Fact file: SF: KPV 14.5mm heavy machine gun

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The KPV is so far the most powerful machinegun ever manufactured in quantity, having about twice muzzle energy of 12.7mm machine guns.

Pic: The KPV Vladimirov HMG mounted as a ZPU-1. The weapon in this photograph appears to have been pictured in Afghanistan. 


Type:

Heavy machine gun.

Numbers:

?

Associated project names:

?

Manufacturer:

Various.

Crew:

2

In/out of action time:

?

Calibre:

14.5x115mm.

Barrel length:

1.350m.

Mass:

48.9kg.

Length:

2m.

Width:

?

Height:

?

Muzzle velocity:

1000m/s.

Rate of fire:

550rpm.

Max range:

1.4km against aerial targets, 2km against ground targets.

Accuracy & consistency:

Accuracy is not dependent on gun characteristics alone. Factors playing a role include variations in projectile mass, muzzle velocity, the accuracy of laying the gun in azimuth and elevation, as well as the accuracy in determining the gun position and meteorological data as well as barrel wear and history.

Ammunition:

64.4g armour piercing incendiary (API), capable of penetrating 30mm of armour at 500m.

Transportability:

Can be pintle-mounted on most vehicles. Anti-aircraft versions consisting of one, two and four barrels manufactured, called ZPU-1, ZPU-2 and ZPU-4 respectively.

Sight:

Various.

Magazine:

Belt-fed.

Comment:

The KPV (Krupnokalibernyj Pulemet Vladimirova – Vladimirov large calibre machinegun) was developed during the latter part of the World War Two as an “anti-tank machine gun” and heavy support machinegun for infantry. It was developed around the 14.5×115 anti-tank cartridge developed for the PTRD and PTRS antitank rifles.

The KPV is so far the most powerful machinegun ever manufactured in quantity, having about twice muzzle energy of 12.7mm machine guns.

The KPV is a short recoil operated, locked breech weapon. Barrel is locked to the bolt via rotating locking collar, which is controlled by the cam tracks in the receiver. Bolt feed can be adjusted to pull the belt from either side. Spent cases are ejected down and forward. Early KPV / PKP machine guns had mechanical triggers and spade grips; KPVT has an electrical trigger and shot counter. Quick-detachable barrel is fitted with conical flash hider and is enclosed into perforated jacket, which has a carrying handle and removed along with the barrel as a unit.1

Was previously used by the air defence artillery of 44 Parachute Brigade.

1 Max R. Popenker, KPV-14.5 / KPVT-14.5 heavy machinegun, Modern Firearms & Ammunition site, Online encyclopedia of firearms and ammunition of the XX and XXI centuries. http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg01-e.htm