Recently, the Russian Military History Museum in Padykovo released a dynamic show of their new exhibit-a rare tank machine gun. This machine gun was designed by Vasily Alekseyevich Teggalev. It is an improved version of the DS-39 medium machine gun. The museum placed this machine gun in two different styles of DS-39. In the middle of the machine gun, a small series can be formed, allowing visitors to compare the differences between the three horizontally. The gun does not have an official model, but is called the DS-39 tank machine gun.
DS-39 machine gun was developed in the late 1930s to replace the Maxim machine gun, caliber 7.62×54mmR. The biggest feature is the use of air-cooled quick-change barrels (there are two spare barrels on the upper left), which is more convenient to use than the Maxim machine gun. This machine gun began to be installed in 1939. After it was equipped, it was found that the bullet chain feeding part often jammed, the operation was complicated and the failure rate was high. In 1941, production of the DS-39 was discontinued, and the factory began to re-produce Maxim machine guns. The total output of DS-39 was about 10,000.
This tank machine gun uses a telescopic butt, adds a small grip and trigger, and is equipped with a bipod. Jeggalev applied the successful experience of the DT tank machine gun to this Above the machine gun. When
is used as a tank machine gun, it will not be equipped with a bipod. The reason why it is equipped with a bipod is to take into account the need to disassemble it from the tank and use it as an infantry weapon. But the shortcomings of the DS-39 naturally also brought to this tank machine gun, so it was doomed to a tragic ending.
This machine gun is not actually installed, so the output is very small. It is now a very rare collection, and only a few people know its existence. Note that the barrel of this tank machine gun does not have a flared muzzle device and no handle compared to the spare barrel on the upper left. With the same spiral fin design, although the heat dissipation efficiency can be improved, the weight is relatively large.
The receiver design is the same as the DS-39 medium machine gun, and it is speculated that it is still a quick-change barrel. The design of the bipod is similar to the DP machine gun. There are clips on the left leg to fix the two legs, which can fix the two legs when folded back. Quick-change air-cooled barrel, canvas belt, bipod, this hybrid structure is very special from the current point of view.
In order to facilitate the operation, the two D-shaped grips are cancelled, and a small grip and a regular trigger are added under the receiver. This design is convenient for operation in the light machine gun state. The buttstock uses a very strong steel rod with telescopic function and a butterfly knob for locking. The butt plate made of steel plate is covered with flexible material.
The front-opening vertical frame type rear sight is aimed through the up and down adjustment gap with the front sight of the barrel. There are different gauges on the left and right sides of the vertical frame, corresponding to two types of ammunition.
uses canvas belt for bombing, and the firepower is very continuous. At that time, the DT tank machine gun equipped by the Soviet army used 63 rounds of cartridges for ammunition, and the firepower continuity could not fully meet the needs of actual combat. Therefore, the Soviet Union hopes to replace the DT tank machine gun with this improved DS-39.
The bipod is very sturdy, fixed to the barrel by a screw on the right side.
From the close-up photo, you can see that the bipod is fixed to the barrel behind the quasi-constellation by a clamp. There is a knurled device on the muzzle, presumably an empty bomb booster.
This machine gun has been installed on the T-126 light tank, and it is also planned to be equipped on the T-50 light tank that is still under development. There is also a water-cooled DS-39 medium machine gun, but it is placed in other venues of the museum and does not appear here.
