The best examples of firearms for shooting underwater. Underwater submachine gun APS: photo, description, analogs

In the 1950s, the first scuba gear was created. This gave people the opportunity to use the underwater environment as an arena for military operations. Since ancient times, divers have used knives as a means of self-defense. However, knives in underwater combat are ineffective. The chances of a swimmer armed with only one blade to survive were minimal. The use of harpoon guns turned out to be impractical: they had a weak lethal force and a low rate of fire. They could only be used for spearfishing or as protection against sharks. The successful repulsion of an attack by a specially trained enemy under water became possible with the use of an underwater firearms.

Work on its creation was carried out by designers in many countries. One of the samples that subsequently gained popularity was the APS underwater shooting machine. Information about what this weapon is and what similar models are used by combat swimmers of other states is contained in the article.

Getting to know the machine

APS (special underwater submachine gun) is an individual weapon of a scuba diver used to destroy surface and underwater targets. In the mid-1970s, the weapon entered service with the Soviet Navy.

Beginning of work

In 1955, the USSR was shaken by terrible news: as a result of a catastrophe that occurred on the territory of the Sevastopol Bay in Novorossiysk, a battleship sank. Soviet specialists were convinced that this happened as a result of a sabotage successfully carried out by the enemy. Despite the fact that the results of the investigation did not provide any basis for allegations of external interference, the tragedy that occurred led the Soviet military to think about how to successfully defend against real underwater attacks by sabotage groups. Soon, special combat units were formed in the USSR, the swimmers of which were armed with the created Soviet designers APS underwater assault rifles (a photo of the weapon is presented in the article).

About developers

Research and development work was carried out by a group of employees of the TsNIITochmash enterprise in the city of Podolsk. V.V. was appointed its leader. Simonov. Cartridges for weapons were developed by P.F. Sazonov and O.P. Kravchenko. The first version of the APS submachine gun was assembled by the Soviet designer P. A. Tkanev. In 1975, mass production was launched at the arms factory in the city of Tula. this weapon. Underwater submachine gun special (APS) was intended for special forces soldiers of the air fleet Soviet Union. Today, these weapons are used by Russian and Ukrainian combat swimmers.

What problem did the designers face?

When designing underwater small arms, the designers found that they could fail quite easily. The reason for the breakdowns was the high resistance of water, which contributes to the accumulation of steam in the trunks. This factor had to be taken into account in the work on the APS submachine gun.

Developments

Shooting from the APS underwater assault rifle is carried out using the MPS ammunition (special marine cartridge) of 5.6 mm caliber developed for it. The cartridge is equipped with a needle-shaped arrow-shaped bullet with constrictions in the head. Bullet length - 120 mm. Its weight is 15 g. The stability of movement in water and the conservation of energy when firing at long distances became possible due to a special cavitation cavity, with which the developers equipped the bullet in the head. Shooting correction is carried out using special tracer marine cartridges (MPST). Since rifling is not provided for the barrels of APS submachine guns, the bullet does not receive the torque necessary for its stable movement. As a result, a projectile fired from the APS is capable of hitting a target at a distance not exceeding one hundred meters. This significantly limits combat capabilities scuba diver on dry land. For combat swimmers, Soviet designers additionally designed SPP-1 (special underwater pistols), which are also adapted for firing under water. As ammunition for SPP-1, cartridges of MSP and MPST were intended.

How is the weapon made?

The steel box of the machine is made of stamped steel sheet. Despite the fact that the APS is designed for firing under water, outwardly it is very similar to the land model. Designed for underwater weapons special mechanism for automatic reloading. In his work, the energy of powder gases removed from the bore is used. The trigger mechanism allows the fighter to fire single shots and bursts. The firing mode is regulated by a special translator. It is located on the receiver on the left side. The machine is equipped with a retractable metal wire butt, which is easily extended from receiver. In the conditions of the campaign, the butt is pushed back into the receiver, and the machine itself is attached to the side of the underwater vehicle.

Operating principle

During the shot, the shutter of the machine gun moves back. As a result, the barrel channel opens, the spent cartridge case is removed and extracted from the chamber. The bolt carrier acts on the return spring. The result of the compression of the spring was the movement of the cutter and the installation of a trigger mechanism on the cocking. Straightening, the spring with the help of the shutter sends the next ammunition into the chamber and closes the barrel channel. For the receiver, special lugs are provided. With their help, the shutter is locked. If its lugs have gone beyond the stops, then the locking procedure is considered completed. During the forward movement of the bolt frame, it interacts with the drummer, which is equipped with a striker. The shot occurs as a result of breaking the cartridge primer with this striker.

About the ammunition supply of underwater weapons

Ammunition is contained in a box-shaped double-row magazine. Its capacity is 26 rounds. The automatic magazine is equipped with a special dividing plate and spring grips, with the help of which the upper ammunition is securely fixed.

On the performance characteristics of the APS

The underwater machine has the following characteristics:

• The weapon weighs 2.46 kg.
• Length - 84 cm (with unfolded butt), 62 cm (without butt).
• Ammunition: MPS and MPST caliber 5.66 mm.
• Rate of fire: 600 rounds per minute.
• The speed of a bullet fired underwater is 360 m/s, in air: 365 m/s.
• Under water, the combat resource of the machine is 2 thousand shots, on land - 180.
• The aiming range indicator under water varies within 10-30 m, on the shore - no more than 100 meters.

In order to break through organic glass with a thickness of 0.5 cm and an enemy wetsuit, the lethal force of an APS submachine gun is enough. Analogues of this Soviet weapons are in service with the Navy in other states.

Underwater weapons for Chinese swimmers

On the basis of the Soviet APS, individual small arms were designed for combat scuba divers of the PRC. The model entered service in 2006 and is listed as QBS-6. The product is an underwater submachine gun designed to destroy underwater and surface enemy targets. Structurally, the QBS-6 has much in common with the Soviet rifle model.

The locking of the barrel in the Chinese underwater machine is carried out using a butterfly valve. The receiver is made of stamped steel sheet. The Chinese APS differs from the Soviet APS in the presence of a plastic forearm. In an effort to ensure the most convenient use of the machine, the Chinese designers equipped it with fairly wide trigger guards. The barrel channel of the weapon does not contain rifling. For the machine, the presence of shoulder wire stops is provided. The magazine capacity is 25 rounds. The caliber of the cartridges used is 5.8 mm. The underwater machine is equipped with non-adjustable fixed sights.

NATO option

An alternative to the Soviet APS for combat swimmers of NATO countries was the BUW-2 underwater weapon. This rifle model is a semi-automatic underwater pistol that fires active-reactive bullets. Ammunition BUW-2 have hydrodynamic stabilization. The place for cartridges was a special disposable block, which includes four barrels. The range of underwater shooting does not exceed 10 meters. On land, bullets hit a target at a distance of up to 250 meters. Caliber 4.5 mm. The bullet is a steel needle, the length of which can vary from 30 to 60 mm. In addition, ammunition for the NATO underwater pistol can be equipped with special ampoules with poisonous substances. Magazine capacity - no more than 20 rounds.

About the German pistol P-11

This underwater small arms was developed by a well-known German company Heckler Koch. A special interchangeable block with barrels built into it is provided for the pistol. They are equipped in the factory. Rechargeable only in a specialized workshop. After shooting all the charges, the block from the pistol is dismantled. For the P-11, an electric igniter and an electronic trigger mechanism have been developed, with the participation of which the initiation of barrel electric caps is carried out. The weapon runs on two 9-volt batteries.

They are located in the handle, in a special sealed compartment. Thanks to the electronic mechanism, the P-11 is provided with an easy descent. Ammunition caliber - 7.62 mm. The cartridge is equipped with a needle-shaped bullet with a lead core. Shells in armor-piercing ammunition are painted black and contain steel cores. The effective range of underwater firing is not more than 15 meters. On land, the pistol is capable of hitting a target located at a distance of up to 30 meters.

Today, this rifle model is used by combat swimmers of such states as Germany, France, Great Britain, Norway and the USA.

Barr and Kreycher underwater pistol - cartridge-barrel design

The Heckler & Koch firm approached the development of weapons for combat swimmers in an original way. In her P11 pistol, she used an interchangeable block of five pre-equipped barrels, providing a shot without the formation of gas bubbles. Barrels are loaded at the factory, they can only be reloaded in a special workshop. The most unusual part of the P11 was the electronic trigger that initiates the barrels' electric caps. The electronic mechanism, well known from target sporting weapons, provides a low trigger force, adjustable over a wide range of operating times. But in such an aggressive environment as sea water, its reliability is a matter of concern.

Underwater pistol R11
Of particular burning interest are the Soviet APS submachine gun (special underwater submachine gun) and the non-automatic 4-barreled pistol SPP-1 (special underwater pistol), designed for underwater shooting. These samples were created more than 20 years ago, but only at the beginning of the 90s they were officially presented to the public. To say that this complex of underwater weapons and ammunition aroused great interest among Western experts is to say nothing. It was a shock. And it was from what. This is due to the fact that, for example, in the United States, the problem of creating an underwater machine long time was considered unsolvable in principle and was, in terms of the real prospect of implementation, on a par with the development perpetual motion machine and a transparent tank (!).


Special underwater pistol SPP-1

Automatic underwater special APS.

Thanks to this, the nail is able to maintain stable movement and lethality at a distance of 17 m at a depth of 5 m, 11 m at a depth of 11 m, 6 m at a depth of 40 m. At the indicated ranges and depths, the nail is able to pierce several solid pine boards, i.e. effective shooting is actually carried out at a visibility range under water. The length of the 4.5-mm cartridge is 145 mm, the weight is 18 g. Actually, the large length of the cartridge forced us to resort to such a weapon scheme. In the air, the nail quickly loses its stability, and shooting with such cartridges is possible at short range. Therefore, for training on the shore, the block of smooth barrels can be replaced with 4 rifled barrels for the usual intermediate cartridge 5.45x39. We note, by the way, that the shooting is based on the same principle (movement in the developed cavitation mode) and the unique Russian Shkval torpedo missile, which has significant speed characteristics (100 m / s) and the German Barakuda (400 km / h or 111 m / s). And Western secret services are still actively hunting for the secrets of Flurry hydrodynamics, even having samples of it in their hands ...
SPP-1 refers to the type of non-automatic multi-barreled pistols. A block of four smooth barrels is hinged on the frame and rotates around its trunnions. For loading, it leans down - as in the "turning point" hunting rifles, and is locked, again like a gun, on the lower hook and latch. Loading is carried out with a pack (clip) with four cartridges. When unlocking the block of barrels, the extractor moves the pack of spent cartridges back, making reloading easier and somewhat faster: under water, the reloading process takes about 5 seconds.
The self-cocking trigger mechanism provides consistent firing and operates from a single trigger. Each time you press it, the firing pin located behind the barrels rotates 90 degrees and, moving along the screw copier, breaks the primer of the next cartridge (in part, this resembles the scheme of multi-barreled pistols of the second half of the 19th century). The self-cocking trigger force is 3.5 kgf. Characteristic features SPP-1M, which appeared in 1979, are a special spring that loads the sear and facilitates the descent, and a trigger guard that is strongly curved forward. The enlarged shackle allows firing with insulated gloves, which are part of the swimmer's equipment, especially when operating in northern waters. The pistol grip is plastic, hollow. On the left side in the recess of the handle, behind the trigger guard, there is a safety lever. They can also be operated with gloves. The flag also controls the locking of the block of barrels and has three positions: "loading" (the block of barrels is open), "fuse" and "fire".
Sights - the simplest: an open front sight and a permanent open rear sight. The SPP is carried in a closed leatherette holster. The combat swimmer's ammunition load includes from 4 to 10 equipped clips of 4 rounds each. Curb weight SPP-1M - 0.95 kg, length - 244 mm, height - 138 mm, width - 25 mm, barrel length - 195 mm. starting speed bullets in air is 250 m/s, muzzle energy - 412 J. Sighting range at a depth of 5 m - 17 m, at a depth of 20 m - 11 m, at a depth of 40 m - 6 m, i.е. corresponds to the range of visibility under water. The production of the SPP-1 pistol, together with the APS assault rifle, was supplied by TOZ.
Rumor has it that the Defense Inventions Division of the US Department of Defense at one time refused to accept any proposals for a "perpetual motion machine, an invisible tank, and an underwater machine" for consideration. However, the “underwater machine gun” was nevertheless created and has been in service in Russia for three decades, the APS machine gun (“special underwater machine gun”, not to be confused with the “Stechkin automatic pistol”) is designed to fire special 5.66-mm MPS and MPST cartridges (tracer) type 5.66x39. The cartridge (like the pistol cartridge) was developed at TsNIItochmash by Sazonov and Kravchenko on the basis of an intermediate cartridge case and is also equipped with a “nail”. The length of the “nail” is 120 mm, the weight is 20.3-20.8 g, the entire cartridge is 150 mm and 27-28 g, respectively.
The trunk is smooth. The operation of automation is based on the removal of powder gases through a hole in the wall of the bore, with a long stroke of the gas piston, there is a gas regulator. Locking the bore - by turning the bolt. A shot from the rear sear allows you to somewhat compensate for the recoil effect, which is important under water. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the underwater machine gun is small.
The trigger mechanism is assembled in a separate housing and allows single or continuous fire (short - 3-5 shots and long - up to 10 shots in bursts), equipped with a flag translator-fuse. Food - from a detachable box magazine for 26 rounds. unusual shape magazine is associated with a large length of the cartridge and a relatively small width of the feeder spring. The long bullet gave rise to a number of problems in the supply of cartridges. The two rows of cartridges in the magazine are separated by a plate, the top bullets are held by a spring delay. A cartridge cutter is mounted inside the receiver.
Folding butt retractable, on two rods. When the buttstock is retracted, the shoulder rest covers the back of the pistol grip without interfering with shooting. Pins are made on the barrel of the machine gun for mounting on board the underwater vehicle - just like a conventional machine gun can fire through the onboard embrasures of the armored personnel carrier.
Until now, there have been no analogues in the world of the APS assault rifle and the SPP-1 pistol in terms of efficiency. However, in January 2010 flashed some information on the Chinese channelCCTV, from which it became clear about the next copying of domestic developments:

Top four-barreled SPP-1 (USSR/Russia), bottom three-barreled QSS-05 (China)

QSS-05 caliber 5.8mm (according to http://china-defense.blogspot.com)




Chinese underwater shooting machine (even outwardly you can find similarities with the APS)

Chinese 5.8 mm ammunition for underwater shooting.

Well, let's continue...
The length of the APS with an extended butt is 840 mm, with an attached magazine - 252 mm, width - 65 mm, the weight of the machine, fully equipped - 3.4 kg, rate of fire - 500 rounds / min. The initial speed of the "nail" under water (depending on the depth) is 240-350 m/s, in air - respectively 365 m/s. The effective firing range (at which the "nail" pierces the submariner's suit or the glass of his mask 5 mm thick): at a depth of 5 m - 30 m, at 20 m - 20 m, at 40 m - 11 m. Like the SPP-1, the automatic APS has a minimum of controls, since it is designed for the actions of a swimmer in a tight glove. The aiming range of fire in the air is set at 30 m, but in reality it does not exceed 15 m.
Experiments were carried out firing from the APS in two environments.
1. Experiment - shooting underwater. The shooter (expert) in a standard diving suit with scuba gear and weights in the pool fired at a target at a distance of up to 5 m. in the event of a ricochet, the bullets went to the bottom of the pool. Shooting was carried out both in bursts and single shots. All shots took place without delay. When a bullet moves in water, the formation of a trace in the form of gas bubbles is observed, which form well-visible tracks and allow you to correct the aiming of a weapon during automatic firing without using aiming devices. When hitting a steel sheet, most of the bullets penetrated it to a depth of 10 mm, and some fell to the bottom. The ricochet is practically absent due to the “biting” of the metal of the armor plate by the flat cut of the bullet, by analogy with the hard-alloy tip made of an alloy with depleted uranium of sub-caliber armor-piercing shells. Removing bullets from steel is difficult and was carried out with the help of pliers. When a bullet hits a solid barrier, there is a loss of longitudinal stability of the bullet body and its folding into a spiral. Based on the results of the shooting, it can be concluded that the weapon can not only hit a person, but also marine animals, sharks, as well as disable various technical means.
No effects on the shooter's hearing were observed. Moreover, the impression is that the sound is much stronger when shooting in the air. Probably, a gas bubble softens the critical sound threshold for a person, dampens and lowers peak values.
Subjective impressions of the expert: - “an excellent weapon for underwater shooting! Now would be on a safari - shoot sharks along the coast of the USA or Australia! That would be fun, adrenaline!!!”
2. Experiment - shooting in the air. The shooter (expert) made aimed shooting at targets in the shooting range from a standing position from a distance of 25 m. When shooting, a loss of bullet stability in flight is observed almost immediately after leaving the bore and a significant expansion to the sides of the aiming line. Almost all the bullets did not reach the targets and hit the ground at a distance of 15-20 m. From the experiment, we can conclude that the range of aimed shooting with cartridges with a bullet for underwater shooting is insignificant, shooting is dangerous for others, hitting the target at a distance of 20-30 m is practically impossible.
Experiments with firing from the SPP-1 in the submerged and surface position and their results are almost identical to the experiments with firing from the APS assault rifle.
Noteworthy is the fact that the training of combat swimmers in shooting from an underwater pistol and machine gun can be carried out on land. To do this, smooth barrels are replaced with rifled ones, and ordinary standard 5.45 mm caliber cartridges are used for firing.
Note that the American specialists who officially tested the samples Russian weapons special purpose in early 1998, they considered it quite likely to purchase for their forces special operations SPP-1 pistol and APS assault rifle.
Further development of this still exotic underwater weapon is on the way to creating uniform pattern amphibious assault rifle. After all, combat swimmers have to act both on land and under water and be in constant readiness to instantaneous opening of fire in case of sudden detection. Therefore, to perform a combat mission and ensure self-defense, swimmers must carry two types of weapons with them, which, of course, is very inconvenient.
As recent studies show, the creation of a single two-medium cartridge, the bullet of which could be equally effective when fired under water and on land, is very difficult. The laws of hydro- and aerodynamics are too different. Therefore, the solution was found in the creation of weapons with combined power, from different stores. That is, when firing on land, a store with ordinary cartridges, for example, with automatic 5.45 mm 7N6, joins it, and when firing under water, a store with special cartridges of 5.66 mm MPS. It should be noted that the cartridge cases for the MPS cartridge and the 7N6 cartridge are the same.
However, it should immediately be noted. When creating (improving) the APS for a combat swimmer, the developers proceeded primarily from the fact that this weapon is used in specific conditions of unsupported space, which is the aquatic environment. Therefore, the weapon must have enough a high degree stability, ensure quick readiness for firing (including transfer from traveling to combat position), allow a swimmer, occupying any position for firing, to adjust his position (body) in space.
Feature of modern naval special forces is multifunctional. After all, it is based on universal-purpose combat swimmers capable of solving any tasks: to carry out sabotage under water in enemy ports, to protect their waters from enemy saboteurs and at the same time act on land as ordinary reconnaissance saboteurs. Russian and world experience in the use of such units confirms that in 80 - 90 percent of cases they perform "ground" tasks. Therefore, it became necessary to have in service with these units a special multi-purpose (underwater-surface) weapon, such as a universal two-medium machine gun. Moreover, in terms of firing efficiency (accuracy, accuracy, armor penetration), on land it would not be inferior to the 5.45 mm AK-74, AK-105 assault rifles, and under water - to the 5.66 mm APS assault rifle.

At the same time, one of the important drawbacks of the APS-5 assault rifle is its low survivability. According to the specifications, 2000 shots underwater and only 180 shots on land. The fact is that the shape of the 5.66 mm cartridge, the powder charge, the ballistics of the bullet's flight, the operation of the automation are designed for normal functioning only under water. When the shooter goes to land, water flows out of the receiver of the machine gun. When firing in "unaccustomed" conditions, the bolt carrier moves much faster, and the receiver simply cannot withstand the increased loads. Approximately it is just enough for 180 shots.
When we started to work, it turned out that this problem can be solved only in combination with the others. After all, the machine is haunted by other troubles. For example, two or even three cartridges are often fed into the chamber at the same time. As a result, there is a delay in firing, and it is very laborious to eliminate. Other disadvantages are the inability to attach any sights and muzzle devices. It is extremely difficult to transport weapons while the swimmer is moving in the water (in the hands, behind the back), hence the inability to quickly prepare for shooting.
A number of teams are currently working on the creation of a single (universal) two-medium automaton not only in Russia, but also abroad. How difficult this problem is can be judged by the statement of American experts: "The creation of a universal underwater-surface machine is tantamount to the creation of a" transparent "tank."
The design of a two-medium assault rifle is determined primarily by the cartridge. If you manage to create a universal two-medium cartridge, there will be no problems with weapons. So far, there is no such ammunition, but prototypes that have appeared do not meet the requirements that apply to them.

This winter I recommend everyone to go on vacation to Switzerland (of course, if you are not financially constrained). In addition to being one of the European ski resorts, Switzerland has unique monuments and sites protected by UNESCO. So, besides skis, you will have something to see.

Many people think that only oligarchs can afford to live in a modern cottage in the Moscow region. In fact, this is not so, there are economy class cottage settlements in the Moscow region. Rate cottage village"Westafalia". This is a piece of germanium in Russian forests for quite reasonable money.

In the late 1960s, the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TSNIITOCHMASH) began developing effective weapon for combat swimmers Navy USSR.

By the early 1970s, special ammunition for underwater firearms was developed using elongated non-rotating bullets with hydrodynamic stabilization using a cavitation cavity generated by the movement of a bullet in water. At the same time, the designers of TsNIITOCHMASH - husband and wife V.V. Simonov and E.M. Simonova, a 4-barrel non-self-loading pistol SPP-1 was developed and adopted by the Soviet Navy for a 4.5-mm special SPS cartridge, created by designers V. and E. Samoilov, O. Kravchenko, I. Kasyanov.

aps butt complex

And in 1975, a weapon complex was adopted by the Soviet Navy, consisting of an Automatic Underwater Special APS, also developed by husband and wife V.V. Simonov and E.M. Simonova, and 5.66 mm MPS special ammunition.

The APS submachine gun is designed to arm combat swimmers and is used to destroy enemy combat swimmers, their underwater transporters, watercraft under water and on land.

The APS machine is built on the basis of automation with a gas engine and locking by turning the shutter. The design of the gas outlet path provides for an automatic gas regulator that ensures the operation of automation, both under water and in air. The operation of the gas regulator uses differences in the density of the media (water or air) to automatically release part of the powder gases when firing in air. With it, you can change the amount of exhaust gases and, accordingly, the speed of movement of moving parts.

The barrel of the assault rifle is smooth, without rifling, and the bullet does not mechanically interact with the barrel, since the stabilization of the bullets is carried out hydrodynamically.

The receiver is made by stamping from sheet steel.

The trigger mechanism is of a striker type, which provides firing both single shots and automatic fire, is driven by a single reciprocating action spring of the bolt group. The fuse-translator of fire modes is located on the receiver on the left, above the pistol grip.

aps butt complex

The loading handle is located on the right side of the bolt carrier.

Sights - the simplest design, include an unregulated open rear sight on the receiver and a front sight on the gas chamber.

The machine has a telescopic buttstock made of round wire, which is retracted inside the receiver in the stowed position.

The APS is fed with ammunition from attached carob (box-shaped) magazines with a capacity of 26 rounds, which have a special design that excludes the cartridges from being skewed by the bullet upwards when feeding or double feeding of cartridges into the barrel. The unusual shape of the magazine is explained by the fact that the feeder spring is shorter in comparison with the cartridges.

A cut-off is placed in the receiver, which prevents the simultaneous filing of several cartridges into the chamber.

APS with used ammunition

The MPS cartridge used in the APS assault rifle was created on the basis of the cartridge case of the Soviet regular cartridge 7N6 5.45x39 mm. The unusual caliber - 5.66 mm - has a fairly simple explanation. The ammunition of the machine gun was created using a standard steel sleeve of a 5.45-mm Soviet machine gun cartridge. 5.45 mm - caliber rifled barrels across the fields. The diameter of 5.45 mm barrels along the rifling is 5.66 mm, the nominal diameter of the leading part of the bullets of 5.45 mm automatic cartridges is the same. The diameter of the steel bullet of the APS assault rifle corresponds to the outer diameter of the cartridge bullet of 5.45x39 mm. But since the MPS bullet does not cut into the rifling, the APS barrel caliber corresponds to the outer diameter of the bullet and has the corresponding designation - 5.66 mm.

Cartridge 5.66x39 mm MPS

Caliber, mm 5.66x39
Length, mm
- stock unfolded 823
- stock folded 615
Weight without magazine, kg 2.46
Shop, kol. rounds 26
Rate of fire, rds / min 500 - 600

The bullet of the MPS cartridge is a steel rod with a narrowing of the head part in the form of a double truncated cone. Bullet length - 120 mm, weight - 20.3-20.8 g. Initial bullet speed in air - 365 m / s. The initial speed of a bullet at a depth of 5 m is 240-250 m / s. Chuck length - 150 mm. Cartridge weight - 27-28 g. MPS cartridges have a relatively high accuracy of fire, are protected from corrosion in sea water and water penetration into the powder charge and igniter primer. The cartridge case is of a traditional design, it contains a propellant powder charge that ejects a bullet from the barrel and activates the weapon's automation, based on the use of the energy of gases discharged from a hole in the barrel wall. Bullet stabilization in water is carried out due to the formation of a cavitation cavity around the bullet during movement. The formation and retention of the cavitation cavity is ensured by the appropriate selection of the shape and size of the bullet and its speed. The barrel of the APS assault rifle is smooth, without rifling, and the bullet does not mechanically interact with the barrel. The bullet does not stabilize in air.

The striking ability of the MPS cartridge bullet depends on the depth of immersion. At depths of up to 5 m, the lethal range is 30 m. At a depth of 40 m, it drops to 10 m. In all cases, the lethal range under water exceeds the target’s visibility range - that is, if the enemy is visible, he can be hit. At a distance of more than 15 m, accuracy when firing from the APS is noticeably reduced. And, probably, this circumstance, combined with the often poor visibility under water, led to the need to include an MPST cartridge with a tracer bullet in the ammunition load, which allows you to adjust the shooting along the tracks.

The lethal force of the APS on limit distances Under water, it strikes an enemy dressed in a “dry” wetsuit with foam padding, and also breaks through plexiglass up to 5 mm thick.

APS when used underwater

On land, the flight of a bullet - needles do not stabilize, but at a distance of 30 meters all hits fit into a circle with a diameter of 15 centimeters, the lethal force of a bullet - needles on land is maintained at a distance of up to 100 meters, but the dispersion of hits is already such that about aimed shooting out of the question. In addition, even taking into account the use of a gas regulator, the life of the machine when firing in the air is reduced by more than 10 times - from 2000 shots under water to only 180 shots in the air.

Underwater rifle machine APS is a unique development, which laid the foundation for the development of a new (aquatic) environment for the use of self-cocking firearms and automatic weapons in it.

The production of APS in limited quantities was established at the Tula Arms Plant, and was even offered for export through RosOboronExport.

Automatic underwater special (APS)

Time, country: XX century. Russia/Small arms

Weapon type: Small arms

The 5.66-mm special underwater assault rifle is intended for arming light divers, in order to destroy manpower at depths of up to 40 m.

Automation works on the principle of removing powder gases from the table channel. Locking is carried out by turning the shutter. The automatic gas engine, which includes a gas regulator, provides automatic shooting both in water and in air. Sights consist of a rear sight and a front sight. The assault rifle has a smooth barrel, and to ensure effective shooting - a retractable wire shoulder rest. The flag fuse is, in turn, a translator of fire.

For firing from a machine gun, 5.66-mm MPS cartridges with steel bullets are used.

All parts of the cartridge are interconnected by means of a sleeve. The sleeve protects the powder charge from external influences and prevents the breakthrough of powder gases towards the bolt when fired. It has a body for placing a powder charge, a muzzle for fixing a bullet and a bottom. Outside, at the bottom of the sleeve, an annular groove is made for the ejector hook. At the bottom of the sleeve there is a nest for the primer, an anvil and two seed holes through which the flame from the primer penetrates to the powder charge.

MPS cartridges are packed in cardboard packs of 26 cartridges each. Packs of cartridges are sealed in metal boxes, each box contains eight packs. Two hermetically sealed metal boxes with cartridges are placed in wooden box. In total, there are 416 rounds in the box.

Shooting from a machine gun is carried out in bursts or single shots. Burst shooting is the main type of automatic shooting; it is conducted in short (3-5 shots) and long (up to 10 shots) bursts. The supply of cartridges during firing is made from a box magazine with a capacity of 26 rounds.

Characteristics

lethal range in water, m:

At a depth of up to 5 m - 30;

At a depth of up to 20 m - 20;

At a depth of up to 40 m - 10;

effective range in the air - up to 30 m;

rate of fire - 600 rds / min:

combat rate of fire, rds / min:

When firing single shots - 40;

When firing bursts - 80-100;

muzzle velocity - 340-360 m/s;

the range to which the lethal effect of a bullet on an unprotected live target in the air is maintained - 100 m;

machine weight, kg:

Without a store - 2.46;

With an unloaded magazine - 3.03;

With an equipped magazine - 3.6;

store weight - 0.57 kg;

magazine capacity - 26 rounds;

machine length, mm:

With extended butt - 840;

With a folded butt - 620;

caliber - 5.66 mm;

aiming line length - 290 mm;

cartridge weight - 23 g; .

bullet weight - 20.7 g;

sleeve - steel lacquered;

bullet - steel lacquered.

Sources:

1. Special underwater atomator Rules of handling and application Moscow Military publishing house 1983
2. Monetchikov S.B. "History of the Russian machine gun" LLC "Publishing house "Atlant" 2005
3. http://tulatoz.ru - Tula arms factory

The Tula Instrument Design Bureau showed at the Interpolitech-2013 exhibition in Moscow a new two-medium ADS assault rifle, capable of effectively hitting targets both in water and on land. The weapon will have to make life much easier for the special forces of the Russian Navy, which so far has to take two “trunks” with them to complete the task: a special machine for underwater shooting and an AK-74M. By a decree of the Russian government, the ADF has already been put into service and will soon begin to enter the troops.

In the 1970s, combat swimmers of the USSR Navy received special samples of small arms for firing under water: APS (Automatic Underwater Special) and SPP-1 (Special Underwater Pistol). With all its positive qualities (relatively long range defeat targets under water, reliability and corrosion resistance), this weapon had a number of drawbacks. Chief among them is the unsuitability for use on land, where in terms of its effectiveness it is significantly inferior to conventional machine guns and pistols. In addition, when firing in the air, the resource of underwater small arms is reduced much faster than when firing under water. Because of this, combat swimmers are still forced to take on missions two sets of weapons: the APS and the land-based AK-74M, as well as the SPP-1M and the traditional Makarov pistol.

Underwater small arms are needed to fight enemy combat swimmers and conduct sabotage operations. Conventional weapons, although capable of firing under water, are of little use for these purposes for several reasons. First, the inertial resistance of the fluid and b about greater than that of air, the density of water does not allow the automation of the "barrels" to quickly reload weapons (and sometimes even makes it impossible). Secondly, the materials of land-based assault rifles and pistols were not originally designed to work in the aquatic environment and are not resistant to prolonged exposure to it - they lose lubrication, rust and quickly fail due to hydraulic shocks.

Finally, ordinary bullets in cartridges, hitting the target accurately on land, are completely unsuitable for firing under water. The aerodynamic shape of a conventional bullet makes the trajectory of its "flight" unpredictable. For example, at the boundary of warm and cold water layers, a bullet can “ricochet”, deviating from the longitudinal axis of the shot. In addition, due to its shape, a small arms projectile under water quickly loses its energy and begins to noticeably “slow down”. As a result, hitting a target from the same Kalashnikov in the aquatic environment becomes a non-trivial task even at a short distance. That is why in the USSR they decided to develop firearms for military swimmers.

In the first half of the 1970s, the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TsNIITOCHMASH) began developing a special APS automatic machine for the aquatic environment. In 1975, this weapon was tested, the automation of which is capable of overcoming inert resistance inside the mechanisms. The weapon can fire both single shots and bursts. The fuse box and fire mode translator on the machine is located on the left side of the receiver. The 5.66 mm APS barrel has no rifling, since the stabilization of the bullet in the aquatic environment does not occur by imparting torque to it.

APS automation works on the principle of removing excess pressure of powder gases from the bore. The length of the machine is 832 mm with a barrel length of 300 mm. The mass of the APS is 3.7 kilograms with an equipped magazine with a capacity of 26 rounds. The effective target range for an assault rifle at a depth of five meters is 30 meters, and at a depth of forty meters - up to ten meters. Automatic weapons provide a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute in the air and up to 500 rounds per minute - under water. On land, the effective range is one hundred meters. The resource of the machine allows you to fire two thousand shots under water, but only about 180 shots - on land.

For this machine, a special MPS cartridge of 5.66x39 caliber was developed with a long needle-type bullet weighing 15 grams. It is this form of the projectile that allows it to avoid sudden braking in water and loss of energy at a relatively long distance, and also stabilizes the trajectory of its “flight”. The stabilization of an arrow-shaped bullet under water is largely ensured by its movement inside the cavitation cavity created by the blunt end of the projectile. For the APS assault rifle, an MPST cartridge with a tracer bullet was also developed to correct fire at depths with a short line-of-sight range.

Nevertheless, to facilitate the equipment of combat swimmers and due to the small resource of an underwater machine gun on land, it was necessary to develop a special two-medium machine gun capable of equally effectively firing both in water and in air. The development of ADS (Avtomat Dvuhsredny Special) began in 2000 and initially - at the initiative of the Central Design and Research Bureau of Sports and Hunting Weapons (TsKIB SOO) of the Tula Instrument Design Bureau (KBP). The Russian Ministry of Defense became interested in the new development later.

The two-medium automaton was developed on the basis of the experimental ASM-DT automaton, which, in turn, was created on the basis of the APS. ASM-DT, nicknamed " Sea lion”, was structurally similar to the basic version of small arms, however, its distinguishing feature was the ability to fire both special cartridges with a needle bullet and conventional land ammunition of 5.45x39 mm caliber. The weapon already used a rifled barrel, which imparted torque to ordinary bullets. Bullets for underwater shooting were slightly reduced in caliber in order to pass through the bore without touching the rifling.

The first tests of ASM-DT were considered successful, but the project was not completed. In parallel with the new two-medium weapon, a special cartridge for underwater shooting was also being developed, which would correspond to the dimensions of a conventional land cartridge. Such ammunition was created by the Tula KBP and received the designation PSP. It was identical in size to conventional 5.45x39mm cartridges. Its feature is the use of a needle steel bullet 53 mm long and weighing 16 grams. The bullet is recessed in the cartridge most its length, due to which the overall conformity of the dimensions of the ammunition with standard 5.45 cartridges is achieved.

When moving under water, the PSP bullet creates cavitation cavity thanks to the flat area at the tip of the projectile. The effective firing range of the PSP cartridge under water is up to 25 meters at a depth of five meters and up to 18 meters at a depth of 20 meters. At the same time, in terms of their effectiveness, the new cartridges are superior to the MPS from the APS assault rifle. Remarkably, thanks to the standard dimensions of the PSP cartridges, they can be equipped with an ordinary magazine from the AK-74M assault rifle. On the basis of the PSP, a training cartridge PSP-U was also developed with a bronze bullet weighing eight grams with significantly lower effective range and penetration.

Photo: Ilya Shaydurov / all4shooters.com

Already after the KBP created the PSP cartridge, the development of a new two-medium assault rifle continued. This time it was decided to create a weapon based on the A-91M land assault rifle designed by Vasily Gryazev. The caliber of this machine is 5.45 mm. The mass of the A-91 without cartridges with a grenade launcher is 4.3 kilograms with a length of 660 millimeters (barrel length - 415 millimeters). For firing, the weapon uses 5.45x39 mm cartridges and 40 mm VOG-25 grenades. The aiming range of the machine gun is 500 meters, and the grenade launcher is 400 meters. The grenade launcher assembly can be replaced with a regular handguard.

Automation A-91M works on the principle of removal of powder gases from the bore. The weapon was created according to the bullpup scheme, and in it the displacement of the center of mass (usual for such a scheme) is compensated by a grenade launcher. Extractor spent cartridges made in the form of a special channel, diverting them somewhat forward and to the right. Thanks to the latest technical solution, both right-handers and left-handers can use the machine. The fuse-translator flag is located on the right side of the receiver. The machine is capable of firing single shots and bursts. Underbarrel grenade launcher equipped with its own sight and trigger. The latter is located in front of the automatic.

The ADS submachine gun derived from the A-91M, in addition to working movable elements, is made with the widespread use of composite materials, which made it possible to increase the corrosion resistance of the weapon. According to declassified KBP data, the weight of the machine is 4.6 kilograms (including the integrated grenade launcher) with a length of 685 millimeters. The rate of fire of the ADF is 800 rounds per minute, and the effective range on land is 500 meters. The weapon, like the A-91M, was created according to the bullpup scheme. ADS can be equipped with a silencer. In addition to special PSP cartridges, the machine is capable of firing conventional 7N6, 7N6M, 7N10 and 7N22 cartridges.

According to Nikolai Komarov, head of the foreign economic relations department of the TsKIB COO, for firing from the ADF after landing, it is necessary "only to change the magazine with ammunition." In fact, in addition to changing the magazine on the weapon, it is also necessary to move the flag of the gas vent mechanism operating mode switch from the “water” position to the “air” position. The flag is located on the right side of the machine closer to the barrel. By switching the mechanism, the automatic weapon switches to work with the shot energy that is excess for land, which is spent in water to overcome the inertia of the liquid.

In general, the new weapon will significantly reduce the mass of equipment for combat swimmers of the Russian Navy, who in the near future, instead of two machine guns, will need to take only one with them on a mission, which means minus 3.6 kilograms of AK-74M without cartridges. If, over time, Russian developers also create a two-medium pistol, then the equipment of the special forces of the Russian Navy will be reduced by one more weapon.