The ak47, officially known as the avtomat kalashnikova russian. The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation in the field. The gun range is a bit outside of ho chi minh city, so we booked this tour through viator and it was super cheap and easy to get there. The initials ak represent avtomat kalashnikova, russian for automatic kalashnikov, for its designer, mikhail timofeyevich kalashnikov, who designed the accepted version of the weapon in 1947. Jan 19, 2016 when being transported, the ak 47 was covered in a pouch. An m16 was machined with close tolerances while the aks were so loosely machined that shaking one sounded like a childs rattle. They also offer the romanian draco ak47 pistol series with four different models ranging in size and caliber options. The original ak 47 was one of the first assault rifles of 2nd generation, after the german stg 44. Whether operated by manual or purely mechanical means, each cartridge in. With a mechanism probably inspired by the british sten, this almost toylike, greenpainted submachine gun was. Initially, the ak 47 was available in only small numbers to the viet cong fighting in south vietnam, historian kevin dockery explained in his book special warfare special weapons this. M1911, m1a, m14, ak47 and other ak rifles, ars and.
The weapon that changed the face of war will appeal to anyone who has ever watched the history channelor the evening news. Numrich gun parts ak 47 parts list details the entire ak 47 schematic for you to shop with confidence, knowing that youre looking for the right part and that youll find it at a great price. Few, however, know anything about its designer or how the weapon came into being. Army manuals i have for the m14 and the m16 are far superior to this book.
Shooting the ak47 and m30 in vietnam swig meets world. In this fascinating book, kahaner tells the story of this ubiquitous and deadly weapon, contrasting it with the admittedly inferior m16 and chronicling the role the ak47 has played in conflicts from vietnam and iraq to rwanda and colombia. The difference between the ak47 and the akm is that the ak47 is short and the akm is long and the other difference is that the ak47 has a regular muzzle and the akm has a sharp muzzle. The original ak47 was one of the first assault rifles of 2nd generation, after the german stg 44. I have freely borrowed photos from all over the web, as well as using my own. Ak47 galleries vietnam soldier vietnam photo galleries. Ak47, also called kalashnikov model 1947, soviet assault rifle, possibly the most widely used shoulder weapon in the world. In vietnam id rather the ak, and many units especially combined units kept captured ak47s to be used if need be, rather than handing them in to their cos to add to statistics, theyd keep. The ak 47 is a russian assault rifle first used in 1949. Originally manufactured by the soviet union, most of these assault rifles used in the war were made in the peoples republic of china, which was the chief supplier of armaments to nva and vc forces. Kalashnikov, was developed during the wwii, and in 1947 the production started on the izhmash plant in the city of izhevsk, one of the most important soviet military production centers this plant, in order to hide its military nature, was also. A fascinating biography of a weapon that has truly changed world history.
The vietnam war was in full swing, and american troops poured into south vietnam, armed with 300,000 brand new m16s bought from colt. This book takes a look at the complete history of the. So then the war raged on and protests were overwhelming back in the states. During the vietnam war, the m16 was thrown away in favor of the ak47. The ak47 battle rifle and the sks rifle both fired the same cartridge, 762 x 39. The ak47 was the primary infantry weapon of the north vietnamese army nva and the vietcong vc. During this period it was reported that the north vietnamese army and viet cong guerillas were armed with ak47 assault rifles. M1911, m1a, m14, ak47 and other ak rifles, ars and many more. The price of an ak47 derivative varies depending on sale location, quality, and quantity. It measures 100 cm 39 inches long, has a 20round or 30round. It was a modernized version of the ak 47, and it was the model which was most widely exported.
In your book, you say that the ak 47 changed the face of modern warfare as much as the atomic bomb did. This web page presents information and photographs i have compiled and edited from various sources. In 1959, a new version of the ak 47, the akm, was presented. By the end of the first world war, all of the categories of small arms now. Finally, america withdrew and vietnam became a communist country. The sovietmade ak47 and the american m16, the primary assault rifles deployed during the vietnam war, became symbols of the long. When america got there, they found out that vietnam can fall in the hands of the communists. Seven firefights in vietnam army center of military history. The ak47s classic look, reliability and proliferation in hot zones around the world will keep it in movies as long as hollywood is willing to tell stories.
The ak 47 was designed in 1947 by mikhail kalashnikov. Mar 10, 2019 luckily, shooting the ak 47 and m30 in vietnam were great substitutes to get our adrenaline fix. Their most popular item is the romanian ak47 rifle wasr 10 series. The backstreet boys are the highestprofile performers to visit the country since vietnam opened to the west more than two decades ago. Military and special forces in 106 countries around the globe from afghanistan to zimbabwe are now armed with ak47s.
An ak would operate when stuffed full of mud, while the m16 could jam from unburned gunpowder particles. Kahaner traces the rifles role in wars from vietnam to iraq and from central america to central. Strictly speaking, there are no soviet or russian ak47 rifles to be found in the field. Dec 23, 20 the ak 47 has made it into the guinness book of records as the most widely spread weapon in the world, with 100 million kalashnikov rifles currently in use. During the vietnam war, the m16 was thrown away in favor of the ak 47. Even today, the ar15 models are infamous for being much less able to take rugged terrain than its russian counterpart. The ak47 is a magically reliable rifle that has killed millions of people in a manner that no other rifle could ever have done. The akstyle rifles arent pretty nor is their safety easy to operate. Max boot, senior fellow, council on foreign relationsand author of the savage wars of peace anyone who has fought or watched a war over the last halfcentury recognizes the ak47, but few know much about it. Most of the text enumerates the various recent conflicts in which ak style rifles have been used. In this fascinating book, kahaner tells the story of this ubiquitous and deadly weapon, contrasting it with the admittedly inferior m16 and chronicling the role the ak 47 has played in conflicts from vietnam and iraq to rwanda and colombia.
Ak47 rifles in the vietnam war the ak47 gained much of its worldwide recognition during the war in vietnam. All of the oldtime special forces i knew preferred the swedishk for their commando stuff across borders. Kahaner traces the rifles role in wars from vietnam to iraq and from central america to central africa. As a result, more aktype weapons have been produced than all other assault rifles combined. Akm simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It was later replaced by the ak74 the ak47 was designed in 1947 by mikhail kalashnikov the ak47 quickly became famous and spread all around the world because it was simple to fire, clean and maintain, and also. Need an ak 47 schematic to keep your replacement project on track or looking to replace a specific part. The biggest difference in its use in vietnam, however, is that the ak47 is very, very difficult to break. Vietnam as either the chinese type 56 copy or the akm variant. Anyone who has fought or watched a war over the last halfcentury recognizes the ak47, but few know much about it.
The use of aluminum and composite materials rather than wood made the various iterations of the m16 significantly lighter than the m14 or the ak47. One of the shells hit me in the chest i thought i got shot. In addition to covering the various springfield armory pistols we also have large sections dedicated to other various firearms such as the. Initially, the ak47 was available in only small numbers to the viet cong fighting in south vietnam, historian kevin dockery explained in his book special warfare special weapons this. It first attracted world attention in vietnam by proving superior to the american m16. The akm is a soviet assault rifle that was designed by mikhail kalashnikov in the 1950s and adopted in 1959 by the soviet army to replace the ak 47. Military and special forces in 106 countries around the globe from afghanistan to zimbabwe are now armed with ak 47s. The soviets did not want anyone to know of its existence, and their plan held up until the hungarian revolt of 1956. Ak47 vs m16 vietnam war era offtopic discussion gamespot. It was supposed to be a wonder weapona light, lethal rifle to help the united states win the war in vietnam. Century arms is a large importer of ak47 firearms and other military surplus rifles and pistols. The ak47 is also considerably cheaper to produce and sell, and nearly ten times more ak47s have been produced than m16s estimated approximate 75 million compared to approximately 8 million m16s. The vietnam war, however, was the debut of the m16. May 26, 2015 initially, the ak47 was available in only small numbers to the viet cong fighting in south vietnam, historian kevin dockery explained in his book special warfare special weapons this.
In 1959, a new version of the ak47, the akm, was presented. The gun that changed the battlefield the ak47 was created by the soviets after world war ii and changed the way war is fought. I cannot think of one guy in my unit that would have preferred the ak47 over the m16 or car15. Created by senior sergeant mikhail kalashnikov, and first adopted by the ussr soon after world war ii, its production continues to this day, with an estimated 75 million produced worldwide. It is the originating firearm of the kalashnikov rifle or ak family. The ak47 is a selectfire, gasoperated rotatingbolt assault rifle chambered in the intermediate 7. Luckily, shooting the ak47 and m30 in vietnam were great substitutes to get our adrenaline fix.
Ak47 simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Weighing less than the enemys ak47, it was less fatiguing for soldiers to carry. The ak47 has made it into the guinness book of records as the most widely spread weapon in the world, with 100 million kalashnikov rifles currently in use. The ak47 was widely supplied or sold to nations allied with the ussr, and the blueprints were shared with several friendly nations the peoples republic of china standing out among these with the type 56. This guy at the range constantly refuses to shut the fuck up about how the ar15 is a piece of shit, and always references his supposed time in vietnam where he and his unit would ditch their m16 in favor of the ak 47. Chivers traces the origins of modern assault riflesparticularly avtomat kalashnikov 47. Explain to me how the ak 47 did this as opposed to just guns or automatic weapons. Later in the vietnam war, the viet cong primarily used the type 53 carbine m44, the type 56 sks, the type 56 ak 47, shown and the k50 from china and north vietnam. Oct 27, 2010 the ak 47 and type 56 rifles, two variants of the kalashnikov that were common in the early years of the vietnam war, have largely been phased out and replaced by an extended family of descendants. Nov 11, 2006 while visiting the cu chi tunnels in vietnam, i had the chance to fire an ak 47. This guy at the range constantly refuses to shut the fuck up about how the ar15 is a piece of shit, and always references his supposed time in vietnam where he and his unit would ditch their m16 in favor of the ak47. Were there any cases of american soldiers carrying an ak47.
The crude and effective guerrilla small arms of the vietnam war. In your book, you say that the ak47 changed the face of modern warfare as much as the atomic bomb did. The ak 47 uses a notched rear tangent iron sight, it is adjustable and is calibrated in hundreds from 100 to 800 meters 100 to meters for akm models. M16a2ar15a2 usmc range data books springfield xd forum. The ak47 and type 56 rifles, two variants of the kalashnikov that were common in the early years of the vietnam war, have largely been phased out and replaced by. M16a2ar 15a2 usmc range data books discussion in ar talk started by volksweegle, oct 27, 2012. The ak47 assault rifle weapons and technology of the. The kalashnikov ak47 is the most ubiquitous assault rifle in the world, with more ak47s and its variants in use than any other individual small arm. But the guns are robust and magazines, parts, and accessories inexpensive making them a good choice for those wanting a hunting rifle that can also serve as a fighting weapon. Were there any cases of american soldiers carrying an ak.
While visiting the cu chi tunnels in vietnam, i had the chance to fire an ak47. Jun 01, 2014 it was supposed to be a wonder weapona light, lethal rifle to help the united states win the war in vietnam. I would recommend that the ak enthusiastshooter spend a little more money and buy the official soviet akm operators manual instead. It and an updated version called the akm were used by the soviet unions military which was called the soviet army. The kalashnikov ak 47 is the most ubiquitous assault rifle in the world, with more ak 47s and its variants in use than any other individual small arm. The difference between the ak 47 and the akm is that the ak 47 is short and the akm is long and the other difference is that the ak 47 has a regular muzzle and the akm has a sharp muzzle. The events described in this small book are illustrative of much that took. So, america then says that if vietnam falls to the communists, then all of asia will also. Armory pistols we also have large sections dedicated to other various firearms such as the. In minutes, i had that rifle apart without a manual. The ak 47 was the primary infantry weapon of the north vietnamese army nva and the vietcong vc. I cannot think of one guy in my unit that would have preferred the ak 47 over the m16 or car15. When being transported, the ak47 was covered in a pouch.
Virtually every american veteran of vietnam and later conflicts knows the sovietdesigned ak 47 assault rifle. It was a modernized version of the ak47, and it was the model which was most widely exported. The ak47 is a russian assault rifle first used in 1949. Small wars manual, which was an excellent blueprint for dealing with. Max boot, senior fellow, council on foreign relationsand author of the savage wars of peace anyone who has fought or watched a war over the last halfcentury recognizes the ak 47, but few know much about it.
In vietnam id rather the ak, and many units especially combined units kept captured ak 47 s to be used if need be, rather than handing them in to their cos to add to statistics, theyd keep. Legend has it believe it or not that american soldiers while caught in jungle dogfights with viet cong or nva often switched to aks its heavy 7. In 2016 and 2017 they released their us line of ak rifles like. Why didnt the americans use the ak 47 in vietnam war. The akm is a soviet assault rifle that was designed by mikhail kalashnikov in the 1950s and adopted in 1959 by the soviet army to replace the ak47. By the time i was done with my training, the war would be over. This article is about the weapons used in the vietnam war, which involved the peoples army of. The original model came into service in 1949 and serves as a template to many different variants throughout the world today.
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