DK (12.7 mm)
Contents
Description
The DK or Degtyaryov Krupnokalibernyi (Russian: Дегтярёва Крупнокалиберный; English: Degtyarov large calibre) is a Soviet 12.7 mm heavy machine gun used on armoured vehicles.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
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Available shells
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Comparison with analogues
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Usage in battles
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Pros and cons
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Pros:
Cons:
History
The Soviet Union, at its start, lacked the capability of providing infantry the necessary firepower to combat the potent threat of airpower. While other nations were moving ahead with large caliber machine guns after World War I, the Soviet Union only began requesting a similar weapon system in 1925.[1][2]
Unsatisfied with foreign examples, the Soviet Union sought to create an indigenous design of a heavy machine gun. The first step was the cartridge, which resulted in the 12.7x108 mm cartridge. For the weapon design, the Soviet Union asked Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyaryov, who had designed the DP machine gun, to produce a machine gun for the new cartridge. Degtyaryov delivered in 1930 his new machine gun, which was essentially the DP machine gun scaled up and fed by a 30-round magazine designed by A. Kladov. The machine gun was designated the DK, or Degtyaryov Krupnokalibernyj (Degtyarov Large Caliber).[1][2]
The DK was put into production in 1933. The weapon was typically mounted on a Koleshnikov universal mount, which had a wheeled carriage for transportation and firing at ground targets, and the mount's trails can be used as a tripod to engage aircraft.[1] The weapon saw use on armored cars, light tanks, and on small naval vessels.[2]
However, issues arose from the 30-round magazine the DK was equipped with, which restricted the overall firing rate of the weapon due to reloads. As such, by 1935 the weapon type was discontinued. However, another designer by the name Georgiy Shpagin would work with the DK to produce a belt-feed mechanism for the weapon in 1937. The weapon, a collobration effort between Degtyaryov and Shpagin, would eventually be adopted in 1939 as the DShK mod.38, which would go on as the predominate version of the weapon.[1]
Media
- Images
The DK mounted rear-facing on the upper turret of the SMK
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See also
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- reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Koll, Christian, Soviet Cannon: A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Guns and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm. Self-published, PDF, 2009.
- Popenker, Maxim, "DShK DShKM 12.7." Modern Firearms, Website. Accessed 04 Aug. 2021 (Archive).
| Tank machine guns | |
|---|---|
| USA | |
| 7.62 mm | M37 · M60D · M73 · M240 · M1919A4 · Mk.52 |
| 12.7 mm | FN M3P · M2HB · M80 · M85 |
| Germany | |
| 5.56 mm | MG4 |
| 7.62 mm | C6 · MG3A1 |
| 7.92 mm | MG13 Dreyse · MG34 · MG37(t) · MG42 |
| 12.7 mm | S.MG.50 |
| USSR | |
| 7.62 mm | DT · PKMB · PKT · PKTM · RP-46 · SGMT |
| 12.7 mm | DK · DShK · 6P49 · NSVT |
| 14.5 mm | KPVT |
| Britain | |
| 7.62 mm | Browning MG4 · L3A1 · L8A1 · L8A2 · L37A1 · L37A2 · L94A1 |
| 7.7 mm | Vickers |
| 7.92 mm | BESA |
| 12.7 mm | L21A1 |
| Japan | |
| 6.5 mm | Type 91 |
| 7.62 mm | Type 74 |
| 7.7 mm | Type 97 |
| 12.7 mm | Type 60 (B) |
| China | |
| 5.8 mm | QJT |
| 7.62 mm | Type 55 · Type 59 · Type 86 |
| 12.7 mm | QJC88A · Type 54 |
| 14.5 mm | QJG02 |
| Italy | |
| 7.62 mm | Beretta MG42/59 · FN MAG 60-40 |
| 8 mm | 34/40M · Breda Mod. 38 |
| 13.2 mm | Breda Model 31 |
| France | |
| 7.5 mm | AAT-52 · MAC 31 |
| 7.62 mm | A-A-F1N |
| 8 mm | Hotchkiss Mle 1914 |
| Sweden | |
| 6.5 mm | ksp m/14-29 |
| 7.62 mm | ksp 39 C · ksp 58 · ksp 94 |
| 8 mm | ksp m/36 · ksp m/39B |
| 12.7 mm | ksp 88 |
