Large-caliber machine gun NSVT: review, specifications and description

Machine guns during their appearance were not accidentally referred to the category of artillery: the power of such weapons is still striking. Moreover, heavy "machine tools" allow even hanging firing, so they can be referred to artillery systems, albeit with tension, even today. This is confirmed by the legendary NSVT machine gun, which is also "Cliff".

Basic information and purpose

Refers to large caliber barrels (12.7 mm). It was created for the following purposes:

• Suppression and destruction of fire points, as well as lightly armored vehicles.
• Work on clusters of light equipment and live enemy forces at a distance of up to a half or two kilometers.
• The ability to use as a means of air defense, to destroy targets flying at a height of up to one and a half kilometers.

A powerful Soviet cartridge 12.7x108 made it possible to perform a whole gamut of different tasks, as it was produced in different variations (including also standard and armor-piercing bullets):

• Armor-piercing and incendiary.
• Tracer-armor-piercing and incendiary.
• Special incendiary, instant action.

How was this machine gun created?

Work on the creation of a new machine gun was started in the early 60s of the last century, because by that time the need to completely replace the outdated DShK (DShKM) was finally in place. By the way, later the author's collective took part in the competition for the creation of a single 7.62x54 caliber machine gun, but then Kalashnikov won.

By the way, where does this name come from: "NSVT-machine gun"? The decryption is simple, since it is an abbreviation composed of the first letters of the surnames of the creators of this weapon: Nikitin, Sokolov, Volkov. Index "T" means "tank", but often so is called and the infantry option.

Especially for the production of new weapons from scratch, a factory was built in the city of Uralsk. Many workers moved there, and from the "weapon" cities: Tula, Izhevsk and Kovrov. Together they managed to create a completely unique technology for creating weapons, which until that day was not used anywhere:

• Cuttings were obtained by electrochemical, and not mechanical, treatment. This allowed to minimize the probability of microscopic damage to the trunk, to increase the period of its use several times.
• Thermal tempering was carried out in a vacuum chamber, which made it possible to achieve uniform hardening, without defects.
• The chrome plating of the entire barrel channel also greatly increased its combat survivability.

In the process of designing and the first field tests, many changes were made to the design of the "Cliff", mostly aimed at increasing the combat survivability of weapons, as well as its maximum simplification.

Places of production

In addition to the USSR, the NSVT machine gun was manufactured in India, Bulgaria and Poland. By the way, the license for "Utes" was transferred to them together with the right to manufacture the T-72 tank. It is known that Iran received similar permission, but, apparently, it was not possible to establish a complex production of machine guns on its territory.

Combat application

For the first time the NSVT machine gun was successfully tested in Afghanistan. In the first months of the war, both sides of the conflict used exclusively DShK (in the case of the dushmans they were Chinese copies). But soon our troops began to mass pass to the "Cliffs". Its enormous dignity was a simple fire control system, accuracy and accuracy.

If our soldiers spotted the Afghans approaching to the outpost, the plans of those people changed dramatically, since it was unrealistic to approach the range of aimed fire from the machine to the checkpoint on which the NSVT machine gun was standing. Initially, for these purposes, a tank variant was used on the machine, but later a purely infantry modification was also sent to the troops.

Soon this weapon was firmly "rooted" on all types of Soviet tanks, automatic firearms, and other armored vehicles. They fell in love with the NSVT (machine gun) and in the fleet, where it was massively installed on patrol boats as a simple and effective means of self-defense, including low-flying enemy aircraft.

Main advantages

In both Chechen campaigns, the machine gun also showed its best. Moreover, it was there that "Utes" acquired the nickname "antisniper". Since this weapon without problems allows firing at a distance of flesh up to two kilometers, the snipers of the militants were simply milled along with the shelters. But even more appreciated by our fighters this technique, when the troops finally began to supply and normal sights:

• Standard, brand SPP.
• Night NSPU-3.
• A unique radar sight, which allowed to fire extremely accurately even in total darkness, when ordinary "nightlights" become almost useless due to the lightening.

Of course, at the end of the 1980s, the need to replace the "Cliff" with something more modern was already acute, but it still stands in the arsenal of our army. But the replacement of the machine gun is really worthy - the "Cord" produced by the legendary Kovrov Weapon Factory. What was so good from a constructive point of view NSVT? This machine gun is a whole "collection" of unique technical developments, which in many respects outstripped their time.

Design Features

First, its weight. Only 25 kilograms! For machine guns of this caliber, this is today the lowest achievable weight, despite all the achievements of materials science. Automation "Cliff" - a classic, based on the removal of powder gases. Locking the barrel is carried out by means of a wedge gate, and its earring strikes the striker at this time. Such an elegant and simple solution made it possible to greatly simplify the design of the weapon.

The trigger mechanism is also as simple as possible and allows only automatic fire. In this case, a "block" can be connected to the weapon either with a trigger hook or with an electric drive (on tanks). Handles for recharge there.

Virtually all moving internal parts are equipped with rollers designed to minimize friction. To increase the survivability of mechanics, it is applied "fatty" cadmium coating. Thanks to a well thought out assembly and disassembly scheme, the replacement of the trunk could easily be carried out directly in the field, in the shortest possible time. For ease of replacement, a handle is provided on the barrel. On the muzzle part - a flame arrester of a characteristic conical shape, which was borrowed from the DShK.

Are there any differences between the "armored" NSVT? The tank machine gun in its construction is no different from a simple infantry version, with the exception of the trigger device. In its role protrudes the simplest coil with a winding and a sliding core. When a current is applied to the device, the latter starts to move, pressing down on the "trigger". Since the design is simple to primitive, it is extremely reliable, because there is nothing to break.

The shutter frame with the gas piston and the gate are hinged. Battle - by means of metal tapes, right and left variants of submission are possible. An exceptional feature of the "Cliff" is the front ejection of the shot cartridges, which makes it possible to use this weapon to create twin machine guns. In particular, such in due time let out in Tula. The effectiveness of the paired "Cliffs" is inferior to that of Shilka, although the rate of fire of the latter, of course, is higher.

Sights and machine gun feeding

As sighting devices there is a fly and a flap, marked up to a distance of two kilometers. Initially, there was a fly, but practice showed that there was no use in such a design.

Battle of the tapes with the type of hitch "crab". Each of its pieces consists of ten links. The design is such that it is possible to assemble a tape of any arbitrary length (but not less than ten cartridges, respectively). It is demountable, if necessary, the pieces quickly disengage. On the longitudinal edge of the lock joints, a white stripe is applied, so that in combat conditions it is not necessary to think for a long time where exactly to hook additional pieces.

Machine

In the variant for infantry, the NSVT "Utes" machine gun is used from the 6T7 machine. The machine is thought out, it provides excellent positional adaptability, allowing to conduct target fire from various positions. For convenience, the arrow is designed spring-loaded shoulder stop, which greatly softens the kickback.

For an anti-aircraft shooting infantry machine is not intended. Thanks to this, its design is as simple as possible, and its weight is 18 kilograms. In the transport position of 12.7 mm, the NSVT machine gun is removed from it, and the machine itself folds and can be carried on the hands.

Modifications

The main modification is just the NSVT, which was put on all Soviet tanks, beginning with the later versions of the T-64, as well as other armored vehicles and coast guard boats . It was on the basis of this weapon that the ship turret "Utes-M" was created.

An interesting fact: a large-caliber machine gun НСВ 12.7 mm at one time actively used the Finns, who put it on their armored personnel carriers, acting as part of the UN missions in North Africa. They liked the reliability, simplicity and huge lethal force of the "Cliff". Is there an NSV currently in service with the Finnish army, is unknown. However, this is quite possible, since a huge number of trunks could remain in Ukrainian warehouses, from where the "Cliffs" in their time massively dispersed around the world.

Why is the army moving to the Cord today?

Why recently our troops are moving to the "Cord"? After all, the main TTX of the NSVT / Cord machine gun is practically the same:

• The caliber is 12.7 mm.
• Range aiming at ground targets - from one and a half to two kilometers.
• By air targets - up to one and a half kilometers.
• The rate of fire is 700-800 rounds per minute.

There is a simple explanation for this. The fact is that after the collapse of the USSR factories for the production of these weapons remained on the territory of Ukraine and Kazakhstan. For this reason, it was decided to develop its own machine gun "Cord". He retained all the strengths of his predecessor, but far surpassed him in many ways.