The KPV-14.5 heavy machine gun is a Soviet designed 14.5x114mm-caliber heavy
machine gun, which first entered service as an infantry weapon in 1949. In the
1960s the infantry version was taken out of production because it was too big and
heavy. It was later redesigned for anti-aircraft use, because it showed
excellent results as an AA gun, with a range of 3,000 meters horizontally and
2,000 meters vertically against low flying planes. It was used in the ZPU
series of anti-aircraft guns. Its size and power also made it a useful light
anti-armour weapon on the BTR series of vehicles and the BRDM-2 scout car.
KPVT The version for use in armoured vehicles
is called the KPVT. KPVT is used for armoured vehicle installations, boats,
movable and stationary mounts and various antiaircraft mounts. It features
a shorter receiver and a heavier barrel jacket. The KPVT also uses a 50-round
belt instead of the original 40-round belt. KPVTs are the primary armament of
the wheeled BTR-60PB80 series armoured personnel carriers and BRDM-2 armoured
reconnaissance vehicles. It is intended for fighting against light armoured
targets, weapons systems and light shelters at the distances of up to 3000
m, as well as air targets at distances up to 2000 m.
Naval armament The naval version was called the marine
tumbovaya. It was mounted in the following turrets; 2M-5 was for torpedo
boats, the 2M-6 for patrol boats, and the 2M-7 for trawlers.
In 1964, amongst other small craft combatants, the North Vietnamese Navy
had 12 P4 Motor Torpedo Boats in their inventory. On 2 August 1964, three P4s
belonging to NVN Torpedo Boat Squadron 135 attacked the US destroyer USS Maddox
in the Tonkin Gulf. The Maddox fired over 280 5 inch shells at the charging
boats, thus preventing them from discharging their 550 lb TNT armed
torpedoes within the necessary 1,000 yard effective range. All six torpedoes
missed. However, as the torpedo boats were moving at nearly 52 knots, they
commenced to duel the destroyer with their 14.5mm heavy machineguns, scoring
only one hit on the US warship in the process. At the time of the "Tonkin Gulf
Incident", US identification manuals described the P4 as being equipped with
25mm guns, thus identifying the spent projectile as 25mm instead of the actual
14.5mm caliber bullet. As the duel between the destroyer and
torpedo boats ended, and each departed in opposite directions, 4 F8 Crusaders
from the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga attacked the retreating
boats. The Crusaders fired Zuni rockets and 20mm cannons, while the 3 boats
replied with their 14.5mm machineguns. The jets reported leaving one boat in
sinking condition, and one F8 was heavily damaged, which was reported as
shot down by the NVN, but in fact also limped back to its carrier.
The 14.5mm marine pedestal machine gun mount is intended for combat against
armoured surface, coast and air targets. It is mounted on decks of boats and can
defeat surface and coast targets with a range of 3,000 meters horizontally and
2,000 meters vertically against low flying planes.
Mechanics The development of the machine gun began
in 1944. The 14.5x114mm M41 cartridge can be used with High Explosive
Incendiary - Tracer or Armour-Piercing Incendiary bullets, and they have
approximately twice the energy of a 12.7 mm projectile. The KPV is air-cooled and
fitted with barrel with a hard chrome plated bore. It uses a short recoil
operation system with gas assistance and a rotary bolt. It can be fed with the
40-round metallic belt from either the left or right side. The barrel can be
removed by turning the prominent latch on the forward end of the receiver and
pulling on the barrel's carrying handle. Versions
The ZPU is a towed anti-aircraft gun based on the KPV. It entered service
with the Soviet Union in 1949 and is used by over 50 countries worldwide.
Quadruple- Double- and single-barreled versions of the weapon exist.
Gallery Ammunition
B-32 - Armor-piercing incendiary full metal jacket round with a
tungsten-carbide core. Projectile weight is 64.4 g and muzzle velocity is 976
m/s. Armour penetration at 500 m is 32 mm of rolled homogeneous armour at 0
degrees. BZT - Armor-piercing incendiary tracer
full metal jacket round with a steel core. Projectile weight is 59.56 g and
muzzle velocity is 1,005 m/s. Tracer burns to at least 2,000 m.
MDZ - High-explosive incendiary bullet of instant action. Projectile weight is
59.68 g. Rounds are also produced by Bulgaria,
China, Egypt, Poland, and Romania. Operators
References Suermondt, Jan. Illustrated Guide to
Combat Weapons. Kent: Grange Books. p. 104.
Koll, Christian. Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and
Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm. Austria: Koll. p. 98. ISBN
978-3-200-01445-9. Moise, Edwin. Tonkin Gulf and the
Escalation of the Vietnam War. United States of America: The University of
North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-2300-7.
See also List of Russian weaponry
External links KPVT large-calibre tank machine-gun
MTPU 14.5mm marine pedestal machine-gun mount
Russian/Soviet KPV MACHINE GUN ON WHEELED MOUNT IN 14.5 x 114 calibre –
Walk around photos ZPU-2 - TWIN MOUNT 14.5MM ANTI-AIRCRAFT
GUNS – Walk around photos Modern Firearms page on the KPV-14.5
heavy machine gun