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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:
RPD (USSR)
RPD
Type 56 LMG - a Chinese-made RPD copy
Image courtesy of www.autoweapons.com
RPD belt drum with empty belt and a carrying bag
Caliber 7,62x39 mm
Weigth 7,4 kg empty, on integral bipod
Length 1037 mm
Length of barrel 520 mm
Feeding belt 100 rounds in drum-like box
Rate of fire 650 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity 735 m/s
The RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemet Degtyarova - Degtyarov Light MG) was one of the first weapons designed to fire a new, intermediate cartridge 7.62x39mm. It was developed circa 1944 and was a standard squad automatic weapon of Soviet army since early 1950s and until 1960s, when it was generally replaced by the RPK light mg, which, in many opinions, was not a good decision. However, some RPD still can be encountered in Rsussian army reserve stocks, and thsese MGs were also widely exported to many pro-Soviet countries and regimes around the world. It also was manufactured in other countries, such as China, where it was known as Type 56 LMG.
The RPD can be described as a further development of the earlier Degtyarov machine guns, tracing its ancestry to DP-1927 LMG. RPD is a gas operated, full auto only weapon. Gas drive uses a long stroke piston and a gas regulator, located under the barrel. It uses a simple and robust bolt locking system seen in other Degtyarov guns, which uses two locking flaps, that are pushed out of the bolt body into recesses in the receiver walls to lock the bolt. Flaps are pushed out by the bolt carrier to lock and are withdrawn from recesses to unlock the bolt by specially shaped cams on the carrier. RPD uses belt feed. A detachable round box (drum) can be clipped under the receiver. This box can hold a 100-rounds non-desintegrating metallic belt, and loose belt also can be used. Each belt drum has its own folding carrying handle, but usually belt drums were carried in special pouches. Unlike earlier Degtyarov guns, the return spring is located inside the butt. Heavy barrel cannot be replaced quickly, but RPD still can provide a significant firepower at the ranges up to 800 meters. Rear sights are ajustable for range and drift, folding integral bipod is located under the barrel. All RPDs were issued with carrying slings and could be fired from the hip, using the sling to hang the gun on the shoulder.
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