6P41 KPV Heavy Machine Gun

###### *From: Equipment of the Russian Ground Forces*

The **KPV**, (*Rossi: Крупнокалиберная Пулеметная Винтовка, "Machine Rifle of Large Calibre"*) (*Military index code: **6P41***) or known as "Mama Bol'shoy" (Rossi: Большой Мама, "Big Mama") was a Russian made heavy machine gun designed by the Gryzunov Concern, entering service as a replacement of the 12.7mm machine guns of the Russian Ground Force chambered in the 2.6 arsen, 14.8x126mmKd rounds. The KPV became the heaviest infantry issued heavy machine gun weapon in the 1st Great Cryptid War with a weight of 50 t'syatsha (52.8 kilograms) the KPV was favoured in vehicle-mounted roles due to it's heaviness alone. The KPV was famed for its high flexibility, simple mechanisms requiring very few moving parts and performed greatly even in muddy and rough terrain conditions. The KPV is effective against infantry, unarmoured and lightly armoured vehicles, light fortifications and low-flying aircraft.

The KPV has been extensively used as a vehicle-mounted weapon and for aircraft armament by the Russian Ground Forces from the (O.S.) 1830s until the present day. It was heavily used during the 1st Great Cryptid War era and was the primary heavy machine gun of many Russia allied countries alongside others as well. The KPV became one of the longest serving weapons in the RGF's arsenal with exception of the bolt-action and large bore revolvers that were still in service by the time the KPV was introduced.

## Background

Machine guns become commonplace early into the start of the 1st Great Cryptid War, with weapons like the \_\_\_'s machine gun being deemed effective against large fauna and monster species. Gradually into the war the arrival of armour and larger species of hostile monsters, the need for larger and larger calibres needed to defeat the protection that these targets are rolling out with became very apparent in the late 1820s when the conventional rifle ammunition of the Russian Ground Force (most common being 7.41x49mmR 'Choknov') is rendered ineffective. Thus the need for a large-calibre weapon capable of taking down light armour was more than realised.

The RGF didn't have to look far however, with new developments in automatic firearms and surviving documents of old Soviet-era heavy machine guns became the basis of the new design. Inspiration from the fielded weapons that counterpart militaries used such as the Großermaschinengewehr G-80 water-cooled machine gun came to mind, the new large 10.8x95mm cartridge and impressive high rate of fire made this an optimal multi-role weapon which was quickly issued to army vehicles, aircraft and infantry. However the G-80 was a particularly expensive weapon to make, making well use of milled steel parts, rivetting and moving parts meant that the ideas used from the Germans only stopped after taking it's design principles. By the time development of the KPV has begun in OKB Izhmogorskiy, the \_\_\_ heavy machine gun would have entered service in (O.S.) 1826, the new 2.2 stred (12.5mm) machine gun was exactly was what the Russians needed proving effective against Cryptids in the field. However with the Battle of Arzamas-8, the introduction of the Astapovian crimson frilled spiders proven that the 12.5mm machine guns were not sufficient in taking down these creatures and RGF forces depended on the arrival of artillery and cavalry tanks to defeat these Cryptids. The use of armour-piercing ammunition did help in the process however the 12.5x99mm cartridge could not guarantee the kill of larger Cryptid species (this was widely attributed to the relatively weak muzzle energy of 17kJ, and not the inability to defeat armour) and likely needed continuous fire to defeat them.

This assessment meant that the need for a better solution against larger Cryptid monsters with the new machine gun developed by the OKB in Izhmogorskiy was still continued. The development of a cartridge for this machine gun was difficult, as generals in the RGF had lost confidence in the use of 12.5mm calibre munitions, and the development of the KPV was expected by MyZ Gryzunov (Rossi: Машиностроительный Завод Грызунова, "Gryzunov Machine Plant", former name of Gryzunov Concern) to be successor to the underwhelming \_\_\_ machine gun. Production of initial prototypes were made and tested, completion of tests which with its 14.8mm caliber armor-piercing cartridges went on to function as an anti-aircraft and anti-vehicular machine gun, capable of penetrating 31.1mm of face-hardened armor steel plate at 200 meters and 27mm of rolled homogeneous armor at the same range, and 22mm at 500 meters. This cartridge was what the RGF needs, all it had to do was to get the right weapon to use it. The KPV completed it's trials in early (O.S.) Aprel' 1830 with flying colours. Rigorous state trials of the KPV prototype proven the system to be effective and more reliable than it's 12.5mm counterpart owed to continuous studies which ironed out many issues and complaints with the weapon which was incorporated into the new design. The KPV would be rushed into service by 1831.

## Design Details

### Body

The KPV is heavy weapon, weighing 49.24 t'syatsha (52 kilograms) on standard equipped with two pistol or spade grips at the rear of the weapon, there are mountings on the rear of the KPV allows for a shoulder stocks which is often used on anti-aircraft versions of the weapon. The reciever used a conventional layout and a modular component design which was manufactured from stamped steel, such engineered steels were stronger and could withstand higher temperatures and are cheaper to use. On the KPM (modernised) the body featured hardened steel-aluminium alloy components (except for which lightened the KPM down to 42.6 t'syatsha (45 kilograms) which was reportedly prone to overheat during prolonged firefights after several thousand rounds were fired. Especially in the warmer climate regions in the Southernlands, overheating affected the accuracy of the KPV made it difficult to hit targets past 1,000 meters, ineffective at 2,000 and not at all effective past that range, making the KPM an unsuitable weapon at warm and dry climates. The Gryzunov Concern says that the KPM was not designed for such use, but Russian Ground Force soldiers gave no negative feedback regarding the weapon which was influenced by the fact that most KPMs were outfitted with water jacket shrouds and snow was more available.

An improved version of the KPM designed to better use in Southernlands and heavy machine weapons was created by Gryzunov called the KPMS which were offered to military markets. The KPMS was substantially different from the KPM, it had a modified reciever with lighter profile, a shorter squeeze bore barrel and uses a smaller 12.7.x108mm cartridge making it lighter and better suited for use in dry climates.

### Barrel

The KPV is an air-cooled belt-fed open bolt machine gun. It used an open bolt operating on the short-recoil principle. This format both keeps the barrel open at both ends after firing ceases, allowing airflow through it and helping it to cool faster, and meanwhile retains the next unfired bullet outside the chamber until the trigger is squeezed again; and thus the cartridges are protected from the risk of cook-offs from high chamber temperatures after long bouts of sustained automatic fire. The firearm was designed with to be operated by short recoil aided by a muzzle booster device, in addition to air-cooling the KPVs fitted with barrel shrouds could be replaced with a water jacket which has a tractor radiator cap fitted ontop which can be used to pack additional coolants or even snow which keeps the gun cooled during sustained fire.

The KPV's barrel is heavy, 5.01 yale in length (1,400 milimeters) and 2 stred thick (11.4 milimeters) fitted with a hard chrome-tsahvynite composite plated bore which can withstand continuous amounts of fire. The machine gun's average barrel life is expected to be 10,000-rounds. However the KPV uses a varying cyclic rates of fire, depending on version typically between 550–800 rounds per minute; 1,000 on aircraft mounted versions. These maximum rates of fire are generally not achieved in use simply from the sustained fire at higher rates will wear out the bore within a few thousand rounds, needing the barrel to be swapped if not used practically.

In order facilitate a quick barrel swap ability and limit overheating during use, there is a latch on the underside of the reciever shrouded by a safety shroud which held the reciever to the barrel sleeve. The barrel would be twisted clockwise to unscrew the link with the pneumatic shock absorber springs, pulled some 20 milimeters forward and removed (it pivots off to the right on its latitudinal axis if using a barrel shroud. The new barrel would be then put back into the sleeve and the receiver rotated back into line and latched in. This process took on average 18 to 22 seconds when performed by a well-trained crew, causing as little downtime in battle as possible.

For reducing discomfort and recoil, the KPV's barrel was free-floating and was attached to a coil-type spring shock absorbers that which was designed to also improve the service life of the machine gun as the springs cams and levers which the KPV's recoil dampening system dissipate the rear-facing energy that the projectile upon firing to be reduced. Paired with soft shoulder cushioning the machine gun was more accurate down longer ranges and improve the effectiveness of follow-up shots with the recoil being reduced to a more sustainable kick which allows for superior target acquisition compared to it's counterparts.

The KPV has an effective range of 4.75 daleko (3,100 meters) and a maximum effective range of 6.9 daleko (4,500 meters) when fired from a tripod or AA mount.

### Firing Mechanism

The KPV in addition to it's need for lower rate during combat, there is a fire selector lever on the right-hand side of the receiver next to the spade trigger connected to the firing assembly. This lever only had three modes; "automatic", "single-action" and "safe", first allowing full automatic fire when the bolt release is locked down by the bolt latch release lock on the buffer spring., the second for semi-automatic (single-action label is from technicality in language) the bolt release can be unlocked into a position that results in single-shot firing (the gunner must put down the cocking handle to send the bolt forward). And with safe locking the firing mechanism and completely removing its ability to fire. Against Cryptid hordes most RGF gunner crews go at a low rate of fire of 40 rounds per minute, slow and rapid firing techniques take about 5 - 7 seconds of burst fire with varying lengths between bursts.

The KPV's trigger is of a "dual-spade" design, a singular trigger assembly which uses a heavy-pull 3.62kgf b-shaped spade triggers which were attached next to both handle grips which was pressed down by either thumbs while firing. Newer versions of the KPV allows for singular traditional pistol grips in place of the dual-spade trigger design.

The charging assembly may be easily changed from the left to right-hand charge. A handle spring and a locking port for the cocking handle which was simple to operate. The KPV can be fully operational and is easily interchanged if has an detachable retracting side assemblies on the sides of the machine gun. This meant that the weapon simply can be removed from a mount without eliminating the operationality.

### Iron Sight

All KPV versions use a notched rear ladder aperature iron sights with calibrations between 0.511 arshina (1 meter) and 6.1 daleko (4,000 meters) increments, with the front sight used is adjustable for elevation in combat. Horzontal adjustment is not possible and requires significant modification if need arises.