Goryunov SG-43

Goryunov SG-43 History

The venerable PM 1910 was a viable and reliable machine gun weapon for the Soviet Army in WWII. However, the system is very heavy -- 140 pounds in a two-wheel frame arrangement -- and relies on water cooling. Its origins lie in the original Hiram Maxim recoil machine gun at the turn of the century, the 1910 model was simply redesigned for the Russian 7.62x54mmR rifle cartridge.

Such a staggering amount of this weapon was that it became the focus of machine gun crews during the 1939-1940 Winter War with neighboring Finland.

However, the fortunes of the Soviet Union changed when Germany led an Axis shock force into Soviet territory in June 1941 to begin the Eastern Front invasion (Operation Barbarossa). The Model 1910 continued to hold up well despite the attack and a large stockpile lost in battle.

Soviet factories were eventually moved to safer locations, and production of weapons resumed.

Even before that dark period in Soviet history, although Soviet war planners had turned to buying a homegrown, lighter weight air-cooled machine gun. One of the main disadvantages of the Type 1910 was its bulk, which limited its tactical usefulness and effectiveness. The modern battlefield is envisioned as more fluid fronts and lighter weapons. In 1940, the design of the gun fell into the hands of engineer Peter Maximovich Goryunov, who was already working on a new tank-mounted machine gun. The same design has been reworked for the medium machine gun role, retaining the belt feed, air cooling capability and gas operation.

For simplicity, the same cartridge - 7.62x54mmR - is still in service, and the same two-wheel carrier is used as the support assembly for the new gun. Due to the origins of the tank design, the gun also has a heavier (chrome-lined) barrel, which helps extend barrel life. Internally, the mechanism is kept clean and simple, facilitating cleaning and servicing, helping to further improve the quality of reliability.

The only downside is the rather complicated peel and feed mechanism for managing incoming cartridges.

As the design was finalized and fire tests progressed, the weapon, when it was dubbed the "SG-43" in 1943, proved to be a solid addition to the Soviet arsenal. It is about 20 pounds lighter, has a variable rate of fire, and has an increased effective attack range.

Although intended as a successor to the older model 1910, the factory could not keep up with the Army's demands and had the two models serve side by side during the war. In reality, the SG-43 was as reliable as advertised, firing between 500 and 700 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 2,624 feet per second.

It has an effective range of 1,100 meters and a maximum engagement range of 1,500 meters. Feeding is via a 200 or 250 round belt and via a simple iron sight assembly.

In terms of superior performance, the SG-43 is comparable to the American Browning M1919 series and is the "real" machine gun on the battlefield of World War II.

After the war, the SG-43 was eventually standardized and modernized in Soviet formations to give rise to the designation "SGM". Modifications include dust shields on the feed and ejection ports for improved reliability and the addition of a barrel lock. The pull handle at the bottom of the receiver has now been moved to the more traditional right side for better access.

The barrel is grooved to improve the air cooling of the weapon during sustained fire. According to the origin of the SG-43, the weapon became a permanent part of the Soviet tank as a coaxial device under the designation "SGMT". Another form of vehicle is "SGMB".

Like many successful Soviet weapons of World War II, the SG-43 and its derivatives were exported to allies and supporting nations around the world in the ensuing years of the Cold War. This has led to its use by the armies of Afghanistan, Albania, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Hungary, Mongolia, North Korea and Zimbabwe. During World War II, limited stocks fell into the hands of the Finns. Molds in China and Egypt are manufactured locally under license. North Korean and Chinese SG-43s served during the Korean War (1950-1953).

Afghan SG-43 guns were used against their Soviet builders during the bloody Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s.

The SG-43 series was in service with the Soviet Army until war planners revised machine gun tactics and propulsion requirements. In its place was the Kalashnikov-designed PK/PKM General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) in 1961, which promised the same level of massive firepower in a more manageable, portable package.

The weapon retains the belt feed function, is gas-powered, and holds the same 7.62x54mmR cartridge as the SG-43. The production line produced more than 1 million pieces, many of which are still in circulation today. For the Red Army, the era of the carriage-type machine gun was over.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes