Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
RPD
|
| ||
| Caliber: | 7.62 x 39 mm | |
| Action: | Gas actuated | |
| Mass: |
| |
| Length: | 1036 mm (40.8 in) | |
| Barrel length: | 521 mm (30.5 in) | |
| Rate of fire: | 650 rpm | |
| Magazine: |
| |
| Effective range: | 800 m | |
The RPD is a belt-fed machine gun formerly manufactured in the Soviet Union and in China.
The name stands for Ruchnoy Pulemet Degtyarova (Degtyarov light machine gun).
Overview
The RPD was developed for the Russian military during 1944 for use as a squad automatic weapon (SAW), and entered service during the 1950s. It can be fired from a prone position with the built-in bipod, or from the hip with the aid of a sling. It is fed by refillable non-desintegrating links.
In China, the RPD was manufactured with minor internal modifications and was named Type 56. The Type 56 saw widespread use in the hands of NVA and NLF forces in the Vietnam war. Soon after the war, the RPD and its derivatives were rendered obsolete by the new RPK74.
External links
10-26-2009 08:16:03
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details