The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operatit 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developit in the Soviet Union bi Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is offeecially kent as Avtomat Kalashnikova (Автомат Калашникова). It is kent as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Roushie slang, Kalash forby.

AK-47[1]
AK-47 Teep 2A wi ribbed stamped-steel magazine an 6H2 bayonet
TeepAssault rifle
Place o oreegin Soviet Union
Service history
In service1949–present
Uised biSee Uisers
Production history
DesignerMikhail Kalashnikov
Designed1944–1947
ManufacturerIzhmash
No. biggitapproximately 75 million AK-47
100 million AK-type rifles[2][3]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Wecht5.21 kg (11.5 lb) wi loadit magazine[4]
Lenth870 mm (34 in) fixed widden stock
875 mm (34.4 in) fauldin stock extended
645 mm (25.4 in) stock fauldit
Baurel lenth415 mm (16.3 in)

Cartridge7.62×39mm M43/M67
ActionGas-operatit, rotatin bolt
Rate o fire600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity715 m/s[5]
Effective firin range400 metre (440 yd) semi-automatic[6]
300 metre (330 yd) full automatic[6]
Feed seestem10, 20 , 30 , 40 or 75 -roond detachable box an drum style magazine, compatible wi 40-roond box or 75-roond drum magazines frae the RPK an aw
SichtsAdjustable iron sidhts, 100–800 metre adjustments, 378 mm (14.9 in) sicht radius

Design wirk on the AK-47 began in the last year o Warld War II (1945). Efter the war in 1948, the AK-47 wis presentit for offeecial military trials. In 1947 the fixed-stock version wis introducit intae service wi select units o the Soviet Airmy. An early development o the design wis the AKS (S—Skladnoy or "fauldin"), which wis equippit wi an unnerfauldin metal shoulder stock. In 1949, the AK-47 wis offeecially acceptit bi the Soviet Airmit Forces an uised bi the majority o the member states o the Warsaw Pact.

The oreeginal AK-47 wis ane o the first true "assault rifles" tae be manufactured, efter the oreeginal Sturmgewehr 44.[7] Even efter sax decades the model an its variants remain the maist widely uised an popular assault rifles in the warld acause o thair durability, law production cost, an ease o uise. It haes been manufactured in mony kintras an haes seen service wi airmit forces as well as revolutionary an terrorist organisations warldwide. The AK-47 wis the basis for developin mony ither types o individual an crew-served fireairms. Mair AK-type rifles hae been producit than aw ither assault rifles combined.[2]

Firin the 7.62x39mm cartridge, the AK-47 produces significant woondin effects when the projectile tumbles an fragments in tissue;[8] but it produces relatively minor woonds when the projectile exits the body afore beginnin tae yaw.[9][10]

Uisers

eedit

Notes

eedit
  1. Table data are for AK-47 with Type 2/3 receiver
  2. a b Killicoat, Phillip (Apryle 2007). "Weaponomics: The Global Market for Rifles" (PDF). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 4202 (Post-Conflict Transitions Working Paper No. 10). University of Oxford. p. 3. Archived (PDF) frae the original on 12 Januar 2012. Retrieved 3 Apryle 2010.
  3. "AK-47 Inventor Doesn't Lose Sleep Over Havoc Wrought With His Invention". Foxnews.com. 6 Julie 2007. Retrieved 3 Apryle 2010.
  4. Dockery, Kevin (2007). Future Weapons. p. 102.
  5. "Warsaw Pact Weapons & Equipment 1990-1991". Retrieved 21 Mairch 2024.
  6. a b Bidwell, Shelford. The Encyclopedia of land warfare in the 20th century, p. 199. Spring Books, 1977.
  7. Poyer, Joe (2004). The AK-47 and AK-74 Kalashnikov Rifles and Their Variations. North Cape Publications.
  8. Bellamy RF, Zajtchuk R. The physics and biophysics of wound ballistics. In: Zajtchuk R, ed. Textbook of Military Medicine, Part I: Warfare, Weaponry, and the Casualty, Vol. 5, Conventional Warfare: Ballistic, Blast, and Burn Injuries. Washington, DC: Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army, United States of America (1990) pp. 146–155
  9. U.S. Military Small Arms Ammunition Failures and Solutions, GK Roberts, NDIA Dallas, Texas, 21 May 2008, DTIC.mil Archived 2011-06-28 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Wounding Effects of the AK-47 Rifle Used by Patrick Purdy in the Stockton, California, Schoolyard Shooting of January 17, 1989, Fackler, Martin L. M.D.; Malinowski, John A. B.S.; Hoxie, Stephen W. B.S.; Jason, Alexander B.A., American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, September 1990
  11. a b Kahaner, Larry (26 November 2006). "Weapon Of Mass Destruction". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 3 Apryle 2010.
  12. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd Ness, Leland S.; Jones, Richard, eds. (5 Januar 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  13. "Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov and the AK-4". Archived frae the original on 1 Februar 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  14. 5.56mm AR-M1 & AR-M1F Archived 2014-06-18 at the Wayback Machine
  15. 7.62mm AR-M1 & AR-M1F Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
  16. Gander, Terry J. (Mey 1995). Jane's Infantry Weapons 1995-96. ISBN 978-0-7106-1241-0.
  17. a b c Modern Firearms – AK-47 AKM Archived 2008-03-06 at the Wayback Machine. World.guns.ru (2011-01-24). Retrieved on 2011-03-14.
  18. a b c D. M. O. Miller (31 August 2001). Illustrated directory of twentieth century guns. ISBN 978-1-84065-245-1.
  19. "Georgian Army Bids Farewell to Soviet Guns" (PDF). Today Defence (7). Januar 2008. Archived frae the original (PDF) on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  20. Milosevic, Milan (2005). "Trojanski Konj za Teroriste" (in Serbian). Kalibar. Archived frae the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 4 Apryle 2009.
  21. "Greece Ministry of Public Order Press Office: Special Anti-Terrorist Unit" (PDF). Official Website of the Hellenic Police. Julie 2004. Archived frae the original (PDF) on 21 Julie 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  22. "Maha's elite counter terror unit Force One becomes operational". Business Standard. Retrieved 5 Julie 2010.
  23. Macedonian military police, US National Guard conduct joint manoeuvres. SETimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-03-14.
  24. Israel Aids Palestinians With Arms, New York Times. September 5, 2008.
  25. Pakistan Military Consortium. www.PakDef.info (1989-05-29). Retrieved on 2011-03-14. Archived 2011-05-15 at the Wayback Machine
  26. "Santiago city forms SWAT team to combat crime". Philippine Information Agency. 2 September 2006. Archived frae the original on 4 Mairch 2016. Retrieved 1 Februar 2010.
  27. Western Sahara – In the unforgiving deserts of south west Algeria, Nick Ryan meets the nomads fighting a 25 year battle.

References

eedit