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Degtyarev DP-27


China: Type 53


Introduction


DP-27

Oblique forward view of a Soviet DP-27 machine gun resting on its bipod.
Source: www.topwar.ru - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Light machine gun
Entered service
1928
Status
Obsolete
Development
1923 - 1927
Developer
Soviet Union
V.A. Degtyarev
Production
1928 - 1950's
Producer
Soviet Union
China
Number produced
795.000 in the USSR
Designations
56-R-321 (GRAU index for DP-27)
56-R-321M (GRAU index for DPM)
Type 53 (Chinese production DPM)
7,62-мм ручной пулемет обр. 1927 г
"7.62mm light machine gun model 1927"
Leichtes Maschinengewehr 120(r) (Beutewaffe)
Notable users
Soviet Union
China
North Korea
Vietnam

Description


Introduction

The DP-27 is a pre-World War 2 era light machine gun of Soviet origin. It was the first light machine gun acquired in quantity by the Soviets. Various earlier attempts at man portable machine guns proved less successful. The DP-27 is one of the iconic weapons of World War 2. The design was not without its flaws, but proved decently portable and quite reliable.

Design

The DP-27 is a gas operated magazine fed air-cooled light machine gun. It uses a long stroke gas piston and fires from an open bolt position. The DP-27 feed from the top but does not use box magazines. Since it is chambered for the rimmed 7.62x54mm Russian cartridge it requires a pan magazine. Three of these are carried by the assistant gunner in a special backpack. A wooden stock is fitted and the DP-27 has a conventional rifle grip. The recoil spring was located around the gas piston and lost its tension when overheated. The modernized DPM relocates the recoil spring to the rear of the receiver, requiring a remodelled stock and a pistol grip.

Firepower

The DP-27 has a modest cyclic rate of fire of 550 rpm. Practical rate of fire is about 80 to 120 rpm due to the need for reloading the inconveniently sized pan magazines. A quick release system for the barrel is present, but in practice the DP-27 didn't work well in the sustained fire role. Maximum effective range from the bipod is 800 meters.

Users

The DP-27 was in widespread service with Soviet forces during World War 2. Finnish forces used captured DP-27s against their former owners and preferred them over the local LS/26. Even earlier the DP-27 was used in the Spanish Civil War. The DP-27 was also used in several conflicts after World War 2. These include the Korea war, the Vietnam war and various (post-)colonial conflicts. Since the 7.62x54mm cartridge remains in widespread use the DP-27 sometimes turn up in modern conflicts, such as the Yugoslav wars, Iraq war, Syrian civil war and the war in Ukraine.

Variants


DP-27

First production model of the DP. Passed Soviet state tests in 1927 and entered service in 1928. The name stands for Degtyarov Pekhotnyy 1927, meaning "Degtyarev machine gun model of 1927".

The original model features a rifle style grip and the recoil spring is located under the barrel.

DPM

Improved DP machine gun developed in 1943. This has the recoil spring relocated to behind the bolt and extending from the receiver. This required a different stock and introduced a pistol grip.

The name DPM stands for Degtyarev Pekhotnyy Modernizirovannyy, meaning "modernized Degtyarev machine gun". Sometimes it is referred to as the DPM-44.

Details


Facts DP-27 DPM
General
Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Light machine gun
Caliber
Caliber
7.62x54mm Russian
Feed system
47 round pan magazine
Barrel length
605 mm
Rifling
4 grooves, 240 mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity
840 m/s
Operation
Action
Gas operated, long stroke gas piston
Locking
Flapper locking
Fire selector
F
Rate of fire
550 - 600 rpm
Quick change barrel
Yes
Dimensions
Stock type
Fixed
Length
1.266 mm
Weight
9.2 kg empty
11.9 kg loaded
2.7 kg loaded magazine
Sights
Mechanical
Iron sights, post front and tangent sight rear
Adjustment
Up to 1.500 m
Accessories
Bipod
Yes

Media


Ammunition


7.62x54mm Russian

The DP-27 is chambered for the rimmed 7.62x54mm cartridge. The rimmed cartridge required the pan magazines. Ammunition used during and after World War 2 included model 1908 light ball, model 1930 heavy ball, B-30 and B-32 armor piercing and T-30 and T-46 tracer ammunition.

Related articles


RP-46

Belt-fed derivative of the DPM to serve as a machine gun at the company level.

Degtyarev RPD

The DP-27 filled the gap between the RPD at the squad level and the heavy SG-43 on its wheeled mount.