Machine gun SG-43 (Machine Gun Goryunova)

Among 14 machine gun constructions, examined from August 1942 to June 1943 by a commission chaired by Major General Smirnov, head of the Vystrel course, the Goryunov machine gun (SHG - “P.M. Goryunov - V.E. Voronkov - MMGoryunov ") Was not among the leaders. But the originality of the design solutions and the simplicity of the device made me recommend this machine gun for revision and further testing.

At the beginning of May 1943, comparative tests were carried out on the improved DS-43 Degtyarev and GVG machine guns, which became the main contenders. According to the findings of the Commission, the machine gun of Goryunov compared with the DS showed better accuracy (in 1,5 times), greater survivability of parts (in 2,5 times), greater reliability of work. Important was the possibility of using canvas and metal tape. Finally, on May 14 of the year 1943, after a special meeting on this issue (chairman IV Stalin), by decision of the State Defense Committee, they adopted the “7,62-mm heavy machine gun of the 1943 model of the Goryunov design (SG-43) on the Degtyarev machine”.

For the release of this machine gun without reducing the production of other samples at the Kovrov plant during the 2,5 months built the case "And". In the factory in the beginning of July new manufactures are organized: machine tools, machine guns and cartridge boxes. In October, 1943 of the year sent the first machine guns to the front. Total plant number XXUMX until the end of the war released 2 machine gun Goryunova. In 28882, production of SG-1944 was mastered in Zlatoust, in parallel with the Maxim machineguns. And although the production of SG-43 was much smaller, in the last period of the Second World War, he participated in the battles along with Maxim.

SG-43 was equipped with a heavy interchangeable barrel. The barrel needed to be replaced via 500 shots, it took up to 8 seconds to replace. The kit included two spare barrel. The work of automation took place due to removal of powder gases into the gas chamber of the closed type, located at the bottom of the barrel. A rotary control knob was installed in the chamber. Locking was done by tilting the bolt to the right. The ledge of the bolt carrier controlled the movement of the bolt, he also beat on the firing pin after locking. In the back plate mounted trigger mechanism. The trigger lever was between the control knobs and, like the "Maxim", held the fuse. The shot came from the rear whisper.

In the machine gun, the push-pull feed was saved: the cartridge from the tape was pulled back, then transferred to the dismounting line. This system required high accelerations and threatened to dismantle the cartridge in the receiver, however, the refinement of the SG-43 machine gun has significantly reduced the frequency of delays for this reason. Sliding type feed mechanism. Used metal non-bulk tape type DS-39 or canvas tape from "Maxim". A receiver equipped with a hinged lid accelerated the reloading 2-3 times, especially if the tape was not completely shot. The loading handle protruded under the control handles from the bottom, while it was still shooting. The scope of the sight had two scales: for a light bullet - 0-2000 meters, for a heavy bullet - 0-2300 meters.

View of the SGM receiver on the top, the lid is open; visible pick-up, extracting cartridges from the tape and loading arm

We used different types of cartridge 7,62x54R - cartridge with light bullet L (bullet weight 9,6 g), heavy bullet D (11,8 g) or “surrogated” bullet (11,4-11,5 g), armor-piercing bullet B-30 (10,8-11,05 g), X -32 (9,65-10,25 g) or BS-40 (12-12,5 g). At a distance of 200 meters, the B-32 bullet pierced 10-mm armor. Used and armored-piercing tracer bullet BT (11 g), armor-piercing incendiary-tracer BZT (9,2 g), which gave a visible trace to 700 m and penetrated 7-mm armor at a distance of 200 meters. The tracing bullet T-30 (9,7 g) gave a white trail to 800 meters. In some cases, an incendiary bullet 3 (9,9 g), and an incendiary-incendiary PZ (9,7-10,3 g) were used for shooting at air and non-armored targets.

The machine was created by the designer G.S. Garanin under the leadership of Degtyarev, therefore, is sometimes referred to in the literature as the “Degtyarev-Garanin machine”. This machine belonged to the universal wheel field machines. For firing from the equestrian trench, as well as for ease of carrying the boom folded. For anti-aircraft fire, the machine overturned, the limb-coulter of the shield rested against the ground, and the machine gun was attached to the end of the boom on the swivel. An annular anti-aircraft gun was used for the 1944 model of the year.

The weight of the finished fully equipped machine gun on the machine was on the 25,6 kilogram less than the machine gun "Maxim" with almost the same accuracy of fire at ranges up to 1000 meters. SG-43 was quite a modern machine gun and was an example of a successful combination of well-known solutions and the original design of the units, operational and technological simplicity and good fighting qualities, although in terms of efficiency this machine gun was inferior to the German MG.42 machine version.

Egyptian Marines

Like any military model, SG-43 had overly simplified components and parts. In addition, the experience of warfare revealed the need to abandon the shield, reduce weight and move to a more convenient and easy machine. By 1945, some experience was gained in improving the SG-43, which took into account the results of troop exploitation. SGM machine gun installed on the new machine and its modifications were created already at the end of the war. In service with the Red Army, the SGM replaced the single PC machine gun. SG-43 and its modifications were supplied to 15 countries: Vietnam, Hungary, GDR, Guinea, Egypt, Zambia, Indonesia, the DPRK, PRC, Mozambique, Mali, Poland, Romania and Syria.

Scheme of the machine gun SG-43: at the top - a movable system in the forward position; below - mobile system in the rear position

Order unloading machine gun SG-43

Slide the receiver cover latch forward (located in the rear part of the receiver on the left), open the cover. Remove the tape from the feeder's fingers. Raise the bottom cover and remove the cartridge, which may be in the receiver. Pull the charging handle back, inspect the chamber, press the trigger lever, return the charging handle to the front position. Close receiver covers.

Specifications machine gun SG-43:
Cartridge - 7,62-mm sample 1908 of the year (7,62x54R);
The mass of the "body" machine gun - 13,8 kg;
Machine gun weight - 44,5 kg (on a machine with a shield);
The length of the "body" of the machine gun - 1150 mm;
Barrel length - 720 mm;
Grooves - 4 right;
The length of the stroke rifling - 240 mm;
The initial speed of the light bullet - 865 m / s;
The initial speed of a heavy bullet is 800 m / s;
Sighting range when using a light bullet - 2000 m;
Sighting range when using heavy bullets - 2300 m;
The rate of fire - 500-700 shots per minute;
Combat rate of fire - 200-250 shots per minute (maximum - 350);
Power - canvas tape on 250 or metal on 50 and 250 cartridges;
Type of machine - infantry wheel universal Degtyarev-Garanin;
Machine weight - kg 26,6;
The height of the line of fire when firing at ground is 500 mm;
The height of the line of fire in anti-aircraft shooting - 1460 mm.

According to the article Seeds Fedoseev "Machine guns of World War II"

Comments

[Dust]

Somehow not very convincing about the need to abandon the shield!

[borisst64]

Are there many machine guns with a shield now? The struggle to reduce the weight of weapons has always been one of the first places.

[Dust]

With my family - not very much, but they put the shields when installing machine guns on armored vehicles, I had to remember the old ...

[bespalikoff]

The shield is important, of course, but it also unmasks the machine gun crew very much. It was more effective to mask the firing position and equip a pair of spare ones. Upon detection, a lighter machine gun without a shield could simply be transferred to another position. The experience of the German army using MG machine guns showed that the shield is probably necessary, but not so important

[patline]

Interesting article. I did not know that the Goryunovs were a dynasty.
Change of a trunk no more than 8 sec. Friskly. But apparently it gets very hot - after 500 shots change.

[Puskarinkis]

Maybe it meant that 500 shots of continuous shooting (intense). If I am not mistaken, then this indicator is also with RMB.

[alexey garbuz]

According to the press in Brest, Goryunov and about 60 rounds of ammunition were found in the attic of the cinema. That was in the year 11, and where did the administration of the cinema look, if no one, even with the fire department, looked into the cinema for so many years, or one can admire the Soviet a system of electricity and water supply, which had been operating reliably for several decades. And, one wonders, where did the culture workers drink, burying themselves from the all-seeing eye of the authorities?

[mind1954]

As far as I know, the most amazing thing in the history of the SG-43 is that
General Degtyarev said honestly and bluntly that the machine gun Goryunov
better, of his own, which caused Stalin's discontent.
Time appointed him general from the construction of a small
weapons, so it must match! And then there's the story
with PPD, which was technologically brilliantly replaced first by PCA,
and then PPP.

[bespalikoff]

For this, respect for Comrade Degyatrev! A man advocated for the cause, and not for selfish interest!

[schta]

Zazrya PPD called less technological. The fault of PPD is that it is more expensive and more difficult to manufacture, but the rest of its performance characteristics are equivalent or superior to PCA. Sudaevsky machine gun is even simpler, cheaper, easier.
Degtyarev himself was a simple rather modest person (relatively, of course). For him, business is more important, not ambition and other crap. PPSh is the result of the work of his subordinate and friend Shpagin. DShK is also a joint work.

"Goryunov" - occupied the "desperately empty" niche of the easel machine gun, becoming a worthy colleague of Maksimka and replacing the "raw" Degtyarevsky DS-39. (Indeed, objectively, "Goriunov" is better than "Degryatya" in a number of indicators).

[Volga Cossack]

good article!