Savin–Norov machine gun
Aircraft machine gun / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The SN (Savin and Norov) was an aircraft machine gun manufactured in small numbers in the Soviet Union before World War II.
SN machine gun | |
---|---|
Type | Aircraft machine gun |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1939–1940 |
Used by | Soviet Air Forces |
Wars | Winter War |
Production history | |
Designer | Ivan Savin, Aleksandr Norov |
Designed | 1935 |
No. built | at least 14 built; 6 used in service[1] |
Specifications | |
Cartridge | 7.62×54mmR |
Caliber | 7.62 mm |
Action | Gas-operated[2] |
Rate of fire | 2800–3600 RPM[2][3] |
Feed system | Belt |
Sights | Iron sights |
The gun was intended to achieve a higher rate of fire than the ShKAS, while using the same 7.62×54mmR cartridge. In order to achieve this goal, the barrel and bolt moved in opposite directions.[2] Sources vary as to high a rate of fire was actually achieved. One indicates "more than 3600 RPM"[2] while others give the 2800–3000 RPM range.[3][4]
The SN gun was designed in 1934-1935 by I.V. Savin (И.В. Савин) and A.K. Norov (А.К. Норов).[3][4] According to a Western source, it was offered to the VVS, which rejected it in 1936.[5] Soviet sources indicate that the SN machine gun was installed in the wings of three Polikarpov I-16 aircraft in January 1939; these planes were given the designation I-16 Type 19 and they took part in the Winter War. The gun was also supposed to be installed in a propeller-synchronized mounting in the I-16 Type 20. Although four planes were built in this configuration, they did not go into service; the Type 20 designation was then reused for I-16 aircraft only armed with ShKAS guns, but capable of carrying drop tanks. A further type I-16 Type 22 was planned to be armed with four propeller-synchronized guns, two of which were supposed to be SN guns (and the other two ShKAS), but this type was apparently never built and was cancelled in August 1939.[1] As with the UltraShKAS, the reliability of the SN machine gun was low, so it did not go into mass production.[4]
An SN exemplar could be seen (in 1996) at the Central Air Force Museum.[6]