NSV machine gun

Last updated
NSV
NSV machine gun-04.jpg
NSV heavy machine gun
Type Heavy machine gun
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service1971–present
Used bySee Users
Wars Soviet–Afghan War
First Nagorno-Karabakh War
Gulf War
Afghan Civil War
War in Afghanistan
Lebanese Civil War
Iraq War
Russo-Georgian War
Syrian Civil War
Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)
Russo-Ukrainian War [1]
Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerG.I. Nikitin, Y.М. Sokolov, V.I. Volkov
Designed Central Design Bureau of Sports and Hunting Weaponry, Tula, 1969
Manufacturer"Metallist", Uralsk, Kazakh SSR
Produced1971–present
VariantsNSVT
Specifications
Mass25 kg (55.12 lb) (gun only)
41 kg (90.39 lb) on tripod
11 kg (24.25 lb) (50-round belt)
Length1,560 mm (61.4 in)

Cartridge 12.7×108mm

12.7×99mm NATO

(For Polish WKM-B)
Caliber 12.7 mm
Action Gas-operated
Rate of fire 700–800 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 845 m/s (2,772 ft/s)
Effective firing range1500 m vs. air (maximum)
2000 m vs. ground targets
Feed system50-round belt
Sights Iron sights

The NSV Utyos (Cyrillic : НСВ, initialism for Никитин-Соколов-Волков, Nikitin-Sokolov-Volkov; Russian : Утёс, lit. 'Cliff'), is a Soviet heavy machine gun chambered in 12.7×108mm. It is named after the designers, G. I. Nikitin, Y. М. Sokolov and V. I. Volkov. It was designed to replace the DShK machine gun and was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1971.

Contents

The NSV was manufactured at the Metallist plant in Uralsk, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union. The vehicle-mounted NSVT variant is used on the T-72 [2] T-64 [3] and T-80 [4] battle tanks. Like many Soviet weapons, the NSV was also licence produced by Yugoslavia as the M87. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia began development on the Kord heavy machine gun, while Belarus, Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Vietnam all introduced their own copies of the NSV.

NSVT machine gun mounted on an Iraqi T-72 tank New iraqi army tank.jpg
NSVT machine gun mounted on an Iraqi T-72 tank

The NSV weighs 25 kg (55 lb), has a rate of fire of 700–800 rounds per minute, and an effective range from 1,500 m (1,600 yd) to 2,000 m (2,200 yd) against airborne and ground targets, respectively. A loaded ammunition belt with 50 rounds weighs 11 kg (24 lb). [5]

History

The Soviet Army began looking for a new heavy machine gun to replace its older SGM and DShK machine guns in the early 1950s. The Soviet Army liked the idea behind the German MG 42; a versatile weapon used on a variety of mounts to perform many different roles. Two Soviet weapon designers were asked to design one weapon each utilizing the same principle. Mikhail Kalashnikov's submission was approved following trials as it was found to be more reliable and cheaper to manufacture than the design of Grigory Nikitin and Yuri Sokolov. Kalashnikov's machine gun became the new standard machine gun, and was named PK.

Nikitin's and Sokolov's design was, however, not forgotten. It was eventually developed into the NSV heavy machine gun about 10 years later and selected in 1969 as the successor to the DShK and DShKM machine guns. It was accepted in service by the Soviet Army in 1971.

Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia began developing the Kord heavy machine gun to replace the NSV "Utyos" and which entered service in 1998. The Metallist factory in what is now Oral, Kazakhstan struggled to find customers in the 1990s. The factory was converted to focus on industrial production in the oil and gas sector in 2003.

Use in Finland

The NSV is called 12,7 Itkk 96 or 12,7 ilmatorjuntakonekivääri 96 ('12.7 anti-aircraft machine gun 96') in Finland. It is often used as a vehicle-mounted machine gun, and can be seen on the Pasi armoured personnel carrier, the Nasu transport vehicle and the Leopard 2R tank.

Due to its high rate of fire, the NSV is intended to be used as a close-range anti-aircraft weapon against helicopters, UAVs and aircraft. In dismounted ground combat it 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 Mk 3 or Bofors 57 Mk 2 and Mk 3.

Variants

NSV machine gun on mount NSV machine gun on 6T7 mount - RaceofHeroes-part2-10.jpg
NSV machine gun on mount
Utyos-M machine gun turret mounted on the Ukrainian Sea Guard Zhuk-class patrol boat Darnytsia (BG116) Balaklava Patrol boat BG116 IMG 4508 1725.jpg
Utyos-M machine gun turret mounted on the Ukrainian Sea Guard Zhuk-class patrol boat Darnytsia (BG116)

Users

Map with NSV machine gun users in blue NSV machine gun Users.png
Map with NSV machine gun users in blue

Current users

Polish NSW on an anti-aircraft mount Machine gun NSV.jpg
Polish NSW on an anti-aircraft mount

Former users

See also

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Further reading