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This section will cover the history, development, and use of the RPK-74 light machine gun. In this section you will find where the weapon has been used, when it was designed, its limitations and abilities, and how the weapon functions. |
When the Soviet army began the transition to the smaller caliber 5.45mm cartridge in the 1970's it was decided to make a light machine gun in that caliber to replace the older RPK which was in use at the time. The new weapon would share many of the features of the earlier RPK, but was fitted with a longer, heavier barrel, a short flash suppressor, and a new 45-round box magazine. As with the RPK the rear site was adjustable for windage.
The light machine gun was accepted into service as the RPK-74. Production began in the late 1970's. A folding stock variant called the RPKS-74 was also produced for use by airborne troops. Versions equipped with night vision systems designated RPK-74N (or RPKS-74N in the case of the folding stock version).
When the weapon was first seen by Western observers during the Cold War there was some confusion as to whether it was a new weapon or simply a variation of the AK-74. It took until the summer of 1980 for the analysts to be certain that is was in fact a new weapon.
The RPK-74 was first used in combat against the Mujahadeen during the Afghanistan war. In that conflict is was shown to be just as reliable as its 7.62mm predecessor. Since that war ended the weapon has been used in the Balkan conflicts of the 1990's and in both Russian campaigns in the breakaway republic of Chechnya.
Unlike its predecessor the RPK-74 was not a success in the export market. Many nations who were approached to buy the weapon already used the older 7.62mm RPK and saw no reason to spend money buying the new version. It can only be found in the former Soviet Union and in some Eastern European states.
The RPK-74 is issued at the level of one per infantry squad. Together with the platoon's PKM these weapons give the unit a high volume of fire. Airborne units using the RPKS-74 follow a similar tactical doctrine. In the attack the soldier using the weapon is to advance on the objective along with his squad-members while firing. In this way he would help to overwhelm the enemy by fire as they advanced. In the defense the weapon is positioned and used like a medium machine gun.
Over the years the RPK-74 has earned a reputation as a tough, reliable weapon. It is easy to operate and rarely jams. The weapon is also easy to repair and maintain as it shares many of the parts found in AK-74 service rifles. The magazines of the RPK-74 are interchangeable with those used in the AK-74. It can also be fired from inside vehicles like the BMP without any modifications.
Even with these advantages the RPK-74 suffers from several limitations that make it less effective than comparable Western light machine guns. The lack of a quick change barrel is often cited as the major disadvantage of the RPK-74. This means that the gunner must restrict his rate of fire to about 80 rounds per minute or risk damaging the barrel by overheating. It also lacks a gas regulator that limits its flexibility when the weapon is dirty. These disadvantages are mitigated somewhat by the fact that the weapon is very reliable under all conditions and has a low enough rate of fire that barrel heating can be managed by careful fire discipline.
Even so, the weapon can only feed from box magazines which greatly restricts the amount of ammunition that can be carried. It also limits the amount of sustained fire that the gunner can place on a target. A further liability to the gunner is the weapon's high bi-pod, which was made to accommodate the large 45-round magazine. When deployed it greatly increases the target silhouette of the gunner.
The RPK-74 is a simple gas operated automatic weapon that fires from a closed bolt. When a round is fired, some of the gases that are produced from the burning of the powder enter a small gas port and push on a series of small pistons. This forces the bolt back. As the gas pressure drops, the bolt is then pushed forward by a spring. It then strips another round from the magazine and is ready to fire again. It can be fired in either semi- or fully-automatic mode.
Deployment Chronology
The RPK-74 was the natural evolution of the Soviet requirement to move to a smaller caliber bullet in the early 1970's. Here you can see what weapons the RPK-74 light machine gun replaced. You can find out more about the weapon by clicking on the links below.
| The RPK-74 replaced... | RPK-74 Light Machine Gun | The RPK-74 was replaced by... |
| RPK Light Machine Gun | Nothing, it is still in active service |
There is not a great deal of information available about the RPK-74 for some reason. Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you. We hope you can find them as useful as we have.
Military Small Arms of the 20th Century 7th Edition, by Ian V. Hogg and John S. Weeks, Copyright 2000 by Ian V. Hogg, published by Krause Publications, Iola WI, 2000
Soviet Small-Arms and Ammunition, by D.N. Bolotin, published by Finnish Arms Museum Foundation, 1995
AK-47: The Complete Kalashnikov Family of Assault Rifles, by Duncan Long, Copyright 1988 by Duncan Long, published by Paladin Press, Boulder CO, 1988
The Soviet Army, FM-100-2-3, published by Headquarters Department of the Army, Washington D.C., 1984