Kord machine gun
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| KORD | |
|---|---|
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | Image:Flag of Russia.svg Russia |
| Production history | |
| Variants | ...some stocks may differ... |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 25.5 kg |
| Length | 1625 mm (64 in)(Tank)
1980 mm (78 in) (Infantry) |
| | |
| Cartridge | 12.7x108mm |
| Action | gas |
| Rate of fire | 650-750 rds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 820-860 m/s |
| Effective range | 2000 m (Ground); 1500 m (Air) |
| Feed system | 50 round belt |
The Kord 12.7 mm machine gun has recently entered production as a replacement for the Soviet-made NSV. The Kord heavy machine gun has improved accuracy, with dispersion of about 0.22 m at 100 m range. It includes a new barrel design and a belt feed on both sides of the gun.
[edit] Description
The Kord was developed by the Russian Degtyarev bureau in response to a requirement for a new heavy machine gun chambered to the 12.7x108mm cartridge, which could be used for support, mounted on vehicles, or in an anti-aircraft capacity. The catalyst for the requirement was a complete lack of any heavy machine guns in construction at that time in the Russian Federation. Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the weapon that had functioned as the heavy machine gun was the NSV, or "Utes" or "Utjos" (Meaning cliff in Russian, this name was its designation during development) [1] (утёс) machine gun. The pleas of Russian troops fighting in the region of Chechnya, who were suffering from the lack of sufficient numbers of heavy machine guns necessitated the development of the Kord.
Though it could almost be considered an "emergency" design, the Kord, in fact, proved a huge success. The weapon employs new construction, and consequently is significantly lighter than its predecessor. The firing mechanism is very rugged (in the Russian tradition), yet is capable of greater rate of fire and significantly less recoil (the recoil is so light, the gun can be fired "off the hands", without deployment of even a bipod. Because a new barrel made of a hi-tech alloy minimizes distortion and droop, accuracy has increased tremendously over previous Soviet machine guns. The weapon fires a heavy cartridge (like its predecessors).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Kord machine gun at zid.ru
- World.Guns review "Kord 12.7 6P50 heavy machine gun (Russia)" Modern Firearms & Ammunition, Site design, texts, some pictures © Maxim R. Popenker 1999-2007.
