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Modern Firearms |
Machine gun - the book
Machine guns introduction
Austria
Schwarzlose M07 M07/12
Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
Steyr AUG /Hbar
Belgium
FN Model D
FN Minimi
FN MAG
FN BRG-15
China, People's Republic
Type 67 GPMG
Type 88 GPMG
Type 95 LMG
Type 77 HMG
Type 85 HMG
W-85 HMG
Type 89 HMG
Type 02 / QJG 02 HMG
Czech Republic
ZB 26
ZB 53 / Vz.37
ZB 60 new
Vz.52, Vz.52/57 upd
UK Vz.59 upd
Denmark
Madsen LMG
Madsen-Saetter
Finland
L/S-26
Valmet KvKK 62
France
Chauchat CSRG M1915
Hotchkiss Portative
Hotchkiss M1914
Hotchkiss M1922 LMG
Hotchkiss M1930 HMG
MAC M1924/29
AAT Mod.52
Germany
MG 08, MG 08/15, MG 08/18
MG 13
MG 34
MG 35/36 Knorr-Bremse
MG 42 and MG 3
HK 21 and 23
HK MG 4
Great Britain
Vickers Mk.I
Hotchkiss Portable Mk.I
Lewis
Vickers-Berthier
Bren
L86A1 SA-80 LSW
Israel
Dror
Negev
Italy
Fiat-Revelli M1914 M1935
Breda M1930
Breda M1937
Japan
Type 03 & Type 92
Type 11
Type 96 & Type 99
Type 62
Mexico
Mendoza
Russia / USSR
Maxim M1910/30
Degtyarov DP DPM RP-46
Degtyarov DS-39
Degtyarov RPD
Kalashnikov RPK
Kalashnikov RPK-74
Gorjunov SG-43 SGM
Kalashnikov PK / PKM
Pecheneg
DShK DShKM 12.7
NSV 12.7 'Utes'
Kord 12.7
KPV 14.5
Singapore
STK Ultimax 100
CIS .50 MG
South Africa
Vector SS-77 / Mini-SS
South Korea
Daewoo K3
Spain
CETME Ameli
Sweden
Knorr-Bremse m/40
Switzerland
W+F Lmg 25
SIG KE-7
Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
SIG MG 50
W+F MG 51
SIG MG 710
USA
Benet-Mercie M1909
Lewis
Browning M1917 M1919
Browning M1918 BAR
Johnson M1941 M1944
M60
M16 LSW / LMG
M134 Minigun
XM214 Microgun
Stoner 63
M249 SAW
M240
Mk.48 mod.0
Browning M2HB .50 cal
XM312 .50 cal
LW50MG
all texts and some pictures
Contact E-Mail
copyright © 1999-2009
by Max R. Popenker
and can not be used without author permission
ICQ:
Kalashnikov PK / PKS / PKM / PKMS machine gun (USSR/Russia)
The 7,62x54R Nikitin PN machine gun, from pre-production batch made in 1960 for final troops trials. This gun was almost adopted by Soviet army but then mysteriously lost final trials to Kalashnikov PK
Original Kalashnikov PKS (PK on tripod) machine gun; note partially fluted barrel and long flash hider
current production Kalashnikov
PKMS (PKM on tripod) machine gun, with plain (non-fluted) barrel and
short flash hider
current issue, early production
Kalashnikov PKM machine gun, loaded with 100-round belt in box and ready to fire
current production Kalashnikov
PKMT (PKM Tank) machine gun
| PK / PKS | PKM / PKMS | PKMT | |
| Caliber | 7,62x54R | ||
| Weight | 9 kg (gun) + 7,7 kg (tripod) | 7,5 kg (gun) + 4,5 kg (tripod) | 10,5 kg |
| Length | 1173 mm | 1160 mm | 1098 mm |
| Length of barrel | 658 mm | 645 mm | 722 mm |
| Feed | belt, 100, 200 or 250 rounds | ||
| Rate of fire | 650 rounds per minute | 650 rounds per minute | 800 rounds per minute |
Like many others, Soviet military experts closely examined the German ‘heritage’ of WW2, and like many, they found the idea of a Universal (or General Purpose) MG to be very appealing, especially from the logistical and economical point of view. It was therefore decided to replace the separate company, battalion and tank MGs with a single universal design, adaptable to any of these roles. By the early 1950s, requirements were fixed for a new GPMG, firing 7.62x54R ammunition from belts and capable of firing from an integral bipod, an infantry tripod mound or a vehicle mount. After many false starts, by 1956-7 a new design became a favorite, the newly developed Nikitin GPMG. This was a gas operated, air cooled, belt fed weapon with a quick-detachable barrel. It used a fairly typical rotating bolt locking along with less typical (at least, for Soviet guns of the period) features, such as self-regulating gas system and push-through feed system with open-pocket steel belts (incompatible with earlier Maxim and SG-43/SGM belts). By 1958, the Nikitin design was already recommended for adoption, and a batch of 500 guns was ordered for extended field trials with troops, but the situation then became surprisingly complicated. For some reason,General artillery department of Soviet army decided to spur the somewhat slow development of the Nikitin GPMG, and ordered Mikhail Kalashnikov to build his own machine gun to compete with the already established design. At the time Kalashnikov was busy finalizing his improved AKM assault rifle and its companion machine rifle which later became the RPK. However, he accepted the challenge and put some men of his team onto the task of creating their own universal machine gun. It must be noted that this strange situation resulted in a clash of interests between GAU (who literally placed its bet on a new Kalashnikov design) and some elements in Army and Soviet Ministry of Defense Industry, who put their stakes (including their future careers) on the Nikitin design. Exact details of this “undercover battle” are unknown to the general public, but result is widely publicized – the Kalashnikov design won the trials and was subsequently adopted in 1961 as the PK (Pulemet Kalashnikova), in four basic versions: PK LMG (on an integral bipod), PKS MMG (on a universal tripod), PKT (tank coaxial gun with electric trigger and other necessary changes) and PKB (armored personnel carrier version with appropriate mountings). It also must be noted that while PK turned out to be an excellent weapon, people who tested PN often thought that it was actually superior to PK.
The Kalashnikov PK is a general-purpose machine gun which has four basic versions: light machine gun firing from an integral bipod – PK; medium machine gun firing from a universal tripod – PKS; tank coaxial machine gun – PKT; and machine gun for armored personnel carriers (in pintle mounts) – PKB. When the basic weapon was improved in 1969 to become the PKM, all of its versions also received similar designations – PKMS and PKMT.
Copies of Kalashnikov general purpose machine gun were or still are manufactured in Bulgaria, China, Iran, Poland, Serbia (former Yugoslavia), either in original 7,62x54R or in 7,62x51NATO chamberings.
The
PK is a gas operated, belt fed, air cooled, automatic only, machine
gun. It fires from an open bolt and has a quick detachable barrel. The
gas system consists of a gas
chamber with a manual gas regulator, and a long stroke gas piston
located below the barrel. Locking is achieved through a rotating bolt
with dual locking lugs.
The PK uses a two-stage belt feed from
steel non-disintegrating belts. Upon the opening stroke of the bolt
group, a
special claw-shaped ejector withdraws the cartridge back from the belt,
and a spring-loaded arm then lowers it into the feed way. Upon the
closing stroke of the bolt group, the feed lug on the bolt pushes the
cartridge into the chamber. Feed is from the right side only. Spent
cases are ejected to the left through a special window in the receiver;
this has a spring-loaded dust cover which automatically opens and
closes during each reloading cycle. Loading and ejection windows in the
feed unit also have dust covers. The feed unit cover is hinged at the
front and can be lifted up for loading, unloading or inspection.
Standard belts have a capacity of 100 (for PK) or 200 and 250 (for PKS)
rounds. Belts are fed from special steel boxes, and a 100-round box can
be clamped under the receiver of the PK for better mobility.
The
PK is fitted with a skeleton buttstock made from wood and fitted with a
hinged buttplate, and a wooden or plastic pistol grip. The rear part of
the buttstock houses an accessory / cleaning kit, and a disassembled
cleaning rod is stored in the right leg of the bipod. A folding bipod
is fitted to the gas tube below the barrel. Each PK gun has a mounting
interface which allows it to be placed into the cradle of a universal
tripod, designed by Samozhenkov, to form the PKS medium machine gun.
This tripod has traverse and elevation mechanisms, and has an adapter
for AA use.
Standard sights are of the open type, with a
hooded post front and tangent-type rear sight, marked for ranges of up
to 1500 metres and with a windage adjustment mechanism. Special
versions of the PK have a receiver rail, which accepts mountings of
various night sights. Such versions are designated PKN or PKSN,
depending on the tactical role.
Modifications.
PKM /
PKMS (Modified) is a lightened version of the basic
design. The barrel is not fluted, and has a different style shorter
flash hider. The feed cover is strengthened by the introduction of
stamped ribs. The Samozhenkov tripod is replaced by a new, lightweight
tripod designed by Stepanov. This tripod has a special mount for the
belt box, so a mounted PKMS gun can be moved through the battlefield
without the need for unloading before movement and subsequent loading
in a new position.
PKT (Tank) is coaxial weapon used on most Soviet and Russian main battle tanks. It has a heavier, non-fluted barrel. The barrel is also longer than on the PK to provide ballistics similar to that of the earlier SGMT weapon it replaced (to avoid replacement of the expensive tank sights). The gas block is modified and the stock, bipod and pistol grip are discarded. The firing solenoid is attached to the rear of the receiver, but the PKT also retains an emergency mechanical (manual) trigger.
PKB (for armored
cars) is the same as the PK but installed on a
special mount. However, there were special versions of the PKB fitted
with dual spade grips instead of the pistol grip and shoulder stock.
Such versions also were used on Mi-8 Hip transport and Mi-24 Hind
attack helicopters in window and door mounts through the Afghanistan
campaign of the Soviet army.
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