REI PS ali el Cy VOLUME I, PART VU A BUREAU OF ORDNANCE PUBLICATION ETHE MACHINE GUN History, Evolution, and Development of Manual, Automatic, and Airborne Repeating Weapons Compiled by George M. Chinn, Lieutenant Colonel, USMCR VOLUME II, PART VII Prepared for the Bureau of Ordnance Department of the Navy 1952PREFACE The series of books entitled “The Machine Gun” was begun with the belief that the next best thing to actual knowledge is knowing where to find it, The research summarized within the covers of these volumes has been compiled by the Bureau of Ordnance, Department of the Navy, in order to place in the hands of those rightfully interested in the art of automatic weapon design, the world’s recorded progress in this field of endeavor. Part VII of Volume II is devoted to developments in the Soviet Union and her satellites. A. study of each progressive step was made in order to ascertain why certain principles were aban- doned and the circumstances that influenced any radical change in design. Inventors and the automatic firing mechanisms they originated are presented in the sequence their devices were adopted by the High Command of the Soviet Regime. Weapons related in operating principles are considered together. ‘The potentialities and limitations of all hasic operating systems uf automatic weapons are so well known, that once the all important factor of establishing a trend is accomplished, the most trivial bit of information furnishes a yard stick to measure progress. While nothing is claimed for this volume except that itis the result of tedious and laborious research, it is believed that in some manner it will help to point the way to a better understanding of past development. Quotations from actual writings of the inventors, manufacurers, and professional critics, are given wherever possible, as well as excerpts from reports and instruction manuals pertaining to specific weapons. Great stress has been laid upon the inclusion of actual photographs of the guns discussed, thus corroborating the old Chinese proverb to the effect that a picture is worth a thousand words and, in addition, giving the reader an opportunity to view the weapon from the camera's eye and drawing whatever conclusions are pertinent to his interests in examining this volume.