The Vladimirov heavy machine gun (KPV, GAU Index - 56-P-562) is an easel heavy machine gun developed by S. V. Vladimirov. Developed in 1944, put into service in 1949.
Created in the USSR in the late 30s, the 14.5x114 mm cartridge was successfully used throughout the war in PTRD and PTRS anti-tank rifles. The BS-41 bullet with a metal-ceramic core fired from these guns had normal armor penetration: at 300 m - 35mm, at 100m - 40mm. This made it possible to hit light tanks and armored vehicles, and also ensured penetration of the side armor of the medium German tank Pz.IV and self-propelled guns created on its basis, which were used from the first to the last day of the war and formed the basis of the enemy’s armored forces. However, anti-tank rifles also posed a certain danger to heavy vehicles. Unable to penetrate thick armor, they were quite capable of knocking down a track, damaging the chassis, breaking optical instruments, jamming a turret, or shooting through a gun.
The experience of using anti-tank rifles during the war shows that they had the greatest effect in the period before July 1943, when the enemy used light and medium tanks, and the battle formations of our troops were relatively weakly saturated with anti-tank artillery. Subsequently, their role in the fight against tanks gradually decreased, but they continued to be used to fight armored vehicles and against firing points. There were cases of successful shooting at air targets. At the final stage of the war, the number of anti-tank rifles in the troops was reduced, and from January 1945 their production was discontinued.
In D.N. Bolotin’s classic work “Soviet Small Arms,” a letter written by a group of front-line soldiers to the famous designer V.A. Degtyarev on August 23, 1942 is quoted: “We are often tempted by the thought of what a formidable weapon an anti-tank machine gun would be against tanks... An anti-tank machine gun could would be a decisive weapon of fire in repelling enemy attacks and destroying his manpower.”
Bangladesh ZPU-4 in Dhaka in 2009
The very idea of an anti-tank machine gun was not new - it dates back to the First World War. And in the 20s - early 30s, large-caliber machine guns were created taking into account “anti-aircraft” and “anti-tank” requirements. The Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR in December 1929 reported to the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks that “the adopted system of infantry weapons of the Red Army provides for the introduction in the near future ... of a large-caliber machine gun - to combat armored units and air enemies, caliber 18-20 mm.”
However, the Red Army received a 12.7 mm DShK machine gun. But in 1938, a more powerful 14.5 mm cartridge, designed for use in automatic weapons, had already appeared, and attempts were made to develop a 14.5 mm machine gun based on it. However, things did not go further than prototypes, and the new cartridges served as ammunition for anti-tank rifles.
During the war, the need arose to create large-caliber, rapid-fire weapons for firing not only at armored vehicles, but also at concentrations of manpower and equipment, enemy firing points at ranges of up to 1,500 meters. Such weapons could also be used to repel low-altitude attacks by armored attack aircraft. There was a need to supplement the 12.7-mm DShK with a machine gun with a high armor-piercing effect of the bullet, surpassing the weapons of Degtyarev and Shpagin in range and height. In December 1942, the Main Artillery Directorate approved the tactical and technical requirements for a 14.5 mm machine gun.
Iraqi police vehicle with KPVT
Attempts to create such weapons based on the technical solutions used in the DShK were unsuccessful. The high pressure created by the 14.5 mm cartridge made the operation of the automatic gas engine harsh, made it difficult to extract the spent cartridge case, and the survivability of the barrel turned out to be low when firing armor-piercing bullets.
In May 1943, an employee of the plant’s chief designer’s department, S.V. Vladimirov (1895-1956), began developing his own version of the machine gun, taking as a basis his 20-mm B-20 aircraft cannon with a recoil automatic engine (in 1942, this gun lost to the B-20 Berezina).
The Vladimirov large-caliber machine gun used automation using recoil energy with a short barrel stroke. The barrel is locked at the moment of firing by rotating the clutch attached to the bolt; the inner surface of the coupling has lugs in the form of segments of intermittent threads, which, when rotated, engage with the corresponding lugs on the breech of the barrel. The rotation of the coupling occurs when the transverse pin interacts with the shaped cutouts in the receiver. The barrel is quick-changeable, enclosed in a perforated metal casing and removed from the body of the machine gun along with the casing, for which there is a special handle on the casing. The cartridges are fed from a metal strip with a closed link, assembled from loose pieces for 10 cartridges each. The pieces of tape are connected using a chuck.
Already in February 1944, the Vladimirov machine gun with the modernized Kolesnikov universal wheeled tripod machine was tested at the Scientific Testing Ground for Small Arms and Mortar Weapons. In April 1944, the GAU and the People's Commissariat of Armaments ordered Plant No. 2 to produce 50 machine guns and one anti-aircraft gun for military testing. The machine gun received the designation KPV-44 (“Vladimirov heavy machine gun model 1944”). The machine gun and anti-aircraft gun were put to military testing immediately after the end of the Great Patriotic War - in May 1945. In May 1948, field tests of the KPV-44 were carried out on infantry machines of several systems - G. S. Garanin (KB-2), G. P. Markov (OGK plant No. 2), S. A. Kharykin (Leningrad OKB-43) and Kuibyshev Machine-Building Plant. The choice ultimately fell on Kharykin’s machine, modified in Kovrov at KB-2. The Vladimirov heavy machine gun was adopted for service only in 1949, in the version of an infantry machine gun on a Kharykin wheeled machine (under the designation PKP - Heavy Infantry Machine Gun of the Vladimirov system).
Ammunition
The new machine gun used ammunition previously used in the PTR:
– B-32-armor-piercing incendiary bullet with a steel core, – BS-39-armor-piercing bullet with a steel core model 1939, – BS-41-armor-piercing incendiary with a metal-ceramic core, – BZT-44-armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet arr. 1944
To solve new problems, 14.5 mm cartridges with bullets are accepted:
– ZP-incendiary bullet, – MDZ-instantaneous incendiary bullet (explosive), – BST-armor-piercing incendiary-tracer bullet.
The brass sleeve was replaced with a less expensive steel one, coated with green varnish.
Bullet weight 60-64 g, initial speed from 976 to 1005 m/s. The muzzle energy of the KPV reaches 31 kJ (for comparison, the 12.7-mm DShK machine gun has only 18 kJ, and the 20-mm ShVAK aircraft gun has about 28 kJ). The target firing range is 2000 meters.
The KPV successfully combines the rate of fire of a heavy machine gun with the armor penetration of an anti-tank rifle.
However, the infantry machine gun on a wheeled machine was not widely used, despite its high combat qualities, its large mass significantly limited its use.
Anti-aircraft machine gun mounts (ZPU) and a version intended for installation on armored vehicles (KPVT) received much greater recognition. Anti-aircraft machine gun mounts of 14.5 mm caliber were intended to combat enemy aircraft at altitudes up to 1500 m. In 1949, in parallel with the infantry, anti-aircraft gun mounts were adopted: single-barreled ZPU-1, twin ZPU-2, quad ZPU-4. On the basis of the BTR-40, a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was created by installing the ZPU-2.
An anti-aircraft gun with two 14.5 mm KPV machine guns was mounted on a pedestal in the troop compartment. The maximum elevation angle of machine guns is +90 declination – 5°. For shooting at ground targets there was an OP-1-14 telescopic sight. by air – collimator sight VK-4. Ammunition - 1200 rounds. The installation was controlled by one gunner using a mechanical hand drive.
In 1950, an order was issued to develop a twin installation for airborne troops. This was due to the fact that the ZPU-2 did not correspond to the specifics of the combat operations of this type of troops. Field tests of the installation took place in 1952. When put into service in 1954, it received the name “14.5-mm anti-aircraft machine gun installation ZU-2”. The installation could be disassembled into lightweight packs. It provided a higher speed of aiming in azimuth.
Thanks to its low weight and increased maneuverability, the ZU-2 became a battalion anti-aircraft weapon. However, transporting ZPU-1 and ZU-2, not to mention ZPU-4 on a four-wheeled cart in mountainous areas, presented great difficulties.
Therefore, in 1953, it was decided to create a special small-sized mountain installation for the 14.5-mm KPV machine gun, disassembled into parts carried by one soldier. The installation successfully passed field tests in 1956, but did not enter mass production.
They remembered it in the late 60s, when there was an urgent need for such weapons in Vietnam. The Vietnamese comrades turned to the leadership of the USSR with a request to provide them, among other types of weapons, with a light anti-aircraft gun capable of effectively fighting American aircraft in conditions of guerrilla warfare in the jungle.
ZGU-1 was ideal for these purposes. It was urgently modified to accommodate the tank version of the Vladimirov KPVT machine gun (the KPV variant for which the ZGU-1 was designed had been discontinued by that time) and was put into mass production in 1967. The first batches of installations were intended exclusively for export to Vietnam.
The design of the ZGU-1 is distinguished by its low weight, which in combat position, together with the cartridge box and 70 cartridges, weighs 220 kg, while ensuring rapid disassembly (within 4 minutes) into parts with a maximum weight of each no more than 40 kg.
Later, during the Afghan war, the capabilities of the ZGU-1 were appreciated by the Afghan Mujahideen.
Having the opportunity to receive Western-made anti-aircraft guns, they preferred the Chinese version of the ZGU-1. Valuing it for its high firepower, reliability and compactness.
In the navy, in the post-war years, large-caliber machine guns were not installed on large ships. This was due, on the one hand, to an increase in the speed and survivability of aircraft, and on the other, to the advent of relatively effective anti-aircraft guns. But 14.5-mm machine guns on pedestal mounts are widely used on boats of all classes.
Thus, the 2M-5 installations received torpedo boats of projects 123bis and 184; 2M-6 – armored boats of Project 191M and part of the boats of Project 1204; 2M-7 – patrol boats of the “Grif” type of project 1400 and project 368T, minesweepers of projects 151, 361T, etc.
In the 70s, ships were hit by a 14.5-mm Vladimirov machine gun on a wheeled machine. At that time, a large number of pirate boats appeared in the Indian Ocean in the waters adjacent to Somalia and Ethiopia. So, to protect against them, we had to install army machine guns on hydrographic or other auxiliary vessels.
In 1999, at the MAKS-99 exhibition, a 14.5 mm MTPU naval machine gun mount, created on the basis of the 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun (Vladimirov tank heavy machine gun), was presented. The installation is carried out by the Kovrov plant named after. Degtyareva.
The body of the machine gun has minor design differences compared to Vladimirov machine guns in the 2M-5, 2M-6 and 2M-7 installations. The ammunition and ballistics are the same. The machine gun is air-cooled. The KPVT machine gun is mounted on a swivel, which in turn rotates on a light stand. Guidance drives are manual.
The most numerous modification of the machine gun was the version intended for installation on armored vehicles.
The tank version of the KPV machine gun, designated KPVT (Vladimirov tank heavy machine gun), is equipped with an electric trigger and a pulse shot counter. The barrel casing is expanded to facilitate maintenance of the machine gun. Otherwise it has the same characteristics as the KPV.
Initially, the KPVT was installed on domestic T-10 heavy tanks, where it was located in the turret, paired with a 122-mm cannon, and as an anti-aircraft gun, on the tank commander’s hatch. Since 1965, the KPVT has been the main weapon of domestic wheeled armored personnel carriers, starting with the BTR-60PB model, as well as the 2nd model BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle.
KPVT machine gun mounted on the BTR-80
In the armored personnel carrier (BTR-60PB, BTR-70, BTR-80) and BRDM-2, the KPVT is installed in a unified rotating conical turret, along with a coaxial 7.62-mm Kalashnikov PKT machine gun.
Recently, KPVT has begun to lose ground; the latest modifications of domestic armored personnel carriers BTR-80A and BTR-82 are equipped with a 30-mm cannon as the main armament.
The Vladimirov heavy machine gun was effectively used in many large and small local conflicts.
It was often installed on homemade makeshift turrets and civilian vehicles.
He had a significant influence on the formation of the appearance of modern Western armored vehicles. Based on the experience of the Vietnam events, where the KPV easily penetrated the frontal armor of the most widespread American armored personnel carrier M113, from the 1970s to the present, the TTZ introduces requirements for armored combat vehicles of the types BMP, armored personnel carrier, BRDM and light tank created in NATO countries protection from 14.5 mm machine gun fire. To meet this requirement, the thickness of the sides of combat vehicles is 35-45 mm of homogeneous steel armor. This was one of the reasons for the almost double combat weight of the main NATO infantry fighting vehicles relative to Soviet infantry fighting vehicles. Until recently, it had no analogues in the world; the Belgian FN BRG 15 chambered for 15.5x106 mm never entered mass production.
The People's Republic of China put into production its own version of the KPV, which differs in the design of the belt for 80 rounds, some changes in the belt feed mechanism, and barrel fins. This machine gun with a body weight of 165 kg is used mainly as an anti-aircraft gun. Several 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounts were produced in China. Type 56 is almost similar to ZPU-4, Type 58 is ZPU-2, Type 75 is ZPU-1 on a tripod-wheeled unit. Type 75 and its modification Type 75-1 were supplied to a number of countries. The 14.5 mm QJG 02 heavy machine gun was adopted by the PLA in 2002. It is designed to combat low-flying aircraft and helicopters, as well as to combat lightly armored ground targets. The 14.5 mm QJG 02 heavy machine gun is intended to eventually replace the Type 58 machine guns of the same caliber in the PLA's arsenal. A version of the Type 02 heavy machine gun is offered for export under the designation QJG 02G, the main difference of which is the machine, which has rubber wheels that allow the machine gun to be towed behind a car.
Incomplete disassembly of the KPVT machine gun
KPVT machine gun incompletely disassembled: 1 — barrel with casing and flame arrester; 2 - accelerator; 3 - extractor; 4 — receiver base; 5 — electric release; 6 — butt plate of the receiver; 7 — return spring; 8 — bolt frame; 9 - shutter; 10 — receiver cover; 11 — receiver.
Despite its venerable age (next year the KPV will turn 70 years old), the machine gun, due to its high combat qualities and widespread use, continues to be in service. And it has every chance to celebrate its 100th anniversary in service.
Anti-aircraft machine gun mount ZPU-4 consisting of four KPVs
Cartridge 12.7×108 mm
12.7×108 mm (see also Other designations) is a Soviet cartridge developed in 1930 as ammunition for the DK .
Cartridge 12.7×108 mm. All dimensions are in millimeters.
| CARTRIDGE WEIGHT, g | BULLET WEIGHT, g | BULLET SPEED, m/s | BULLET ENERGY, J |
| 124–134 | 48,2 | 817 | 16086 |
By 1938, the cartridge was modernized, new versions of the cartridge were developed and put into service.
In 1940–1941, production of the cartridge increased: in 1941, 4.3 times more 12.7 mm cartridges were produced than during 1940.
After the start of the Great Patriotic War, in 1941, a number of single-shot 12.7-mm anti-tank rifles by V.N. Sholokhov were produced under this cartridge, but by the beginning of 1942 their production was discontinued due to the entry into the army of 14.5-mm anti-tank rifles PTRD and PTRS, the cartridge of which had a greater penetrating effect.
In 1943, a number of operations in the production of cartridges were automated, which made it possible to significantly increase the production of 12.7 mm cartridges.
Cartridge 12.7×108 mm with armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-32
Before and during the Second World War, the following types of cartridges were produced:
- B-3 0 (armor-piercing bullet weighing 49 g and 64 mm long with a hardened steel core) - the first version of the cartridge, discontinued, replaced by the B-32 .
- BZT (armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet) - production began before the start of the Great Patriotic War, the cartridge was discontinued and replaced by BZT-44 .
- B-32 (armor-piercing incendiary bullet with a steel core) is the main cartridge. When firing from a DShK machine gun at medium-hard steel armor, the armor penetration of the B-32 at an impact angle of 90° at a distance of 500 m is 20 mm.
- BS-41 (armor-piercing incendiary bullet weighing 54 g and 51 mm long with a tungsten alloy core). It was produced in small quantities in the initial period of World War II for 12.7 mm Sholokhov anti-tank rifles.
- BZT-44 (armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet).
After the end of the Great Patriotic War, the cartridge was adopted by the socialist states of Eastern Europe and subsequently became the standard ammunition of the Warsaw Pact countries.
The cartridge also has the following designations:
- 12.7×108 mm
- 12.7×108 Russian Rimless
- .50 Russian
- .50 Russian Heavy MG
- 12.7 mm
- 12.7 Type 54
- SAA 9395
- ECRA-ECDV 13 108 BBC 010
Weapons using cartridge
- DShK machine gun
Army and weapons
The Soviet defense industry created a variety of special ammunition for standard-caliber rifles and machine guns. In particular, this diversity can be noted for cartridges of 7.62x54 mm caliber. The start of production of 7.62×54 mm cartridges dates back to 1981. Originally intended for the Mosin repeating rifle, this ammunition migrated from the Tsarist era, through the period of two world wars, and is still widely used.
Regardless of the known cartridges created during the war period of 1914-1918 (incendiary, tracer, armor-piercing and explosive), seven more were fired in the early 1930s with full metal jacket bullets. Three types of bullets, other than the special low-velocity guerrilla bullets, were issued following the 210 grain round-nose bullet created in 1891. These examples included the 150 grain "L" (light) bullet from 1908, the 182 grain "D" (long range) bullet from 1930, and the later 150 grain "LPS" steel core bullet. In addition, a 200 grain jacketed bullet with a tapered tail was used.
Soviet special ammunition typically used copper-plated steel casings, and the cartridges themselves were marked on the tip of the bullet. With the exception of tracer, armor-piercing incendiary and incendiary cartridges, the rest of the special ammunition is obsolete and out of use, as are all full metal bullets, with the exception of the LPS. To this day, 7.62x54 mm cartridges are used by CIS countries as ammunition for SVDs and machine guns of the corresponding caliber (for example, PKM). Special Soviet bullets for the 7.62×54 mm cartridge are as follows:
In the illustration: Bullet B-30, B-32 and BZT-44 (from left to right) In the illustration: Bullet “L”, “D”, “LPS” (from left to right) In the illustration: Two bullets PZ and T-30 (from left right).
Armor-piercing bullet B-30.
It is a 170 grain, 36.2mm rear cone bullet with a hardened steel core.
Can be identified by its black tip. T-46 tracer bullet.
It was created to adjust fire and target designation at a distance of up to 1 km. The title covers two types of tracer bullets created for the Russian army since the beginning of the war. Both types weigh 148 grains and are identified by their green tip. The early model T-30 (1932) had a cylindrical rear end, was 38 mm long, and included a metal container for tracer mixture. The second type is slightly shorter at 35mm and has a slight rear taper. The 1932 sample outlined a trail of 0.8 km, while the second bullet, thanks to the use of the new incendiary composition of Plant No. 46, left a 1 km luminous trail.
BT armor-piercing tracer bullet.
154 grain bullet with a cylindrical tail. Its front part included a steel core, and its rear part had a tracer. Identified by the purple tip.
Armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-40.
Currently unused and can be identified by its black and red tip. The bullet weighed 187 grains and had a cylindrical rear. The core is made of tungsten carbide with an incendiary mixture located in the front of the shell.
Armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-32.
Designed to ignite flammable substances, as well as to destroy manpower at a distance of 0.5 km. The early variant weighs 154 grains, is 36.8 mm long, has a rear taper and is identified by its red and black tip. The front part of the shell includes the incendiary composition, behind which is a steel core. In fact, this sample contained two incendiary mixtures - phosphorus/aluminum and, later, thermite. The later version of the bullet is slightly longer and has a stepped groove in the tail. The steel core is recessed forward, and the incendiary mixture is located both in front and in the tail of the bullet. At the bottom of the core, the tail part of the shell is covered with a small copper disk.
Armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet BZT.
The bullet has a cylindrical tail, 40.7 mm long, and can be identified by its purple-red tip. Weighs 142 grains. The shell includes a small steel core, in front of which there is an incendiary mixture, and behind it is a tracer composition.
Armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet BZT-46.
An improved version of the previous sample. Since the BZT bullet was too long, which affected barrel wear, the front part of its shell received three grooves to reduce the area of contact with the barrel. The container with the tracer mixture was placed in a lead cup.
Sighting and incendiary bullet PZ.
Designed for ignition of flammable substances and target designation at a distance of up to 1 km. The bullet has a cylindrical tail, weighs 160 grains and is identified by a red tip. The incendiary mixture lies in the front part of the shell; in the center of the bullet there is a firing mechanism and a fuse capsule. The explosive mechanism of a bullet is very sensitive, so cartridges with ZP are used only in machine guns.
Model 1941 PDS bullet.
Characterized by subsonic speed.
Upgraded BZT bullet, T-46 tracer bullet, B-32 armor-piercing incendiary bullet, LPS bullet, heavy D bullet, PS sniper bullet
Bullet B-40, B-32, BT, T-30, T-46 and Sighting-incendiary bullet PZ (from left to right) In the illustration on the right: Czech cartridge with a bullet with a full metal jacket and with a TzSz tracer bullet
Analogues of Soviet cartridges 7.62×54 mm has been produced in Czechoslovakia since 1945.
The military industry of this country worked, for the most part, independently, hence the methods of producing cartridges were also their own.
Heavy Czech bullet with full metal jacket.
Manufactured in early 1955, it is a 181 grain, 38.5mm bullet with a cylindrical tail.
The bullet has a steel core and is not marked. At the same time, the Czechs produce copies of Russian “D” bullets, which have a similar yellow tip. Czech tracer bullet TzSz.
Dating back to the early 1950s. The bullet weighs 182 grains, has a cylindrical tail and is 37.7 mm in length. Unlike its Soviet counterpart, this bullet is identified by its green tip. The Soviet LPS bullet (with a silver tip) has a muzzle velocity of 854 m/sec and an energy of about 3500 J. The mass of gunpowder in the 7.62x54R cartridge is 48-50 grains. Samples from the beginning of 1891 were equipped with black powder. —— Sources used: www.gunpics.net/articles/762x54r.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x54mmR eko-czao.narod.ru/ball/patron/3hline/3hline.htm www.conjay.com/Ammunition %20for%20Armor%20Testing%20East%207.62mm%20x%2054R.htm
PSB-32 cartridge with armor-piercing semi-sheathed bullet (SP9B) 12.3x50R
Despite the obvious archaism and futility of revolvers in the 21st century, in Russia at the very beginning of the 1990s, according to the terms of reference of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, development work (R&D) “Udar” began to create a powerful police revolver. In various sources there are some discrepancies regarding the start date of this OCD. Most often, the year 1993 is indicated, but the presence of cartridges manufactured in 1992 indicates that work began earlier. During the implementation of experimental work in the Russian Federation in 1994-1996. There have been changes in civil legislation on the circulation of weapons. A new category of weapons appeared - service weapons, the use of which could be carried out by private security or government enterprises, which in turn affected the design of revolvers and ammunition for them.
The OCD cartridge “Udar” was made on the basis of a 32-caliber hunting cartridge case; the new police units needed a trouble-free use (since it was a revolver) and a powerful impact, as they would now say, “stopper”. After all, the caliber of the revolver was 12.3 mm, and the actual diameter of the bullet was 12.5 mm (the internal diameter of a hunting cartridge case). Two Russian development enterprises took part in the competition for a new revolver for the Ministry of Internal Affairs: Klimov TsNIITOCHMASH and Tula KBP (Instrument Engineering Design Bureau). Each began developing a revolver for an approved 50 mm long case, made on the basis of the Soviet OM32 bimetallic hunting case. According to the technical specifications, the primer and capsule socket in the cartridges were replaced from the Zhevelo to the KV-26 Berdan pistol systems, and P-125 pistol powder was used as a powder charge. Otherwise, depending on the nomenclature of the cartridge, only the length of the sleeve changed; and later, on the basis of the new ammunition, a number of revolver cartridges were developed with their own designations of caliber and standard size of cartridges. Such a variety of ammunition made on the basis of one cartridge case, and even with two different caliber designations, led to complete confusion in all media sources devoted to the topic of large-caliber Russian revolvers of the 1990s. However, let's start from the beginning.
photo source: https://ibis.net.ua/post/38-j-specialnyj-i-drugie-zveri/
In 1993, the Klimovsky TsNIITOCHMASH presented a five-shot rifled revolver RG053, which was designed for 12.3x50R cartridges, on the topic “Strike”.
Since TsNIITOCHMASH was the leading enterprise for the development of Soviet small arms ammunition, a wide range of them was immediately released for the revolver, covering any needs of the security forces - from ordinary, armor-piercing, shot and traumatic bullets with plastic buckshot to noise, signal, marker and pyro-liquid bullets with tear gas. A rather unusual solution was the reloading system of the RG053 revolver, which was carried out by replacing the entire drum with spent cartridges with a new drum with new ammunition. It is not surprising that the Klimov revolver was never put into production. However, subsequently the cartridges could be used in the Tula model produced by KBP, which was adopted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Despite the non-adoption of the revolver, some 12.3x50R cartridges received the “Klimov” index SP9 with further letter additions depending on the type of ammunition.
For example:
- SP9B - cartridge with an armor-piercing semi-shell bullet;
— SP9N — non-lethal cartridge with three plastic buckshots;
- SP9X - blank (noise) cartridge with compression of the barrel of a shortened cartridge case into a “star”, etc.
In 1993, the Tula Instrument Engineering Design Bureau (KBP) presented a five-shot rifled revolver R-93, made on the basis of the R-92 revolver previously developed for the 9x18 PM pistol cartridge. The large-caliber Tula revolver had the same drum loading system as the R-92 - using a special clip-clip. After being adopted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1994, the 12.3 mm revolver received the designation U-94 “Udar”. This revolver used the same 12.3x50R cartridges with the same wide range of SP9 series ammunition, but under its own designations.
photo source: https://ibis.net.ua/post/38-j-specialnyj-i-drugie-zveri/
OKR “Udar” cartridges for RG053 and R-93 revolvers. From left to right: 1, 2 - SP9B cartridges and spent armor-piercing bullet; 3.4 - traumatic SP9N cartridges with bullets of different colors; 5 - shot cartridge and SP9X blank cartridge
For example:
— PSB-32 — cartridge with an armor-piercing semi-sheathed bullet (SP9B type);
— PD-32 — shot cartridge (with lead shot);
- PSO-32.01 - cartridge with a lead bullet in a steel shell, etc.
Taking into account the fact that almost all cartridges were produced at the Tula Cartridge Plant, it is sometimes quite difficult or even impossible to determine the actual developer of a particular type of ammunition. In addition, in addition to TPZ and TsNIITOCHMASH, some types of cartridges were developed at the Moscow Research Institute of Special Equipment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Cartridges for service versions of the “Udar” revolvers: 1 — experimental cartridge case 18 mm long; 2 — 12.3x22R cartridge with PS-32.00 jacket bullet (“Udar-S”); 3.4 - 12.3x40R cartridges for the Udar-TS revolver with an RP-32 rubber bullet (3) and a KP-32 dye bullet
In addition to the main model of the U-94 revolver, a service version of the U-94S (“Udar-S”) was developed for private security structures, which used 12.3x22R cartridges with a 13.4-gram bullet with a lead core in a PS- steel jacket. 32.00. In addition, the U-94TS revolver (Udar-TS) was developed for training purposes. It used its own 12.3x40R caliber cartridges - with a rubber bullet (RP-32) and with a dye (marker) bullet (KP-32).
A little later, in 1996, the DOG-1 revolver was developed through joint efforts of the Izhevsk State Technical University. It had a smooth barrel - and, accordingly, the designation of the caliber of the weapon and cartridge was changed from 12.3 mm to 12.5 mm, although the actual diameter of the 32-caliber cartridges used for the entire series of large-caliber revolvers remained unchanged. The developers used their own type of cartridge in the revolver - 12.5x35R with the range of ammunition they developed:
— bullet cartridge PP-5.000 with a bullet with a lead core in a steel jacket;
— cartridge with a round lead bullet;
— cartridge with a lead hunting bullet “Sputnik”;
- shot cartridge, etc.
Cartridges 12.5x35R for the smoothbore revolver "Dog-1": 1 - cartridge with a lead bullet; 2 — cartridge with a PP-5.000 jacketed bullet; 3 — cartridge with hunting bullet “Sputnik”
But the story didn't end there. In 1996, another version of a smoothbore revolver for official use appeared. Tula TsKIB SOO (Central Design Bureau of Sports and Hunting Weapons) released its own version of a 5-round revolver for arming the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Internal Troops called OTs-20 “Gnome”. The Gnome revolver also used its own range of 12.5x40R cartridges - non-interchangeable with other types of cartridges used in rifled revolvers. TsKIB cartridges received a general designation - the STs-110 series:
— STs-110 — cartridge with a steel pointed bullet with a plastic tray;
— STs-110-01 — cartridge with a round rubber bullet;
— STs-110-02 — shot cartridge with 12-16 pellets with a diameter of 4.5 or 5 mm;
— STs-110-03 — cartridge with a lead bullet in a steel shell;
— STs-110-04 — cartridge with a lead bullet;
— STs-110-05 — cartridge with a bullet with plastic granules (buckshot).
Cartridges of the STs-110 series for the smoothbore revolver OTs-20 "Gnome": 1 - cartridge with a steel bullet STs-110; 2 — shot cartridge STs-110-02; 3 — cartridge with lead bullet STs-110-04
Thus, there could be dozens of samples of 12.3/12.5 mm ammunition in general circulation - with a wide variety of equipment, with different lengths of cartridges, with different markings on the cartridges. At the same time, for each type of cartridge there was a huge number of experimental and small-scale samples, which could also reach users in various ways, which significantly complicates the identification and correct determination of the sample in our time.
Despite all the enormous labor costs for the production of revolvers and dozens of developed samples of ammunition, they never found their worthy use, and in the late 1990s, the production of both cartridges and all types of revolvers, due to their futility, was ultimately curtailed .
The article was published in the magazine “World of Hobbies: Hunting & Weapons” in No. 5 for 2022.
Authors: Andrey aka Pulkin Donets and Dmitry aka Treshkin Adeev official IAA members
source: https://ibis.net.ua/post/38-j-specialnyj-i-drugie-zveri/
General information
1. All markings on cartridge boxes are painted in black, with the exception of boxes with tracer bullets * , which are marked in GREEN, and with sighting-incendiary bullets, which are marked in RED. The COLOR of the decal stripes is shown in the pictures.
* Cartridges with tracer bullets, manufactured since 1942, have a black stencil on the capping box with a green distinctive stripe on the side walls.
2. 7.62 mm cartridges with the ShKAS case can be equipped with light, armor-piercing, armor-piercing incendiary, sighting and incendiary and tracer bullets. The ShKAS case, unlike an ordinary rifle case, has on its head, in addition to the factory number and year of manufacture, an additional stamp - the letter “Ш”. To avoid tight extraction, cartridges with ShKAS sleeves (except for cartridges with a red primer) are coated with varnish at the factories. However, the varnish coating when worn in bandoliers, rubbed, etc. may be erased. Therefore, it is more expedient to use cartridges with a ShKAS case for firing machine guns. To fire rifles, they must be LIGHTLY LUBRICATED with gun lube.
3. Cartridges with a ShKAS cartridge case that have a red primer color or a propeller designation on the capping box are prohibited from being used for shooting from rifles and carbines, since when firing, in addition to tight extraction, they will misfire due to a different fit of the primer compared to rifle cartridges.
4. All cartridges with armor-piercing incendiary, sighting-incendiary and tracer bullets when firing from heavy and light machine guns must be loaded into belts or magazines as follows: every five cartridges with light or heavy bullets there must be one of the specified special cartridges.
5. To avoid transverse separation of cartridges and tight extraction when firing 14.5 mm cartridges from PTRS and PTRD anti-tank rifles, the cartridges must be lightly lubricated with gun lubricant before firing. This is necessary because the varnish applied to the cartridges is absorbed into the wrapping paper over time. In addition, cartridges hermetically sealed in special boxes are not coated with varnish.
6. Protect cartridges from moisture, snow, dust and dirt. Cartridges that are moistened and not cleaned in a timely manner can become so rusty in a few days that they will be unsuitable for shooting.
7. Do not allow cartridges to fall into water or oil, as the liquid will penetrate inside the cartridge case, which will result in prolonged shots, bullets getting stuck in the bore and misfires.
8. Before filling with cartridges, the magazine must be cleaned of factory grease.
9. If rust appears on the cartridges, wipe them with a dry cloth.
10. Open boxes and boxes of ammunition only when necessary.
11. Cartridges of all types, both factory sealed and in bulk (in a box without boxes), must be stored indoors. When stored outdoors, cartridges must be protected from sun, rain, dust and snow. Boxes should not be placed on the ground, but on wooden (or other material) pads (always with the lids up).
12. Cartridges manufactured during the Patriotic War of 1941-1945. and sealed in waterproof paper closure, are subject to re-capping in hermetically sealed galvanized boxes. For this purpose, these cartridges must be sent at the direction of the chief of artillery supply of the district (front) to the NKV factories.
13. On boxes of re-corked cartridges, an additional stencil is placed with black paint: a) on the side longitudinal wall of the box there is a sign of re-corking - the letter “P” enclosed in a diamond; b) on the lid of the box and the lid of the galvanized box - re-corking of plant N..., month and year of re-corking.
14. Send empty boxes and galvanized boxes as directed by the chief of artillery supply of the front (district) for reuse.
15. In case of detection of poor quality cartridges or closures, it is necessary to send a report to the UZPSV GAU of the Red Army. In the report, provide: - information about marking (stencil on the side wall of the box and the lid of the box); — a detailed description of the detected defect; - how many cartridges were examined or shot when these defects were detected.
16. The stencil contains: - cartridge caliber, bullet sample and case metal; — the number of cartridges in the box; — batch number and manufacturer number; — month and year of manufacture; - brand of gunpowder.
| For example, for a 7.62 mm cartridge with a light bullet, the stencil will be as follows: 7.62 L GZ (cartridge caliber, light bullet, iron sleeve); B25-3 (B25—batch number; 3—plant number); XII-44 (month and year of manufacture of the batch of cartridges); VT 5/42 K (VT - brand of gunpowder; 5 - batch of gunpowder; 42 - year of manufacture of gunpowder; K - gunpowder manufacturer). |
17. On the lid of the box for all ranges of cartridges specified in this short reference guide, danger and load discharge signs are placed, as well as the weight of the box (Fig. 1). For example, discharge XIV indicates that the load is non-detonating. sensitive to fire and little sensitive to mechanical stress.
| Rice. 1. Signs on the box lid (approximate location) |
7.62 mm light bullet cartridges
Designed to defeat enemy personnel (destructive force up to 2,500 m). They are used mainly for shooting rifles, carbines and light machine guns. Can also be used for firing from heavy machine guns. Abbreviated names: In a bimetallic sleeve - 7.62 L GZh. In a brass sleeve - 7.62 L GL. In a steel (uncoated) sleeve - 7.62 L GS. Note. "L" means light bullet. On a box (Fig. 2) with cartridges without clips, the stencil differs only in the number of cartridges stacked and the absence of the word “in clips.”
| Rice. 2. Distinctive marks of the 7.62 mm light bullet cartridge and closure |
7.62 mm heavy bullet cartridges
Designed to defeat enemy personnel (destructive force up to 3,500 m). They are used mainly for firing from heavy machine guns (Fig. 3). However, you can shoot with success from rifles, carbines and light machine guns. Abbreviated names: In a bimetallic sleeve - 7.62 D GZh. In a brass sleeve - 7.62 D GL. In a steel (uncoated) sleeve - 7.62 D GS. Note. “D” means long-range.
| Rice. 3. Distinctive marks and colors of the 7.62 mm cartridge with a heavy bullet and closure |
7.62 mm cartridges with armor-piercing bullet mod. 1930 (B-30)
Designed to destroy lightly armored targets (armored vehicles, tankettes, etc.). They are used for shooting from rifles, carbines, light and heavy machine guns (Fig. 4). Short name: in a brass sleeve - 7.62 B-30 GL.
| Rice. 4. Distinctive marks and paint colors of the 7.62 mm cartridge with an armor-piercing bullet mod. 1930 (B-30) and capping |
7.62 mm cartridges with armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1932 (B-32)
Designed to destroy lightly armored targets (armored vehicles, tankettes and firing points) and ignite light fuel (gasoline) behind the armor (Fig. 5). They are used for shooting from rifles, carbines, light and heavy machine guns. Abbreviated names: In a brass sleeve - 7.62 B-32 GL. In a bimetallic sleeve - 7.62 B-32 GZh.
| Rice. 5. Distinctive marks and paint colors of the 7.62 mm cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1932 (B-32) and capping |
7.62 mm cartridges with sighting and incendiary bullet (PZ)
Designed for shooting at flammable targets (gasoline, kerosene, dry grass and light wooden buildings) and for adjusting shooting at moving and stationary targets when firing live ammunition of all other types of cartridges, selected depending on the nature of the target (Fig. 6). When it encounters an obstacle, the bullet explodes and a flash is observed, visible at a distance of up to 1,000 m. The cartridges can be used for firing from rifles and carbines, as well as from light and heavy machine guns. Abbreviated names: In a bimetallic sleeve - 7.62 PZ GZh. In a brass sleeve - 7.62 PZ GL.
| Rice. 6. Distinctive marks and colors of the 7.62 mm cartridge with a sighting-incendiary bullet (PZ) and closure |
7.62 mm cartridges with tracer bullet (T-46)
Designed for sighting and adjusting fire, as well as for defeating enemy personnel. They are used for shooting from rifles, carbines, light and heavy machine guns. Abbreviated names: In a brass sleeve - 7.62 T-46 GL. In a bimetallic sleeve - 7.62 T-46 GZh (Fig. 7).
| Rice. 7. Distinctive marks and colors of the 7.62 mm cartridge with a tracer bullet (T-46) and closure |
7.62 mm pistol cartridges with a regular bullet
Designed to defeat enemy personnel at ranges: from a pistol mod. 1933 - up to 50 m, from a machine gun (submachine gun) - up to 300 m. Killing power of a bullet up to 500 m. Abbreviated names: In a brass sleeve - 7.62 P GL (Fig. 8). In a steel (uncoated) sleeve - 7.62 P GS. In a bimetallic sleeve - 7.62 II GJ.
| Rice. 8. Distinctive marks of the 7.62 mm pistol cartridge with an ordinary bullet and closure |
7.62 mm pistol cartridges with armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1941
Designed for shooting at motorcycles, cars and gasoline tanks. Short name: 7.62 P-41 GL (Fig. 9).
| Rice. 9. Distinctive marks and paint colors of a 7.62 mm pistol cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1941 and capping |
7.62 mm pistol cartridges with tracer bullet
Designed for firing from machine guns (submachine guns) adopted by the Red Army for target designation, signaling and sighting, as well as for shooting at live targets. These cartridges can also be used for firing from a 7.62 mm pistol mod. 1933 (TT). The bullet gives a red line. Short name: 7.62 PT GL (Fig. 10).
| Rice. 10. Distinctive marks and colors of the 7.62 mm pistol cartridge with a tracer bullet and closure |
7.62 mm revolver cartridges
Designed to defeat the enemy at close ranges (up to 50 m) from the Nagan revolver. Abbreviated name: 7.62 R GL (Fig. 11).
| Rice. 11. Distinctive marks of the 7.62 mm revolving cartridge and closure |
12.7 mm cartridges with armor-piercing bullet mod. 1930 (B-30)
Designed to destroy lightly armored targets (tank shoes, armored vehicles and firing points). Used for firing from the DShK machine gun. Abbreviated name: in a brass sleeve - 12;7 B-30 GL (Fig. 12).
| Rice. 12. Distinctive marks and colors of the 12.7 mm cartridge with an armor-piercing bullet mod. 1930 (B-30) and capping |
12.7 mm cartridges with armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1932 (B-32)
They are intended, like cartridges with the B-30 bullet, to hit lightly armored targets and ignite light fuel (gasoline) behind the armor (Fig. 13). Used for firing from the DShK machine gun. Short name: 12.7 B-32 GL.
| Rice. 13. Distinctive marks and colors of the 12.7 mm cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1932 (B-32) and capping |
12.7 mm cartridges with armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet (BZT)
Designed for sighting and adjusting fire and hitting armored targets, as well as igniting gasoline located behind the armor. The color of the route is either white or red (Fig. 14). They are used for firing from a DShK machine gun mixed with cartridges with a B-30 or B-32 bullet. The flammability of gasoline is the same as that of the B-32 bullet. Short name: 12.7 BZT GL.
| Rice. 14. Distinctive marks and colors of the 12.7 mm cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet (BZT) and closure |
14.5 rounds with armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1932 (B-32)
The cartridges are intended to destroy light and medium tanks at ranges up to 500 m and ignite light fuel (gasoline) behind the armor (Fig. 15). They are used for firing from 14.5 mm anti-tank rifles of the Simonov and Degtyarev systems. Short name: 14.5 B-32 GL.
| Rice. 15. Distinctive marks and paint colors of a 14.5 mm cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1932 and closures An additional inscription is made on the lid of the box and the lid of the box: “Before shooting, it is easy to lubricate with gun grease.” |
14.5 mm cartridges with armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1941 (BS-41)
The cartridges are intended to destroy light and medium tanks at ranges of up to 500 m. Heavy tanks (except for frontal armor) at ranges of up to 150 m and ignite light fuel (gasoline) behind the armor (Fig. 16). They are used for firing from 14.5 mm anti-tank rifles of the Simonov and Degtyarev systems. Short name: 14.5 BS-41 GL.
| Rice. 16. Distinctive marks and paint colors of a 14.5 mm cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1941 and closures An additional inscription is made on the lid of the box and the lid of the box: “Before shooting, it is easy to lubricate with gun grease.” |
Annex 1
Table of weight, linear and ballistic data for 7.62 mm rifle cartridges
| Name of cartridges Data | Size | With a light bullet | With a heavy bullet arr. 1930 | With armor-piercing bullet mod. 1930 (B-30) | With armored incendiary bullet mod. 1932 (B-32) | With an incendiary target PZ bullet | With a tracer bullet |
| Cartridge weight (GZ) | G | 20,95-23,20 | 22,95-25,20 | 21,45-23,70 | 21,00-23,25 | 21,00-23,25 | 22,00-24,00 |
| Chuck length | mm | For all cartridges it is the same and equal to 75.91-77.16 | |||||
| Bullet weight | G | 9,5-9,7 | 11,7-11,9 | 10,8-11,05 | 9,65-10,25 | 9,7-10,3 | 9,3-9,8 |
| Bullet length | mm | 28,20-28,60 | 33,0-33,4 | 36,1-36,5 | 36,25-37,15 | 38,25-39,0 | 37,4-38,1 |
| Initial bullet speed | m/sec | 860-875 | 795-810 | 815-830 | 860-875 | 820-835 | 820-835 |
| Pressure: medium | kg/cm2 | 3050 | 3050 | 3050 | 3100 | 3100 | 3100 |
| greatest | kg/cm2 | 3450 | 3450 | 3450 | 3500 | 3450 | 3450 |
Appendix 2
Table of weight, linear and ballistic data for 7.62 mm revolver and pistol cartridges
| Name of cartridges Data | Size | Revolver "Nagan" with an ordinary bullet | Pistol with an ordinary bullet | Pistol with armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 41 | Pistol with tracer bullet |
| Cartridge weight | G | 11,60-12,80 | 10,2-11,1 | 9,0-10,67 | 9,95-11,06 |
| Chuck length | mm | 38,48-38,73 | 34,45-34,85 | 34,45-34,85 | 34,45-34,85 |
| Bullet weight | G | 6,70-7,00 | 5,45-5,60 | 4,25-5,16 | 5,2-5,55 |
| Bullet length | mm | 16,26-16,51 | 13,8-14,0 | 16,2-16,5 | 16,35-16,85 |
| Initial bullet speed | m/sec | 270-290 | 425-455 | 460-490 | 425-455 |
| Pressure: medium | kg/cm2 | 1100 | 1850-2100 | 1850-2050 | 1850-2100 |
| greatest | kg/cm2 | 1300 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 |
Appendix 3
Table of weight linear and ballistic data for 12.7 mm and 14.5 mm cartridges
| Name of cartridges Data | Size | 12.7 mm with armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1932 (B-32) | 12.7 mm with armor-piercing incendiary tracer (BZT) | 14.5 mm with armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1932 (B-32) | 14.5 mm with armor-piercing incendiary bullet mod. 1941 (BS-41) |
| Cartridge weight | G | 125-137 | 123-135 | 195-205 | 195,0-205,0 |
| Chuck length | mm | 145,5-147,0 | 145,5-147,0 | 154,5-156,0 | 154,5-156,0 |
| Bullet weight | G | 47,2-49,5 | 44,3-45,6 | 62,6-64,65 | 62,5-64,5 |
| Bullet length | mm | 63,0-64,0 | 63,6-64,6 | 65,5-66,7 | 49-51 |
| Pressure: medium | kg/cm2 | 3160 | 3150 | 3330 | 3330 |
| greatest | kg/cm2 | 3460 | 3450 | 3500 | 3500 |
Note. The data for the 12.7 mm cartridge with the B-30 bullet are approximately the same as the data for the cartridge with the B-32 bullet.
Courtesy of Konstantin Vikhornov - website Search Team "Wormwood"
