Weapons of the Afghan dushmans. Self-loading rifles and assault rifles
In the initial period of the Afghan war, the rebels were for the most part armed with frankly outdated small arms. weapons. In a direct clash with detachments of the Afghan government forces equal in number or units of the "limited contingent", the dushmans in most cases lost to them in firepower, which could not but affect the course of hostilities.
In the early 1980s, foreign curators of the Western intelligence services organized the supply of semi-automatic rifles and machine guns to the Mujahideen. At first, these were samples of the Second World War era, but subsequently, the armed opposition detachments often had the most modern self-loading rifles and machine guns that are in service with Western armies.
Semi-automatic carbines and rifles
In the 1960s and 1970s, as part of military aid, the Pakistani army received 150 M000 Garand semi-automatic rifles from the US. Also, by the beginning of the Afghan war, about 1 American rifles were in Iran.
Although the Garand was already considered obsolete in the 1980s for a number of reasons, it had a higher combat rate of fire than the British Lee Enfield rifle so beloved by spooks or the Russian Mosinka.
7,62mm self-loading rifle M1 Garand
For firing from the M1 Garand, a very powerful .30-06 Springfield cartridge (standard American ammunition with a dimension of 7,62 × 63 mm) was used, which significantly exceeded the Soviet intermediate cartridge of 7,62 × 39 mm in terms of energy. Which, in turn, gave certain advantages in firefights at a distance of more than 400 m. The rifle had sufficient accuracy at a distance of up to 550 m. The automatic rifle M1 Garand works by removing part of the powder gases.
A bullet weighing 9,7 g left a barrel 610 mm long at a speed of 865 m/s and confidently overcame 100 mm at a distance of 8 m, which made it possible to penetrate the side armor of Soviet armored personnel carriers.
In combat position, the rifle weighed 4,32 kg. Length - 1 105 mm. Combat rate of fire - about 40 rds / min.
One of the few major drawbacks of the "Grand" is the ammunition system. Loading was carried out in packs of 8 rounds, which were inserted from above through an open bolt. The pack is constantly in the rifle, until the cartridges are completely used up, and after that it is automatically ejected through an open window at the top of the receiver with the shutter open.
The sound of the ejection of an empty pack could warn the enemy that the ammunition of the rifle was used up. In the presence of cartridges and the absence of packs, the rifle turned into a single-shot.
But, despite some shortcomings, "Garand" in the hands of an experienced shooter was a very serious weapon.
Apparently, the rebels received most of the rifles and cartridges for them from Pakistan, but it is possible that some of the Garands were of Iranian origin.
Massive rifles M1 Garand began to come across among the trophies at the end of 1981. In general, for Afghan conditions, this rifle was not bad. But its active use was to some extent hampered by the .30-06 Springfield cartridge, which was not very common in Afghanistan, and by the time the Soviet troops were withdrawn from the country, the militants had few such American-made self-loading rifles.
Another American self-loading rifle used by the "spirits" was the M21 sniper rifle, based on the semi-automatic M14, which, in turn, is descended from the M1 Garand.
Sniper 7,62 mm self-loading rifle M21
This 7,62 × 51 mm NATO gas-operated rifle entered service with the US Army and Marine Corps in the mid-1970s. In terms of accuracy, it is somewhat inferior to the Soviet SVD, but at a distance of up to 500 m it demonstrates quite acceptable results for sniper weapons.
The weight of the rifle with a detachable magazine for 10 rounds and an optical sight is about 6,8 kg. The total length is 1 mm. Barrel length - 118 mm. The initial speed of a bullet weighing 560 g is 9,3 m / s. Magazines for 853, 5 and 10 rounds can be used. Combat rate of fire - up to 20 rds / min.
M21 rifles appeared among the dushmans in the mid-1980s. Although there were fewer of them than the M1 Garand, the best shooters were armed with these "snipers" in the armed opposition groups.
Shooting exotic, noted in Afghanistan, was the American semi-automatic rifle AR-10 with a telescopic sight.
7,62mm AR-10 semi-automatic rifle with telescopic sight
In the mid-1980s, someone "very smart" at the CIA decided to "breathe a second life" into the not-so-successful AR-10 semi-automatic rifle chambered in 7,62 × 51 mm, purchasing several hundred copies for the Afghan "freedom fighters". Earlier, the US military abandoned the AR-10, and the 5,56 mm M16 automatic rifle was developed on its basis.
The only major advantage the AR-10 had over the M21 was its lighter weight. Without cartridges and optics, the AR-10 weighed 3,8 kg. The total length is 1 mm. Barrel length - 040 mm. Food was supplied from a 540-round magazine. At the same time, in terms of reliability and strength, it was seriously inferior to the well-made M20.
The Simonov self-loading carbine chambered for 7,62 × 39 mm was widely used in Afghanistan. This weapon was in service with the Afghan army and was popular with dushmans.
7,62 mm self-loading carbine SKS-45
The Simonov carbine, like the Kalashnikov assault rifle, has a gas-operated automatic system, but at the same time it is more applied, and its barrel is 105 mm longer (520 mm versus 415 mm), which provided a higher muzzle velocity - 735 m/s c - for AKM). The aiming line of the SKS-715 is 45 cm longer than that of the AK, which has a positive effect on accuracy. Loading occurs with a clip for 10 rounds or one round. Combat rate of fire up to 10 rds / min. The carbine is relatively light - weight with cartridges 40 kg. Length without bayonet - 3,9. The bayonet folded in the stowed position.
The SKS-45 carbine, taking into account local conditions, better accuracy and a slightly longer firing range, was even preferable for the rebels than AKM. In fire duels in mountainous conditions at a distance of 400-600 meters, automatic fire was ineffective, accuracy and range were of greater importance.
However, even more often than the SKS-45 carbines captured by the Mujahideen from government forces, there were their Chinese copies - Type 56.
Chinese Type 56 self-loading carbines
Licensed production of the Type 56 in China began in 1957. It differed from the Soviet prototype in small details and production technology.
During the fighting, a number of Soviet Dragunov self-loading sniper rifles fell into the hands of Afghan rebels.
The Afghans valued this weapon, in terms of reliability and accuracy, the SVD surpassed not only the capricious AR-10, but also the M21.
The SVD demonstrates the best results when firing with special 7N1 sniper cartridges. But in their absence, it was possible to use standard rifle and machine gun cartridges 7,62 × 54 mm R. When firing a special cartridge with improved accuracy, a well-trained shooter could confidently hit the target with the first shot at a distance of 600 m.
SVD sniper rifle
The SVD rifle has automatics that work by removing part of the powder gases. Rifle length - 1 mm. Weight with an optical sight and without cartridges - 225 kg. Barrel length - 4,7 mm. The initial speed of the bullet is 620 m / s. Food from the magazine for 830 rounds. Combat rate of fire - up to 10 rds / min.
Machines
Photographs taken in Afghanistan in the 1980s sometimes show "faith fighters" armed with Heckler & Koch Gewehr 3 (HK G3) rifles.
Afghan with a G3 rifle
But there are many more photographs showing Soviet conscripts and special forces officers with captured rifles.
Most of these photographs are staged. Often, other foreign-made samples appear on shots with G3 rifles.
The 7,62 mm G3 automatic rifle was adopted by the Bundeswehr in 1959 and subsequently became quite widespread in the world. This weapon was produced under license in 10 countries, and was officially used by the armed forces of more than 50 states.
The popularity of the G3 rifle in the global arms market is due to its good combat characteristics, high strength and reliability. Licensed production of G3 rifles was carried out in Iran and Pakistan, and these weapons were at the disposal of Afghan rebels.
7,62mm G3 automatic rifle
Automation G3 is based on the return of a semi-free shutter with its slowdown with the help of rollers. In the post-war period, German experts recognized this scheme as the most suitable for advanced weapons. The main advantage of such automation is the simplification of the weapon design due to the absence of a gas engine and some other details. The number of weapon elements contaminated with powder gases is also reduced.
Although the G3 uses a very powerful 7,62×51 mm NATO cartridge, it has an automatic fire mode with a rate of 500-600 rounds per minute. However, the stability when firing even in short bursts is very low, and the most optimal results are obtained with single shots. Ammunition is carried out from box magazines for 20 rounds. The combat rate of fire, depending on the mode of fire, is 40–90 rds / min.
Since the G3 rifle uses a fairly powerful ammunition, the weight of the weapon with a plastic butt without a magazine is 4,4 kg. The length of the rifle is 1 mm. Barrel length - 025 mm. The initial speed of the bullet is 450 m / s. The diopter sight is designed for distances up to 800 m.
There is a "Marksman" variant known as G3SG. The Mujahideen also had rifles of this modification.
In the mid-1980s, the Americans began supplying Afghan rebels with automatic 5,56-mm M16A1 rifles.
Soviet soldier with a captured 5,56 mm M16A1 automatic rifle
Among the advantages of the M16A1 rifle were relatively light weight and good accuracy at a distance of up to 400 m. A 5,56 × 45 cartridge (.223 Remington) was used for firing. A bullet weighing 3,56 g accelerates in a barrel 508 mm long to 990 m/s. The total length of the rifle is 990 mm. Rate of fire - up to 750 rds / min. Magazine capacity - 20 or 30 rounds.
In the difficult conditions of Afghanistan, the shortcomings of the American rifle were fully manifested. For weapons of the M16 family, insufficient service strength is characteristic - the light-alloy receiver is very prone to cracking upon impact. Automation with the removal of powder gases acting directly on the bolt carrier, with irregular cleaning, gave delays in firing. This automatic rifle required more care than the SKS or AKM.
Although it soon became clear that these weapons, due to their design features and a scarce cartridge, are poorly suited to the conditions of Afghanistan, American M16A1 automatic rifles came across among the trophies until the withdrawal of Soviet troops.
In the 1980s, the most common individual small arms used by the opposing sides in the Afghan war were various modifications of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, as well as their Chinese clones.
As a result of the mass desertion of Afghan government forces with weapons and trophies captured on the battlefield, a significant amount of Soviet-made weapons chambered for 7,62 × 39 mm was at the disposal of the rebels.
But still, the main weapon of the dushmans, along with the British Lee-Enfield rifles, were Chinese copies of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.
The Type 56 assault rifle was adopted by the PLA in the second half of the 1950s, along with the carbine of the same name, which is a variant of the SKS.
Chinese 7,62mm Type 56 assault rifle
The Chinese Type 56 generally corresponds to the Soviet AK-47, with the exception of an integral needle bayonet that folds down and back in the stowed position. Also, on the early releases, there was no chrome plating of the bore, gas piston and bolt group, which reduced the resource of these parts. With comparable range and firepower, the Type 56 was heavier than the AKM and weighed 4,3 kg.
The Type 56-1 assault rifle, also known as the Type 56S, is a Chinese variant of the Soviet AKS. Early production submachine guns with a folding stock also had a folding needle bayonet, but this was later abandoned.
Since the mid-1980s, Soviet troops began to massively use 5,45-mm AK-74 / AKS-74 assault rifles in combat operations. A light bullet weighing 3,4 g had an initial speed of 900 m / s, due to which the range of a direct shot increased slightly, and the reduced recoil momentum contributed to an improvement in shooting accuracy. However, the 5,45 mm bullet had the worst trajectory stability and gave a greater number of ricochets. In addition, when conducting hostilities in settlements, breaking through a rawhide brick wall with AK-74 fire was more difficult than with AKM.
AK-74 assault rifle with an underbarrel grenade launcher in the hands of Ahmad Shah Massoud
During the fighting, Afghan anti-government detachments managed to capture a number of Soviet AK-74 / AKS-74 assault rifles, including those with 40-mm GP-25 underbarrel grenade launchers and NSPUM night sights.
At the first stage, the use of AK-74 assault rifles by the rebels was limited due to the shortage of 5,45-mm captured cartridges. However, after the Afghan government forces began to receive weapons for such ammunition in the late 1980s, the dushmans did not experience a particular shortage of 5,45-mm cartridges.
To be continued ...
- Linnik Sergey
- Weapons of the Afghan dushmans. Revolvers, pistols and submachine guns
Weapons of the Afghan dushmans. Shotguns, single-shot and repeating rifles
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