NSV Utes
Overview
NSV
Locally produced Yugoslav version of NSV on 6U6 tripod.
Source: Zastava Arms -
© copyright lies with original owner
Nikitin, Sokolov & Volkov
Bulgaria - Arsenal
India - Ordnance Factory Board
Kazakhstan - Kaspex/Metallist
Poland - ZMT
Serbia - Zastava
Ukraine - STCPM
Yugoslavia - Zastava
6P11 / 6P17 (GRAU index)
M02 (Yugoslav production NSVS)
M87 (Yugoslav production NSVT)
KT-12.7 (Ukrainian production)
12.7mm Ittk 96 (Finnish designation)
NSZV-12.7 Géppuska (Hungarian designation)
Description
Introduction
The NSV is a heavy machine gun of Soviet origin. It was developed in the late 1960's to replace the DShK in Soviet service which was found too heavy and expensive and had a limited rate of fire. The NSV is named after its three designers, but is also known by its nickname Utes. The NSV can be used on a tripod but is primarily used as vehicle armament and can be found on all modern Soviet tanks.
Design
The NSV is a heavy machine gun that is relatively light. It is gas operated and uses a long stroke gas piston. The NSV is belt fed and exists in both right hand and left hand feed models which are both available with or without iron sights. When used in the infantry role a pistol grip and shoulder stock are fitted. Optical sights are optional. It is also available as vehicle armament with a solenoid trigger.
Firepower
The NSV fires the 12.7x108mm round from 50 round belts and fires fully automatic only. The cyclic rate of fire is about 700 to 800 rpm. Even though the NSV is not very accurate it can be used out to 1.5 km. The high rate of fire makes the NSV more useful as an anti-aircraft machine gun than the older DShK.
Users
The primary user of the NSV was the USSR. It was used both on ground mounts and vehicles. After the breakup the NSV was no longer produced in Russia and combined with the desire for a more accurate weapon the Kord was developed. The NSV remains in production in various nations and has been exported to many nations, although not nearly in the same quantities as the older DShK.
Variants
NSVS
When used on a ground mount the NSV is known as the NSVS. With mechanical trigger it is known as the 6P11 and is available in right and left hand feed and with and without iron sights. It is normally deployed on the 6U6 tripod but an anti-aircraft mount is also available.
NSVP
The NSVP is the latest production version of the NSV and was developed in Kazakhstan. The NSVP has increased accuracy and recoil is reduced by fitting a multi port muzzle brake and mounting the NSV on a slightly heavier tripod with soft mount.
NSVT
The NSVT is the vehicle mounted version of the NSV and is also known under the GRAU index 6P17. The NSVT is equipped with an electrical trigger. The NSVT is primarily used as anti-aircraft armament for tanks, but can also be found on various other vehicles.
Details
Related articles
DShK
The NSV was developed to replace the World War 2 era DShK. The NSV was to be a more accurate design with a higher rate of fire.
Kord
The Kord is a Russian heavy machine gun. This was developed to provide a domestically produced heavy machine gun, as during the collapse of the Soviet union NSV production was no longer located in Russia.
Browning M2HB
During its service life the Western counterpart of the NSV remained the World War 2 era M2HB heavy machine gun.