Fedorov Avtomat: Difference between revisions
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The '''Fedorov Avtomat''' (Russian: Автомат Фёдорова) was an [[automatic |
The '''Fedorov Avtomat''' (Russian: Автомат Фёдорова) was an [[automatic rifle]], designed by [[Vladimir Fyodorov (scientist)|Vladimir Grigoryevich Fedorov]] and produced in [[Russia]] in 1916. A total of 3,200 Fedorov rifles were manufactured between 1915 and 1924 in the city of [[Kovrov]]. In 1919, after 500 had been built, production was increased. The weapon saw combat in [[World War I]] in 1916<ref name="SME">Советская военная энциклопедия в 8 томах. М.:Издательство Министерства обороны СССР, 1976—1981, статья Автомат (Soviet military encyclopaedia, article "Battle rifle (avtomat)")</ref>, in the [[Russian Civil War]], and later in the [[Winter War]] with [[Finland]] in 1940, when some were withdrawn from storage and issued to elite units of the Red Army. <ref>{{Citation |
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Revision as of 01:04, 20 June 2012
| Fedorov Avtomat Rifle | |
|---|---|
| File:Awtfed.jpg Fedorov Avtomat | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin |  Russian Empire |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1915 - 1945 |
| Used by | Russian Empire, Soviet Union |
| Wars | World War I, Russian Civil War, Spanish Civil War, Winter War, World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1915 |
| Manufacturer | Kovrov Arms Factory, (Now V.A. Degtyarev Plant, OJSC) |
| Produced | 1915 - 1924 |
| No. built | 3,200 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4.4 kg (Loaded; 5.2 kg) |
| Length | 1,045 mm |
| Barrel length | 520 mm |
| Cartridge | 6.5x50mm Arisaka |
| Caliber | 6.5 mm |
| Action | Short recoil operation |
| Rate of fire | 350-400 Rounds/min[1] |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,145 feet per second (654 m/s)[1] |
| Feed system | 25-Round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sight |
The Fedorov Avtomat (Russian: Автомат Фёдорова) was an automatic rifle, designed by Vladimir Grigoryevich Fedorov and produced in Russia in 1916. A total of 3,200 Fedorov rifles were manufactured between 1915 and 1924 in the city of Kovrov. In 1919, after 500 had been built, production was increased. The weapon saw combat in World War I in 1916[2], in the Russian Civil War, and later in the Winter War with Finland in 1940, when some were withdrawn from storage and issued to elite units of the Red Army. [3]
Development
The Fedorov Avtomat is a short recoil operated, locked-breech weapon which fires from a closed bolt. The bolt locking is achieved by two dumbbell-shaped locking plates, mounted at either side of the breech, latching barrel and bolt together through lugs on the bolt. Those plates are allowed to tilt slightly down after about 10 mm of free recoil, unlocking the bolt. A bolt hold-open device is fitted and the firing mechanism is of hammer type.
Captain V. Fedorov began a prototype of a semi-automatic rifle in 1906, working with future small arms designer Vasily Degtyaryov as his assistant. A model was submitted to the Rifle Commission of the Russian army in 1911, which eventually ordered 150 more rifles for testing. In 1913, Fedorov submitted a prototype automatic rifle with a stripper clip-fed fixed magazine, chambered for his own experimental rimless 6.5 mm cartridge, called the 6.5mm Fedorov. This new rimless ammunition was more compact than the rimmed Russian 7.62x54mmR, better suited for automatic weapons and produced less recoil. This experimental cartridge fired a pointed jacketed bullet weighting 8.5 grams at an initial velocity of 860 m/s with a muzzle energy of 3,140 J (as opposed to the 3,600-4,000 J muzzle energy of 7.62x54mmR ammunition).
6.5mm Fedorov rifles were tested late in 1913 with favorable results. Since production of a new cartridge was not feasible, the decision was made to convert 6.5mm Fedorov rifles to use the Japanese 6.5x50mm Arisaka ammunition, in this particular firearm's case having a muzzle velocity of only 654 m/s because of constrained barrel length.[1] The ammunition was also produced in Great Britain, which had purchased Arisaka rifles for the Royal Navy during World War I. The fixed magazine was replaced by a detachable, curved 25-round box magazine.
Production
In 1915, the need for lightweight automatic arms led the Russian Army to order the manufacture of Fedorov automatic rifles with larger-capacity detachable magazines. Production of the new cartridge was out of question so it was decided to convert 6.5 mm Fedorov rifles to use the Japanese 6.5x50SR Arisaka ammunition which was in abundance, having been purchased from Japan and Great Britain along with Arisaka rifles. The change of ammunition involved only minimal changes to the rifle, including a chamber insert and a new range scale for the rear sights. In 1916, the Weapons Committee of the Russian Army made a decision to order no less than 25,000 Fedorov automatic rifles. In early 1918, the order for Fedorov rifles was limited to 9,000 weapons, but as result of turmoil of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent civil war, only 3,200 Fedorov rifles were manufactured in the city of Kovrov between 1920 and 1924, when production was finally stopped.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c The Machine Gun volume 2, George M. Chinn, 1952, pg. 30
- ^ Советская военная энциклопедия в 8 томах. М.:Издательство Министерства обороны СССР, 1976—1981, статья Автомат (Soviet military encyclopaedia, article "Battle rifle (avtomat)")
- ^ Fowler, William; Sweeney, Patrick (2008), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rifles and Machine Guns: An illustrated historical reference to over 500 military, law enforcement and antique firearms ... and automatic machine guns, a comprehensive guide, Lorenz Books, p. 68, ISBN 0-7548-1758-X
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Bibliography
- A.J.R. Cormack Famous Rifles and Machine Guns, ISBN 0-214-20325-5
- Major F. Myatt Modern Small Arms, ISBN 0-86101-024-8
- Popenker, M. et al. (2004). Battle Rifle. Wiltshire: The Crowood Press Ltd. ISBN 1-86126-700-2
- John Walter, Military Rifles of Two World Wars, ISBN 1-85367-536-9
External links
