In the world of weapons there are not many examples that have become a legend. The epic damask sword was replaced by a Kalashnikov assault rifle. The hand clasping the AKM has become the same symbol of victory as the previously depicted hand holding a sword.
Caliber and cartridge
The era of modern weapons can be counted from the First World War. The world entered it with magazine rifles of enormous power and range. Military doctrines drew thick infantry chains approaching for a bayonet attack and firing on the battle to defeat. The firing range depended on the cartridge power and barrel length. All armies in the world were armed with rifles of caliber from 7.5 to 9 millimeters with a long sleeve that contained the necessary charge of gunpowder. Except Japanese. The cartridge for the Arisaki rifle had a caliber of six millimeters and a smaller powder charge. The experience of the battles of the First World crossed out previous stereotypes. The need for a less powerful small arms, allowing automatic firing, became apparent. Soviet designers relied on the Japanese cartridge, having developed several models of automatic weapons based on it. However, like the use of a pistol cartridge, this turned out to be a half measure.
Work on a cartridge of lower power and weight was carried out by the military of many countries. But for a radical change in the basic consumables of the war, there was not enough confidence in the right choice and willingness to take risks. The army leadership preferred to balance between heavy automatic rifles with a rifle cartridge and submachine guns, which had modest characteristics. The Germans took a decisive step, putting into service an intermediate cartridge of 7.92 × 33 mm caliber and creating a model for it in 1943, which laid the foundation for a new class of small arms - assault rifles.
German test
The Germans themselves called their new product "assault gun", which meant "assault gun." The StG-44 did not cause a turning point in the war. He did not even leave vivid impressions in the memoirs of the participants in the war. But it allowed all interested parties to see the advantages and disadvantages of the new system not on the training ground, but on the battlefield. The Soviet machine gun, created on the basis of the domestic intermediate cartridge, was called the AK-47. At the same time, the caliber remained the same as that of the rest of small arms.
Development of the AK-47
The Soviet intermediate cartridge was created in 1943. Then began the design of weapons for him, including the future author of the AK-47. The caliber of the bullet allowed the use of familiar standards in production. In addition to Kalashnikov, work was carried out by several design bureaus. The first Soviet automatic was the AC-44, designed by Sudaev. Military tests revealed its shortcomings and necessitated the consideration of new samples, one of which was the predecessor of the AK-47 / 7.62 mm.
"Everything is stolen before us!"
In addition to Mikhail Kalashnikov, who represented his group, other designers proposed the created samples. Automata of all domestic developers are close to each other in general appearance and have similarities with the StG-44, which the AK-47 is often accused of. The caliber of all Soviet automatic rifles corresponded to the new intermediate cartridge, under which they were created. Kalashnikov designed his weapon, relying not only on the layout created by Schmeisser, but also on the experience of Soviet developers offering similar options. Despite the proximity of the appearance to the German Sturmweigher, the mechanism of the machine is built on a different principle and is not a clone or development of the Schmeisser design . The AK-47 was more successful than its competitors, although it is not without drawbacks. In 1949, it was adopted by the Soviet Army in the infantry and landing version. Subsequently, based on the design of the machine gun, a line of machine guns was created for use in infantry and armored vehicles.
Weapon Features
The main feature of the machine is the balance of its properties. Probably, this is where design talent manifested itself. The ability to correctly prioritize, as Kalashnikov did. AK-47 incorporates already known and previously tested solutions. Incarnated in his product, they led to the creation of a new quality. The basis of the design solution is the shutter rotating in the receiver under the influence of the energy of the powder gases. This is a rather massive element of the mechanism, made of one piece of metal. All automation is provided by its reciprocating movement in the receiver, during which both the spent cartridge is extracted and the new cartridge is sent to the barrel from the magazine. At each point of its trajectory, the shutter rotates at a certain angle given by the design. And every turn means performing an action. The heavy shutter required a strong steel box and a powerful gas vent. Free sliding and rotation of the shutter allowed to leave quite large tolerances between parts. All these features led to the appearance of a very simple automation, durable, reliable, not sensitive to contamination of weapons. The parameters of simplicity and reliability, embedded in AK, have long become the highest standard for weapon designers.
Criticism
The War Department has made many comments on the new machine gun. The features of the weapon determined its strengths and weaknesses. The heavy shutter and high power of the gas piston created tangible returns that led the barrel away from the aim line when firing in bursts. It is this flaw that was discovered during the competitive tests that is still reproached with the already well-deserved machine. But it was not possible to overcome it in any of the subsequent modifications performed according to the classical scheme. The AK-47 assault rifle weighed about four and a half kilograms in running order. Such weight was also regarded as a disadvantage that must be sought to overcome. The problem was solved with the transition to a reduced cartridge caliber in the following modifications.
Strengths
Discussions about the strengths and weaknesses are somewhat academic in nature. Decades of wars have shown better what a Kalashnikov rifle is worth. Combat experience in all climatic and natural zones in the hands of professional military and irregular militias made this weapon a legend. Reliability, fire power, durability and reliability often determined the choice in favor of this weapon. The soldier had no doubt that if he was anywhere in the world with this machine gun in his hands, his weapon would shoot. In the arctic cold and in a tropical swamp. In a dust storm and in the sticky mud of a trench. The monolithic shutter thrown by the gas piston will break its way through the frozen oil and through the sand that has accumulated. A sturdy receiver will retain its geometry even when the fore-end comes on from overheating of the barrel. The weapon does not jam and does not warp. The machine will always shoot and in any conditions. It is this characteristic of the Kalashnikov assault rifle that leaves its competitors overboard. The rest depends on the fighter. In the hands of a trained shooter, "Kalashnikov" shows excellent results in the accuracy of fire. In the hands of an inexperienced irregular, he spews a flurry of lead until the cartridges run out.
World top
The transition to a new type of rifle system coincided with the rearmament of the countries of socialist orientation and the collapse of the colonial system. A simple and reliable Kalashnikov assault rifle, the price of which was not too high, fell to the court in all situations. Before the advent of the American M-16 rifle, he had practically no competitors in his class. This ensured its wide distribution in the world. During the Vietnam War, the machine was supplied to the armed forces of the Viet Cong. Then he met on the battlefield with the American development. "Kalashnikov" stood comparison with these weapons. Reliability, reliability, fire power were obvious advantages. The best accuracy, the greater sighting range of the American rifle did not affect the combat effectiveness of the soldiers as much as its capriciousness, the tendency to interrupt fire due to pollution and the exacting care. The highest characteristic of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is confirmed in all forms of military conflicts.
System development
Further, the machine was improved, AKM was replaced by AK-47 in the troops. The caliber of the modern version of this weapon has already changed. AK-74 uses 5.45 mm caliber ammunition, which reduced the weight of the machine. The principle of operation of automation, the general layout, legendary reliability and firepower remained unchanged, which distinguishes the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The price of the arms market remains within democratic limits.