Degtyaryov machine gun explained

Is Ranged:yes
DP machine gun
Origin:Soviet Union
Type:Light machine gun
Designer:Vasily Degtyaryov
Design Date:1927
Production Date:1928–1950s
Service:1928–present
Used By:See Users
Wars:Spanish Civil War
Winter War
World War II
Second Sino-Japanese War
Korean War
Chinese Civil War
First Indochina War
Vietnam War
Hungarian Revolution of 1956[1]
Laotian Civil War
North Yemen Civil War
Cambodian Civil War
Cambodian-Vietnamese War
Rhodesian Bush War
Portuguese Colonial War
Afghan Wars
Sino-Vietnamese War
Sri Lankan Civil War
First Nagorno-Karabakh War[2]
Georgian Civil War[3]
Yugoslav Wars
Somali Civil War
Iraq War[4]
First Libyan Civil War
Northern Mali conflict
Syrian Civil War[5]
Russo-Ukrainian War
Cartridge:7.62×54mmR
Caliber:7.62 mm
Action:Gas-operated, flapper locking
Rate:550 rpm
Velocity:840 m/s (2,755 ft/s)
Range:800 m (874.9 yd)
Weight:9.122NaN2 (unloaded)
11.5kg (25.4lb) (loaded)
Length:12701NaN1
Part Length:604mm
Feed:47-round pan magazine
Sights:Adjustable iron sights, front post and rear notch on a scaled tangent
Variants:See Variants
Number:795,000[6]

The Degtyaryov machine gun (Russian: Пулемёт Дегтярёвa Пехотный|Pulemyot Degtyaryova Pekhotny literally: "Degtyaryov's infantry machine gun") or DP-27/DP-28 is a light machine gun firing the 7.62×54mmR cartridge that was primarily used by the Soviet Union, with service trials starting in 1927, followed by general deployment in 1928.[7] [8]

Besides being the standard Soviet infantry light machine gun (LMG) during World War II, with various modifications it was used in aircraft as a flexible defensive weapon, and it equipped almost all Soviet tanks in WWII as either a flexible bow machine gun or a co-axial machine gun controlled by the gunner. It was improved in 1943 producing the DPM, but it was replaced in 1946 with the RP-46 which improved on the basic DP design by converting it to use belt feed. The DP machine gun was supplemented in the 1950s by the more modern RPD machine gun and entirely replaced in Soviet service by the general purpose PK machine gun in the 1960s.[9]

Design

The DP-27 is a light machine gun designed for the Soviet Red Army in the 1920s under the leadership of Vasily Degtyaryov (1880–1949), the first test model being the DP-26. Two test guns were manufactured and fired 5,000 rounds each from September 27–29, 1926, during which weaknesses were discovered in the extractor and firing pin mechanisms. After design improvements, two more guns were made and tested in December 1926, firing 40,000 rounds under adverse conditions, resulting in only .6% stoppages. However, changes to the bolt carrier and the chamber locking mechanism were still required. After this redesign the improved gun, now called the DP-27, was tested by the Red Army at the Kovrov plant on January 17–21 of 1927, passing all tests and being approved for manufacture. A full year of service testing followed, after which the primary requested change was the addition of the large flash suppressor that is now considered one of the recognition features of the design.[10] With further refinements, the DP was to be the primary light machine gun of the Red Army during WWII.

The DP-27 was designed to fire the same 7.62×54mmR (R indicating rimmed) ammunition as the main Soviet infantry rifle, the Mosin-Nagant, much simplifying ammunition logistics for Soviet infantry units. Of typical Russian design philosophy, the DP-27 was a sturdy and simple gun that was easy and cheap to manufacture, and could be relied upon to perform even in the most adverse conditions; it was capable of withstanding being buried in dirt, mud, or sand and still operating consistently.[11] However, being magazine fed, it had a rate of fire similar to other light machine guns, like the Bren light machine gun, but low when compared to its main wartime rivals, the German MG 34/MG 42 series, firing at a rate of 550rpm as compared to the 800–1,500rpm of the German general-purpose machine guns.

The operating mechanism of the DP-27 is gas-operated, using a Kjellmann-Friberg flap locking design to lock the bolt against the chamber until the round had left the barrel, aided by a recoil spring.[12] Ammunition came in the form of a 47-round circular pan magazine that attached to the top of the receiver. Because of the shape of its magazine, the DP-27 was nicknamed the "record player".[13]

Its main parts were a removable barrel with an integrated flash suppressor and gas cylinder, a receiver with the rear sight, a perforated barrel shroud/guide with the front sight, the bolt and locking flaps, the bolt carrier and gas piston rod, a recoil spring, stock and trigger mechanism group, a bipod for firing from prone positions, and the previously mentioned pan magazine.[14] In total, the first versions contained only 80 parts, indicating both the simplicity and ease of manufacture of the design. Early versions had 26 transverse cooling fins machined into the barrel, but it was found that these had little cooling effect and so were deleted in 1938, further easing manufacture.

The design had weaknesses that would eventually be addressed in later variants. The pan magazines were prone to damage, while also being difficult and time-consuming to reload. The bipod mechanism was weak and likely to fail if not handled with care.[15] Replacing the barrel was not a quick operation due to a lack of handle and the amount of disassembly needed, though a well trained crew could do so in 30 seconds under ideal conditions.The open gas chamber and bolt frame could accumulate dust in sandy conditions, clogging the gas piston.[14] The recoil spring's location near the barrel led to overheating, causing it to lose proper spring temper.[16]

Designation

The Degtyaryov machine gun was accepted for Red Army service in 1927 with the official designation 7,62-мм ручной пулемет обр. 1927 г (7.62mm Hand-Held Machine Gun Model 1927). It was called the ДП-27 (DP-27), although some western sources refer to it as the DP-28.[17]

Service use

Despite its numerous problems, the DP had a reputation as a relatively effective light support weapon. It was nicknamed the "Record player" (proigryvatel') by Red Army troops because of its rotating disc-shaped pan magazine.

The first uses of the DP-27 in war where with the Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War. On 25 October 1936 the SS Kursk docked at Cartegena, delivering 150 Degtaryov machine guns along with 9,000 Winchester Model 1895 rifles. The Cabo Palos delivered 3 DT tank machine guns on 7 May 1937. On 7 February 1938 the SS Bonafacio arrived in Bassens and included numerous weapons in its cargo delivery, including DP & DT machine guns.[18] [15] [19]

Many were captured by the Finnish army in the Winter War and the Continuation War and partially replaced the Lahti-Saloranta M/26. The DP received the nickname Emma in Finnish service after a popular waltz, again due to the magazine's resemblance to a record player. In the summer of 1944, the Finnish army had about 3400 Finnish-made Lahti-Salorantas and 9000 captured Soviet-made Degtyarevs on the front. Captured examples were operated by the Volkssturm, the late-war German militia, and in German service the Degtyarev received the designation Leichtes Maschinengewehr 120(r).[11]

The Chinese Nationalists received 5,600 DPs from the USSR and used them in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. The North Korean and Chinese Communists used the DP in the Korean War and copied the DPM as the Type 53.[11]

Examples of all variants of the DP machine gun were given or sold to the Viet Minh in the First Indochina War[20] by the USSR and Chinese Communists. Similarly, in the Vietnam War to the NVA and Vietcong.[21] [22]

DPMs have also been recovered from Taliban fighters during the War in Afghanistan while DPs or DPMs have been spotted in 2014 in the Northern Mali conflict.[23] During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, a few of the backline Ukrainian forces were issued surplus DPMs.[24] [25]

Variants

Users

DPM[32] and RP-46 variants[33]

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[35]

RP-46 variant.[34]

Received 5,600 from the Soviet Union as aid from 1938.[36] [37]

DPM and RP-46 locally built as Type 53 and Type 58

RP-46 and Type 58 variants.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

DP, DT, DTM, DPM and RP-46 variants.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

Used captured examples during World War II.[39]

Captured models were issued to the Volkssturm.[40]

DP, DPM and DTM variants.[41] Locally produced as M-27.[1]

Iraqi insurgents used RP-46 variant.[42]

The Italian Army in Russia used captured examples as they were more reliable than the Breda 30.[43]

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

DPM, Type 53 and RP-46 variants.[44] [45]

Used by Polish Army in USSR during World War II[48] and then during the Cold War era (DPM and RP-46 variants).

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

Type 58 variant[51]

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[5]

RP-46 variant.[34]

RP-46 variant.[34]

DPM, Type 53, RP-46 and Type 58 variants[54]

RP-46 variant.[56]

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Hungarian Revolution 1956. Elite 148. Osprey Publishing. Erwin . Schmidl. László . Ritter. 10 Nov 2006. 9781846030796. 63.
  2. Web site: Armenian RP-46 during Nagorno-Karabakh War. . Pinterest . 2 March 2020 . en.
  3. Web site: DP-28 in action During Georgian Civil War. 2017-08-20.
  4. Book: McNab . Chris . Soviet Machine Guns of World War II . 2022 . Osprey Publishing.
  5. News: fr. Syrie: les ISIS Hunters, ces soldats du régime de Damas formés par la Russie. 30 May 2017. France-Soir. 4 September 2018. 10 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170910043934/http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/syrie-les-isis-hunters-ces-soldats-du-regime-de-damas-formes-par-moscou-bachar-al-assad-forces-speciales-russie-syriens-etat-islamique-palmyre-daech-stephane-mantoux-5e-corps. dead.
  6. Web site: Suciu . Peter . Meet the DP-28: The Red Army's "Record Player" (Or Killer Machine Gun) . National Interest . 29 June 2020 . 23 December 2022.
  7. Web site: McCollum . Ian . 2021-08-13 . Stalin's Record Player: The DP-27 Light Machine Gun . 2024-04-19 . www.forgottenweapons.com . en-US.
  8. Web site: RPD machine gun DP-27 caliber cartridge 7,62 mm | soldat.pro – military experts. Unites the best! .
  9. Web site: 2021-12-21 . Неудачам вопреки: как появился легендарный советский пулемет ДП . 2024-04-19 . Российская газета . ru.
  10. Web site: Cannon victory. Degtyarev Infantry — the machine gun DP 85 years « Encyclopedia of safety . 2018-05-26 . 2018-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180527043056/http://survincity.com/2013/07/cannon-victory-degtyarev-infantry-the-machine-gun/ . dead .
  11. Web site: Suciu . Peter . 2023-12-12 . Stalin's Record Player: The DP-27 Degtyaryov LMG . 2024-04-19 . The Armory Life . en-US.
  12. Web site: Prototype Friberg/Kjellman Flapper-Locking Semiauto Rifle. December 22, 2017. Ian. McCollum. Forgotten weapons.
  13. Web site: Moss. Matthew. The Soviet DP-28 Was a Brute-Simple Machine Gun. live. 2021-12-03. War is Boring. 18 July 2017 . en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180411202728/http://warisboring.com/the-soviet-dp-28-was-a-brute-simple-machine-gun/ . 2018-04-11 .
  14. Web site: Оружие победы. Дегтярёв пехотный – пулемёту ДП 90 лет. - ФЕЛЬДФЕБЕЛЬ - магазин для реконструкторов и коллекционеров . 2024-04-19 . feldwebel.ru.
  15. Web site: Stalin's Record Player: The DP-27 Degtyaryov LMG . 12 December 2023 .
  16. Web site: The Long Road to the DP-27 . 9 May 2021 .
  17. Book: McNab . Chris . Soviet Machine Guns of World War II . 2022 . Osprey Publishing.
  18. Web site: Spanish Civil War for NUTS! – Part One, Small Arms . 11 November 2019 .
  19. https://fireonthewaters.tripod.com/SCWSmallArms.pdf
  20. Web site: The French Indochina War 1946–54. United States.
  21. Web site: Degťarev DPM / NAM 64-75. www.nam-valka.cz.
  22. Web site: Viet Cong Fighter. United States.
  23. Web site: Small arms recovered in Mali raid | Armament Research Services. 24 December 2014 . armamentresearch.com. 2015-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20221128211849/https://armamentresearch.com/small-arms-recovered-in-mali/. 28 November 2022.
  24. Web site: Trevithick . Joseph . 2022-01-26 . Needy Ukrainian Reserve Units Could Be Armed With Pre-World War II DP-27 Machine Guns . 2023-03-30 . The Drive . en. https://web.archive.org/web/20230308204556/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44034/pre-world-war-ii-dp-27-machine-guns-could-go-to-needy-ukrainian-reserve-units. March 8, 2023.
  25. Web site: Network . Frontier India News . 2022-01-24 . Why are 100-year-old Degtyaryov machine guns in the spotlight in the Ukraine - Russia tensions? . 2023-03-30 . Frontier India . en-GB. https://web.archive.org/web/20230330124912/https://frontierindia.com/why-are-100-year-old-degtyaryov-machine-guns-in-the-spotlight-in-the-ukraine-russia-tensions/. March 30, 2023.
  26. Web site: Degtyarev DPM LMG Light Support / Vehicle Machine Gun Specifications and Pictures . 2024-04-19 . www.militaryfactory.com.
  27. Широкорад А.Б. (2001) История авиационного вооружения Харвест (Shirokorad A.B. (2001) Istorya aviatsionnogo vooruzhenia Harvest.) (History of aircraft armament), page 70
  28. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA005480.pdf
  29. Web site: Image: 2010051007.jpg, (440 × 358 px). 2010-09-03. bratishka.ru. 2015-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20130223032852/http://www.bratishka.ru/archiv/2010/5/images/2010051007.jpg. 2013-02-23. dead.
  30. Book: Пулеметы России. Шквальный огонь . Семен Федосеев. 322–327. 2009. Яуза / Коллекция / ЭКСМО. 978-5-699-31622-9.
  31. http://www.virginia1774.org/DIA-ST-HB-07-03-74.pdf Small Arms Identification and Operation Guide--Eurasian Communist Countries
  32. Book: Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2012/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2012-Chapter-10-EN.pdf. Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. Cambridge University Press. 2012. Small Arms Survey. Small Arms Survey. 332. 978-0-521-19714-4. 2018-08-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002411/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html. 2018-08-31. dead.
  33. Book: Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society. Michael Vinai. Bhatia . Mark . Sedra. Routledge. Small Arms Survey. Small Arms Survey. 978-0-415-45308-0. 65. May 2008.
  34. Book: Richard D. . Jones . Leland S. . Ness . Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 . January 27, 2009 . 35th . Jane's Information Group . Coulsdon . 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  35. Book: Terry J.. Gander. Charles Q. . Cutshaw. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001/2002 . 2001 . 27th . Jane's Information Group . Coulsdon . 9780710623171.
  36. Book: Shih . Bin . China's Small Arms of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) . 979-8473557848 . 176 . 2021.
  37. Book: Jowett, Philip . The Chinese Army 1937–49: World War II and Civil War. Men-at-Arms 424. 10 Jul 2005. 9781841769042. Osprey Publishing. 15.
  38. Military Surplus Magazine. December 15, 2016. Eastern Bloc Firestorm: The Czech UK vz. 59 Machine Gun. Paul. Scarlata .
  39. http://www.winterwar.com/Weapons/SuSmallArms/SUAutomatics.htm Soviet Machine guns and Light Machine guns in the Winter War
  40. Book: 329. Desperate Measures: The Last-Ditch Weapons of the Nazi Volkssturm. W. Darrin Weaver. 2005. Collector Grade Publications . 978-0889353725.
  41. Book: Lugosi . József . József . Lugosi . György . Markó . Hazánk dicsőségére: 160 éves a Magyar Honvédség . 2008 . Zrínyi Kiadó. Budapest . 978-963-327-461-3 . 384 . Gyalogsági fegyverek 1868–2008.
  42. Book: Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2012/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2012-Chapter-10-EN.pdf. Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. Cambridge University Press. 2012. Small Arms Survey. Small Arms Survey. 321. 978-0-521-19714-4. 2018-08-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002411/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html. 2018-08-31. dead.
  43. Book: Riccio . Ralph . Italian small arms of the first & second world wars . 2013 . Schiffer Publishing . 9780764345838 . 160.
  44. Web site: NORTH KOREA COUNTRY HANDBOOK | MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY. 2 November 1998. 2015-09-03.
  45. North Korean Small Arms (Democratic People's Republic of Korea). Small Arms Review. 16. 2. June 2012. 2019-02-03. 2019-02-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20190202212301/https://smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1108. dead.
  46. Book: Djaló, Amadú Bailó. 2010. Guineense, Comando, Português. Guinean, Commando, Portuguese . Portuguese. Lisboa. Associação de Comandos. 139. 978-989-95601-1-6.
  47. Book: Laffin, John . Arab Armies of the Middle East Wars 1948–73. Men-at-Arms 128. 15 Jun 1982. Osprey Publishing. 9780850454512. 37.
  48. Book: Zaloga, Steven J.. The Polish Army 1939–45. limited. Men-at-Arms 117 . 1982. 9780850454178. Osprey Publishing. 39.
  49. https://modernfirearms.net/en/machineguns/russia-machineguns/dp-dpm-rp-46-eng/ Degtyarev DP DPM RP-46 (Russia / USSR)
  50. Book: Uniforms of the Soldiers of Fortune. 1985. 9780713713282. Leroy. Thompson. Ken. MacSwan. Blandford Press. Poole. 117–118. registration.
  51. Book: Smith, Chris . In the Shadow of a Cease-fire: The Impacts of Small Arms Availability and Misuse in Sri Lanka . Small Arms Survey . October 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185613/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP11-Sri-Lanka.pdf . dead . January 12, 2011 . Occasional Paper No. 11. 14.
  52. Web site: Footage of weapons which were handed over by rebels to the Syrian Arab Army in Southern Damascus . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Ycm6y2120dE . 2021-12-22 . live. . 12 May 2018.
  53. Web site: Syrian Civil War: WWII weapons used. November 2019.
  54. Book: Rottman, Gordon L. . North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958–75. Warrior 135. 10 Feb 2009. Osprey Publishing. 9781846033711. 31.
  55. Web site: WWII weapons in Yemen's civil war. wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com. September 9, 2018.
  56. Web site: Zambia Watchdog . Zambia dented, instability to continue up to 2021 – Economist Group . Zambia Watchdog . 2017-06-09 . 2017-06-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20210616235649/https://www.zambiawatchdog.com/zambia-dented-instability-to-continue-upto-2021-economist-group/. June 16, 2021.
  57. Web site: sapeurgalanet. Кулемет ДП-27 . . 2022-01-25. 2022-03-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20230603170710/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHTtvNizmkE. June 3, 2023.
  58. Web site: Chris McGrath . Russians Continue Assault On Outskirts Of Kyiv. Getty Images. 2022-03-07. 2022-03-25.

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