DShK-M

Cartridge
 Rate of fire
 Fire Mode

The **DShK-M** **Machine Gun** is a heavy machine gun (HMG) available in Squad.

## General Information

The DShK is a Soviet Russian gas-operated, flapper-locked HMG. The DShK is designed by Russian designer Georgi Shpagin as a belt fed version of the DK Machine Gun, which could only use 35 round drum magazines and had a poor rate of fire. Designing finished in 1938, and the DShK was adopted by the Soviet Army in the same year as the standard HMG. The DShK finished its service in 1971, when it got replaced by the NSV as the standard HMG of the Soviet Army. The DShK is exported to numerous countries, mainly ones that are connected to the Soviet Union, and some of the countries have a license to manufacture the DShK. In 1946, an improved version of the DShK-M was created, which is named the DShK 1938/46 or DShK-M.

The DShK's design includes a 1,070 mm (42.1 in) barrel, iron sights, and a tripod. The weight of the DShK itself is 34 kg (74.96 lb) while the length of the gun is 1,625 mm (64.0 in). The DShK's rate of fire is 600 rounds per minute, the DShK's muzzle velocity is 850 m/s (2,788 ft/s), the DShK's effective range is 2 kilometers while its maximum range is 2.5 kilometers, and feeds off from a 50 round belt. The DShK uses the Russian 12.7x108mm cartridge.

## Variants

The DShK is only used by two factions, the Insurgents and the Irregular Militia. The DShK is used as an emplacement.

## Gameplay

* Can be fired only on automatic.
* A DShK ammunition belt can hold 100 rounds.
* The emplaced DShK comes with an iron sight, hindering its long-range fighting capability.
* One variant of the DShK has a gun shield. The shield can stop rifle rounds frontally.
* The emplaced DShK comes with a high-profile tripod, which could be protected behind two layers of sandbags.
	+ The high-profile tripod allows a 360° traverse. But beware, the tripod height leaves the gunner much more exposed than those operating M2A1 or NSV emplacements.
* The DshK is also mounted on top of the T-62 tank.
	+ The top-mounted DShK-M shakes the user's view when firing and leaves the operator very exposed so it's best to only use it in critical situations when the gunner is unable to acquire a close threat. It also moves along with the turret like other pintle-mounted machine guns as it is not stabilized.
* The effective range of the DShK is 1.8 kilometers.
* The firepower of this 12.7x108mm machine gun should not be underestimated, as those bullets penetrate all current in-game armored vehicles and dispose groups of enemy personnel with relative ease.
	+ 12.7x108mm can penetrate all vehicles in-game except M2A3 and main battle tanks.
	+ It can also penetrate thinner walls, meaning that you can neutralize shielded or covered enemy infantry.
	+ It can also penetrate the bulletproof windshields of other light vehicles, killing infantry inside directly.
* Armour calculation involves many factors that are not limited to simple base damage and penetration. The slope of the armor, its thickness, the angle of hit, all of that matter when the game engine decides if damage has been dealt to the target.
	+ Prioritizing areas such as flat armor angles, turret, and rear areas, which are less effective against the 12.7x108mm.
* Firing in short bursts is extremely effective in long-range engagements. The vehicle-mounted machine guns also overheat if the trigger is held down for too long, so firing in short bursts also lengthens the total firing time of the weapon.
* Like all heavy machine guns, it features a long reload time. Conservation of ammunition will prove helpful to last through your ammunition belt instead of burning through it so that you do not have to reload at the wrong time.
* Out of all heavy machine guns in-game, DShK-M has the lowest damage and muzzle velocity. Though, these differences are barely noticeable in combat.
	+ The fire rate of 600 RPM sits in between slower-firing M2A1 and faster-firing NSV, Kord, and QJZ89.

## Gallery

* The DShK in reality

## Trivia

* DShK is an abbreviation for "Degtyaryova-Shpagina Krupnokaliberny" (Дегтярёва-Шпагина Крупнокалиберный) which in English means "Degtyaryov-Shpagin Large-Calibre".

## See Also

* Deployables
* Weapons