NSV machine gun

The NSV (Cyrillic: НСВ, initialism for Никитина-Соколова-Волкова, Nikitin-Sokolov-Volkov) "Utyos" (Russian: Cliff), is a Soviet heavy machine gun chambered in 12.7×108mm. It is named after the designers, G. I. Nikitin, Y. М. Sokolov and V. I. Volkov. It was designed to replace the DShK machine gun and was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1971.

For other uses, see NSV (disambiguation).
NSV
NSV heavy machine gun
TypeHeavy machine gun
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1971–present
Used bySee Users
WarsSoviet–Afghan War
First Nagorno-Karabakh War
Gulf War
Afghan Civil War
War in Afghanistan
Lebanese Civil War
Iraq War
Russo-Georgian War
Syrian Civil War
Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)
Russo-Ukrainian War[1]
Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerG.I. Nikitin, Y.М. Sokolov, V.I. Volkov
DesignedCentral Design Bureau of Sports and Hunting Weaponry, Tula, 1969
Manufacturer"Metallist", Uralsk, Kazakh SSR
Produced1971–present
VariantsNSVT
Specifications
Mass25 kg (55.12 lb) (gun only)
41 kg (90.39 lb) on tripod
11 kg (24.25 lb) (50-round belt)
Length1,560 mm (61.4 in)
Cartridge12.7×108mm

12.7×99mm NATO

(For Polish WKM-B)
Caliber12.7 mm
ActionGas-operated
Rate of fire700–800 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity845 m/s (2,772 ft/s)
Effective firing range1500 m vs. air (maximum)
2000 m vs. ground targets
Feed system50-round belt
SightsIron sights

The NSV was manufactured at the Metallist plant in Uralsk, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union. The vehicle-mounted NSVT variant is used on the T-72[2] T-64[3] and T-80[4] battle tanks. Like many Soviet weapons, the NSV was reverse-engineered by rival Yugoslavia as the M87. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia began development on the Kord heavy machine gun, while Belarus, Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Vietnam all introduced their own copies of the NSV.

The NSV weighs 25 kg (55 lb), has a rate of fire of 700–800 rounds per minute, and an effective range from 1,500 m (1,600 yd) to 2,000 m (2,200 yd) against airborne and ground targets, respectively. A loaded ammunition belt with 50 rounds weighs 11 kg (24 lb).[5]

History

The Soviet Army began looking for a new heavy machine gun to replace its older SGM and DShK machine guns in the early 1950s. The Soviet Army liked the idea behind the German MG 42; a versatile weapon used on a variety of mounts to perform many different roles. Two Soviet weapon designers were asked to design one weapon each utilizing the same principle. Mikhail Kalashnikov's submission was approved following trials as it was found to be more reliable and cheaper to manufacture than the design of Grigory Nikitin and Yuri Sokolov. Kalashnikov's machine gun became the new standard machine gun, and was named PK.

Nikitin's and Sokolov's design was, however, not forgotten. It was eventually developed into the NSV heavy machine gun about 10 years later and selected in 1969 as the successor to the DShK and DShKM machine guns. It was accepted in service by the Soviet Army in 1971.

Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia began developing the Kord heavy machine gun to replace the NSV "Utyos" and which entered service in 1998. The Metallist factory in what is now Oral, Kazakhstan struggled to find customers in the 1990s. The factory was converted to focus on industrial production in the oil and gas sector in 2003.

Use in Finland

The NSV is called 12,7 Itkk 96 or 12,7 ilmatorjuntakonekivääri 96 (12,7 anti-aircraft machine gun 96) in Finland. It is often used as a vehicle-mounted machine gun, and can be seen on the Pasi armoured personnel carrier, the Nasu transport vehicle and the Leopard 2R tank.

Due to its high rate of fire, the NSV is intended to be used as a close-range anti-aircraft weapon against helicopters, UAVs and aircraft. In dismounted ground combat it is placed on a special mount.

The Finnish Navy also uses the NSV in the anti-aircraft role, where it complements other unguided anti-aircraft weapons like the 23 ITK 95, Bofors 40 Mk3 or Bofors 57 Mk2 and Mk3.

NSV machine gun on mount

Variants
  •  Soviet Union NSVS-12.7 (Russian > Nikitina-Sokolova-Volkova Stankovy 12.7 = "NSV-designed mounted 12.7mm machinegun"): Used on tripod mount.
  •  Soviet Union NSVT-12.7 (Russian > Nikitina-Sokolova-Volkova Tankovy 12.7 = "NSV-designed coaxial 12.7mm machinegun"): Used on T-72 and T-80 main battle tanks.
  •  Finland 12.7 Itkk 96: Finnish designation. Guns acquired from Soviet Union, Russia and Germany (Ex-Nationale Volksarmee).[6]
  •  Serbia M87 NSVT: Serbian license built version by Zastava Arms. The M87 has seen use with the armies of the former Yugoslav states.
  •  Poland NSW: Polish copy
  •  Poland WKM-B: Polish copy adapted for NATO-standard .50 BMG ammunition.
  •  Ukraine KT-12.7: Ukrainian copy
  •  Bulgaria MG-U: Bulgarian copy

Users
Map with NSV machine gun users in blue
Polish NSW on an anti-aircraft mount

Current users

Former users

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to NSV.

References
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