Posted on 07/07/2015 6:28:39 AM PDT by w1n1
International warfare has created some of the most profound advances in technology and concepts, and the underwater arena is no exception. Following up on last issue’s look at the pistols of combat divers in Russia’s, Germany’s and America’s navies, we dive here into long guns of frogmen.
APS Underwater Rifle
The APS or Avtomat Podvodnyj Spetsialnyj Underwater Rifle was developed during the early 1970s by the Soviet Central Institute for Precision Machine Building (TsNIITochMash plant). The inspiration for this was that Russian combat divers only had knives and the SPP-1 underwater pistol (see American Shooting Journal, June 2015 issue) as their sole means of weaponry. The APS was meant to provide considerably more firepower to their combat divers.
The APS, initially only used by the Russian armed forces, has been available on the international market since the fall of the Soviet Union. It’s based on the AK-74, a refined version of the AK-47 chambered in 5.45×39mm rather than the more commonly known 7.62×39mm of other earlier Kalashnikov rifles, but with several significant changes. It fires a 120mm-long, 5.6mm dart, or flechette, which is relatively stable travelling underwater. The weapon has a smoothbore barrel, and relies on the shape of the flechette for stability and accuracy. The flechette is fired using a standard 5.45×39mm cartridge that has been waterproofed. The polymer magazine holds 26 rounds, and is unusually deep from front to back because the long projectiles dictate its shape.
Like the AK, the APS uses a gas piston to operate; however, this system features a self-adjusting gas valve that allows the weapon to be fired efficiently at varying depths as well as on the surface. Unlike the AK-74 it fires from an open bolt, which ensures that the barrel remains filled with water to properly stabilize the projectiles.
The APS rifle performs differently at different depths because of the increase in water pressure. At greater depths the cyclic rate of the weapon slows down and the muzzle velocity and effective range decreases. At a depth of 16.4 feet, the APS is considered to have an effective range of 98.4 feet, which decreases to 36 feet at a depth of 131 feet. Read the rest of Frogmen story here.
I need one of these in case of rowdy pool party guests
That looks like a salt weapon.
Well, that article answered questions I did not even know that I had.
Ping.
He's on a wet safari right now. He'll be back.
ahhh... field testing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.