Machine gun dp 27 with attachment. Military history, weapons, old and military maps. Design and principle of operation
In the second half of the 1920s, despite the presence of the Maxim-Tokarev machine gun, the issue of adopting a light machine gun, which combined simplicity and mass production, a relatively small mass and a high rate of fire, remained open in the Red Army. And such a model was created by Vasily Alekseevich Degtyarev in 1926. With a total length of 126 centimeters and a mass of 8.4 kg, the machine gun was equipped with a disk magazine for 47 rifle cartridges. The sector sight is designed for firing up to 1500 meters. The DP-27 has an automatic fuse, and it is possible to fire from a machine gun only by tightly clasping the neck of the butt with a brush. This was done for safety reasons in order to prevent the shooter's fingers from getting under the shutter during firing. Although there were still injuries during the development and operation of the DP ... The production of a machine gun was deployed in Kovrov, where Vasily Alekseevich Degtyarev lived and worked for many years.
V. A. Degtyarev, creator of the DP-27. www.gpedia.com
The first combat use of the DP-27 is presumably related to the conflict on the CER in 1929. By this time, a significant number of machine guns were already in the army. The DP-27 proved itself well during the fighting in Spain, on Khasan and Khalkhin Gol. However, by the time the Great Patriotic War began, the Degtyarev machine gun was already inferior in a number of parameters such as the mass and capacity of the magazine (or tape) to a number of newer and more advanced models. But it is not necessary to say that in 1941 the DP-27 was hopelessly outdated. Yes, he lost to the German MG-34, but it can also be much worse - for example, the Italian Breda 30 machine gun. The magazine holds only 20 rounds, which is clearly not enough for a machine gun. In this case, each cartridge must be lubricated with oil from a special oiler. Dirt, dust gets in, and the weapon instantly fails. One can only guess how it was possible to fight with such a "miracle" in the sands of North Africa. But even at sub-zero temperatures, the machine gun also does not work. The system was distinguished by great complexity in production and a low rate of fire for a light machine gun. Therefore, at the height of World War II, the DP-27 was far from the best, but not the worst example of a light machine gun of the warring parties.
Soviet soldiers with DP-27. (proza.ru)
In the course of mass operation, a number of shortcomings of the DP-27 were also revealed - a small magazine capacity (47 rounds) and an unfortunate location under the barrel of a return spring, which heated up and deformed from frequent firing. Changing the barrel of a machine gun was also not an easy process. During the war, some work was carried out to eliminate these shortcomings. In particular, the survivability of the weapon was increased by moving the return spring to the rear of the receiver, although the general principle of operation of this sample has not changed. The Degtyarev machine gun of the 1944 model (DPM), unlike its predecessor, has a pistol grip, the design of the bipod has been slightly changed, and the automatic fuse has been replaced by a flag-type fuse. Since 1945, this machine gun began to enter the troops and was used in battles at the final stage of the Great Patriotic War, as well as during the Soviet-Japanese War.
Machine gun Degtyarev modernized model 1944 (copesdistributing.com)
Back in 1929, a very successful DT-29 tank machine gun was created on the basis of the DP-27, which became the main Soviet tank machine gun of the Great Patriotic War. It was compact, had a folding metal buttstock and a more capacious 63-round disc magazine. The DT-29 could be used to fire both from a tank and by a dismounted crew. Almost all Soviet tanks were equipped with this machine gun - and for light amphibious tanks T-37 and T-38 it was the main and only armament. In aviation, the DA machine gun was adopted in single or twin versions, and a significant part of Soviet aircraft until the mid-1930s were armed with Degtyarev machine guns as defensive weapons. But an increase in the speeds and survivability of aircraft already in the second half of the 1930s forced them to abandon the DA, replacing them with faster-firing Shpitalny-Komaritsky (ShKAS) machine guns.
Machine gun Degtyarev tank - DT-29. (cfire.mail.ru)
Spark of machine guns YES on a TB-3 aircraft. (aviaru.rf)
The use of DP-27 is widely reflected both in painting and literature. A separate place is the cinema, where the Degtyarev machine gun is presented both as an independent model and as a “understudy” of another fairly well-known machine gun. We are talking about the Lewis machine gun, which was used in our country until the Great Patriotic War and is visible on the chronicle of the parade on November 7, 1941. In domestic feature films, this weapon is relatively rare, but the frequent imitation of the Lewis machine gun in the form of a DP-27 with a casing on is much more common. The original Lewis machine gun was captured, for example, in the film "White Sun of the Desert", where an authentic sample was borrowed from the funds of the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Army for filming the film, which is present in a significant part of the episodes. But in the shooting scene, the role of his “colleague” is already “disguised”, with an artificial casing DP-27, which can be recognized by the machine gun bipod. In turn, the DT-29 "reproduces" the Lewis machine gun in the film "Friend among strangers, stranger among friends."
"White sun of desert". DP-27 "in the role" of the Lewis machine gun. (liveinternet.ru)
Machine guns of the 1927 and 1944 models remained in service with rifle units until the end of the 1940s, when they were gradually replaced by a new machine gun of the Degtyarev system - RP-46, the key difference of which was the use of tape feed.
Machine gun DP-27 (Degtyarev Infantry model 1927, GAU index - 56-R-32), often appears in foreign sources as DP-28 became the first domestic mass-produced light machine gun. The birthday of the first experimental batch can be called November 12, 1927, when the first 10 DP machine guns appeared at the Kovrov plant. On December 21, 1927, after a successful presentation and field trials, it was adopted by the Red Army.
chief engineer DP was Vasily Alekseevich Degtyarev, who later created the DShK-12.7 mm heavy machine gun, the PTRD-14.5 mm anti-tank rifle, the RPD and RP-46 machine gun, and the PPD submachine gun. The Soviet Union did not have its own light machine guns, but the results of the First World War showed the effectiveness and their significance on the example of the English Lewis machine gun and the French Shosh. Also, the number of these machine guns in the Red Army army was small, and the wear and tear of the resource of this weapon was ending, and it was the task of the state to have its own factories for the production of weapons. The first attempt to create their own light machine gun was the conversion of a water-cooled Maxim machine gun into an air-cooled machine gun. The first Maxim-Tokareva MT converted in 1925 had a protective cover on the barrel, but it turned out to be very heavy.
V.A. Degtyarev first attempted to create his own machine gun at the end of 1923. It is worth noting that Degtyarev 100% created the scheme of his own machine gun, and did not copy it from other machine guns. The machine gun had automatic vapor control from the bottom of the barrel and locking the cartridge with the help of two lugs, which were bred on the sides during the impact of the striker on the cartridge primer. For machine gun DT-27 a disk magazine for 49 rounds was borrowed from the Fedorov-Shpagin aircraft machine gun, later the disk was changed for 47 rounds in order to extend the life of the spring. On July 22, 1924, Degtyarev for the first time showed his first more experienced machine gun to the military commission, but a broken striker during demonstration firing let Degtyarev down. The next attempt to show his machine gun Degtyarev in September 1926, where the machine gun attracted attention, but still had flaws in workmanship. Throughout the time, its main competitors were the German Dreyse machine gun and Maxim-Tokarev. After finalizing the machine gun on January 17-21, 1927, tests were carried out at the Kovrov plant under the supervision of the Artillery Committee of the Artillery Directorate of the Red Army, and on February 20 the commission approved the machine gun as having passed the tests. March 26 prepared drawings for the production of Degtyarev infantry. The plant received an order for 100 machine guns for further testing. After field shooting, instructions were given to add a flame extinguisher to the design and change the gas chamber nozzle. The design of the new machine gun received a good assessment, and even before it was officially accepted by the People's Commissariat, it began to enter the troops. At the end of 1928, it was decided to curtail the production of the Maxim-Tokarev MT machine gun.
Machine gun DT It had gas venting automation with a pipe that regulated the amount of exhaust gases, which made it possible to choose the optimal mode so that the shutter during contamination or the use of more powerful cartridges would reach a full cycle in order to avoid strong blows to the shutter. The exhaust gases from the bottom of the barrel pushed a long piston-rod, which reloaded. A combat-return spring was put on the rod. The combat-age spring put on the stock had a drawback, since when overheated, the spring lost its properties and reduced the rate of fire. In the future, this drawback was corrected in the modernized machine gun DPM. Pictures of machine gun automation
The cartridge was locked with the help of the lugs, which were bred in different directions and locked the cartridge in the barrel, the lugs diverged on the sides when the striker passed between them. After the shot, the sleeve was thrown down.
Machine gun barrel DP-27 had 6 rifling and was located in the receiver, which provided protection for the shooter during firing from burns. Until 1938, the barrel had 26 transverse ribs on top to increase the cooling rate, but practice has shown that this is not very effective; these vertical ribs can be seen on the tank and aircraft version of the Degtyarev machine gun. The machine gun had automatics, which allowed firing only in bursts. The machine gun has an automatic fuse on the neck of the butt - shooting is possible after its girth. Removable bipod was placed on the casing.
A disk for 47 rounds was used from a Fedorov-Shpagin machine gun that was not accepted into service. The design of the disc for that time was very successful, since the 7.62 cartridges had rims and each cartridge in the disc fit into its own place and did not cling to another cartridge with the rim of the bottom, as happened in carob magazines. Also, the disc, with the help of its front sight, informed the fighter about how many rounds were left in the disc. If necessary, the store could be disassembled and cleaned of dirt. The discs were carried in steel boxes or cloth bags, the box was designed for 3 discs. The disadvantage of discs can be called weight and size, but given the fact that in the "yard" of the 1920s, you can close your eyes to this. To speed up the reloading of discs, the Barkov device was created, which was not widely used in the army.
The machine gun was equipped with a sector sight for 1500 meters with 15 divisions, 100 meters each. The front sight at the end of the barrel was protected by side lugs
Butt machine gun Degtyarev It was made of wood, in which there was an oiler and spare parts for caring for a machine gun.
The machine gun showed not bad accuracy when firing. So in short bursts of 4-6 rounds, bullets fell within a radius of 17 cm at a distance of 100 meters, at 200 meters at a radius of 35 cm, at 500 meters at a radius of 850 cm, at 1000 meters at a radius of 160 cm. Accuracy increased with smaller bursts .
The production of Degtyarev machine guns was carried out by the Kovrov Arms Plant (State Union Plant named after K.O. Kirkizh, Plant No. 2 of the People's Commissariat for Armaments, since 1949 - Plant named after V.A. Degtyarev). So in 192-1929, 6600 machine guns were manufactured (500 tank, 2000 aviation and 4000 infantry). After testing 13 machine guns for survivability in March-April 1930, Fedorov concluded that the resource DP-27 is 75,000-100,000 shots, and the strikers and ejectors have a resource of 25,000-30,000 shots. By the beginning of 1941, there were 39,000 in the army Degtyarev machine guns various modifications. Same way DP produced at the Arsenal plant in besieged Leningrad. In 1941, 45,300 DP machine guns were put into service, in 1942-172 00, in 1943-250,000, in 1944-179, 700. Degtyarev machine guns, 427,500 machine guns were considered lost during the fighting.
On October 14, 1944, a modernized version of the DPM machine gun, as well as a modernized tank version of the DTM, were adopted to replace the DP. On January 1, 1945, the production of DP and DT was stopped. The combat return spring was upgraded, which was moved from the half-barrel, where it was subjected to overheating and lost its properties to the back of the receiver. The butt was replaced with a simpler form, and with it a pistol grip appeared on the machine gun. Automatically, the fuse was replaced with a flag on the right side. The barrel is more quick-detachable in combat conditions. The bipods became non-removable, which reduced the risk of losing them on the march or during the battle.
Modification of the upgraded DP-27
In 1944, a modernized version of the machine gun was born. DP under the symbol GAU-56-R-321M. New machine gun got cut DPM (Degtyarev Infantry Modernized). The type of modernization was the combat-return spring, which began to be placed in the trigger frame and partially protruded above the butt. The location of the return spring solved the problem with the loss of its properties from overheating of the barrel. A pistol grip was also installed, and a lever safety was installed instead of an automatic fuse. The bipods on the modernized machine gun became non-removable, which ensured better stability during firing and their loss during operation. Also, a quick replacement of the barrel during the battle has become convenient. The butt was replaced with a more familiar and comfortable one. With all the modernization, the performance characteristics have not changed.
And its modifications became the most massive machine guns for the Armed Forces of the USSR for several decades. The machine gun received its first baptism of fire during the conflict on the CER, where it immediately showed itself on the good side and which served to increase its production. Also, before the start of the Second World War, the machine gun fought in Spain and participated in the Winter War against the Finns. The Finns got about 3000 DP and 150 DT, the Finnish army by the end of WWII had about 9000 DP, where it remained in service until the 1960s under the index 762 PK D (7.62 pk / ven.) And DT - 762 PK D PSV (7.62pk/ven.psv.). During the Second World War, the calculation of the DP machine gun had two people, sometimes the calculations were supplemented by two more fighters to bring cartridges. The DP machine gun had good fire efficiency already at 600 meters, and it was possible to open fire at the enemy at 800 meters, the rate of fire during the battle was 80 rounds per minute, firing in long bursts was carried out in exceptional cases, as a rule, firing was carried out in short bursts of 2-3 cartridge.
The machine gun turned out to be very reliable, which confirms that, in addition to the Finns, the Germans used it under the index "7.62mm leichte Maschinengewehr 120 (r)". During the Second World War, he was in service with the Romanian and Bulgarian armies. Even today you can often see it in the news.
On the basis of the DP-27 machine gun, the DShK, RP-46, RPD machine guns were born. Of which the DShK still consists and continues to be produced in many countries of the world, and the RPD can often be seen in the hands of militants.
| Number of shots | 47 rounds 2.85 kg |
| Barrel diameter | 7.62x54mm model 1908-1930 |
| combat rate of fire | 80 shots per minute |
| Maximum rate of fire | 600 rounds per minute |
| Sighting range | 1000 meters |
| Maximum firing range | 3000 meters |
| Effective Shooting | 600 meters |
| Initial departure speed | 840 m/s |
| Automation | gas outlet |
| The weight | 8.5 kg empty, 11.5 kg with disc and bag |
| Dimensions | 1272 mm |
Rare inclusions of Lewis and Shosh light machine guns did not make the weather. But at the same time, the modern concept of warfare required the presence at the squad and platoon level of mobile automatic weapons designed for a rifle cartridge.
After the announcement of a competition for a light machine gun, which was supposed to replace foreign models, the eminent gunsmith Vasily Alekseevich Degtyarev joined the work. In 1923, work began on the creation of a modern light machine gun, which was supposed to become a group weapon for the squad and platoon. Looking ahead a bit, let's say that his work was crowned with success. DP - Degtyarev, infantry became the first light machine gun of the Red Army, on its basis tank and aircraft modifications were further developed.
History of creation
After the revision of the weapons of the Red Army in the 1920s, the commission of auditors came to disappointing conclusions. The fleet of small arms firearms was worn out, in addition, it consisted of dozens of different systems for various cartridges.
If everything was pretty good in the field of personal weapons, foreign samples were massively removed from service, replacing Winchesters and Arisaki with a domestic rifle mod. 1895, the production of which was again established in Tula. Nagant revolvers and Maxim machine guns were also produced in commercial quantities and there were no problems with them yet.
But with light machine guns it was very bad. Fedorov assault rifles chambered for 6.5 mm Arisaka, British and American Lewis, and Shoshi. All this was thoroughly worn out. It required repair, replacement and unnecessarily complicated logistics.
In 1923, a competition was announced for the creation of a new light machine gun for the Red Army.
It was attended by eminent masters Fedorov and Tokarev, as well as V.A. Degtyarev. But in 1924, Tokarev's design was adopted. The MT-25 machine gun based on Maxim at that time arranged for the leadership of the Red Army, while the Degtyarev machine gun was returned for revision. MT-25 began to be prepared for release, moreover, small-scale production was established.
After a long and successful revision, Degtyarev again presented his machine gun to the commission. This time, his characteristics completely satisfied the military and Degtyarev, the infantryman was accepted for the next test.
After the January tests in 1927, the army immediately ordered a batch of machine guns already for military trials, after which it was recommended that the machine gun be put into production and at the same time be adopted by the Red Army under the name DP. The number 27, indicating the year it was put into service, entered the history of the machine gun much later.
DP was produced at the Kovrov plant until 1944, before being replaced by the DPM and later on by the RPD. After the war, outdated, but still relevant machine guns were transferred to the troops of fraternal countries, the DP-27 fought in the jungles of Korea and Vietnam. It showed itself well in combat operations in the equator zone and desert-mountainous terrain.
In 1944, a new weapon was developed, it was called RPD - Degtyarev light machine gun, chambered for the 1943 model of the year.
In the same year, a small batch was released for military trials. The RP-44 or RPD machine gun had belt ammunition from a machine gun suspended from the body, a metal box with a standard tape for 100 rounds.
The same tape went to the Goryunov machine gun, model 1943. The machine gun differed from earlier models by the presence of a pistol grip, a three-dimensional butt for ease of holding it when firing, the presence of a wooden forearm with stops to hold the body of the machine gun when firing in the air.
In the future, upon the adoption of the AK-47 assault rifle and it was the RPD that was the first handbrake that made up a set with them. Subsequently, the RPD was replaced. It just so happened that the requirements of unification forced the excellent machine gun to be withdrawn from service.
Unlike the RPK, the RPD was not an enlarged copy of a machine gun with a bipod, but a full-fledged machine gun chambered for an automatic cartridge. A significant ammunition load, good ergonomics and balance of the RPD made it unfamous. He fought in Vietnam, Africa and the Middle East.
DP design
The machine gun was created according to the classical scheme, with ammunition from a disk magazine located on top of the machine gun receiver, the magazine capacity was 47 rounds. The principle of operation of automation is the removal of gases. Locking the barrel with lugs.
A butt with a neck, a slightly modified type compared to a rifle one.
For convenience when firing, the machine gun had a removable bipod. It is worth noting their unsuccessful design; during transportation, the bipod had the property of disconnecting and getting lost. To minimize the flash of a shot, the machine gun had a conical flame arrester.
The barrel was half located in a perforated casing, which at the same time was a continuation of the receiver. The return spring was located under the barrel, which again caused criticism, since heating the barrel during firing also heated the spring, which negatively affected its durability.
Sights from the front sight at the end of the barrel casing in the front sight and the rear sight with a notch up to 1500 meters.
The principle of operation when firing
The weapon is cocked by the bolt handle, which is brought out to the right under the magazine. The cocked gas piston is fixed at the end of the gas outlet tube, the reciprocating mainspring is compressed, the bolt carrier “sits” on the sear and holds the bolt with its thickening. For a vertical rack, at the end of the bolt carrier, a striker is hooked. The safety catch holds the trigger.
When grasping the neck of the butt, the safety key is clamped, the trigger is released.
When exposed to the hook, it presses the sear down, which falls out of the groove of the bolt carrier. A compressed spring in the channel presses on the piston and pulls the released bolt carrier forward. The bolt frame begins to move, while releasing the bolt, then the drummer clings to the bolt with its thickening and pushes it forward.
The shutter, having reached the receiving window of the magazine, pulls up the bar, releasing the cartridge. Further, the cartridge clings to the bolt and is sent to the chamber, the bolt rests against the barrel and stops moving. Only after that the trunk is considered closed. The bolt carrier continues to move forward by inertia and pushes the drummer further into the bolt. The drummer deepens and pushes the lugs, after which he hits the primer.
After the shot, following the departing bullet, powder gases follow, which enter the guiding gas channel. The pressure of the gases falls on the piston, which compresses the spring and at the same time pushes the bolt carrier back. The bolt frame pulls the drummer out of the lugs, then retracts the bolt with its thickening.
The bolt moves away from the barrel, the sleeve falls out, and the bar holding the new cartridge is released. The bolt carrier "sits" on the sear (in the case of a released trigger). If the hook is pressed, then the bolt carrier, having stood in its initial position and without encountering an obstacle, moves back under the action of the spring.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the DP-27 and features of operation
- Cartridge - 7.62x54 mm.
- Empty weight - 9.12 kg.
- Barrel weight - 2.0 kg.
- The mass of the empty (equipped) magazine is 1.6 kg (2.7 kg).
- The length of the machine gun with a flame arrester is 1272 mm.
- Barrel length - 605 mm.
- The initial speed of the bullet is 840 m / s.
- Magazine capacity - 47 rounds.
- Calculation - 2 people.
The DP-27 was used to support the infantry with a machine-gun squad as part of a platoon (according to the state of the Red Army). The assistant machine gunner carries a metal container with 3 magazines.
The machine gun itself had sufficient reliability and durability, but, despite this, a number of complaints were caused by almost “childish” diseases of the machine gun:
- removable bipod;
- thin-walled trunk;
- small capacity and large dimensions of the store;
- inconvenient fire transfer control;
- placement of a return spring under the barrel.
Almost all of these shortcomings were corrected in 1944, when the machine gun was modernized, during which it received a pistol grip and integral bipods, the spring was moved to the back of the receiver. The machine gun is known as the DPM.
The first combat use took place in the CER (Soviet-Chinese conflict in 1929 in the Far East).
During the Soviet-Finnish war, the captured weapons replaced the native machine guns for the Finns.
The industry stopped the production of machine guns (Lahti-Saloranta) and put on the conveyor the production of spare parts for the captured, Soviet ones.
The machine gun was also mounted on motorcycles. Thus, it was possible to fire at low-flying targets, but for this it was necessary to stop the motorcycle, the shooter to get out of the cradle (carriage) and sit next to it for a steeper angle of fire.
DP-27 was produced by various friendly countries under license (Iran, China, etc.).
Participated in almost all hot spots on the globe. The existing models of weapons were encountered in the Civil War in Syria (started in 2011), in the military conflict in the east of Ukraine (since 2014).
Modifications based on DP-27
YES - Degtyarev, aviation. From December 1927 to February 28, the development of an aviation turret machine gun was carried out, based on the infantry. The barrel shroud was missing. The single-row magazine was replaced with a three-row magazine with a capacity of 63 rounds. The butt was removed, instead a folding shoulder rest and a pistol grip were introduced.
To collect shell casings, shell catchers were hung under the machine gun. The machine gun was installed in the turrets and swivels of bombers and attack aircraft.
DT - Degtyarev, tank. Developed by 1929, a more compact machine gun for installation in armored vehicles, as well as an aviation version, the machine gun has undergone some changes in appearance.
Received an enlarged magazine for 63 rounds, the butt and casing were removed from it. Instead, they added a shoulder rest and a pistol grip. Bipods were absent in both aviation and tank versions.
DPM - a disc-powered machine gun, but with a pistol grip, a modified buttstock, the spring was moved to the back of the receiver, the bipods became non-removable.
RPD - a new model of a light machine gun chambered for 7.62 mm intermediate cartridge.
The Degtyarev light infantry machine gun has gone through all the wars waged by the USSR since its inception.
Used in a number of conflicts and beyond. Almost everywhere, where only the intervention of Soviet soldiers was noted, everywhere he sang his song "tar".
The machine gun was produced by China and the DPRK, was in service in all states friendly to the USSR (including African). It is used in many conflicts to the present. You can often find his tuned samples.
The appearance on the Russian market of hunting rifled weapons of "civilized" machine guns "Maxim" and DP-27 caused a whole wave of emotions in Runet. Probably, only the lazy did not speak out about hunting with a DP machine gun and, especially, with the Maxim.
Although, in accordance with the Federal Law "On Weapons", Russian citizens have the right to own only rifled hunting weapons. The phrases “historical rifled weapon”, “conversion rifled weapon”, “Victory rifled weapon” and so on are simply not in the law. Therefore, if a weapon lover or collector wants to own a machine gun that fires only single shots, he can only purchase it as a "hunting weapon with a rifled barrel." Unlike mass-dimensional mock-ups (MMG), a machine gun "enclosed" in a hunting weapon is absolutely legal, it can shoot and please the owner with all whole parts without traces of cutters and welding. The only drawback may be the need to keep it in a safe and re-register it every five years.
However, even in the form of a hunting weapon, the legendary light machine gun DP-27 (Degtyarev Infantry Model 1927) is the dream of many fans and collectors.
The sample that got into our store was released in the distant military year of 1943 in Kovrov. In 2014, at the Vyatsko-Polyansky Molot-Arms, it was converted into a DP-O (hunting).
By the standards of the late 1920s - early 1930s, for a light machine gun chambered for a powerful cartridge for the Mosin rifle (the modern cartridge designation is 7.62 * 54R), the DP-27 was very light and maneuverable. Its weight with 47 rounds equipped with a disk magazine was 11 kg 820 grams. Later, due to the abolition of a number of technological operations, the mass of the machine gun began to be almost 12 kg.
Automation works on the principle of removing part of the powder gases from the bore, locking is carried out by two lugs, which were bred to the sides when the massive drummer moved forward. Due to the long travel of the moving parts and their mass, the DP-27 had a fairly low rate of fire (500-600 shots / min.) This made it possible to better control the machine gun during firing, significantly reduce the overexpenditure of ammunition and, as a result, avoid overheating of the weapon.
DP-27 allowed only automatic fire. Shooting was carried out from the so-called "rear sear". That is, before the shot, the bolt of the machine gun is in its rearmost position. When the trigger is pressed, the bolt carrier with the bolt under the action of the reciprocating mainspring intensively move forward, the bolt captures the cartridge from the disk magazine, sends it into the chamber and immediately the massive drummer pierces the primer. There is a shot. The powder gases discharged from the bore act on the bolt carrier, throwing it to the rearmost position, simultaneously extracting the spent cartridge case down. Having reached the extreme rear position, the moving parts move forward again to produce the next shot. This will be until the magazine remains cartridges or until the trigger is released. In the latter case, the moving parts will be fixed in the rearmost position by the protrusion of the sear.
In the civilian version of the DP-O, an uncoupler is installed between the trigger and the sear. Therefore, after pressing the trigger and firing, the bolt carrier with the bolt will roll back to its rearmost position and remain fixed by the sear. To fire the next shot, you will need to release and pull the trigger again.
Fully satisfying the pre-war requirements of the Red Army, the DP-27 became the most massive machine gun of the Great Patriotic War. However, the operation on the Karelian-Finnish Isthmus and the Mannerheim Line revealed some shortcomings of the machine gun. The main one was overheating from intense firing of the reciprocating mainspring located directly under the barrel shroud. From heating, the spring lost its elastic properties, which led to rapid wear of the weapon.
The barrel of the machine gun is interchangeable, but it is almost impossible to quickly change it. Heat-resistant gloves and a key from the DP-27 accessory kit were required, since the red-hot barrel was held very tightly in the seat. Spare barrels for the DP-27 were also not supposed to. However, at the time of the development of the machine gun in the late 1920s, the replacement of the barrel for a light machine gun was not required according to the terms of reference.
DP-27 and DP-O do not have manual safety devices. Initially, the DP-27 was equipped with an automatic safety, the key of which was located immediately behind the trigger guard. When covering the handle of the machine gun, the fuse is automatically turned off.
In any case, even with intensive shooting of the DP-O, there is no danger of overheating the spring, since the kit comes with only one disk magazine with a limiter for 10 rounds. Before being stored by the RF Ministry of Defense, the machine gun springs were proactively replaced with new ones, the mirror gap was verified and, if necessary, a repair stamp was put.
We also note the presence of a complete set of accessories for the machine gun. In addition to a special key for servicing the machine gun, the kit includes a massive three-knee ramrod with a handle, a spare brush for the oiler, and a torn cartridge case extractor. In the butt there is a stationary oiler with another brush.
If you do not take into account the brands and markings of civilian weapons, as well as one "extra" screw in the cover of the disk magazine, the DP-O looks no different from the legendary DP-27!
As well as a number of other "civilized" models from the warehouses of the RF Ministry of Defense, DP-27 in the form of DP-O can be an excellent and fully functional addition to any collection.
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