NSV (machine gun)

Infobox Weapon
name=NSV


caption= NSVT mounted on a Finnish APC
origin=flagcountry|Soviet Union
type=Heavy machine gun
is_ranged=yes
service=1971-present
used_by=See users
wars=Soviet war in Afghanistan, Nagorno-Karabakh War, Gulf War,Iraq War
designer=G.I. Nikitin, Y.S. Sokolov, V.I. Volkov
design_date=1969
manufacturer=
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants=NSVT
weight=25 kg (gun only)
41 kg on tripod
11 kg (50-round belt)
length=1560 mm
part_length=
cartridge=12.7x108mm
caliber=
action=Gas operated
rate=700-800 rounds/min
velocity=845 m/s
range= 1.5 km vs. air (maximum)
2 km vs. ground targets
max_range=
feed=belt 50 rounds
sights=

The NSV (Russian НСВ Никитина-Соколова-Волкова) is a 12.7 mm caliber heavy machine gun of Soviet origin, named after the designers, G. I. Nikitin (Г. И. Никитин), Y. S. Sokolov (Ю. М. Соколов) and V. I. Volkov (В. И. Волков). It was designed to replace the DShK machine gun and was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1971. In Russian service it is being phased out by the Kord machine gun and it is no longer being manufactured in Russia as the manufacturing license for the NSV ended up in Kazakhstan after the break-up of the Soviet Union. It has been manufactured in Bulgaria, India, Poland and Yugoslavia under license.

The NSV weighs 55 kg, has a rate of fire of 13 shots per second, and an effective range of 1 500 meters. A fully-loaded ammunition belt with 50 rounds weighs 11 kg.

The NSV is used on the T-72 tank, while the NSVT variant is used on the T-64 and T-80 tanks.

History

The Soviet Army was looking for a new heavy machine gun to replace its older SGM and RPD machine guns in the early 1950s. The Soviet Army liked the idea behind the German MG-42, which could change roles by changing the mount, and two Soviet weapon designers were asked to design one weapon each, utilizing the same principle.

The tests showed that Mikhail Kalashnikov's solution was better, more reliable and cheaper to manufacture, than the one designed by Grigory Nikitin and Yuri Sokolov. Kalashnikov's machine gun became the new standard machine gun, and was named PK. Nikitin's and Sokolov's was however not forgotten and was to be developed into the heavy NSV machine gun about 10 years later.

The NSV was developed in 1969, as a successor to the DShK/DShKM machine gun, and was taken into service use by the Red Army in 1971. The machine gun was also manufactured on license in Bulgaria, India, Yugoslavia and Poland. The Yugoslavian version of the NSVT is called M87.

The production of the NSV has ended in Russia, and it is currently being replaced by the Kord heavy machine gun. The Russian Army needed a more accurate heavy machine gun, and it has also been increasingly difficult to get hold of spares, as the NSV factories were located in Ukraine and in Kazakhstan, after the end of the Soviet Union.

Use in Finland

The NSV is called 12,7 Itkk or "12,7 ilmatorjunta-konekivääri NSV-12.7" in Finland. It is often used as a vehicle mounted machine gun, and can be seen on Pasis and Nasus.

Due to its high rate of fire, it is used as a close-range anti-aircraft weapon, to be used against helicopters, UAVs and aircraft. When used in ground battles, the machine gun is placed on a special mount.

The Finnish Navy also uses the NSV in the anti-aircraft role, where it complements other unguided anti-aircraft weapons, like the 23 ITK 95, Bofors 40 Mk3 or Bofors 57 Mk2 and Mk3.

Variants

*NSVT version is primarily used in vehicle mountings, such as main battle tanks. Serbia's Zastava Arms produces the NSVT as the M87 under license, and it has been used by the militaries of the former Yugoslav states.

*WKM-B Polish version using 12.7 x 99 mm NATO ammunition.

Operators

*ALG
*ANG
*ARM
*AZE
*BLR
*BIH
*BUL
*CAM
*CRO
*CUB
*CZE
*ETH
*FIN: Designation 12,7 ItKK 96
*GEO
*HUN
*IND
*IRN
*IRQ
*KAZ
*KGZ
*LBY
*MAS
*MAR
*MNG
*MYA
*VNM
*PRK
*POL
*MKD
*RUS
*ROM
*SRB: Designation M87
*SVK
*RSA
*SYR
*TJK
*TKM
*UKR
*USA (tests)
*UZB
*YEM

See also

* List of firearms
* List of military equipment of Croatia

External links

* [http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg02-e.htm NSV 12.7] at guns.ru
* [http://www.thetankmaster.com/ENGLISH/AFV/AA_NSV_6U6.asp The 12.7 mm NSV "Utyos" heavy machine gun on 6U6 mount – Walk around photos]