NSV HMG (Utes / Utjos)

History

Once upon a time, the NSV heavy multipurpose machine gun was the standard machine gun of the Soviet Armed Forces. Introduced in 1971, the system was specifically designed to replace the long-running DShK/DShKM series that debuted in 1938 before World War II (1939-1945). The early 1990s meant the NSV manufacturing facility (and associated licensing rights) fell into Kazakhstan, which basically meant the end of NSV service in the Russian military.

Instead, the Russian Army opted for the Kord 12.7mm series. In any case, the NSV continues to be used in the Russian army (although it will be replaced where possible by the newer Kord series), and the licensed production of the NVS has been carried out in Bulgaria, India, Poland, Vietnam and the former Yugoslavia (now Serbia) to ensure It remains in circulation for a period of time.

The NSV is armed with a 12.7x108mm cannonball capable of penetrating light armor protection and blasting human targets into unrecognizable fragments. This weapon requires specific tolerances, which in turn add bulk and weight, and when mounted on a heavy tripod, the weapon can only serve a defensive function.

When suitable for attack - for example, mounted on a trainable base on a vehicle, boat or helicopter as a vehicle cannon - the weapon gains greater flexibility and maneuverability. The firearm unit alone weighs a whopping 55 pounds, plus a 50-round belt adds 25 pounds.

The tripod assembly allows the scale to weigh up to 90 pounds, which means the entire system can weigh up to 170 pounds.

The NSV employs a proven pneumatic action in which the assembly expels gas from the fired cartridge and directs it into a cylinder under the barrel. This pressure, in turn, subtly powers the action inside the receiver, ejecting spent cartridges while injecting new ones. Basically, the fired bullet provides the necessary movement and force for subsequent shots. As such, the weapon is limited to fully automatic fire, meaning that pulling the trigger will result in a steady intake of ammo (and firing bullets from the muzzle) as long as the magazine allows and the trigger is held down.

The weapon's rate of fire is between 700 and 800 rounds per minute, and as an air-cooled weapon, the operator must be careful about overheating the barrel. The muzzle velocity is functionally 2,770 feet per second, providing the necessary range penetration - effective range of about 6,500 feet, to ground targets (such as enemy vehicles).

The weapon can attack both ground and air targets - the range to air targets is limited to approximately 5,000 feet. For air defense, the weapon can be mounted on a vehicle (such as a tank's turret roof) or on a tripod for a more portable infantry-level defense product.

The weapon's oversized casing has a traditional appearance. Ammunition is fed via a 50-round belt from a hardened case attached to the right side of the receiver. The used case is ejected to the left side of the receiver. The barrel is neither grooved nor sheathed, though covered by a massive slotted muzzle brake to accommodate some harsh recoil. The gas cylinder is placed under the barrel in the traditional way.

Aiming is carried out by iron means, although the weapon is combined with various optical means, especially in the role of anti-aircraft - although this depends a lot on the army of the country in question.

In addition to being used in the Russian Soviet Army, the weapon is included in the stockpiles of Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland (as "12. 7 ltkk 96").

Georgia, India (manufactured by Ordnance Factory in Tiruchirappalli), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Macedonia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland (as "WKM-B" but in 0.50 BMG form), Serbia ( As "M87 NSVT", mobile gun of Zastava Arms), Slovenia and Vietnam.

This range has been used in several high-profile wars and regional conflicts, including the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s, the Gulf War in 1991, and the US-led invasions of 2001 and 2003. Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes