REI PS ali el Cy
VOLUME I, PART VU
A BUREAU OF ORDNANCE PUBLICATION ETHE MACHINE GUN
History, Evolution, and Development
of Manual, Automatic, and Airborne
Repeating Weapons
Compiled by
George M. Chinn, Lieutenant Colonel, USMCR
VOLUME II, PART VII
Prepared for the Bureau of Ordnance
Department of the Navy
1952PREFACE
The series of books entitled “The Machine Gun” was begun with the belief that the next
best thing to actual knowledge is knowing where to find it, The research summarized within
the covers of these volumes has been compiled by the Bureau of Ordnance, Department of the
Navy, in order to place in the hands of those rightfully interested in the art of automatic weapon
design, the world’s recorded progress in this field of endeavor.
Part VII of Volume II is devoted to developments in the Soviet Union and her satellites. A.
study of each progressive step was made in order to ascertain why certain principles were aban-
doned and the circumstances that influenced any radical change in design.
Inventors and the automatic firing mechanisms they originated are presented in the sequence
their devices were adopted by the High Command of the Soviet Regime. Weapons related in
operating principles are considered together.
‘The potentialities and limitations of all hasic operating systems uf automatic weapons are so
well known, that once the all important factor of establishing a trend is accomplished, the most
trivial bit of information furnishes a yard stick to measure progress.
While nothing is claimed for this volume except that itis the result of tedious and laborious
research, it is believed that in some manner it will help to point the way to a better understanding
of past development.
Quotations from actual writings of the inventors, manufacurers, and professional critics,
are given wherever possible, as well as excerpts from reports and instruction manuals pertaining
to specific weapons.
Great stress has been laid upon the inclusion of actual photographs of the guns discussed,
thus corroborating the old Chinese proverb to the effect that a picture is worth a thousand words
and, in addition, giving the reader an opportunity to view the weapon from the camera's eye
and drawing whatever conclusions are pertinent to his interests in examining this volume.CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The help and encouragement received from many sources in the prepa
can never be fully acknowledged. ‘The following persons are listed in at
nition of the many contributions to this project.
Rear Adm, M. F. Schoeffel, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, Department of the Navy.
Capt. M. R. Kelley, Assistant Chief of the Bureau for Research and Development, Bureau
of Ordnance.
Capt. E. M. Block, Planning Officer for Avi
and Development Division, Bureau of Ordnance.
Gapt, J. M. Elliott, Commander V. P. de Poix, )
Hinman, II], Commander I. G. Peters, Mr. F. R. Marquardt, Mr. John J. 8
Warner, of Aviation Ordnance Branch, Research and Development Di
Ordnance.
Mr. Henry E. Marschalk, Mr. G. H. Grover, Mrs. I. A. Garvey, Mrs. M. A. Pflaging,
Publications Branch; Miss Madileen Small and Mrs, Ruth P, Schaller, Administration Division,
Bureau of Ordnance.
Mr. Leo X. Abernethy, Armament Branch, Bureau of Aeronautics, U. S. Navy.
Capt. €. L. Gilbert, Lt. Col, Charles N. Bndweiss, USMG, Lt. Comdr. H. B. Hunter, and
‘omdr. D. B. Cochran, Office of Naval Intelligence
Capt. M. P. Bagdanovich, Commanding Officer, Comdr. P. V
Mr. N. D. Marden, Technical Planning Director, Naval A\
incoteague, Va.
Capt. ¥
NAOTS, Chincoteagu
Lt. Col. David B. TI
Air Force.
Gol, John J. Driscoll, Ghicf, Bomber Defense Branch; Lt. Col. Franklin S. Allen, Jr,
y Chief, Tactical Combat Branch; Department of the Air Force.
Emery, Far Basten Air Force; Maj. Victor H. Bilek, Air Technical
enter; Headquarters, Department of the Air Force,
Col. R. R Studler, Lt. Col. E. D. Billings, Mr. A. D. Lewis and Dr. F. H, Garten, Research
and Development Division, Ordnance Corps. Department of the Army.
Mr, Harold Hardin and Mr. H. G. Solberg, ‘Technical Intelligence Branch, Ordnance
Corps.
“Mr. Jeremiah J. Reen, Intelligence Division, General Staff, Department of the Amy.
Dr. 8. G. Green and Mr. L. A. Carten, Industrial Division, Ordnance Corps.
Col. G. B. Jarrett, Library and Museum Branch, Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Mr. Edward W. Hopkins, Armament Branch, Springfield Armory.
Gol. L ‘odd, American Ordnance Association; Maj. Gen, Julian S. Hatcher, National
Rifle Associa ALY. Leech, Jr., U.S. Ordnance Go.; Mr, Herman P, Dean, Standard
Publishing Co.; Lt. Col. Melvin M. Johnson, Jr., Winchester Repeating Arms Go.; Mr. H. P.
White and Mr. B. D. Munhall, H. P. White & Co.
For excellent cooperation and service, special thanks are extended to stafls of the many
libraries, museums, and other activities which were contacted. ‘These institutions include the
CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION vii
ion Ordnance, Rockets, and Bombs, Research
r. J. R. Norton, Commander Jack J.
ber, Mr. C.F,
jon, Bureau of
It
Jackson, Executive Officer,
ion Ordnance Test Station,
fomdr. Thomas Moorer, and Mas. Phyllis Stevens, Clerk-typist,
omas, Directorate of Intelligence, Headquarters, Department of theACKNOWLEDGMENTS CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Naval Photographic Center, the Library of Congress, Army Library, Army War College
Library, Main Navy Library, Burean of Acronantics Library, Burcau of Ordnance Technical
Library, Bureau of Ships Library, Aberdeen Proving Ground Library and Museum, Naval
Ordnance Laboratory Ordnance Technical Muscum,
‘The following persons served the project faithfully in various capacities:
M. Sgt. John H. Moore, USMC, as research a nmone, USMC: Corp,
C. Jane Meredith, USMC, and Mr. ia Samowich, in
assisting with language problems; Miss Lillian Choquette, as typist; Mr. L. H. Anderson and
Mr. W. L, Robey, Government Printing Office Departmental Service, in coordinating the
mechanical preparation of the manuscript.
It would be impossible to over-evaluate the high technical skill displayed by Mr. Daniel
D. Musgrave in his over-all work on this project. He not only pexformed meticulous basic
research but also supervised the illustrators and photographers so as to reveal the pertinent
features desired, His extensive knowledge in the field of identification and markings contrib-
uted greatly to the completeness of the publication,
Lastly, the preparation of the material deserves special mention, ‘The manuscript was
edited by Miss Marie Frauens. From a mass of technical data drawn from such widely diver-
gent sources as captured material, foreign handbooks, and intelligence reports, she devised a
presentation which facilitates comparing the various guns, Within this framework, she revised
the text into readable and compact form,
Q Jeon re. > C3 hewn
Lieutenant Colonel, USMCR.
viii CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATIONCONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION
CONTENTS
PART VII—WEAPON DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOVIET UNION
AND HER SATELLITES
Chapter Page
1. Bacarounn op Soviet ARvS DEVELOPMENT 000002. c ec cece eeceee cee 3
Infantry Armament in the Nineteenth Century fetes 3
Introduction of Maxim’s Automatic Machine Gun. ...0.00 cece 8
Madsen Gun... es... feet ete ee cece nee 6
Mackine Guns Used from 1900 to 1914 6
Weapons Used in World War I....... : 7
Development of the National Armament Industey : 8
Shpitalny eee eee cece eee ee eee ete e ccs 13
Beresin 38
Wehrmacht Attack. 26.6660 ce ccna e eee eee eee cn cttti ee eeeeeeeeees 13
Lend-Lease... voces 14
Soviet Production in 1944. 4
Types of Soviet Aircraft Armament in World War IT : 4
Basic Data on Machine Guns and Cannon Used for Arming Aicplanes of the Air
Force of the Red Army : 15
Soviet Armament after World War (1. 16
Summary. oo... 2... W
2. Maxim Tyrn Macinne Gun ann Feperoy “AyTowar”. . a 2
Weapons Included in This Chapter . a
Maxim Type Machine Guns wees 2
Federov “Avtomat”.... cece cee 2
History and Background.......... coos ce 21
Federav “Avtomat”™ : ween 26
Suction 1. Maxim Type Machine Gan... 02000000005 : cos 26
General Data on Maxim Model 1910 . 6
» Description of the Maxim Action 26
Cycle of Operation 7
Disassembly by Groups. 0.606. ee cece cece wees 28
‘To Strip the Gun 28
Assembly by Groups. ..... be ceeteeeece : wees 29
Detailed Disassembly and Assembly... 2»
To Strip the Feed! Block............ bene : : 29
To Assemble the Feed Block. cece tite eee ee rc ees - 2»
To Strip the Lock... sseeceeeee eres ree 9
To Mowat the Lock... ....e.cccceeeeecneeee cee 29
CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATIONCONTENTS _ CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Chapter Page
2. Maxum Tyre Mactune, Gun axp Feperov “Avromat” Continued
Szerion 2. Federov “Avtomat™ : : ceeees 30
General Data. .... cect 30
Description of the Weapon. se - 30
Cycle of Operation 30
3. Droryarey axp Gorvtnov Maciine Gi 3M
Weapons Included in This Chapter fet tteeeeettttteeeeeee BL
Destyarey Machine Guns coe
Goryunov Machine Gun.......000000.. foe HT
History and Background... ceo a1
SO-43 eee eee ce eeeee eee we ere 34
Searion 1, Degtyarev Machine Guns M4
General Data... cee 4
Table of Characteristics of DP (Degtyarev Infantry) Production Version...... 36
Gencral Data on DS (Degtyarev Medium) 37
General Data on DK (Degtyarev Leavy) and DShK (Dextyarev Stain Hewvy). 37
Description of the Weapon sees cee
DP (Degtyarev Infantry).
DA (Degtyarey Aircrait). .. .
DT Wegiyarey Tank). .
DPM (Degtyarev Infantry Modified)
DIM (Degtyarev Tank Modified)... 2.2.6.0.
“Company” (Degtyarey 1946 Infantry Gun)
DS (Deatyarev Medium) .
DK (Degtyarey Heavy) :
DShK (Degtyarev-Shpagin Heavy)
Interesting Features of the 7.62-mm Degtyarey Machine Guns
Gyele of Operation for Drum-fed Models
Gyele of Operation for the DS Gun...
Cyele of Operation for the DShK Gun... ree
Disassembly of the DP by Groups.
Barrel. .
Stock and Trigger Guard... sss.
Gas Piston, Slide, and Bolt.
Detailed Disassembly of the DP... 6.0. eec cece ccc cveeeecseenenenes
: Barrel ce
Stock and Trigger Guard. .60. eee cee cce cette eeee scene
Gas Piston, Slide, and Bolt
Receiver and Barrel Jacket
Assembl :
Snetiox 2, Goryuaov Machine Gun...
General Data on SG-43 (Stankowaya Garyunoy 1943)
Description of the Weapon. -
Gyele of Operation
Disassembly. «2.2...
Field Stripping.
Assembly.
x CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATIONCONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION CONTENTS,
Chapter Page
4, Snikas 7.62 MacHine Gus ano Sivax Auromatic Guns. . nD
Weapons Inchided in this Chapter . 72
Shkas Aircraft Machine Guns of the 426 Series... 72,
Shvak Automatic Aircraft Guns (Shpitaloy- Vladimirov) 72
History and Background . : : 2
Shvale automatic guns woes . fetes 7B
Sronion 1. Shkas 7.62-mm Machine Gun 8
eral Data on Later Models.....2..e0e0reveeceee .
Description of the KM-33.. ®
80
Cycle of Operation...... fete lee eee eens cesses
Disassembly by Groups.....---- coe er at
Assembly by Groups : : al
cere 81
Detailed Disassembly
Assembly of Components. 82,
Seerioy 2, Shvak 20-mm Automatic Guns Shpitainy-Viadimizoy). : . 82
General Data for Sbvak 20emm Automatic Gun... : 82
Description of the Shvak 20mm Automatic Gua. c...eeeeee eee cers 82
Cycle of Operation. o cecee teens 90
Disassembly. 0.000 sceseeeeeeeeeeesteeeee 92
Assembly of Components 92
enton 3, Shvak 12.7-mm Machine Gun (Shpitalny-Vladimirov) 93
Secrios 4. Shvak 37-mm Automatic Gun 93
5. Braesin Aicrarr Macane. Gen anp VYa Aincrarr CANNon : : 94
‘Weapons Inchided in this Chapter....00.00.00c00ceceeeeeeseeeeeereeeee 94
Beresin Aircraft Machine Gun. ........ 000000 cecceeeeeeeeeeesresereeee OF
Va Aircraft Cannon fe nee tees : . 94
History and Background....60066ce0e0e0 00 94
VYa Aircraft Cannon....... fe eteeeetttttsierereeses 96
Secrion 1. Beresin Aircraft Machine Gunes... seo... 7
General Data. beeen cee ceeeeeseeeeeeeeteeeecees ve
Description of the Weapon. ..... - cites 8
Cycle of Operation... pectetereeeeeeeeee 100
Disassembly of the BS by Groups 102
Assembly of the BS by Groups... ....s+6 102,
Other Procedures... 102
Section 2, VYa... 104
General Data 104
Description of the Weapon. 104
Cycle of Operation 109
Disassembly by Groups 110
‘To Remove Barrel and Assembly.......66000000000+ 110
Assembly by Groups. .. veoeeeeteeeeeee rrr 110
"To Replace Barrel and Assembly. bee 110
6. NS anp N Series of Avromaric Aircral eee eee i
Models Included in this Chapter. . vovcntens ut
History and Background..... 00.0.2 52 00222 cee ce eee e eres ut
CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION xiCONTENTS CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Chapter Page
6. NS np N Seems or Avrovatic Aimcrarr Caxwox—Continued
General Data for the NS 37. . 113
General Data for the NS 23. : 113
Description of the NS Series : cee 113
Cycle of Operation for the NS Series. o 120
Summary . : 123
Advantages... bebe ete bees eeeeeeee eee cece e teens 128
Disadvantages . cece tseeeeeeees 123
7. Avromanic Weavons Deniven Frow Skona Destans. 0.0000. 139
Weapons Included in this Chapter... beter teeeteetetectereeeree 139
History and Background 139
Stenon 1, 30-tm FLAK Model A and Model B. fect eect tcteteteeese TE
General Data on Model A and Model B 144
General Description of Model A and Model Bevo... 0 .c0cceeeeee see sereseeee LAR
Detail Description of the Model A. — cece 148
Recoiling Parts... 06 0cccceeeceeeteeecneeeee : 142
Fixed Parts... cee 143
Barrels and Barrel Extensions... : cece eee e teense 148
Main Housing
Recoil Buffer Housing. .
‘Trigger and Sear Assemblies,
Recoil System
Cocking Mechanism
Loaders.
Ejector and Leader Latch Assemblies
Bolt .
Cycle of Opcration of the Model A.
Preparation for Firing.
Automatic Firing
Detail Description of the Model B.
Recoiling Parts. .
Fixed Parts... .
Barrels and Barrel Extensions
Main Housing. .......
Recoil Buffer Housing,
‘Trigger and Sear Assemblics..... 60 c0sc ee ceeeeeee
Loaders and Winding Mechanism
Ejector and Loader Laich Assembly feces
Bolt, coe ves . 136
Recoil System... 136
Front Buller 156
Cycle of Operation of the Mode! B., 157
Preparation for Firing. . 137
Automatic Tiring. .. cee cece 187
Seervion 2, 50-mm PAK. ...... cee woe 158
General Data......... cee cee 158
General Description. ..... bitter trteseteeeeeseeeteecseeee 158
Detail Description of the Nenrecoiling Parts wees . 158
Gun Housings... ec ce eee 158
xi CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATIONCONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Chapter
7, Automatic Wearons Derivep From Sxopa Destens—Continued
Sxction 2. 80