962 . The design was made in the Kalashnikov design office .

Use and technology

The MG PK is designed as a universal weapon for use in vehicles, helicopters, as a light and heavy MG of the infantry. Before 1962, the Soviet Army had several different machine guns in the 7.62 × 54 mm R caliber in its arsenal: the Gorjunow SG-43 , which dates back to World War II, and the Degtjarjow RP-46 , which was a modification of the DP from 1927. These should be replaced by a standard weapon.

The PK is a closing gas pressure charger. The gas pressure can be adjusted in three stages with the regulator on the connector without tools. The PK has an interchangeable barrel that can be changed quickly without tools or protective gloves. It only shoots continuous fire. The ammunition is supplied from the right through permanent metal belts; the protruding edge of the cartridge requires a gripper-like feed mechanism which pulls the cartridges backwards out of the belt and then pushes them into the lower-lying cartridge chamber. As with all Kalashnikov designs, reliability is proverbial.

Depending on the intended use, it is completed with a skeletonized plywood piston and bipod or a tripod mount as a portable weapon, with a piston and mount as a mounting weapon on vehicles or on a mount without pistons, but with electrical firing in tanks, armored personnel carriers and helicopters as a secondary weapon. Sometimes it is also used as an anti-aircraft machine gun in twin or quadruple mounts.

A 100-round belt case can be hung under the weapon, which makes it easier for a single shooter to use the PK as a light machine-gun and avoids jams caused by freely swinging belts. Larger belt boxes can be attached to the carriage or carried by a second man.

The handle is firmly connected to the barrel and can be rotated. It is also used for changing the barrel.

The cocking slide is on the right-hand side and does not move with the shooting.

Both the ejection window and the openings for the ammunition belt are covered with spring-loaded dust covers. The individual lids are only opened when a cartridge case is ejected or an ammunition belt is inserted.

The PK is equipped as standard with a rear sight and front sight and a mounting system. Various aiming aids can be attached to the side mounting rail.

The butt has a grip hole so that the weapon can be held steadily when firing. Tools, brushes and oil containers are stowed in the piston.

The original tripod mount was designed by ES Samoshenkow, it was later replaced by the 3 kg lighter mount LW Stepanows.

The PKT was and is installed in almost all combat vehicles of Soviet and Russian production. The weapon is still widely used today, and because of its simplicity and reliability, it is also used by non-regular fighters.

Versions

  • PK: early model; flooded barrel, long, cylindrical and slotted flash hider
  • PKB / PKMB: (B for bronjeawtomobilnyj), version for open armored personnel carriers with spade handles and thumb trigger ("butterfly trigger ")
  • PKM / PKMS: (M for modernizirowanyj): modernized versions; smooth, non-flooded barrel and shorter, slightly funnel-shaped flash hider
  • PKS: (S for stankowyj ), mounted / lafettiert, with tripod
  • PKT: (T for tankowyj ), version as a coaxial turret machine gun for armored vehicles. With a more massive and longer barrel, electromagnetic trigger via cable
  • Type 80: Chinese replica
  • MG md. 66: Romanian license build
  • Zastava M84: Yugoslav license of the PK; other piston and handle
  • PKP : Further development as a light MG, the main differences are the non-exchangeable barrel and the handle above the barrel.
  • KT or KM 7.62: Ukrainian variant of the PKT or PKM

  • PK

  • Finnish PKM

  • PKB on BTR-60 P

  • MG PKT

  • Zastava M84 as a heavy machine gun

  • lMG PKP

Technical specifications

designation PK PKS PKT (6P7)
function Gas pressure loader, closing
caliber 7.62 × 54 mm
Length (mm) 1173 1098
Weight (unloaded, kg) 8.99 16.48 10.5
Belt box length (mm) 722
Belt box weight (empty, kg) 3
Belt box weight (100 shots, kg) 3.90
Belt box weight (200 shots, kg) 8.00
Firing range (m) 1000
Sight range (m) 1500
maximum firing range (m) over 5000
Cadence (theoretical / practical rounds / min) 650/250 700-800 / 250
Strap length 100; 200 250 cartridges
Combat set (only PKT) 3000 cartridges ( T-54 )

2500 cartridges ( T-55 )
2000 cartridges ( T-72 B (M), T-72BK, T-90 )
1250 cartridges ( T-80 U, T-80U (M))
750 cartridges (T-80UK)
Cartridge type 7.62 × 54mm R (M1908 / 30)
Types of ammunition Steel core
fire, tank fire,
tracer,
exercise cartridges (space and excise cartridges)
v 0 (m / s) 825

The life of the barrel is usually 2,500 to 3,000 shots with continuous fire or 10,000 to 12,000 shots with short bursts (three to five shots per burst, two to four seconds pause). A PKM barrel heats up somewhat more slowly than a PK barrel because it is heavier and has cooling fins; both barrels can be used in either weapon.

User states

Former users

literature

  • Günter Wollert, Reiner Lidschun, Wilfried Copenhagen : Rifle weapons (1945–1985) . In: Illustrated encyclopedia of rifles from around the world . 5th edition. tape 1 + 2 . Brandenburgisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-89488-057-0 , p. 417-419 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Boris Takayev: Как бы не плагиат украинской «оборонки». In: archive.today. March 29, 2012, archived from the original on April 13, 2014 ; Retrieved February 27, 2015 (Russian).
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq Richard D. Jones: Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 . Ed .: Jane's Information Group. 35th edition. 2009, ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5 .
  3. ↑ Rosyjska broń dla Fidżi - Altair Agencja Lotnicza. www.altair.com.pl, February 21, 2016, accessed February 23, 2019 (Polish).
  4. ↑ pkm - Maavoimat. maavoimat.fi, accessed February 23, 2019 (Finnish).
  5. ↑ Zdeněk Mikulka: Střelby z palubních zbraní vrtulníků Mi-171Š v Afghánistánu. In: Zahraniční mise. Ministerstvo obrany, February 19, 2010, accessed February 23, 2019 (Czech).
  6. ^ Defense Ministry introduces new Ukrainian-made light machine gun. uaposition.com, May 18, 2016, accessed February 23, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Việt Nam sản xuất thành công súng máy PKMS hiện đại. soha.vn, accessed February 23, 2019 (Vietnamese).
  8. ^ Andrew McGregor: How Russia Is Displacing the French in the Struggle for Influence in the Central African Republic. In: Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 74. jamestown.org, May 15, 2018, accessed on February 23, 2019 .

Web links

Commons : PK / PKS  - album with pictures, videos and audio files