Savin–Norov machine gun
| SN machine gun | |
|---|---|
| Type | Machine gun |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1939–1940 |
| Used by | Soviet Air Forces |
| Wars | Winter War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Ivan Savin, Aleksandr Norov |
| Designed | 1935 |
| Number built | at least 14 built; 6 used in service[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | 7.62×54mmR |
| Caliber | 7.62 mm |
| Action | Gas-operated[2] |
| Rate of fire | 2800–3600 RPM[2][3] |
| Feed system | Belt |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The SN (Savin and Norov) was an aircraft machine gun manufactured in small numbers in the Soviet Union before World War II.
The gun was intended to achieve a higher rate of fire than the ShKAS, while using the same 7.62×54mmR cartridge. In order to achieve this goal, the primers were ignited while the barrel and bolt were moving in opposite directions.[2] Sources vary as to high a rate of fire was actually achieved. One indicates "more than 3600 RPM"[2] while others give the 2800–3000 RPM range.[3][4]
The SN gun was designed in 1934-1935 by I.V. Savin (И.В. Савин) and A.K. Norov (А.К. Норов).[3][4] According to a Western source, it was offered to the VVS, which rejected it in 1936.[5] Soviet sources indicate that the SN machine gun was installed in the wings of three Polikarpov I-16 aircraft in January 1939; these planes were given the designation I-16 Type 19 and they took part in the Winter War. The gun was also supposed to be installed in a propeller-synchronized mounting in the I-16 Type 20. Although four planes were built in this configuration, they did not go into service; the Type 20 designation was then reused for I-16 aircraft only armed with ShKAS guns, but capable of carrying drop tanks. A further type I-16 Type 22 was planned to be armed with four propeller-synchronized guns, two of which were supposed to be SN guns (and the other two ShKAS), but this type was apparently never built and was cancelled in August 1939.[1] As with the UltraShKAS, the reliability of the SN machine gun was low, so it did not go into mass production.[4]
An SN exemplar could be seen (in 1996) at the Central Air Force Museum.[6]
See also
- ShKAS machine gun
- SIBEMAS machine gun
- List of firearms
- List of Russian weaponry
- List of common World War II weapons
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 On-line errata to the book Flying Guns World War II
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Широкорад А.Б. (2001) История авиационного вооружения Харвест (Shirokorad A.B. (2001) Istorya aviatsionnogo vooruzhenia Harvest. ISBN 985-433-695-6) (History of aircraft armament), p. 73
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
