The Ministry of Defense announced, what in 2020 year it will purchase for the agency needs 40000 new Kalashnikov AK-12. This is a new model of the famous weapons. Two years ago, it began to make commercially.
Hugo Schmeisser had nothing to do with it ...
Appearance in AK-12 troops reminded, that Kalashnikovs are made today in service with more than 100 countries. And the Indians last March launched their own factory for the production of "Kalash", moreover, their most modern designs.
This good news did not stop the new wave of myth circulation., clinging to the Kalashnikov for his more than seventy years. Chief among them: firstborn series AK-47 - only a replica of the German STG-44 assault rifle ("Šturmgever") designer Hugo Schmeisser.
Proponents of this myth say about a certain resemblance rifle and rifle, as well as about, that 1946 by 1952 Hugo Schmeisser year together with other German armourers worked in the design office of factory "Izhmash".
On this argument in favor of the myth ends. In the case enters the real facts. they are. Kalashnikov design was preceded by another Soviet development - Tula machine Bulkin or TKB-415, which also has a resemblance, even more, than with the STG-44.
Besides, comparing device AK-47 rifle with the German, experts have come to the conclusion, that their details have nothing in common. The difference is visible from the locking mechanism until the hammer. And most importantly - automatic rifle and made a completely different cartridges: 7,92×33 mm and 7.62×39 mm, respectively,.
It follows from the first second myth. If the German gunsmiths gave Kalashnikov the simplicity and reliability, which he has become famous all over the world. Here we must turn to history. AK-47 went into a series of difficult. It was cumbersome, uncomfortable, difficult to handle. Serve weapons could only specially trained soldiers. So he did not even hit the Korean War 1950-1953 years. The first application of the Kalashnikov assault rifle had already on 1956 year, in Hungary.
Izhevsk KB was meanwhile machine work to change the structure. We experimented with materials and steels, We try out new ways of processing. As a result, 1959 the country received a modernized Kalashnikov assault rifle - AKM. He was a simple and reliable, easier to 700 grams. It was then that he was born the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle, until our time has not lost its luster and superiority over other samples of small arms.
Let's listen to the experts
There are myths and different order, so to speak, razvenchivayushtie "ustoyavshiysya stereotype». These include statements, if a Kalashnikov, as well as any other weapon, overheating in the, and then "spits out" or just chuck it jammed. Supporters of this version can only say one thing: foolish can break everything, anything. It is better to listen to the authoritative expert.
"Kalashnikov, in my opinion, It is the best example of it is the army of the automaton from the ratio of these indicators, Both the design specifications (range, rate), and reliability, - said on the air channel "Zvezda" Deputy Chairman of the All-Russian Society of Civil Weapons Owners Sergey Zainullin. - After all, army weapons, Unlike hunting and sporting weapons, It operated in very harsh conditions. This water, and dirt, and sand. The Kalashnikov rifle has demonstrated its high reliability and in the African sands, and in the Arctic. And all these weapons runs absolutely reliably ".
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What experts agree, so it is with the, that the shortened modification of the AK-74 - AKS-74U did not justify itself in the landing troops. The military called this modification of the landing, although the designers originally developed AKS-74U for the defense in close combat crews of various combat vehicles, gunners, signalers etc.
Convenient shortened gun and really liked the paratroopers. Attitude towards him changed during the Afghan war. As is known, landing activities are not limited to melee. At long distances, the AKS-74U showed a shorter range and critically low accuracy of fire.
Also, in conditions of prolonged and intense battle, the shortened machine gun overheated. Therefore, the AKS-74U was taken from the paratroopers and returned to, to whom he relied, as an effective replacement for a pistol in defense against the enemy after the defeat of a standard combat vehicle.
You can recall a couple of myths about the legendary machine. for example, about the incredible simplicity of Kalash production or something, that he has not changed for decades a classically successful design. It is better to pay attention to his ancestral heir - AK-12.
He also has a difficult fate. Presented to the public in 2011 the year the new machine failed the first tests. Refined again, tested and, finally, at 2015 he was adopted by the. However, in the series and the troops, the new machine only went to 2018 year.
Let's hope, that now with the AK-12 will go the countdown in the history of Kalashnikov assault rifles, and he will become the same legend, as his eminent predecessor.
Gennady Granovsky
