AKS-74U: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{expert}} |
|||
[[Image:Ak47u.jpg|thunmb|right|250px]] |
[[Image:Ak47u.jpg|thunmb|right|250px]] |
||
Revision as of 06:19, 14 May 2006
The AKS-74U (also referred as AKSU-74 or AK-74SU ) was introduced in the 1970s. The AKS-74U short assault rifle (the "U" suffix means "Ukorochennyj" in Russian = "Shortened" in English) has been developed in the late 1970s from the AKS-74 assault rifle. It is basically the shortened version of the AK-74 assault rifle and combines the small size of a submachine gun and relatively powerful ammunition (which is the same as used in the classic AK-74 rifle). A notable distinguishing feature is its conical flash suppressor. The AKS-74U has the size and effective range of a typical submachine gun, but has advantage of the general issue, assault rifle ammunition and magazines, as well as the parts interchangeability with the general issue assault rifle, the AK-74.
It was intended for use by vehicle crews, artillery teams and Special Forces, which needed a small and lightweight weapon. The Spetsnaz version of the weapon has the option to attach the silencer and even the 30 mm grenade launcher. A special version of the AKS-74U had been developed for Spetsnaz, which could be fitted with quickly detachable silencer and a special 30mm silenced grenade launcher model BS-1 "Tishina" ("silence"). The launcher uses special HE-DP grenades, which are launched using special blank cartridges, stored in the box magazine, contained in the launcher pistol grip.
Non-Russian Users
The weapon was popular in many of the countries of the Warsaw Pact so it has also been produced in some of these countries. In particular, Yugoslavia manufactured the weapon as the Zastava M85 and it saw service with the various countries that resulted from the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Semi-automatic versions of the AKSU are known as "Krinkov" on the American market.
AKS-74U in Popular Culture
This weapon was also seen in the hit James Bond film GoldenEye and Black Hawk Down, as well as in the popular video games Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, America's Army, and Battlefield 2.
An AKS-74U can also be seen next to Osama bin Laden in his videos when he is making his speeches.
Differences with AKS-74
The AKS-74U has only few differences from the basic AKS-74 assault rifle, which I will describe below.
AKS-74U has a severely shortened barrel, with the gas chamber moved back and appropriately cut down gas piston rod. Since the portion of the barrel after the gas port is very short, a special muzzle device was designed, which is used as a flash hider and the gas expansion chamber (to achieve reliable gas operated action). The front sight base is lowered, and the standard adjustable rear sight is replaced by the flip-up rear (marked for 200 and 400 meters distance), mounted on the receiver cover. The receiver cover is hinged to the receiver at the front and flips up when opened (original AK-74 receiver cover is detachable). Otherwise the AKS-74U is similar to the AKS-74, it has similar controls, folding buttstock, and uses same magazines. AKS-74U cannot be fitted with bayonet. Some versions had a standard side-mounted rail for the night or red-dot scopes, and are known as AKS-74U-N.
Features
- Caliber: 5.45×39 mm (the same ammunition for the AK-74)
- Length: 735 mm with stock opened
- Magazine: 30 rounds
- Range: 300 m
- Rate of fire: 730 rounds per minute (It should also be noted that the rate of fire is higher than the AK-74, due to its purpose as a close quarters weapon.)