Of all Russian weapons that have been detected in Ukraine, the 6P50 Kord heavy machine gun is the most eloquent proof of Russian involvement in aggression against Ukraine. It is another FLAG ITEM (i.e. a weapon not used by the Ukrainian military and mostly only found in the Russian Army). The impact of this weapon on the battlefield likely to be greater that than the 6P41 Pecheneg machine gun, 7P51 Tavolga-1 (RShG-1) grenade or 6C8 ASVK sniper rifle.
The Kord’s predecessor, the 12,7-mm NSV (Nikitin, Sokolov, Volkov) Utyos machine gun, was designed by the Dehtyarov Arms Factory or ZiD [Zavod imeni Degtyaryova], in Kovrov (which is now part of the Russian Federation). However production of the machine gun was transferred to the `Metalist’ Arms Factory in Uralsk. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union Uralsk became part of Kazakhstan, meaning that the Russian Federation no longer had direct control over the Metalist Arms Factory and the production of its principle machine gun. The gun was the principle heavy machine gun in mounted and anti-aircraft modifications for the Russian military; and Russia felt it could not afford to lose control over the development and production of this weapon. For this reason ZiD had to reinvent it.
It is notable that Kazakhstan is not the only former Soviet Republic producing 6P11 NSV-Utyos. The other one is… Ukraine! The Ukrainian NSV replica is called the KT-12.7 and is produced in Kamianets-Podilskyi by NTK Zavod Tochnoyi Mekhaniky (ZTM) arms factory also known to English speaking audiences as Science and Technology Company «Precision Mechanic Plant».
The Kord first entered production in 1998. It became the standard fitting on the T80 and T90 main battle tank and has been `retro-fitted on many other Russian armoured vehicles as a replacement for worn out NSV Utyos machine guns. It is designed for the destruction of lightly armored vehicles and weapons (with armoured piercing rounds), and the elimination of enemy personnel at ranges of up to 1500-2000 meters, and also for engaging aerial targets at slant ranges up to 1500 meters
One cannot say that the Russian designers completely ignored their old drawings, especially taking into account that the NSV-Utyos was also developed in Kovrov. As a result it is difficult to spot any differences between the two models: they have the same assembly, same working principle, and the same gun gas venting. The barrel cutoff mechanism has been changed from cotter to bolt switch, but this did not affect the exterior appearance. The most visible changes are the new muzzle-sight and the new flame suppressor design. Improvements in the Kord can be noted in the firing mechanism, which is very rugged yet is capable of a greater rate of fire and significantly less recoil. Because the new barrel is made of a high-tech alloy it minimizes distortion and drop, and therefore accuracy has being increased tremendously over previous Soviet machine guns. The gun is also significantly lighter that the Utyos, and can be carried by a strong infranryman.
The first time a Kord machine gun was spotted was in a video from September 2014 in the wreckage of a destroyed Russian convoy. When analyzing the video footage I was surprised by the first APC in this convoy. It turned out to be rare modification of the MT-LB series, namely: MT-LB6MA with BTR-80 turret and a 14,5 mm KPVT (Vladimirov) mounted machine gun.
Only 16 machines of this type were ever made of which14 were supplied to the Soviet 42-nd Motorized Rifle Division (now inactive). During military reforms of the 90s this division was reorganized into four SMRBs (Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades, in Russian known as – OMSBR, Otdelnaya motostrelkovaya brigada). Three of these SMRB are now well known for their role in the Donbas War: namely the 8th, 17th and 18th SMRBs.
The next APC in that convoy was also examined by international specialists. It was MT-LBVK full-track carrier which is a more typical machine of the Russian army. And yes, it had Kord mounted on its turret!
A second instance of the identification of the Kord comes from the Dontesk Airport in October 2014. The video shows an artillery spotter firing a Kord on a MT-LB. We present a still photo from the video (3min 42sec. in the video)
A third identification of the Kord in Ukraine occurred when I spotted the weapon in a convoy of the separatist army‘. In this video, from November 2014, the Kord is visible at 38sec. Once again we present a still photograph from the video.
Remember while the Kord looks very close to the NSV-Utyos, the way the muzzle-sight is attached to the barrel and the flame suppressor design signals it is a Kord.
Original article by Al Gri
https://informnapalm.org/3703-russian-kord-in-donbass
Translation and additions by Gennadiy Kornev and Christopher Garfield.
Other FLAG ITEMS identified in Ukraine
[https://informnapalm.org/en/ares-research-report-highlights-modern-high-specd-russian-military-equipment-eastern-ukraine-part1/]
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One Response to “The Kord Heavy Machine Gun found in Donbass: Another Russian military`Flag’ Item”
02/20/2015
RyanI never understood the significance of Russian weapons in Ukraine. I just don’t get why so many people are worked up about it. The U.S is supplying arms and giving training to the FSA, which is opposing the Assad government; Is the U.S destabilizing the region or just “helping democracy along”? Not only is the Syrian government a legitimate one, but many FSA elements have ties to ISIS. In fact, ISIS is fighting the Syrian government too, and it seems that they’re getting American weapons! So basically, that means that the U.S is directly supplying an internationally recognized terrorist organization which has proven itself to be one through the massacre of thousands of innocent civilians and the acting-out of an incalculable number of war crimes. What have the people of Donbass done? Attempt to break away from a nation ruled by a puppet president and puppet prime minister? Defend themselves from an onslaught of artillery fire into their cities and towns? The fact that the Russians are supplying the Donbass militia means nothing except that the Russians are supplying the Donbass militia! This has nothing to do with right or wrong. And yet, the media has us believing that this is all about Russian aggression. Russian invasions. Russian bombardment. Russian incursion. Russia is NOT invading Ukraine. If they wanted to take Kiev, you would see a lot more than a Kord on a few MTLBs left in reserve for too long. They’d be fighter jets, bombers, drones, ballistic missiles, a real tank army, real soldiers and real armoured vehicles. Not the militia you’re seeing today. Heck, even the Chief of General Staff Viktor Muzhenko says that the UAF isn’t fighting the Russian Army. So what’s the big deal?