by Armeiro on 15 Feb 2008 16:48
artice:
Weapons stem appears above the parapet of entrenchment, and although pointer evidently, it conducts aimed fire - all targets are struck. In exactly the same manner strange stem appears because of the angle, from the hatchway of the combat vehicle and other shelters. It is hidden in all cases of pointers, out of the line of fire, in the safe place, but it catches into the sight of enemy. For news this fire allows weapon with the bent stem. These are not fantasy, but documentary personnel of the newsreel of the period World War II. Specifically, at this time very actively was conducted the development of krivostvol'nogo weapon. CAMA THE IDEA of the creation of weapon with the bent stem by that time was far from new. As early as 1868 Russian General from the artillery N. maiyevskiy, the professor of ballistics of Mikhajlovsk artillery academy, proposed the design of the krivostvol'noy gun, charged from the breech. True, it made this for the purpose of an increase in the shooting disk projectile. With the shot from the instrument with the bore bent upward the projectile of disk-shaped form, established on the edge, was forced by centrifugal force against the upper part of the stem and was obtained the necessary rotation, which the designers attained. One of the instruments with a similar bore they prepared in Russia under professor maiyevskiy's management. Trial firings from this instrument, which were being carried out in 1871-1873, confirmed the correctness of the calculations: the disk-shaped projectile with a mass of 3,5 kg with an initial velocity of 480 m/s flew 2500 m, while the usual nucleus of the same mass with the same conditions; only 500 m. but the main thing - in this experiment was proven the reality of conducting shooting from the krivostvol'nogo weapon.
Using this idea, German specialists created adaptation for the shooting from the rifles because of the shelter. In the course of conducting the defensive is combat in 1942-1943 at the eastern Front Wehrmacht it encountered the need of creating the weapon, intended for the defeat of live enemy target; moreover pointers themselves had to be located out of the zone of grazing fire, i.e., in the entrenchments, beyond the walls of construction, etc.
The very first primitive models of similar devices for the shooting because of the shelters from the self-loading rifles G.41(.W) and G.41(.M) appeared at the eastern Front as long ago as 1943. In the same devices, besides the self-loading rifles (whose use it was completely substantiated), could be mounted and magazine carbines Mauser Of k98k. although their recharging under the fire of enemy by hand appeared sufficiently to problematic. Bulky and inconvenient, they consisted of metal stamped-and-welded housing, to which was fastened the butt with the trigger device and periscope. Wooden butt was attached to the lower part of the housing with two screws with the wing nuts and could be removed. In it the trigger, connected with the aid of the trigger bar and the chain with the trigger mechanism of rifle, was installed. In the upper part of the housing, between side walls, was a support plate for the butt of rifle, fixed by supporting screw. From the front it was superimposed on the eccentric bushing, mounted on the adjustable the screw of the adjusting lever, which was tightened up by the wing nut. The marking with two clamps was fastened from above the housing to the hinge. On its inside there were supports, with the aid of two it was screw the forced against support plate housings of the butt of rifle. Aimed fire from these devices because of the large mass (weight with the self-loading rifle G.41(.W) - 10,4 kg; with the carbine Mauser 98k - 9,5 kg) and the strongly displaced forward center of gravity I could be produced only after their rigid fixation in the support. Devices for the shooting because of the shelters entered into service of the special commands, task of which was the destruction of the executive body of enemy in the populated areas.
Besides infantrymen a similar weapon sharply required the German tankers, who sufficiently rapidly felt the unprotectedness of their machines in the close battle. Armored technology had powerful armament; however, when enemy was situated in immediate proximity of the tanks or the armored cars, all this armament proved to be useless. Without the support of infantry tank could be destroyed with the aid of the bottles with the "cocktail of Molotov", the antitank grenades or the magnetic mines, moreover in these cases tank crew occurred literally in the trap. The impossibility of fight with the enemy soldiers, who be located out of the zone of the grazing fire (so-called dead zones) of small arms, forced German designer- gunsmiths to study this problem. Therefore the bent stem was very interesting solution of the problem, which since ancient times stood before the gunsmiths: how to shoot at the enemy the shelter? This problem it was possible to solve Colonel Hans- Joachim shayede, for the chief for the production administration of the ministry of armaments and defense industry. At the end of 1943 Shayede proposed to establish the bent stem to the tank machine gun M.G.EYA, for the more effective defense of tanks.
At the end of 1943 firm Rheinmetall obtained order for the creation of special adaptations - bent it was trunk for the purpose of their use in all models of the regular weapon, calculated hearth 7.92khshch"rifle- machine-gun cartridge. These adaptations were intended for decreasing the dead zones from the distances of 150-200 m to 15-20 m. the first prototype of special cap with the bent bore (Krummerlauf, it. - the bent stem) was slipped over regular carbine Mauser Of k.98k. the bent to 15 degrees experimental stem it had the inside diameter of smooth channel 10 mm, and external - 36 mm. but the results of shootings from it proved to be unsatisfactory. When they began to test the stems of carbines, bent by 30 degrees with a radius of 250 mm, then the first success was designated. In the final analysis the selection was made in favor of special of those bent it was trunk the caliber of 7,92 mm with the above-indicated parameters, with an outside diameter of about 16 mm and a thickness of the wall of 4 mm. the experiments were conducted with the stems with curvature 15, 30, 40, 60, 75 and 90 degrees. Interior ballistics in these stems was so thoroughly calculated that at the firing distances to 400 - 500 m it was analogous to ballistics of the motion of bullet in the normal stem, with exception of the specific reduction in the initial velocity and increase in scattering bullets. Moreover, in spite of the instability of weapon with the automatic shooting, were obtained the satisfactory results of the accuracy of shooting. Several similar adaptations prepared also for machine gun MG.34, but they all were destroyed during the shooting, moreover it is less than through one hundred shots. German 7,92- mm rifle cartridge proved to be excessively powerful for any bent stem.
Then German designers advanced the new idea: not will the bent stem better work with 7.92khee by the "intermediate" cartridge, which had shorter bullet and considerably smaller muzzle energy. Tests revealed, that cartridge 43 proved to be more being suitable for this construction and automaton is the only model of weapon, in which the idea of the bent stem can be realized in practice. Automaton worked due to the use of energy of the solid-reactant gases, which enter from the gas-bleeding opening the gas chamber. It is natural that the outflow of gases from the stem hindered with the presence of curvilinear cap, since a quantity of gases, which enter from the stem the gas chamber of automaton, grew, and their action on the moving elements of the automaton increased and could become the reason for their breakdown. For avoiding of this in the tail end of the cap were gas-bleeding openings for the outflow of gases outside. Because of this solution it was possible to obtain the normal speeds of the moving elements of the automaton, completed by that bent by stem- cap. The use of a similar cap in the complete set with the automata (assault rifles) OF MR.YAE considerably enlarged their potential possibilities, after allowing them news dense obstruction light instead of the single shots from the rifles.
During July 1944 the automaton (assault rifle) OF MR.YAE with the stem by the curvature of 90 degrees was demonstrated to the highest leadership of Wehrmacht. In the first version threaded stem had several gas-bleeding openings. During the shooting of automaton with the curvilinear stem- cap the accuracy of shooting was completely satisfactory. With the shooting the single shots to distance 100 it is meter scattering it composed 35 cm. the vitality of a similar stem it were evaluated at 2000 shots. Tests were the most convincing proof of the abilities of new weapon. On 8 August the management of control of the armament of Wehrmacht (HwaA) gave out order to the ministry of armaments of the third Reich for the production of 10000 adaptations for the shooting because of the shelters. However, this was somewhat premature, since the passed tests of automata MR.YAE revealed, that the stem with the curvature of 90 degrees can satisfy the need of the armament only of tankers, but in no way not infantry. On 25 August at the session of control of the armament of Wehrmacht with the representatives of firm- developer Rheinmetall-Borsig was accepted the solution about the design of the second model of stem, with the bend from 30 to 45 degrees, by the mass not of more than 2 kg and by vitality to 5000 shots.
This adaptation, which was called name Vorsatz J (project of iotas), was intended both for conducting the street it was combat (shooting because of the angle) and for conducting the shooting from the entrenchments (shooting from the trenches and the like.) It had a point of attachment, analogous to rifle grenade launcher, i.e., in the breech of the stem was mounted the clamp, which consisted of two markings with the set screw. Adjusting device ensures the possibility of the alignment of periscope sight and bringing the rifle, established into the adaptation, to the normal battle. Fastening curvilinear cap on the stem of weapon can be accomplished not only with the aid of the marking, but also with the aid of the bushing and by other methods.
With the development of weapon with the bent bore the requirements of conducting aimed fire from the entrenchments originally were considered. For guaranteeing aimed fire were created the sights of two types - specular and prismatic. Shooting from the krivostvol'nykh automata with such sights in practice is not differed from shooting from the usual automata with the optical sights. After the appearance of special periscope sight for Krummerlauf sharply grew the possibilities of the automata (assault rifles) OF МР.43 /Stg.44, equipped with curvilinear stems - nozzles with the bend of stem by 30 degrees.
The sight mechanisms of new device included fly and periscopical- specular system of lenses, which allowed the pointer of news aimed fire from the automaton from the thigh. Aiming line, penetrating the curve-slide sight and the fly of automaton, refracted in the lenses and drooped. Periscope sights made it possible to conduct aimed fire to 400 m, ensuring the sufficiently high accuracy of conducting the aimed fire. Thus, with the shooting from the automaton MR.YAYA to the distance of 100 m by a series on 10 single shots the ellipsis of scattering composed e0khe0 cm, and - 80kh80 see with the shooting sustained fire dispersion zone considerably it grew on 400 m and already it comprised on 100 m - 90khy"0 see the version of automaton MR.YAYA, equipped with cap Vorsatz J, was obtained designation Stg.44(.V). For the tests it was decided to prepare ten similar devices Vorsatz J, 27 October of 1944 the representatives for the administration for the armament of Wehrmacht, ministry of armaments, and the manufacturers: Rheinmetall, Bush, Zeiss and Bergmann participated in the conducting on the range of firm Rheinmetall of the comparative tests of different models of those bent it was trunk. Were tested stem- nozzles with the curvature of the bore of 30 degrees and 90 degrees and several models of periscopical sight mechanisms.
Stem- nozzle with the curvature of 30 degrees, equipped with periscopical sight mechanism, proved to be most suitable for the use in the infantry units, but conducting troop tests was required for final resolution of this question. Therefore was accepted the solution to send six trunk- nozzle and two collections of three different types of sight mechanisms to infantry school in g. of doberitts for their further estimation. After a certain delay in the middle of November all devices were sent for Doberitts. Infantry school obtained four versions: - two stem- nozzles with the metallic sights, established to the left, and by periscopical specular adaptations on the stem; - two stem- nozzles with the metallic sight on top on the stem and the periscopical specular adaptations, installed on the shank of automata; - to stem- nozzle with the metallic sight to the left; - to stem- nozzle with the sight on top on the stem, moreover two latter in the combination with the aiming periscopical adaptation, installed on the steel helmet M 42.
During the tests it was intended to select the best version, which most satisfies all demands of Wehrmacht. Furthermore, during the tests in the infantry school it was planned to investigate vitality, accuracy of shooting and possibility of the installation of these adaptations in the entrenchments. And after only two weeks infantry school directed in control of the armament of Wehrmacht the test report, in which it was indicated that none of the represented models of new weapon recommended itself from the positive side. Sight mechanisms not were rigidly fixed on the weapon, which extremely adversely affected the accuracy of shooting. Furthermore, sights were located in such a way that pointer was necessary to hold weapon in thigh, but this, in turn, was not given to the weapon of stability during the shooting. Similar problems could be solved only with the aid of the special device for the stabilization of weapon with the shooting. Nevertheless infantry school recognized nevertheless the fitness of a similar weapon for the armament of army.
On 8 December the representatives of the administration of the armament of Wehrmacht, firms Rheinmetall-Borsig and Zeiss again were encountered in order to discuss the improved version of that bent stem- nozzles Vorsatz J at this conference it starts the solution about the new tests of three models of this weapon: - stem- nozzles with the bend of 30 degrees with the prismatic periscopical sight mechanism of the construction of firm Zeiss, - trunk- nozzle with the bend of 45 degrees, with the same prismatic periscopical sight mechanism and collection of prismatic lenses. Two stems with the bend to 45 degrees were intended only for checking the sight mechanisms, since the tests, carry ouied by firm Rheinmetall, convincingly proved that the stronger bending radius gave excessive return. The necessary quantity of automata, equipped with these three devices, it had to transmit into the infantry school to 21 December. Thus, in the case of the successful completion of tests could be accepted the solution about the beginning of production of one of these models by a zero series in 3000 unit.
In the expectation of this solution firm Rheinmetall put into its production schedule during January 1945. 1000 trunk- nozzles with the bend of 30 degrees, although a similar initiative-taking planning appeared sufficiently to optimistic. The improved version of that bent stem- nozzles appeared itself during the last tests very in better shape. Stem- nozzle with the bend of 30 degrees it malfunctioned already after 300 shots, and stems with the bend of 45 degrees showed themselves still worse. Breakdowns in the aiming periscopical adaptations appeared immediately, after 7 and 10 shots respectively, and in one of the caps tore stem after 170 shots. Fastening stem- nozzles on the automaton was bent, and as a whole a similar construction revealed excessive return. On 24 December, 1944, was accepted the solution to continue tests only with the stem- nozzles with the bend of 30 degrees. To firm Rheinmetall it was prescribed to prepare 200 similar devices, half of which had to have the capability of shooting rifle grenades. At the same time German gunsmiths did not forget also about their tankers. This was connected with an increase in the caliber of tank guns and overall sizes of tanks, which led to an increase in the dead (neprostrelivayemogo) space to several ten it was meter. Furthermore, refusal of the turret machine guns by this time already became standard, since the ball installations of machine guns weakened the front armor of tank. Consequently, lost the possibility of the defeat of enemy in the dead area. At the same time the Germans considered one additional factor - in 1944 substantially (to 150 m) grew the lethal range of manual anti-tank grenade dischargers (panzerfausts). It by this time reached the limits of the dead area, and therefore the well prepared grenade throwers could strike tanks, remaining relatively invulnerable for their machine guns.
The initial version of new weapon was intended for the installation in the open ring mount on the towers of tanks. Cap had the bent stem with a length of 355 mm with the bend to 30 degrees, and also simplified sight mechanisms, which excluded conducting aimed fire. But already soon the concern about the safety of tankers during the battle forced designers to forego the open arrangement of weapon on the towers of tanks and to use its version with the bend of bore to 90 degrees. The automaton (assault rifle) OF MR.YAYA with stem- cap Vorsatz Pz (Panzer) had a bend of stem to 90 degrees and was intended for the use in the armored technology. Stem- nozzle with an outside diameter of 25 mm and an overall length of 476 mm it were mounted in the ball installation on the roof of the tower, which provided the possibility of the all-around fire. A similar construction made it possible to reduce the dead area to 15 m. scattering with the shooting from this weapon it composed from 16 to 50 cm. besides cap for using the automata in the close fighting compartments of tanks was developed the special shortened sectorial capacitor box to 10 cartridges.
In the final analysis for firm Rheinmetall it was possible to prepare 100 trunk- nozzles, precise configuration of which was unknown. Infantry school into g. of grafenvor, tank school, school of mountain huntsmen and tank school of troops SS they were informed, that they can obtain 25 trunk- nozzle in firm Rheinmetall after 31 March, and reports about their tests must be returned in control of the armament of Wehrmacht to May 1945. However, by this time war has already been completed.
To the negative results of the tests of such, it would seem, the very promising weapon, such as were at that time the assault rifles Stg.44 (V) and Stg.44 (R), several reasons influenced. First of all, the construction of cap with the bent stem rendered influence on the deformation of bullets that to a considerable degree it affected an increase in the scattering. Additional negative factor became the increased wear of bore in the region of muzzle end face, which led to an even larger scattering of bullets. The vitality of caps comprised not more than 250 shots, moreover it decreased proportional to an increase in the curvature of stem. Therefore a similar weapon, deflected by control of the armament of Wehrmacht, there remained only in the prototypes. The disintegration of German economy in the recent months of war did not make possible to bring them to the introduction into the series production; however, after war these models served as the basis for those developed in THE USSR and THE USA both and series prototypes of small arms with the curvilinear bore. As early as 1944, solving the problem of the elimination of the dead area, American designers created 11,43- mm machine pistols M 3 with the curvilinear stem. They could shoot through the dead area in front of and along the sides of machine. In the same year the tank version of machine pistol M 3 with the bent stem the Americans attempted to adapt, also, for the infantry. However, both in the Germans, this krivostvol'noye weapon and there remained only in the experimental models.
Nevertheless very task of determining the prospect of small arms with the bent bore not was completely taken from the agenda this work Soviet designer- gunsmiths they began soon after the end of World War II. The Red Army as the trophies took certain quantity of German weapon with the curved stem. On this base was begun the first scientific research and experimental-design work on testing it was trunk small arms of different curvature under the 7.62-mm pistol cartridge TT, 7.62-mm rifle cartridge, 12,7- mm large-caliber cartridge DSHK and 20- mm the cartridge of aircraft cannon SHVAK. Thus, Kovrov gunsmiths created on the base of the machine pistol Of shpagina PPSH new model with the bore bent to 30 degrees. However, in the course of studies were obtained negative results because of the low close grouping with the shooting from this PPSH even to the short ranges (to 100 m). This was connected with the fact that the direction of the flight of bullet did not coincide with the longitudinal axis of the direction of the stem of weapon, therefore return with the shot was directed at angle toward the weapon itself. Because of what the weapon was slanted to the side. And only through several years domestic gunsmiths returned to them again, but already in new development stage of weapon. Our designers, following the Germans, arrived at the conclusion that a similar weapon can effectively work only with the "intermediate" cartridge, since the best results on the ballistic stems it was possible to be achieved under ",'2khe9 the cartridge of model 1943. In the middle 1950- X it is annual Soviet gunsmiths they approached the works on the automatic weapon under this cartridge. Thus, in 1956 designers Kovrov OKB -575 developed the design of the 7.62-mm light machine gun of Degtarev RPD, equipped with curvilinear stem- cap. At the same time the solution to develop the design of tank machine gun with the bend of bore was accepted to 90 degrees. This work was charged To n. Makarov, who worked out all details of krivostvol'nogo knot on the base of Kalashnikov automatic rifle AK, and K.Kurenkovomu, which designed ball installation. Machine gun was intended for the armament of tanks, it is more precise, for their protection at the closest distance, in the dead zone, not shot through by regular machine gun. Range tests showed that the system created by designers can solve the problem of the neighbor defense of the emergency or hit in combat tank and that the schematic of the arrangement of installation on the hatchway of tower proposed by them is the only possible version. However, the difficulties, connected with opening or shutting of tower hatchway, even with the condition of the preliminary extraction of machine gun from the installation, and other smaller problems, caused the negative ratio to it of tank crews. Therefore the idea of the protection of tank with the aid of the krivostvol'nogo weapon was acknowledged inadvisable, and all works in this direction were ended. To analogous conclusions they came also abroad.
It should be noted that besides the creation of similar models of automatic small arms, was checked the possibility and the expediency of creating the krivostvol'nogo weapon with the aid of the nozzle- chutes and nozzle- it was trunk, that are attached to the muzzle part trunk. In this case the angle of curvature in the process of experiments changed over wide limits, up to 90 degrees. The possibility of conducting studies on the nozzle- chutes was obvious, since, penetrating the curvilinear cap, under the action of centrifugal force the bullet was forced against the internal surface of chute. Studies established that the optimum angle of curvature of cap is located in the region of 30 degrees. The dismantling of special bullets (tracing, igniting) occurs with the large angle of curvatures, in that case it is possible to conduct shooting only cartridges with the usual bullets. Difference in the closely grouped fire with the shooting from the curvilinear weapon in comparison with the usual straight-boled at point-blank range (to 350 m) is insignificant. In this respect more it transported to heavy small arms - to heavy machine guns. At the end 1940 - beginning 1950- X in our country in OKB -43 they were annual expanded large-scale works on the design of machine guns with the bent bore for equipping the lasting fortifications. But as long ago as 1955 upon the armament of the Soviet Army assumes dismountable installation BEECH -3, osnashchenuyu two 7.62-mm krivostvol'nymi heavy machine guns Of goryunova KSGM. This weapon long time was used in the stationary fortifications on Soviet-Chinese boundary.
In spite of this successful test, for several decades all works, connected with the bent bore, were practically ended. And only in recent years again appeared interest in this weapon, in connection with the need for fight with the widely extended cases of seizing the hostages and other terrorist actions, when criminals are concealed in transportation means or in the accomodations. Often the problem of their destruction without the risk for the hostages could be solved with the aid of the krivostvol'nogo weapon, which acts "because of the angle". Thus, as long ago as 1997 OF NII - SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE of the "special-technician" OF MVD demonstrated on one of the weapons exhibitions drive for the shooting because of the shelters. In this version regular 5,45- mm the Kalashnikov automatic rifle AK-"ya, installed on the machine tool- tripod, obtained the possibility of remote guidance with the aid of the lever. Aiming in this complex is accomplished with the aid of the flexible cable- light guide, moreover its outlet is located on aiming line (precisely, where is located eye pointer), and eyepiece is derived into the safe for the operator place. The combat experience, produced by the Russian armed forces and law-enforcement agencies in the numerous local armed conflicts of last time, revealed the need of creating the most diverse models of a similar weapon. The greatest need for the krivostvol'nom weapon voice peacemaking military formations and anti-terrorist primary structures. So that krivostvol'noye weapon and to this day did not lose its urgency, and possibly, in the near future in arsenal of Russian army the new, most unexpected models of this weapon will appear.
