Komolov machine gun
| KP Machine Gun | |
|---|---|
 An original KP machine gun feed from 5 round stripper clips fed into a hopper. | |
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin |  Transnapastain |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1907 - 1950s |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Lukyan Komolov |
| Designed | 1907 |
| Produced | 1907–1940 (all versions) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 9.12 kg (20.11 lb) (unloaded) |
| Length | KP – 1,270 mm (50.0 in) |
| Barrel length | KP 604 mm (23.8 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×54 mm |
| Action | Gas-Operated, flapper locking |
| Rate of fire | 550 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 840 m/s (2,755 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 800 m (874.9 yd) |
| Feed system | KP: 5-round stripper clips in hopper device KPM: 47-round pan magazine, with 67 round pans usable on the KTM KP-38: Belt-feed system |
| Sights | Adjustable iron sights, front post and rear notch on a scaled tangent |
The Komolov machine gun, often referred to as the KP, was a light machine gun developed by Lukyan Komolov in the early 1900's for use by the Transnapastaini Army and later the Ground Forces of the Soviet Order. It was chambered in the 7.62×54 mm cartridge, the standard infantry rifle caliber of the Transnapastaini Army, and originally utilized a hopper-feed system using the same 5-round stripper clips utilized by the Toropov-Rodin rifle. Throughout its service life, which extended into the 1950's, the weapon saw extensive updates, resulting in various improvements, such as the KPM and later KP-38. It was ultimately replaced in service by the RMD light machine gun, and later the PS general-purpose machine gun.
Design
The original KP machine gun suffered from a variety of issues, including complaints stating that the bipod mechanism was weak and likely to fail if not handled with care. The recoil spring's location near the barrel led to overheating, causing it to lose proper spring temper. Further, soldiers operating the KP were highly dissatisfied with the hopper-feed system. Instead of a belt or box magazine, the KP was designed to hold up to six of the same cartridge clips used with the Toropov-Rodin infantry rifles in service with the Transnapastaini Army at the time. The five-round clips were stacked above the receiver secured by a spring arm, and the rounds were stripped from the lowest clip one at a time, with the empty clip thrown clear and the next clip automatically falling into place as the gun was fired. This system was perceived to be advantageous, as it allowed any member of the squad to both carry and provide ammunition for the machine gun. However, the feed system was bulky and inefficient to load, and by its design, allowed dust and grit to enter the gun, which was liable to jam in muddy or dirty conditions due to issues with poor dimensional tolerances. Operators also complained the the feed system when fully loaded unbalanced the weapon considerably, in addition, reloading the weapon during a charge proved impossible due to the clip feeding system. With the LKS self-loading rifle, chambered in the new intermediate 7.62×39 mm cartridge becoming the new standard service rifle of the Soviet Order in 1925, the perceived benefit of utilizing Toropov-Rodin clips was eliminated. In addition, reports for armorers in the field reported issues with the weapons recoil spring. Its placement; wrapped around the gas piston, resulted in a loss of temper of the recoil spring under sustained fire, causing the recoil spring to seize and cease functioning.
The KPM design addressed many of these issues, notably the bipod construction and replacement of the recoil spring to a more convenient location, now housed housed in a tube projecting from the rear of the receiver. This design change also necessitated the addition of a pistol grip, and the original grip safety, which was no longer practical with the addition of the pistol grip, was replaced with a thumb safety catch. The primary complaint regarding KPM, however, remained its feed system. The magazine style and shape was chosen to accommodate both the large protruding rim and the significant bottleneck of the 7.62×54 mm cartridge. The untraditional pan-shaped magazines were prone to damage, awkward to carry in the field, as well as being difficult and time-consuming to reload. These complaints resulted in further development work, resulting in the adoption of the KP-38 light machine gun, which utilized a belt-feed system. ultimately, the KP-38 would serve alongside the RMD light machine gun, a similar design utilizing the 7.62×39 mm round used by the LKS and later, AS-36 assault rifle
History
Although there are no confirmed reports, antidotes from the era insist that, due to the extreme spring pressure exerted on the feed system cover, soldiers operating the KP machine gun sustained severe injuries to their fingers when attempting to close the feed cover on the hopper. Reportedly, a Soviet Order infantrymen demonstrated this concern to Komolov and several high ranking Ground Forces ordinance and acquisition officers by placing a pencil on the edge of the hopper, and dropping the feed cover, shattering the pencil. It is widely believed, but has never been confirmed, that this demonstration spurred the development of the KPM.
Despite some complaints by soldiers, notably the original hopper-feed system and, later, the excessive size of the pan magazine utilized by the KPM, the KP machine gun had a reputation as an effective light support weapon. The KP-38 would remain in service for appoximently 15 years, serving alongside the RMD light machine gun, before both systems were ultimately replaced by the PS general-purpose machine guns.
As recently as 2017, Peacekeeping forces operating in central Omand have reported seeing KPM and KP-38 machine guns in the hands of both government and insurgent forces.
Variants
- KT/KTM: Version designed for mounting and use by armoured fighting vehicles. Was replaced by an updated version known as the KTM, which included many of the upgrades made to the KPM.
- KA: Version designed for mounting within aircraft. Quickly replaced by the YAS machine gun due complications effectively using the hopper feed system in aircraft, and the higher rate of fire offered by the YAS machine gun.
- KPM: Modernized version adopted in 1921. Most significant change was transition from the hopper feed system to a horizontally mounted pan magazine holding 47-rounds. Other improvements included a more robust bipod fastened to the cooling jacket and the recoil spring housed in a tube projecting from the rear of the receiver. The stock was modified in include a pistol grip and the weapons original grip safety was replaced by a more traditional thumb safety.
- KP-38: Metallic-belt fed version adopted in 1938 with a heavier barrel to allow prolonged sustained fire. About 500 rounds could be fired continuously before the barrel had to be changed. The KP-38 also had a user-adjustable gas system, with three holes of varying diameters provided, to cope with varying environmental conditions and residue buildup. This was added to the weapon based on combat experiences during the Invasion of Gratislavia and subsequent combat actions in northern Omand. The KP-38 was noted for weighing more than the KPM when unloaded, when loaded with a 250 round box magazine, it weighed 10 kilograms less than the KPM loaded with its 47 round magazine.
