RPD machine gun
| RPD | |
|---|---|
A right-side view of the RPD | |
| Type | |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1944–1961 (Soviet Union) 1944–present (other states) |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | See Wars |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Vasily Degtyaryov |
| Designed | 1943–44 |
| Produced | 1944–1960 |
| Variants | RPDM, Type 56, Type 56-1, Type 62 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7.4 kg (16.31 lb) when empty |
| Length | 1,037 mm (40.8 in) |
| Barrel length | 520 mm (20.5 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×39mm 5.56×45mm NATO (Israeli conversion) |
| Action | Gas operated long stroke piston, flapper locking and fires from the open bolt |
| Rate of fire | 650 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 735 m/s (2,411 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 100–1,000 m sight adjustments |
| Feed system | Non-disintegrating 100-round segmented belt stored in a drum container. Custom 125 round belt (MACVSOG version) |
| Sights | Open-type sights with rear sliding notch and semi-hooded front post, 596.6 mm (23.5 in) sight radius |
The RPD (Russian: ручной пулемёт Дегтярёва, romanized: Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova, English: Degtyaryov hand-held machine gun) is a 7.62x39mm light machine gun developed in the Soviet Union by Vasily Degtyaryov for the 7.62×39mm M43 intermediate cartridge. It was created as a replacement for the DP machine gun chambered for the 7.62×54mmR round. It is a precursor of most squad automatic weapons. It was succeeded in Soviet service by the RPK.