KK 62
Encyclopedia
The Kk 62 is a Finnish
7.62 mm light machine gun
designed in late 1950s with the first prototype ready for testing in 1960. It was officially adopted as the standard infantry support weapon of the Finnish Defence Forces
(FDF) in 1962 as the 7.62 konekivääri 62; the first weapons were delivered in 1966. It remains in service, although a replacement is planned, most likely the PKM
general-purpose machine gun.
, belt-fed automatic weapon. It uses a tilting bolt, that locks into the roof of the receiver, and the overall system of operation is modeled on that found in the Czech
vz. 52
machine gun. The Kk 62's receiver is machined from steel
, and a tubular metal buttstock houses the recoil spring. The Kk 62 is fed from the right-hand side, from 100-round belts that are carried in pouches that clamp onto the receiver wall. The Kk 62 has no quick-change barrel, which is a serious drawback when sustained firepower is required; the original usage doctrine was based on agile hit-and-run tactics rather than suppressive fire from a strong position. The cleaning rod is attached to right side of the butt and receiver. A side-folding carrying handle is provided in front of the feeding mechanism. The Kk 62 is also equipped with a folding bipod
.
The KK 62 uses the intermediate Soviet
7.62x39mm M43 cartridge, which can be interchanged with any FDF standard assault rifles (from Rk 62
to Rk 95 TP
). The major drawbacks are the lack of a quick-changeable barrel and sensitivity to dirt and humidity—the KK 62 requires much more care in a combat environment than most FDF assault rifles.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
7.62 mm light machine gun
Light machine gun
A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
designed in late 1950s with the first prototype ready for testing in 1960. It was officially adopted as the standard infantry support weapon of the Finnish Defence Forces
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
(FDF) in 1962 as the 7.62 konekivääri 62; the first weapons were delivered in 1966. It remains in service, although a replacement is planned, most likely the PKM
PK machine gun
The PK is a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia. The PK machine gun was introduced in the 1960s and replaced the SGM and RPD machine guns in Soviet service...
general-purpose machine gun.
Design details
The Kk 62 is a gas-operatedGas-operated reloading
Gas-operation is a system of operation used to provide energy to operate autoloading firearms. In gas-operation, a portion of high pressure gas from the cartridge being fired is used to power a mechanism to extract the spent case and chamber a new cartridge. Energy from the gas is harnessed...
, belt-fed automatic weapon. It uses a tilting bolt, that locks into the roof of the receiver, and the overall system of operation is modeled on that found in the Czech
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
vz. 52
Vz. 52 (machine gun)
The Vz. 52 is a Czechoslovak light machine gun developed after the Second World War for the Czechoslovak Armed Forces....
machine gun. The Kk 62's receiver is machined from steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, and a tubular metal buttstock houses the recoil spring. The Kk 62 is fed from the right-hand side, from 100-round belts that are carried in pouches that clamp onto the receiver wall. The Kk 62 has no quick-change barrel, which is a serious drawback when sustained firepower is required; the original usage doctrine was based on agile hit-and-run tactics rather than suppressive fire from a strong position. The cleaning rod is attached to right side of the butt and receiver. A side-folding carrying handle is provided in front of the feeding mechanism. The Kk 62 is also equipped with a folding bipod
Bipod
A bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with two legs. It provides significant stability along two axes of motion .-Firearms:...
.
The KK 62 uses the intermediate Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
7.62x39mm M43 cartridge, which can be interchanged with any FDF standard assault rifles (from Rk 62
Rk 62
The Rk 62 is an assault rifle manufactured by Valmet and Sako. It is the standard issue infantry weapon of the Finnish Defence Forces....
to Rk 95 TP
Rk 95 TP
The Rk 95 Tp is a 7.62 mm Finnish assault rifle adopted by the Finnish Defence Forces in the 1990s in relatively small numbers.-History:...
). The major drawbacks are the lack of a quick-changeable barrel and sensitivity to dirt and humidity—the KK 62 requires much more care in a combat environment than most FDF assault rifles.