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

References

  1. 1 2 Маслов М. А. (2008). Истребитель И-16. Норовистый "ишак" сталинских соколов (in Russian). Яуза / Коллекция / ЭКСМО. pp. 55–57. ISBN 978-5-699-25660-0.
  2. 1 2 3 4 On-line errata to the book Flying Guns World War II
  3. 1 2 3 С.В. Иванов (2001). И-16: Боевой "Ишак" сталинских соколов. Часть 2. Война в воздухе (in Russian). 43. ООО "АРС". Раньше чем начались испытательные стрельбы ультраШКАСа, два инженера, Савин и Норов, представили в 1935 г. на испытания еще один авиационный пулемет СН скорострельностью 2800-3000 выстрелов в минуту. В 1936 г. пулемет успешно прошел стрельбовые испытания, а в 1937 г. был рекомендован к серийному производству. Пулеметами СН немедленно вооружили истребители И-16; И-16 с пулеметами СН получили обозначение тип 19, несмотря на то, что кроме вооружения самолет ничем не отличался от И-16 тип 10. Пулеметами СН заменили крыльевые ШКАСы, синхронные пулеметы остались прежними - ШКАСы. В начале 1939 г. завод № 21 изготовил три И-16 тип 19 (заводские номера 192111, 19212 и 19213). С 17 по 26 марта самолеты испытывал заводской летчик-испытатель Томас Сузи. По результатам испытаний было рекомендовано построить партию таких самолетов. Но массовое производство посчитали нецелесообразным. Под обозначением И-16СН истребители передали в ВВС. Весной 1939 г. на вооружение ВВС РККА был принят авиационный пулемет ультраШКАС. Истребители, вооруженные ультраШКАСАми и СН, приняли участие в войне с Финляндией зимой 1939-1940 г.г.
  4. 1 2 3 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
  5. ↑ David R. Jones (1978). The Military-naval Encyclopedia of Russia and the Soviet Union. 5. Academic International Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-87569-028-5.
  6. ↑ B. Korolkov; V. Kazashvili (1996). A Guide to the Russian Federation Air Force Museum at Monino. Schiffer Pub. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-7643-0076-9.
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