Who knows the history of the Kalashnikov assault rifle? But this is a legendary machine used by most of the world's countries. It is not only one of the most popular small arms, but also one of the most significant inventions of the twentieth century. During the existence of the AK-47, more than fifty million modifications of this machine have already been released. A legendary weapon that has received recognition from most countries of the world. The history of the creation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle will be told to the reader in the article.
Creator of small arms AK-47
Who invented the Kalashnikov assault rifle? This was done by a well-known weapons designer-developer - M. T. Kalashnikov. As a lieutenant general, he was also a doctor of technical sciences, in Soviet times - a member of the CPSU, a participant in hostilities, the owner of many medals, awards and orders,public figure, deputy, who received the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov - a native of the Altai Territory, was born in a large, large family on November 10, 1919. From an early age, he was fond of studying the action of various mechanisms. Once, after graduating from school, the young man independently dismantled a Browning pistol in order to familiarize and study in detail the weapon device.
At the age of 19, he was called up for military service, where he received the speci alty of a tank driver.
Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov began to show his inventive talent during his service. One of his first developments was an inertial recorder, counting the number of shots fired from a tank gun. Then, for several months, he was fascinated by the development of a tank engine life meter. The result exceeded all expectations - the invention worked clearly, accurately recording the operation of the engine.
During the Great Patriotic War he was a tank commander, but in the fall of 1941 he was seriously wounded. It was during the treatment that he began to make the first sketches of automatic weapons. He developed his idea, taking into account his own impressions received during the battles, studied special literature, and listened to the opinion of his colleagues. This occupation captivated the talented young man so much that in a few months he developed his first model of firearms. Although the sample submachine gun was not recommended for mass production for a number of technical reasons, however, the great Soviet scientist in the field of mechanics A. A. Blagonravov noted the originality of the idea, as well as the very design of the sample.
The development of the Kalashnikov assault rifle began in 1945. After several years of design, refinement, and combat testing, Kalashnikov automatic systems were adequately evaluated and recommended for army weapons. For the greatest development of national importance, the one who invented the Kalashnikov assault rifle received the Stalin Prize of the first degree, and was also awarded the honorary Order of the Red Star.
Development history
In what year was the Kalashnikov assault rifle created? In 1943, under the rifle cartridge received for armament, the caliber of which was 7.62 mm, small arms were needed. On a competitive basis, the development of weapons specifically for a cartridge of this caliber started. The main task was to surpass analogues, to create a worthy replacement for the Mosin rifle.
Among the competitive entries there were other successful projects of well-known developers, however, the automatic system of Mikhail Kalashnikov (also known as the AK-47) outperformed the competition in terms of design and production cost.
In 1948, Mikhail Kalashnikov went to the motorcycle plant in the city of Izhevsk to produce a trial batch of automatic systems in order to test them with the help of military tests. A year later, mass production of the AK-47 started at the machine-building plant in the city of Izhevsk. By the following year, the AK entered service with the army of the Soviet Union.
Design
The main parts of the AK, their purpose:
- The rifled barrel of the machine, including the bullet entry, as well as the chamber. Directs the flight of the bullet.
- The receiver is designed to connect mechanisms into a single structure.
- The buttstock contains a specially designed nest where a pencil case with tools for cleaning the gun is placed.
- Sights, consisting of a sector sight and a front sight, are necessary for direct control of the location of the barrel channel relative to the aiming point. They are used to aim a firearm at a target during a shot. The position of the front sight is easily changed to adjust the location of the midpoint.
- The cover (detachable) of the receiver prevents damage to internal mechanisms.
- The bolt carrier, connected to the gas piston, is one of the main elements of a firearm that actuates the bolt element and also triggers the trigger mechanism.
- The shutter closes the barrel channel before firing. Advances a cartridge from the magazine directly into the chamber. There is also a special mechanism on the bolt, with the help of which a spent cartridge case is removed from the chamber or a cartridge (in the event of a misfire).
- The return mechanism, thanks to a special spring, returns the bolt carrier to its extreme forward position.
- Gas tube with handguard adjusts the direction of movement of the gas piston using directional fins.
- Trigger includes trigger, spring loadedtrigger retarder, trigger, spring automatic trigger, sear, translator. Provides trigger release from cocking, switching from single to continuous fire. Using this mechanism, you can stop shooting, as well as fix the fuse.
- The handguard is necessary for comfortable holding of the weapon during combat shooting, it performs the function of protecting hands from contact with hot metal, thereby preventing burns.
- The magazine has a box type, holds three dozen rounds. Thanks to the spring, the cartridges move directly into the receiver.
- The bayonet is attached for use in close combat.
- Muzzle brake is a special compensator designed to increase the stability of the weapon during the shot. Partially removes powder gases during firing, due to this, it significantly reduces the recoil of the barrel. Helps increase accuracy when firing bursts (appeared in the AKM version).
Most young men can easily list the main parts of the AK-47, since assembling an assault rifle in a certain time is a required part of the school's basic military training course.
The total number of AK elements is about a hundred parts.
Specifications
The first release version of the AK-47 featured the following main features:
- The weight of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is 4.8 kg (excluding the bayonet-knife).
- The length of the automatic system was 870 mm (including the knife - 1070mm).
- The speed of the bullet of the Kalashnikov assault rifle (initial) is 715 meters per second.
- Barrel caliber - 7.62 mm.
- Cartridge - 7, 62 x 39 mm.
- The Kalashnikov assault rifle magazine contains thirty rounds.
Rate of fire:
- when firing bursts - 100 shots in one minute;
- when firing single rounds - 40 shots in one minute;
- technical rate of fire is approximately 600 rounds per minute.
Shooting figures:
- maximum bullet flight - 3 km;
- lethal shot range - 1500 meters;
- direct shot range - 350 meters.
Modifications
The history of the Kalashnikov assault rifle contains information that the very first version designed by Mikhail Timofeevich during the competition was the AK-46. This version of the weapon was invented in 1946, but after a detailed study and a number of combat tests, this model was recognized as unsuitable.
However, as the history of the creation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle tells, the next year, 1947, was the year of the development of the famous AK-47.
Together with the AK, by 1949 they adopted a folding version of the AK - AKS, created for the special forces.
Then, since 1959, the history of the Kalashnikov assault rifle moves to a new stage. The AK-47 is being replaced by the modernized Kalashnikov assault rifle (AKM). From the same year, it was the AKM that became the most common version of the Kalashnikov. Compared to previous models, the AKM has improved firing range indicators, the shape has been changedbutt, added muzzle brake-compensator, as well as reduced weight, added a bayonet-knife. Together with this model, a modification of the AKMN was released, which has a night, optical sight.
Together with AKM, the armament was replenished with a similar model, but the butt of which is folding - AKMS. In addition to this version, there was also an AKMSN, that is, a night version with a special optical sight.
The next few years there was an active development of an automatic system for use with a cartridge of caliber 5, 45 x 39 mm. By 1974, a new modification came into service - AK-74 and AK-74N (a model that includes a night and optical sight). A special development for the special forces was a new version of the AKS-74, that is, a model with a folding butt, another model was called the AKS-74N - a night modification with an optical sight.
By 1979, a shortened version of the AKS-74 - AKS-74U and AKS-74UN, containing fasteners for night and optical sights, appeared specifically for arming the landing troops.
In 1991, a modernized AK-74 called AK-74M was supplied to the army. Released into mass production, a unique machine managed to replace several models at the same time.
It was the AK-74M version that became the basic version for the development of the entire hundredth series.
The 100th series of AKs are various versions of the AK-74M designed for export. For delivery to other countries, only automatic systems of the hundredth series are now used, since this series surpasses the previous ones in terms of material quality, modernitytechnological process, improved shooting performance.
The most recent fifth generation modern model is the AK-12 model. This sample appeared in 2012.
Guinness World Record Holder
The Kalashnikov assault rifle, the dimensions of which you already know, occupies one of the leading roles in the weapons environment. For its reliability, he won the well-deserved unconditional recognition of most countries of the world. Together with all its modifications, it occupies more than 15% of small arms in the world, which is why it is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most common weapon.
AK outside Russia
A few years after the adoption of the AK-47 into service, a production license was given to about two dozen countries. The license was transferred mainly to states that were allies under the famous Warsaw Pact. Also by that time, more than a dozen countries began to produce AK without a license.
There are about 100 million different variations of the Kalashnikov assault rifle all over the world.
Use in battles
The first combat use of the AK occurred during the suppression of protests in the fall of 1956 in Hungary. Then it was a symbol of the Vietnam War and was actively used by the soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army.
However, the rapid spread of the Kalashnikov assault rifle around the world occurred during the war inAfghanistan, then the CIA actively supplied them with armed formations.
And then, due to the reliability and ease of operation, the soldiers of Iraq during the military operations on the territory of their country preferred the AK-47 instead of the M16.
AK as a civilian weapon
Different versions of the Kalashnikov automatic system are very popular among civilian weapons, especially among those countries where gun laws are quite liberal.
During the appearance of the very first AK models in the United States of America, it was allowed to own automatic weapons. Later, a law was passed prohibiting the sale of such weapons to civilians, but this did not apply to guns officially registered before 1986. Therefore, some still own combat samples of AK.
As for most of the world's countries, the possession of such automatic systems is prohibited by law. Those who own AKs illegally acquire them on the black market. How much does a Kalashnikov assault rifle cost? The price of AK varies depending on the modification. So how much does a Kalashnikov assault rifle cost approximately? According to unofficial data, the price of AK on the black market is in the range of $1,000 (about 55,000 rubles).
AK at the present time
Over time, the Kalashnikov assault rifle (weight, dimensions and other technical characteristics were presented to your attention in the article) was subjected to many critical reviews of leading experts, its shortcomings are increasingly being discussed, many call the modelfrankly outdated. During its existence (and this has been more than 60 years), the requirements for weapons systems as a whole have changed, the modern world, of course, dictates new rules, requiring improvement and modernization.
However, despite the shortcomings discovered over time, the history of the Kalashnikov assault rifle continues. It is rightfully considered a legendary weapon. Having gained a reputation for being simply a reliable machine, it will undoubtedly be in deserved demand for a long time to come. It does not cease to copy, improve, refine characteristics. Monuments are erected to the Kalashnikov assault rifle, depicted on coats of arms, considered a symbol of good luck and even depicted on coins. Its recognition took place all over the world, and, undoubtedly, AK left an indelible mark on the history of weapons not only in Russia, but also in most foreign countries.
