RPK

For other uses, see RPK (disambiguation).
RPK

RPK with bipod and 75-round drum magazine
Type Light machine gun
Squad automatic weapon
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1961–present
Used by See Users
Wars Vietnam War
Cambodian Civil War
Cambodian–Vietnamese War
Sino-Vietnamese War
Rhodesian Bush War
Soviet war in Afghanistan
Yugoslav wars
First Chechen War
Second Chechen War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Cambodian–Thai border stand-off
2008 South Ossetia war
2011 Libyan Civil War
Syrian Civil War
War in Donbass
various others
Production history
Designer Mikhail Kalashnikov
Designed 1961
Manufacturer Vyatskie Polyany Machine-Building Plant
Produced RPK: 1961–1978
RPK-74: 1974–present
Variants RPKN, RPKS, RPKSN, RPK-74, RPK-74N, RPKS-74, RPKS-74N
Specifications
Weight RPK: 4.8 kg (10.6 lb)
RPKS: 5.1 kg (11 lb)
RPK-74: 4.7 kg (10 lb)
RPKS-74: 4.85 kg (10.7 lb)
Length RPK, RPKS: 1,040 mm (40.9 in)
RPKS: 820 mm (32.3 in) stock folded
RPK-74, RPKS-74: 1,060 mm (41.7 in)
RPKS-74: 845 mm (33.3 in) stock folded
Barrel length 590 mm (23.2 in)
Cartridge RPK, RPKS: 7.62×39mm M43
RPK-74, RPKS-74: 5.45×39mm M74
Action Gas operated, rotating bolt; closed bolt
Rate of fire 600 rounds/min (RPK), 650 rounds/min (RPK-74)
Muzzle velocity RPK, RPKS: 745 m/s (2,444 ft/s)
RPK-74, RPKS-74: 960 m/s (3,149.6 ft/s)
Effective firing range 100–1.000 m sight adjustments
Maximum firing range 3,150 m (3,440 yd) (RPK-74)
Feed system RPK, RPKS: 20, 30, or 40-round curved magazine, 75-round drum magazine
RPK-74, RPKS-74: 30 or 45-round box magazine, 100-round plastic drum magazine, belt ammunition (with side mounted belt feed device)
Sights Front: semi-shrouded front post, rear: sliding tangent with adjustable notch
Sight radius: 555 mm (21.9 in)

The RPK (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Kalashnikova, Russian: Ручной пулемёт Калашникова or "Kalashnikov hand-held machine gun") is a 7.62×39mm light machine gun of Soviet design, developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the late 1950s, parallel with the AKM assault rifle. It was created as part of a program designed to standardize the small arms inventory of the Red Army, where it replaced the 7.62×39mm RPD light machine gun. The RPK continues to be used by the armed forces of countries of the former Soviet Union and certain African and Asian nations. The RPK was also manufactured in Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania.

Design details

Operating mechanism

The RPK functions identically to the AK-47. It also uses the same 7.62×39mm ammunition. It has a similar design layout to the AKM and AK-47 series of rifles, with modifications to increase the RPK's effective range and accuracy, enhance its sustained fire capability, and strengthen the receiver.

Features

Most notably, the RPK has a heavier and longer barrel than an AKM. This allows the RPK to fire for extended periods of time without major loss in accuracy due to the barrel heating up. The chrome-lined barrel is permanently fixed to the receiver, and cannot be replaced in the field. It is fitted with a new front sight base, gas block (lacks the bayonet lug) and an under-barrel cleaning rod guide. The barrel also features a folding bipod, mounted near the muzzle, and a front sight base with a lug that limits the bipod's rotation around the axis of barrel. The barrel's muzzle is threaded, enabling the use of muzzle devices such as flash hiders, compensators, and blank-firing adapters. When a muzzle device is not being used, the threads on the muzzle can be covered by a thread protector. The barrel is pinned to the receiver in a modified trunnion, reinforced by ribbing, and is slightly wider than the trunnion used on standard AKM type rifles. Symmetrical bulges on both sides of the front trunnion ensure proper fit inside the receiver.

The RPK's U-shaped receiver is stamped from a smooth 1.5 mm (0.06 in) sheet of steel (compared to the 1.0 mm (0.04 in) sheet metal receiver used on standard AKM rifles). Interchangeability of parts between the RPK and AKM is moderate.

The RPK uses a modified AKM recoil spring assembly. It consists of a rear spring guide rod from the AK, and a new forward flat guide rod and coil spring.

The RPK features a thick laminated wood foregrip, and a fixed laminated wood "club-foot" buttstock, similar to the stock used on the RPD, which is designed to allow the user to fire from the prone position more comfortably. The RPK uses a standard AKM pistol grip.

The weapon can use standard AKM detachable box magazines, but is most commonly used with a 40-round box magazine, or a 75-round drum magazine.

Sights

The weapon's rear sight leaf is elevation adjustable, and graduated for ranges of 100 to 1,000 meters, in 100 m increments. The rear sight leaf also features a windage adjustment knob, unique to the RPK series of rifles.

Accessories

Supplied with the RPK are: spare magazines, a cleaning rod, cleaning kit (stored in a hollowed compartment in the buttstock), a sling, oil bottle and magazine pouches (a single-pocket pouch for a drum magazine or a 4-pocket pouch for box magazines).

Variants

RPKS

An RPK with a side-folding wooden stock was intended primarily for the air assault infantry. The former Soviet Union issued the RPK mainly to motorised units. Changes to the design of the RPKS are limited only to the shoulder stock mounting, at the rear of the receiver. It uses a trunnion riveted to both receiver walls that has a socket and tang, allowing the stock to hinge on a pivot pin. The trunnion has a cut-out on the right side designed to engage the stock catch and lock it in place when folded. The wooden stock is mounted in a pivoting hull, which contains a catch that secures the buttstock in the extended position. The rear sling loop was moved from the left side of the stock body to the right side of the stock frame.

RPK-74

RPK-74
Comparison of the AK-74 (top) and RPK-74 (bottom)

Introduced in 1974 together with the AK-74 assault rifle and chambered for the new 5.45×39mm high-velocity cartridge. The RPK-74 derives from the AK-74 rifle, with modifications that mirror those made to the AKM to create the RPK. The RPK-74 also uses a longer and heavier chrome-plated barrel, which has a new gas block with a gas channel at a 90° angle to the bore axis, and a ring for the cleaning rod. The RPK-74 was also equipped with a folding bipod and a different front sight tower. The muzzle is threaded for a flash suppressor or blank-firing device.

The rear stock trunnion was strengthened and the magazine well was reinforced with steel inserts.

Additionally, the RPK-74 has a modified return mechanism compared to the AK-74, which uses a new type of metal spring guide rod and recoil spring. The rear sight assembly, forward handguard and receiver dust cover were all retained from the RPK.

The RPK-74 feeds from a 45-round steel or polymer box magazine, interchangeable with magazines from the AK-74, and is designed to be charged from stripper clips. Drum magazines similar to those used on the previous RPK models were tested during the development phase of the RPK-74, but were discontinued in favor of the 45-round box magazine. However, the drum magazines were still produced in limited numbers.

Standard equipment includes: eight magazines, six stripper clips (15 rounds per clip), a speedloader guide, cleaning rod, cleaning kit, sling, oil bottle and two magazine pouches. Some variants do not come with the cleaning kit option.

It is in widespread use by member states of the former Soviet Union, as well as Bulgaria.

RPKS-74

The RPKS-74 is the paratrooper model of the RPK-74, equipped with a wooden folding stock from the RPKS.

Night variants

The RPK family of light machine guns is also available in a night fighting configuration. These weapons are designated RPKN, RPKSN, RPK-74N, and RPKS-74N. They have a side rail mounting on the left side of the receiver that accepts a NSP-3, NSPU, or NSPUM night vision sight.[1] Models designated RPKN-1, RPKSN-1, RPK-74N and RPKS-74N can mount the multi-model night vision scope NSPU-3 (1PN51)[2] while RPKN2, RPKSN2, RPK-74N2 and RPKS-74N2 can mount the multi-model night vision scope NSPUM (1PN58).[3]

RPK-74M

RPK-74M

An updated variant known as the RPK-74M (for Modernetya > "Improved") was developed. In line with the AK-74M assault rifle variant the RPK-74M lower hand guard, gas tube cover, pistol grip, and new synthetic stock are made from a black, glass-filled polyamide. The stock is shaped like the RPK-74 fixed stock, but also side-folds like the RPKS-74. Each AK-74M is fitted with a side-rail bracket for mounting optics. Updated magazines were produced by Molot with horizontal ribs going up the sides of the magazines. An export variant chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO was also introduced, designated the RPK-201. Also for export is the RPKM chambered in 7.62×39mm; it uses the same polymer furniture as the RPK-74M variant.[4]

Molot Vepr

Not to be confused with the Ukrainian Vepr assault rifle.

A series of semi-automatic rifles based on the heavy RPK receiver are manufactured by the Molot factory in Vyatskiye Polyany,Russia. These rifles are known as the Vepr and Vepr Shotgun (Vepr > "Wild Boar"). They are offered in several chamberings, including: .223 Remington, 7.62×39mm, 5.45×39mm, 6.5mm Grendel, 7.62×54mmR, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield and 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 gauge Vepr shotgun (ВПО-205 > VPO-205). The hallmark of Vepr rifles is their heavy RPK receiver and barrel. The barrel, gas block, and bore are chrome lined throughout. They are intended for the civilian market, and are marketed as high quality hunting rifles. Due to this designation, they lack features seen on most AK type rifles. Vepr rifles do not include a bayonet lug, integrated cleaning rods or tool kits, can not accept standard AK magazines, and have wooden thumb-hole stocks. Some buy these rifles to "convert" into a traditional style AK rifle, installing new pistol-grip stocks and adding tactical accessories.

Early generations of the Vepr rifle were manufactured with slant-back receivers, making them incompatible with most AK furniture sets without a converter. The receivers were changed to straight-back in the second generation. Subsequent versions of the rifle reverted to slant-back. Due to this rapid change between designs, it is not uncommon to find some second generation Vepr rifles with rough, incomplete stocks that have not been sanded or painted.

The United States has banned the Vepr series weapons from importation from July of 2014 due to the current tensions with Russia.

Users

Iraqi soldiers training with the Romanian Model-1964 (RPK) light machine gun.
Mongolian soldiers with the RPK.
Romanian soldier with the PM md. 1964.

See also

References

  1. ↑ RPK-74N2 Light Machine Gun (1974). Retrieved on September 10, 2008.
  2. ↑ ИЗДЕЛИЕ 1ПН51 ТЕХНИЧЕСКОЕ ОПИСАНИЕ И ИНСТРУКЦИЯ ПО ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИИ [PRODUCT 1PN51 TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS] (in Russian). January 1992. pp. 11, 16.
  3. ↑ ИЗДЕЛИЕ 1ПН58 ТЕХНИЧЕСКОЕ ОПИСАНИЕ И ИНСТРУКЦИЯ ПО ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИИ [PRODUCT 1PN58 TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS] (in Russian). February 1991. pp. 5, 13.
  4. ↑ Modern Firearms' RPK Page. Retrieved on September 10, 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  6. ↑ http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f301/kagemushamu/SmallArms01/SmallArms01-001.jpg
  7. ↑ "Arsenal's LMG Page, 7.62 x 39 mm". Arsenal. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  8. ↑ "Arsenal's LMG Page, 5.56 x 45 mm". Arsenal. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  9. ↑ "Arsenal's LMG Page, 5.45 x 39 mm". Arsenal. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  10. ↑ "Small Arms Survey - Working Papers" (PDF). 8 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Ghana Armed Forces Denies Robbery Allegation". exposeGHANA.com. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  12. ↑ http://viasat1.com.gh/v1/vnews/local.php?postId=2584
  13. ↑ "APPLY NOW! Ghana Armed Forces Commences 2013 Recruitment Process". exposeGHANA.com. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Leroy (December 2008). "Malaysian Special Forces". Special Weapons. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  15. ↑ http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imagery.html;jsessionid=717EA410EC7024DF88659819C061B880#guid=d9aa514e67a1ca4557f7bb646b8488217f594dd5
  16. ↑ Fabrica de Arme Cugir SA's LMG Page. Retrieved on September 10, 2008.
  17. ↑ Fabrica de Arme Cugir SA's LMG Md. 1993 Page. Retrieved on September 10, 2008.
  18. ↑ "Annual Military Exercise Takes on New Meaning for Ukraine Troops". Voice of America. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "NVA". Retrieved 16 November 2014.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RPK.
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