View source for KPV heavy machine gun

{{Short description|Heavy machine gun}}
{{redirect|KPV}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = KPV heavy machine gun
| image              = ZPU-1 in Iraq, 2003.JPEG
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = KPV as used in {{nowrap|ZGU-1}} mountain anti-aircraft mount
| origin             = [[Soviet Union]]
| type               = [[Heavy machine gun]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = yes
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 1949–present
| used_by            = See [[#Operators|operators]]
| wars               = [[Korean War]]<br>[[Vietnam War]]<br>[[Laotian Civil War]]<br>[[Cambodian Civil War]]<br>[[Rhodesian Bush War]]<br>[[Western Sahara War]]<ref name='Sahara'>{{cite magazine|language=it|title=Il contenzioso del sahara occidentale fra passato e presente |url=https://www.difesa.it/InformazioniDellaDifesa/periodico/periodico_2012/Documents/R4_2012/50_59_R4_2012.pdf|author=Francesco Palmas |issue=4|year=2012 |pages=50–59 |newspaper=Informazioni della Difesa}}</ref><br>[[Angolan Civil War]]<br>[[South African Border War]]<br>[[Soviet-Afghan War]]<ref name="Afghan">{{cite book|title=Soviet Paratrooper vs Mujahideen Fighter: Afghanistan 1979–89|series=Combat 29|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]|first=David |last=Campbell|date=30 Nov 2017|isbn=9781472817648|page=26}}</ref><br>[[Libyan-Chadian conflict]]<br>[[Iran-Iraq War]]<br>[[Gulf War]]<br>[[First Chechen War]]<br>[[Second Chechen War]]<br>[[Russo-Georgian War]]<br>[[Iraq War]]<br>[[Lebanese Civil War]]<br>[[First Libyan Civil War]]<br>[[Syrian Civil War]]<ref name="ISIS">{{cite news|title=Syrie: l'EI inflige un revers aux FDS dans l'est, mais reste acculé|newspaper=[[France Soir]]|date=25 October 2018|language=fr|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/en-coop-matteo-puxton/syrie-ei-inflige-un-revers-aux-fds-dans-lest-mais-reste-accule}}</ref><br>[[War in Iraq (2013-2017)]]<br>[[Russo-Ukrainian War]]<br>[[Second Libyan Civil War]]<br>[[Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)]]<br>[[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]]<br>[[Saudi–Yemeni border conflict (2015–present)]]
<!-- Production history -->| designer           = [[Semyon Vladimirov]]
| design_date        = 1944
| manufacturer       = [[Degtyarev plant|Degtyarev Plant]]
| production_date    = 1949–present
| number             = 
| variants           = KPVT
<!-- General specifications -->| weight             = {{convert|49|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|1980|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = {{Convert|1346|mm|abbr=on|1}}
| width              = {{convert|162|mm|abbr=on}}
| height             = {{convert|225|mm|abbr=on}}
| crew               = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[14.5×114mm]]
| caliber            = 14.5 mm
| action             = Short recoil operation
| rate               = 600 rpm
| velocity           = {{convert|1005|m/s|0|abbr=on}}
| range              = {{convert|3000|m|abbr=on}}
| max_range          = {{convert|4000|m|abbr=on}}
| feed               = 40-round belt
| sights             = iron or optical
}}
The '''KPV heavy machine gun''' ({{langx|ru|'''КПВ'''|translit='''KPV'''}}, an [[initialism]] for {{langx|ru|Крупнокалиберный пулемёт Владимирова|translit=Krupnokaliberny pulemyot Vladimirova|lit=Vladimirov's Large-Caliber Machine Gun|label=none}}) is a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] designed [[14.5×114mm]]-caliber [[heavy machine gun]], which first entered service as an infantry weapon in 1949. In the 1960s, the infantry version was taken out of production because it was too large and heavy. It was later redesigned for anti-aircraft use, as it showed excellent results as an AA gun against low flying aircraft, with a range of {{convert|3000|m|abbr=on}} horizontally and {{convert|2000|m|abbr=on}} vertically.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zid.ru/en/products/military/kpvt.html|title=KPVT large-calibre tank machine-gun|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> It was used in the [[ZPU|ZPU series of anti-aircraft guns]]. Its size and power also made it a useful light anti-armour weapon on the [[BTR (vehicle)|BTR series of vehicles]] and the [[BRDM-2]] scout car.

==Mechanics==
The KPV was a heavy machine gun developed by S. V. Vladimirov. It was developed in 1944 and adopted in 1949. It combines the rate of fire of a heavy machine gun with the armor-piercing capabilities of antitank rifles and was designed to combat lightly armored targets, firepower and manpower of the enemy located behind light cover, as well as to be an anti-aircraft machine gun. The muzzle energy of the KPV reaches 31 kJ. For comparison, the 12.7&nbsp;mm [[M2 Browning|Browning M2HB]] machine gun has up to {{convert|19|kJ|ftlbf|abbr=on}} with a {{convert|660|gr|abbr=on}} bullet traveling at {{convert|3080|ft/s|abbr=on}} manufactured by PMC, the 20&nbsp;mm [[ShVAK cannon|ShVAK]] aircraft mounted gun has about {{convert|28|kJ|ftlbf|abbr=on}}. It is one of the most powerful machine guns ever used by the Soviet and later Russian armed forces. The development of the machine gun began in 1944. The 14.5×114mm M41 cartridge can be used with high explosive incendiary - tracer (HEI-T) or armor-piercing incendiary (API) bullets. The KPV is air-cooled and fitted with a barrel with a hard chrome plated bore. It uses a short [[recoil operation]] system with gas assistance and a rotary bolt. It can be fed with the 40-round metallic belt from either the left or right side. The barrel can be removed by turning the prominent latch on the forward end of the receiver and pulling on the barrel's carrying handle.

[[File:KPVrear.jpg|thumb|right|Rear view of a captured KPV machine-gun crudely modified for use as an anti-aircraft weapon on display at the headquarters of the [[2d Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (United States)|2-135 General Support Aviation Battalion]] at [[Buckley Space Force Base]], Colorado. It is missing its feed tray cover and entire upper receiver.]]

==Versions==

===KPVT===
The version for use in armored vehicles is called the {{Transliteration|ru|KPVT}} ({{langx|ru|КПВ танковый|translit=KPV tankovy|lit=Tank-Mounted KPV|links=no}}). KPVT is used for armored vehicle installations, boats, movable and stationary mounts and various antiaircraft mounts. It features a shorter receiver and a heavier barrel jacket. The KPVT also uses a 50-round belt instead of the original 40-round belt. KPVTs are the primary armament of the wheeled BTR-60PB/70/80 series armored personnel carriers and [[BRDM-2]] armored reconnaissance vehicles. It is intended for fighting against lightly armored targets, weapons systems and light shelters at the distances of up to {{convert|3000|m|abbr=on}}, as well as air targets at distances up to {{convert|2000|m|abbr=on}}.

The distance at which the bullet retains lethal force is {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://army-news.ru/2013/05/kpv-krupnokalibernyj-pulemyot-vladimirova/|title = КПВ — крупнокалиберный пулемёт Владимирова &#124; Армейский вестник}}</ref> The maximum flight range of the bullet is {{convert|9|km|abbr=on}}.

===Naval armament===
The naval twin mount had several versions:
* 2M-5 was for [[motor torpedo boat]]s.
* 2M-6 was a [[Gun turret|machine gun turret]] for armored [[gunboat]]s.
* 2M-7 was for [[Patrol boat|patrol]] and [[mine sweeping]] boats.

The single mount was called the "14.5 mm MTPU" ({{langx|ru|{{nowrap|14,5-мм}} МТПУ|links=no}}, an initialism for {{langx|ru|{{nowrap|14,5-мм}} морская тумбовая пулемётная установка|lit=14.5 mm Naval Machine Gun Column Mount|label=none}}). The 14.5&nbsp;mm MTPU is intended for combat against armored surface, coast and air targets. It is mounted on decks of boats and can defeat surface and coast targets with a range of {{convert|3000|m|abbr=on}} horizontally and {{convert|2000|m|abbr=on}} vertically against low flying planes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zid.ru/en/products/military/mtpu.html|title=MTPU 14.5mm marine pedestal machine gun mount|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref>

=== ZPU ===
{{main|ZPU}}
The {{Transliteration|ru|ZPU}} ({{langx|ru|ЗПУ|links=no}}, an initialism for {{langx|ru|Зенитная пулемётная установка|lit=Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Mount|label=none}}) is a towed [[anti-aircraft gun]] based on the KPV. It entered service with the [[Soviet Union]] in 1949 and is used by over 50 countries worldwide.
* ''ZPU-1'' single-barreled mount.
* ''ZPU-2'' twin-barreled mount.
* ''ZPU-4'' quadruple-barreled mount.

==== Mountain version ====
* ''ZGU-1'' single-barreled pack mount ({{langx|ru|ЗГУ|translit=ZGU|links=no}}, an initialism for {{langx|ru|Зенитная горная установка|lit=Mountain Anti-Aircraft Mount|label=none}}).

==Remote weapon stations==
The Emirati [[remote weapon station]] [[IGG-RWS14]] uses the KPV machine gun.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/10/06/dsei-2017-vehicle-mounted-remote-control-weapon-station-round/|title=&#91;DSEi 2017&#93; Vehicle Mounted Remote Control Weapon Station Round up -|date=6 October 2017}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
0706 - Moskau 2015 - Panzermuseum Kubinka (26400777035).jpg|[[SU-122-54]] with a KPVT mounted on top of the hull and another in a [[weapon mount#Coaxial|coaxial]] mounting next to the main cannon
ZPU-1-batey-haosef-1.jpg|ZPU-1 single-barreled AA mount
ZPU-2-4658.jpg|ZPU-2 twin-barreled AA mount
Army Artillery pointing towards BDR headquarters.jpg|[[Bangladesh Army]] ZPU-4 quadruple-barreled AA mount
Iraqi Police gun-carriage.jpg|[[Iraq Police]] [[Dodge Ram]] [[gun truck]] with adapted KPV
Корабельная пулеметная установка 2М-5.JPG|2M-5 naval machine gun mount
Торпедный катер ТКА-23 пр. 123К, памятник в г. Санкт-Петербурге.jpg|2M-5 naval machine gun mount on a {{sclass2|P 4|torpedo boat|1}}
Verkhnyaya Pyshma Tank Museum 2012 0121.jpg|2M-7 naval machine gun mount (front view)
Verkhnyaya Pyshma Tank Museum 2012 0141.jpg|2M-7 naval machine gun mount (rear view)
МТПУ 14,5 мм морская тумбовая пулемётная установка.jpg|14.5&nbsp;mm MTPU
</gallery>

==Ammunition==
* B-32 – [[Armor piercing|Armor-piercing]] [[Incendiary ammunition|incendiary]] [[Full metal jacket bullet|full metal jacket]] round with a [[tungsten-carbide]] core. Projectile weight is {{convert|64.4|g|abbr=on}} and [[muzzle velocity]] is {{convert|976|m/s|abbr=on}}. Armor penetration at {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}} is {{convert|32|mm|abbr=on}} of [[rolled homogeneous armour]] (RHA) at 90 degrees.
* BZT – Armor-piercing incendiary [[Tracer ammunition|tracer]] full metal jacket round with a steel core. Projectile weight is {{convert|59.56|g|abbr=on}} and muzzle velocity is {{convert|1005|m/s|abbr=on}}. Tracer burns to at least {{convert|2000|m|abbr=on}}.
* MDZ – [[High-explosive incendiary]] bullet of instant action. Projectile weight is {{convert|59.68|g|abbr=on}}.

These rounds are also produced in Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Poland, and Romania.

==Operators==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* {{Flag|Afghanistan}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society|first1=Michael Vinai|last1=Bhatia |first2=Mark |last2=Sedra|publisher=[[Routledge]]|editor=Small Arms Survey|editor-link=Small Arms Survey|isbn=978-0-415-45308-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P4N9AgAAQBAJ|page=66|date=May 2008}}</ref><ref name="Afghan"/>
* {{Flag|Albania}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Albania|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n445|page=445|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Algeria}}
* {{Flag|Angola}}
* {{flag|Armenia}}
* {{flag|Bangladesh}}
* {{flag|Benin}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Benin|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n948|page=948|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Bulgaria}}: locally produced<ref name="Janes 2002"/>
* {{Flag|Cambodia}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Cambodia|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1134|page=1134|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{flag|Cameroon}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Cameroon|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1135|page=1135|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{flag|Congo}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Congo|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n1441|page=1441|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{Flag|China}}: ''Type 56'' (KPV) and ''Type 58'' (KPVT) machine guns, produced by [[Norinco]]<ref name="Janes 2002"/>
* {{Flag|Cuba}}
* {{Flag|Egypt}}<ref name="Afghan"/>
* {{Flag|Eritrea}}
* {{Flag|Ethiopia}}
* {{Flag|Finland}} (KPVT)
* {{flag|Georgia}}
* {{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Guinea-Bissau|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n2361|page=2361|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Hungary}}
* {{Flag|India}} – Manufactured at [[Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2007/03/19/oft-develops-gen-x-weapons-1174286532.html|title=OFT develops Gen-X weapons|work=www.oneindia.com|date=19 March 2007|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Iraq}} – [[Iraqi Army|Iraqi armed forces]]
** [[Popular Mobilization Forces]]
** {{Flag|Iraqi Kurdistan}}
* {{Flag|Iran}}
* {{flag|Islamic State}}<ref name="ISIS"/>
* {{flag|Ivory Coast}}<ref name = 'SAS RCI 2012'>{{cite report|language=fr|title=Enquête nationale sur les armes légères et de petit calibre en Côte d'Ivoire: les défis du contrôle des armes et de la lutte contre la violence armée avant la crise post-électorale|first=Savannah |last=de Tessières|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP]], Commission Nationale de Lutte contre la Prolifération et la Circulation Illicite des Armes Légères et de Petit Calibre and [[Small Arms Survey]]|date= April 2012|series= Special Report No. 14 |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/C-Special-reports/SAS-SR14-CoteIvoire.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118234610/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/C-Special-reports/SAS-SR14-CoteIvoire.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 November 2012|page=97}}</ref>
* [[Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades]]
* {{Flag|Laos}}
* {{Flag|Lebanon}}
* {{Flag|Libya}}
* {{flag|Malawi}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Malawi|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3094|page=3094|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Mali}} – [[Military of Mali|Armed and Security Forces of Mali]]
* {{flag|Malta}} – North Korean-made KPVs.<ref name="Janes 2002"/>
* {{Flag|Mongolia}}
* {{Flag|Morocco}}
* {{Flag|Mozambique}}
* {{flag|Myanmar}}
* {{Flag|North Korea}}
* {{Flag|Nicaragua}}
* {{Flag|Pakistan}}: Used by the [[Pakistan Army]].<ref>{{cite web | title =KPV | url = http://weaponsystems.net/weapon.php?weapon=II04%20-%20KPV}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Panama}}
* {{Flag|Poland}}<ref name="Janes 2002"/>
* {{Flag|Romania}}: KPV and KPVT built under license<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=ROMARM machine guns|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3407|page=3407|date=4 May 2001|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{flag|Russia}}<ref name="Janes 2002">{{cite encyclopedia|title=14.5 mm KPV heavy machine gun|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3732|pages=3732–3734|date=4 May 2001|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{flag|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}}<ref name = 'Sahara'/>
* {{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, São Tomé and Príncipe|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n3849|page=3849|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{flag|Serbia}} (KPVT)
* {{flag|Sierra Leone}}: Chinese QJG56 and Polish KPVT<ref>{{cite web|title=World Infantry Weapons: Sierra Leone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124203938/https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_sierraleone|archive-date=24 November 2016|url=https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_sierraleone|date=2013}}{{self-published source|date=June 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Slovenia}} (KPVT)
* {{Flag|Somalia}}
* {{flag|South Africa}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Fact file: Special Forces main equipment|first= Leon |last=Engelbrecht |date=17 December 2009|url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/resources/fact-files/fact-file-special-forces-main-equipment/|website=defenceweb.co.za}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Sri Lanka}}
** [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] 
* {{Flag|Sudan}}
* {{Flag|Syria}}
* {{flag|Togo}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=National inventories, Togo|encyclopedia=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002|url=https://archive.org/details/Janes_Infantry_Weapons/page/n4569|page=4569|date=22 November 2000|first1=Terry J.|last1=Gander}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Ukraine}}
* {{Flag|Yemen}}
* {{Flag|Vietnam}}
* {{flag|Tanzania}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/https-sites-google-com-site-worldinventory-wiw_af_tanzania|title = Google Sites}}</ref>
* {{flag|Zimbabwe}}
{{div col end}}

===Former operators===
* {{Flag|Czechoslovakia}}
* {{Flag|Soviet Union}}

==See also==
* [[List of Russian weaponry]]
* Weapons featured in the film ''[[13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book
  | last = Suermondt
  | first = Jan
  | title = Illustrated Guide to Combat Weapons
  | publisher = Grange Books
  | year = 2004
  | location = Kent
  | page = 104 }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Koll
  | first = Christian
  | title = Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm
  | publisher = Koll
  | year = 2009
  | location = Austria
  | url = http://www.russianammo.org
  | isbn = 978-3-200-01445-9
  | page = 98 }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Moise
  | first = Edwin
  | title = Tonkin Gulf and the Escalation of the Vietnam War
  | publisher = The University of North Carolina Press
  | year = 1996
  | location = United States
  | url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780807823002
  | isbn = 0-8078-2300-7
  | url-access = registration
  }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{external media
| float=right
| video1 =[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g9nBDQLsvI KPV in Libya]
}}
* [http://www.zid.ru/en/products/military/kpvt.html KPVT large-calibre tank machine-gun]
* [http://www.zid.ru/en/products/military/mtpu.html MTPU 14.5mm marine pedestal machine-gun mount]
* [http://www.thetankmaster.com/ENGLISH/AFV/KPV.asp Russian/Soviet KPV MACHINE GUN ON WHEELED MOUNT (MARKOV'S MOUNT) IN 14.5 x 114 calibre (M41/44) – Walk around photos]
* [http://www.thetankmaster.com/ENGLISH/AFV/ZPU2.asp ZPU-2 - TWIN MOUNT 14.5MM ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS (Twin mount anti-aircraft 14.5mm KPV machine guns) – Walk around photos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307233629/http://thetankmaster.com/ENGLISH/AFV/ZPU2.asp |date=7 March 2009 }}
* [http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg01-e.htm Modern Firearms page on the KPV-14.5 heavy machine gun] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406130549/http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg01-e.htm |date=6 April 2008 }}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kpv Heavy Machine Gun}}
[[Category:14.5×114mm machine guns]]
[[Category:Heavy machine guns]]
[[Category:Machine guns of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Degtyarev Plant products]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1949]]