How did the generation of 3 + submachine guns begin?
The “VO” readership has clearly enjoyed the series of articles on submachine guns, as their comments suggest. Even verbal battles ensued, which is indicative. Their only drawback is the desire to quickly declare their knowledge and convict of ignorance of others. Meanwhile, absolute knowledge does not happen in principle. That is why the text of the articles in parentheses constantly gives references to the materials of our website, where the same samples were written either earlier or ... more. However, for some reason, many miss them. But overall, the discussion turned out to be very useful. It is always important to look at the opinions of those who not only have an idea about weapons, but he himself shot from it. And some comments are simply requested to be inserted into the text, they are so capacious and at the same time exhaustive.
Here, for example, the comment of a person under the nickname "Major Whirlwind":
Indeed, one cannot but agree with this, and this commentary was chosen because it most closely matches the topic of this material. And we will begin to consider it by recalling that the 3 submachine gun generation, which appeared at the end of the war and the beginning of the 50, with all its originality bore the imprint of ... “old ideas”, the main idea of which was ... universalization of weapons! So there is a rifle? There is! Well, add to it a carbine and ... enough! Submachine gun appeared? Good! Let's make it easier and more compact and ... enough!
In the Soviet army, completely abandoning the PP, this point of view was embodied in the AKS-74U (See VO 20 September 2018). And, by the way, there was nothing wrong with that in the conditions of preparing for a total war of survival. One sample, one cartridge ... one base. Everything is logical and justified from all points of view.
However, it was at this very time, namely at the end of 60-x and the beginning of 70-s, that the submachine guns of the 3 + generation began to appear, which differed from previous models ... so to speak: "an increased level of specialization." Thus, in Czechoslovakia, from 1961 to 1979, the year began the production of submachine guns "Scorpion" vz.61 designed by Miroslav Rybazh. Strictly speaking, it is more an “automatic pistol” than a “submachine gun”, but still it is customary to attribute it to the latter, and not to the former.
At the time of the Warsaw Pact, this would be the only specimen created for the American cartridge 7,65-mm (7,65 × 17 mm) chosen by chance, but because of its low impact, but soon there were samples for our 9-mm cartridge (vz.63) and 9-mm cartridge "Parabellum" (vz.68). It turned out that his design tolerates this all easily. True, at a rate of 840 shots / min. the shop on 20 cartridges was shot almost instantly. The barrel led upwards after 2-3 shots, but ... when shooting point-blank, it all turned out to be insignificant.
At close range, this weapon model showed extremely high efficiency. Not without reason on the “black market” he became almost the “king” of sales. Everybody bought it: both “freedom fighters” (for example, he was very fond of the Palestine Liberation Organization fighters!), And “freedom fighters” fighters, and he was also armed with Czechoslovak tank crews and radar operators, helicopter pilots and communications men. In addition to the Czechoslovak army, it was supplied to Egypt, Libya, Angola, Iraq, and even our famous anti-terrorist group Alfa used it at the very beginning of its existence. It makes no sense to dwell on it in detail, especially since the 28 February 2013 was published on the VO material on the Scorpion (Scorpion Vz.61 Submachine Gun). It is only important to note the trend - finally, PPs began to come into service more specialized than those that existed before!
Then again, we need to remember the saying that "everything is bad, like good, is infectious." We do not know whether the American Gordon Ingram knew about the Czechoslovak Scorpion or “the idea was in the air,” but he hurried to do something similar and did. Its MAC-10 was designed in 1964 year, but it began to be mass produced only in 1970 year, and simultaneously with the cartridges .45 ACP (11,43х23) and 9-mm Parabellum (9X19) - modifications М10. The M11 version, unlike these two samples, was produced under the chuck 9-mm “Short” (9x17). The company MAC in 1976 ceased to exist, and all rights Ingram submachine gun transferred to the company "RPB Industries Incorporated."
Interestingly, the model turned out even easier than the "Scorpion". The bolt comes on the trunk, the fire is both automatic and single. A shutter cocking handle is originally made, which also plays the role of a fuse, but is on top and has a slot for aiming. It is enough to rotate it by 90 degrees so that it overlaps the line of sight, and it would be possible to immediately determine whether this PP is on a fuse or not. The wire butt is extremely primitive, but it is designed so that it slides inside the receiver. The sight is unregulated, diopter.
Low weight, low cost, powerful ammunition - all this spoke “for” this submachine gun. But low accuracy due to strong recoil led to the fact that the Ingram is currently not used by the military. But the product is a product, and if it is, it means that it can be sold. And here, submachine guns of this type were even sold to Israel, as well as to the island of Taiwan, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Spain, and in the United States themselves were used by various special forces during the Vietnam War.
By the way, in Israel, pretty soon they decided to go the same way and in the year 1982 released a modification of the Mini-Uzi, and after it, in the 1987 year, an even more compact model of the Micro-Uzi. The reason was the awareness of the need to specialize submachine guns to perform different tasks. For example, the full-size Uzi was harder than the Soviet AKS74 or the German HK MP5 because of its thick walls at the receiver and the massive wooden butt, which is far from always needed. For security units and intelligence officers such a PP was too large, but its reduced versions suitable for concealed carrying turned out to be just right. However, any advantages are fraught with directly related disadvantages. The short receiver “Mini-Uzi” and “Micro-Uzi” caused an extremely high rate of fire - up to 1000-1250 shots / min, at which 20-charging magazine, for example, was shot from it in just a second!
In order to somehow increase the mass of the shutter and reduce the rate of fire at the Micro-Uzi, they began to make it from tungsten alloy, but it didn’t become smaller with 1200 shots either. Uzi of various modifications purchased more than 30 countries of the world, up to Germany, where, under the designation MP-2, they were armed with police and the Bundeswehr (up to 1985 of the year when they were replaced with MP-5), so that it is found very widely in all its variants . By the way, it is worth noting that the Soviet Stechkin automatic pistol that shoots 9х18 cartridges was, first, lighter than the Uzi three times (with a butt holster, it weighed 1,22 against its 3,65 kg), shorter (length in the first 270 mm and second 470 mm), but also surpassed it in accuracy of shooting single shots. Although the stores at "Uzi" are not only more capacious, but in fact are universal - they are suitable for different submachine guns. Although it would be more correct to say that the shops from many submachine guns approach the "Uzi".
By the way, he managed to be noted already in the 4 generation of machine gun pistols. In 2010, the Uzi-Pro appeared on the arms market, which is distinguished from the Micro prototype by improved ergonomics and the presence of a Pikattini bar both on the receiver lid and on both sides of the barrel (or below the barrel). All this, according to the most up-to-date fashion, allows us to “weight” this “kid” with various additional devices such as a laser pointer, a tactical flashlight, etc.
To be continued ...
Here, for example, the comment of a person under the nickname "Major Whirlwind":
“AKS-74U is a shortened version of the AKS-74 submachine gun for arming the crews of combat vehicles, aircraft, gun calculations, etc. It differs from the standard AKS74 submachine gun in a more compact size, shortened 2 times with a barrel and less weight. Uses standard for automats USSR / Russia cartridge 5,45х39 mm. All the disadvantages are the essence of the continuation of its merits What is he bad for his niche? Is it only the fact that today it is possible to make such a machine even easier, with a different design of the receiver, better suited for various sighting devices that are installed optionally. The barrel still made more durable, with better cooling. But he in 80-x began to enter the army. Now, maybe, they will replace it with a more modern one, which so far only at exhibitions and presentations have had time to light. Under the standard automatic cartridge, what else can you think of a compact and lightweight? "
Scorpio is a convenient weapon, and therefore it has begun a new trend.
Indeed, one cannot but agree with this, and this commentary was chosen because it most closely matches the topic of this material. And we will begin to consider it by recalling that the 3 submachine gun generation, which appeared at the end of the war and the beginning of the 50, with all its originality bore the imprint of ... “old ideas”, the main idea of which was ... universalization of weapons! So there is a rifle? There is! Well, add to it a carbine and ... enough! Submachine gun appeared? Good! Let's make it easier and more compact and ... enough!
AKS-74U with folded butt
In the Soviet army, completely abandoning the PP, this point of view was embodied in the AKS-74U (See VO 20 September 2018). And, by the way, there was nothing wrong with that in the conditions of preparing for a total war of survival. One sample, one cartridge ... one base. Everything is logical and justified from all points of view.
However, it was at this very time, namely at the end of 60-x and the beginning of 70-s, that the submachine guns of the 3 + generation began to appear, which differed from previous models ... so to speak: "an increased level of specialization." Thus, in Czechoslovakia, from 1961 to 1979, the year began the production of submachine guns "Scorpion" vz.61 designed by Miroslav Rybazh. Strictly speaking, it is more an “automatic pistol” than a “submachine gun”, but still it is customary to attribute it to the latter, and not to the former.
At the time of the Warsaw Pact, this would be the only specimen created for the American cartridge 7,65-mm (7,65 × 17 mm) chosen by chance, but because of its low impact, but soon there were samples for our 9-mm cartridge (vz.63) and 9-mm cartridge "Parabellum" (vz.68). It turned out that his design tolerates this all easily. True, at a rate of 840 shots / min. the shop on 20 cartridges was shot almost instantly. The barrel led upwards after 2-3 shots, but ... when shooting point-blank, it all turned out to be insignificant.
At close range, this weapon model showed extremely high efficiency. Not without reason on the “black market” he became almost the “king” of sales. Everybody bought it: both “freedom fighters” (for example, he was very fond of the Palestine Liberation Organization fighters!), And “freedom fighters” fighters, and he was also armed with Czechoslovak tank crews and radar operators, helicopter pilots and communications men. In addition to the Czechoslovak army, it was supplied to Egypt, Libya, Angola, Iraq, and even our famous anti-terrorist group Alfa used it at the very beginning of its existence. It makes no sense to dwell on it in detail, especially since the 28 February 2013 was published on the VO material on the Scorpion (Scorpion Vz.61 Submachine Gun). It is only important to note the trend - finally, PPs began to come into service more specialized than those that existed before!
MAS-10 "Ingram" - a design in which there is nothing superfluous
Then again, we need to remember the saying that "everything is bad, like good, is infectious." We do not know whether the American Gordon Ingram knew about the Czechoslovak Scorpion or “the idea was in the air,” but he hurried to do something similar and did. Its MAC-10 was designed in 1964 year, but it began to be mass produced only in 1970 year, and simultaneously with the cartridges .45 ACP (11,43х23) and 9-mm Parabellum (9X19) - modifications М10. The M11 version, unlike these two samples, was produced under the chuck 9-mm “Short” (9x17). The company MAC in 1976 ceased to exist, and all rights Ingram submachine gun transferred to the company "RPB Industries Incorporated."
Front strap could be used as a hold
Interestingly, the model turned out even easier than the "Scorpion". The bolt comes on the trunk, the fire is both automatic and single. A shutter cocking handle is originally made, which also plays the role of a fuse, but is on top and has a slot for aiming. It is enough to rotate it by 90 degrees so that it overlaps the line of sight, and it would be possible to immediately determine whether this PP is on a fuse or not. The wire butt is extremely primitive, but it is designed so that it slides inside the receiver. The sight is unregulated, diopter.
Low weight, low cost, powerful ammunition - all this spoke “for” this submachine gun. But low accuracy due to strong recoil led to the fact that the Ingram is currently not used by the military. But the product is a product, and if it is, it means that it can be sold. And here, submachine guns of this type were even sold to Israel, as well as to the island of Taiwan, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Spain, and in the United States themselves were used by various special forces during the Vietnam War.
The standard “Uzi” even with a folding butt was quite such a massive weapon ...
By the way, in Israel, pretty soon they decided to go the same way and in the year 1982 released a modification of the Mini-Uzi, and after it, in the 1987 year, an even more compact model of the Micro-Uzi. The reason was the awareness of the need to specialize submachine guns to perform different tasks. For example, the full-size Uzi was harder than the Soviet AKS74 or the German HK MP5 because of its thick walls at the receiver and the massive wooden butt, which is far from always needed. For security units and intelligence officers such a PP was too large, but its reduced versions suitable for concealed carrying turned out to be just right. However, any advantages are fraught with directly related disadvantages. The short receiver “Mini-Uzi” and “Micro-Uzi” caused an extremely high rate of fire - up to 1000-1250 shots / min, at which 20-charging magazine, for example, was shot from it in just a second!
"Micro-Uzi"
In order to somehow increase the mass of the shutter and reduce the rate of fire at the Micro-Uzi, they began to make it from tungsten alloy, but it didn’t become smaller with 1200 shots either. Uzi of various modifications purchased more than 30 countries of the world, up to Germany, where, under the designation MP-2, they were armed with police and the Bundeswehr (up to 1985 of the year when they were replaced with MP-5), so that it is found very widely in all its variants . By the way, it is worth noting that the Soviet Stechkin automatic pistol that shoots 9х18 cartridges was, first, lighter than the Uzi three times (with a butt holster, it weighed 1,22 against its 3,65 kg), shorter (length in the first 270 mm and second 470 mm), but also surpassed it in accuracy of shooting single shots. Although the stores at "Uzi" are not only more capacious, but in fact are universal - they are suitable for different submachine guns. Although it would be more correct to say that the shops from many submachine guns approach the "Uzi".
There was even a special "harness" complete with two "Micro-Uzi", which allows firing "in Macedonian" from two hands at once and literally pour over the crowd of opponents with streams of lead simultaneously from two trunks!
By the way, he managed to be noted already in the 4 generation of machine gun pistols. In 2010, the Uzi-Pro appeared on the arms market, which is distinguished from the Micro prototype by improved ergonomics and the presence of a Pikattini bar both on the receiver lid and on both sides of the barrel (or below the barrel). All this, according to the most up-to-date fashion, allows us to “weight” this “kid” with various additional devices such as a laser pointer, a tactical flashlight, etc.
"Uzi-Pro"
To be continued ...
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