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Difference between revisions of "Fedorov Avtomat"
(Since the 7.62 was produced, I think this is overkill. The only drawback was faster overheating - but the 7.62 was not intended for particularly prolonged rapid shooting.) |
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The '''Fedorov Avtomat''' ("Автомат Фёдорова", ''Avtomat Fyodorova'') is a Russian short recoil operated, magazine-fed select-fire carbine, and arguably one of the first examples of the assault rifle concept. It was designed in the early 20th century by Colonel Vladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov (anglicized as "Fedorov" or "Federov"; for simplicity's sake, this page will always use "Fedorov"). | The '''Fedorov Avtomat''' ("Автомат Фёдорова", ''Avtomat Fyodorova'') is a Russian short recoil operated, magazine-fed select-fire carbine, and arguably one of the first examples of the assault rifle concept. It was designed in the early 20th century by Colonel Vladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov (anglicized as "Fedorov" or "Federov"; for simplicity's sake, this page will always use "Fedorov"). | ||
| − | The first Fedorov automatic rifle was a semi-automatic design presented to the Rifle Commission in 1911, but it was not adopted. In 1913, Fedorov developed the semi-auto M1913, which had a 5-round internal magazine and was chambered in 7.62x54mmR and 6.5mm Fedorov (an experimental rimless cartridge designed by Fedorov). In 1915, Fedorov developed his M1913 into an automatic weapon; the models chambered in 6.5mm Fedorov were converted to 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka (this cartridge was produced in Russia for imported Arisaka rifles), their lengths were shortened to carbine length, and 25-round detachable magazines were added. The models chambered in 7.62x54mmR were equipped with 15-round detachable magazines. In Summer 1916, the Fedorov auto rifle was put into service under the name "Avtomat" ("automatic"), and a company of the 189th Izmail Infantry Regiment was armed with Fedorov's guns during World War I. | + | The first Fedorov automatic rifle was a semi-automatic design presented to the Rifle Commission in 1911, but it was not adopted. In 1913, Fedorov developed the semi-auto M1913, which had a 5-round internal magazine and was chambered in 7.62x54mmR and 6.5mm Fedorov (an experimental rimless cartridge designed by Fedorov). In 1915, Fedorov developed his M1913 into an automatic weapon; the models chambered in 6.5mm Fedorov were converted to 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka (this cartridge was produced in Russia for imported Arisaka rifles), their lengths were shortened to carbine length, and 25-round detachable magazines were added. The models chambered in 7.62x54mmR were equipped with 15-round detachable magazines (interchangeable with [[Madsen machine gun|Madsen]]). In Summer 1916, the Fedorov auto rifle was put into service under the name "Avtomat" ("automatic"), and a company of the 189th Izmail Infantry Regiment was armed with Fedorov's guns during World War I. |
Production of the M1916 Avtomat ended with the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, with only about 100 weapons produced at the Sestroretsk weapon factory. The design was "rediscovered" in 1919 and manufactured in small numbers from 1919-1925 at the [[V.A. Degtyarev Plant|Kovrov weapon factory]]. The M1919 featured the addition of a cooling jacket and a vertical foregrip. In 1923, a modernized version of the weapon with a new magazine was designed, with previously produced guns being sent back to the plant for refurbishment. About 3,200 were manufactured before production ceased in 1925, when the Soviet Union decided to abandon all weapons that used foreign ammunition: as of December 20th 1924, 1,118 Avtomats had been upgraded to the M1923 standard. In 1928, the Fedorov Avtomat was officially removed from service. In 1940 during the Winter War with Finland, surviving Avtomats were removed from stockpiles for use by the Red Army due to a shortage of submachine guns. | Production of the M1916 Avtomat ended with the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, with only about 100 weapons produced at the Sestroretsk weapon factory. The design was "rediscovered" in 1919 and manufactured in small numbers from 1919-1925 at the [[V.A. Degtyarev Plant|Kovrov weapon factory]]. The M1919 featured the addition of a cooling jacket and a vertical foregrip. In 1923, a modernized version of the weapon with a new magazine was designed, with previously produced guns being sent back to the plant for refurbishment. About 3,200 were manufactured before production ceased in 1925, when the Soviet Union decided to abandon all weapons that used foreign ammunition: as of December 20th 1924, 1,118 Avtomats had been upgraded to the M1923 standard. In 1928, the Fedorov Avtomat was officially removed from service. In 1940 during the Winter War with Finland, surviving Avtomats were removed from stockpiles for use by the Red Army due to a shortage of submachine guns. | ||
Revision as of 19:40, 25 June 2021
The Fedorov Avtomat ("Автомат Фёдорова", Avtomat Fyodorova) is a Russian short recoil operated, magazine-fed select-fire carbine, and arguably one of the first examples of the assault rifle concept. It was designed in the early 20th century by Colonel Vladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov (anglicized as "Fedorov" or "Federov"; for simplicity's sake, this page will always use "Fedorov").
The first Fedorov automatic rifle was a semi-automatic design presented to the Rifle Commission in 1911, but it was not adopted. In 1913, Fedorov developed the semi-auto M1913, which had a 5-round internal magazine and was chambered in 7.62x54mmR and 6.5mm Fedorov (an experimental rimless cartridge designed by Fedorov). In 1915, Fedorov developed his M1913 into an automatic weapon; the models chambered in 6.5mm Fedorov were converted to 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka (this cartridge was produced in Russia for imported Arisaka rifles), their lengths were shortened to carbine length, and 25-round detachable magazines were added. The models chambered in 7.62x54mmR were equipped with 15-round detachable magazines (interchangeable with Madsen). In Summer 1916, the Fedorov auto rifle was put into service under the name "Avtomat" ("automatic"), and a company of the 189th Izmail Infantry Regiment was armed with Fedorov's guns during World War I.
Production of the M1916 Avtomat ended with the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, with only about 100 weapons produced at the Sestroretsk weapon factory. The design was "rediscovered" in 1919 and manufactured in small numbers from 1919-1925 at the Kovrov weapon factory. The M1919 featured the addition of a cooling jacket and a vertical foregrip. In 1923, a modernized version of the weapon with a new magazine was designed, with previously produced guns being sent back to the plant for refurbishment. About 3,200 were manufactured before production ceased in 1925, when the Soviet Union decided to abandon all weapons that used foreign ammunition: as of December 20th 1924, 1,118 Avtomats had been upgraded to the M1923 standard. In 1928, the Fedorov Avtomat was officially removed from service. In 1940 during the Winter War with Finland, surviving Avtomats were removed from stockpiles for use by the Red Army due to a shortage of submachine guns.
In 1921-1926, various Fedorov-Degtyaryov and Fedorov-Shpagin prototypes were created and tested in the role of light, aviation, and tank machine guns, with various cooling and feed systems (the most notable of which, perhaps, is the triplex aircraft model 139/3). None of these samples were adopted for regular service, but the version of the Fedorov-Degtyaryov air-cooled light machine gun with disk magazine became the prototype of the subsequent DP-27. Using the basis of the Fedorov-Shpagin dual light machine gun in the "inverted" scheme, the short-lived "ball-mount" Fedorov-Ivanov dual tank machine gun was created, which was used to arm the first BA-27 armored vehicles, MS-1 and T-12-1 tanks (they were later replaced by one 7.62mm Degtyaryov DT machine gun).
Much as it resembles an assault rifle, it wasn't issued as one: in use, it was employed as a mobile support weapon in a similar manner to a light machine gun, issued to a two-man team of a gunner and an ammo carrier, who was issued an Arisaka rifle for ammunition compatibility. Due to fast overheating during prolonged full-auto shooting, the weapon was intended primarily for firing with single shots, and each Avtomat was only issued with three box magazines, the spare ones were primarily used as a reserve in case of the need to rapid-fire. In standard use, magazines were intended to be refilled using Arisaka stripper clips. Overall, the concept of the Avtomat was very similar to the "walking fire" principle of weapons like the Browning Automatic Rifle, and arguments exist for and against the Avtomat being an assault rifle.
In describing the weapon, Fedorov dubbed it a "handheld light machine gun" ("ручное ружьё-пулемет"). Fedorov's superior General N.M. Filatov is credited with dubbing the weapon the "Avtomat." The word "Avtomat" would go on to be used as the word for assault rifles in the Russian language. (e.g. Avtomat Kalashnikova)
Because the magazines were hand-fitted to the gun they were intended to be used with and the Avtomat suffered from poor quality control, there would be no guarantee a magazine from one gun would physically fit in another, and spare parts were often similarly weapon-specific (before the 1923 modernization).
The Avtomat's magazine is visually similar to that of the much later German MG13, leading to conspiracy theories claiming that the Avtomat is a Soviet hoax to steal the StG-44's claim to being the first assault rifle. In reality, the MG13 magazine is dimensionally different from the Avtomat's, and the Avtomat's magazine design was actually inspired by early versions of the Mauser Selbstlader.
An additional note is that the later post-WWI M1919 and M1923 models are commonly misidentified as the WWI-era M1916. The M1916 did not have a foregrip and cooling jacket.
Specifications
(1915-1917, 1919-1925)
- Type: Semi-auto rifle (first models), Light machine gun (role issued), sometimes regarded as an assault rifle
- Caliber: 7.62x54mm R (M1913), 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka
- Weight: 4.4 kg (Loaded; 5.2 kg)
- Length: 41.1 in (104.5 cm)
- Barrel length: 20.5 in (52 cm)
- Feed System: Fixed 5-round magazine (M1913), 15-round detachable magazine (M1913/1916); 10, or 25-round detachable box magazine; 50-round pan magazine (M1922 Fedorov-Degtyaryov machine gun)
- Fire Modes: Semi-Auto (M1913); Semi / Full-Auto (350-400 rpm)
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battlefield: 1918 | 2004 | |||
| Deadfall Adventures | "Fedorov" | 2013 | ||
| World of Guns: Gun Disassembly | Fedorov Avtomat | M1916 | 2014 | |
| Battlefield 1 | "Fedorov Avtomat" | Added in "In the Name of the Tsar" DLC (2017) | 2016 | |
| Call of Duty: WWII | "Automaton" | Added in "Days of Summer" event (2018) | 2017 |