Enter to win this awesome Semiauto DPM!
https://www.fanathem.com/forgottenweapons
DEADLINE to ENTER is 10/25/2024 at 11:59 PM PST
After World War Two, the Red Army moved from a full power infantry rifle cartridge to an intermediate one, and the 7.62x39mm RPD became the new squad machine gun. At the same time, the heavy Maxims were replaced by the new SG-43 Goryunov. This left a gap in capability, with nothing available with full-power punch and reasonable mobility. To solve the problem, a team of three engineers (A.I. Shilin, P.P. Polyakov, and A.A. Dubinin) developed a clever adaptation to allow the DP/DPM machine gun to use belted ammunition (using standard Maxim/Goryunov/PK belts). They created a belt feed module that attached to the gun just like a magazine; simple and cheap to convert existing guns. This was adopted in 1946, and would serve until replaced by the PK in 1961. In addition to Soviet production, the design was also produced in China and North Korea.
In addition to the belt feed, the RP-46 featured a few other changes to better handle sustained belt-fed fire. The gas tube and front magazine catch were strengthened. A folding shoulder support was added to the buttstock. The bipod legs were modified to hold a 4-part segmented cleaning rod. A heavy barrel was fitted, and a much heavier gas block with three adjustable positions. The barrel release button was enlarged and fitted with a lockout lever to prevent accidental barrel release.
Information on how many RP-46s were made and how/where they were used is very difficult to find. The RP-46 is seen in very few period photos, and surplus stockpiles of them never have seemed to turn up. It’s really quite odd how little information and experience seems to exist on these guns, which does make one wonder if perhaps they were not actually made in large quantity, or if they were destroyed for some reason instead of being stockpiled like most obsolete Soviet arms.
“Problems of temper” when the barrel gets hot. Did the gun get angry?
Judging by some of the old guns seen in the Ukraine war, the Russians didn’t scrap anything, so it is perhaps fair to assume that these guns were not made in huge numbers.
There were two very important conflicts that happened that could explain the rarity of this gun. The Chinese Civil and Korean Wars soon after this gun was perfected and the Vietnam War which “Heated-Up” after this weapon was officially replaced. If this gun was developed in decent enough numbers most likely the Soviets sent some to the Communist Chinese in their fight with the Nationalist and the North Koreans during that early ’50’s conflict and what was left was given to the North Vietnam in the ’60’s. And they were probably passed on to smaller communist rebel groups around the world in lesser conflicts. Since they were no longer being produced after ’61 they were worn down to uselessness and thrown away.
At least some of them went to Cuba. The type is reviewed in the 1980 manual for the Milicias de Tropas Territoriales when Reagan was POTUS.
I suspect others went to Africa and other National Liberation movements.
“(…)P.P. Polyakov, and A.A. Dubinin(…)”
They were working at adding belt-fed to DP much earlier than after Maxims were replaced by the new SG-43.
From https://litresp.ru/chitat/ru/%D0%9C/malimon-a-a/otechestvennie-avtomati-zapiski-ispitatelya-oruzhejnika
Немецкая практика создания единых пулеметов, применявшихся в годы второй мировой войны (МГ-34, МГ-42), также отражала идею полной унификации: производственную и эксплуатационную. Этот принцип применил Дегтярев при инициативной разработке в 1939 году первого опытного варианта Единого пулемета (ДП-39) с приемником Дубинина-Полякова под металлическую звеньевую ленту и приданием ему треножного станка типа ДС-39.
that is under influence of German unified machine gun prompted Degtyaryov to develop in 1939 first [soviet] unified machine gun dubbed ДП-39 with Dubinin-Polyakov gadget for accepting DS-39 belts.
And describing entrants of August 1942…June 1943, which finally lead to selection of Goryunovs [plural intended] design
Ковровским заводом в представленных трех других образцах предпринята попытка создания станкового пулемета на базе налаженного производства пулеметов ДП (ДТ) с прямой и двухтактной подачей патрона. В первом случае механизм подачи смонтирован в крышке ствольной коробки, во втором — крепящийся сверху приемник Дубинина-Полякова, связанный с рукояткой затворной рамы. Патронная лента от пулемета ДС-39. Приемник был разработан еще в довоенное время с целью придать пулемету ДП кроме магазинного еще и ленточное питание.
Kovrov plants created different belt-fed derivatives of DP (DT) machine gun, with direct and two-stroke movement. First has mechanism built into roof of receiver, second was Dubinin-Polyakov gadget linked to handle. DS-39 belt was used.
For photos of ДП-39 see https://dzen.ru/a/Y-ERJbYv5F0zIszk
“(…)RP-46: The Rarely Seen Belt-Fed Degtyarev(…)”
Interestingly this is exact opposite of DShK which is descendant of magazine-feed ДК-32 see 2nd image from top
http://war-russia.info/index.php/nomenklatura-vooruzhenij/431-sukhoputnye-vojska/strelkovoe-oruzhie/strelkovoe-oruzhie-2/pulemety-stankovye/2879-12-7-mm-krupnokalibernyj-stankovyj-pulemet-degtyarjova-shpagina-dk-32-dshk-dshkm-56-p-542-542m-1932-39-45gg
Hi Ian, it seems that YT has been deleting any kind of link I’m trying to leave, so here’s the picture of RP-46 in Ukraine:
https://files.catbox.moe/w3gl39.jpg
For the rest, the MG is very cool, but That must be the most impractical gas regulation system ever.
Most important question:
The digital watch; Casio or Timex?
That looks like a classic Casio F-91W.