Ukrainian forces hold Kursk line with heavy firepower
Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region are effectively holding their ground despite the numerical superiority of the Russians and North Koreans. One of the key means of defense is portable large-caliber machine guns. Let's explore their performance and the concept behind them.
The Ukrainians have deployed elite units in the Kursk region, adept at repelling attacks by Russian or North Korean soldiers. The latter are particularly dangerous because they compensate for equipment shortages with sheer motivation.
Many recordings show how North Korean soldiers charge in masses through open terrain or minefields, disregarding losses caused by drones, mines, or artillery and mortar fire. This determination, combined with good shooting training, makes them dangerous opponents if they manage to reach the Ukrainian trenches.
For this reason, the best form of defense against them is to eliminate them as far from one's positions as possible. At longer distances, mortars or drones are ideal. Machine guns with extended range, capable of penetrating potential cover such as trees or walls of trenches or buildings, are preferred at shorter distances. Modified large-caliber machine guns ideally achieve this in 12.7x108 mm, such as the DSzKM shown in the photo and video below.
When the firepower of an ordinary machine gun is not enough
Large-caliber machine guns like the DSzK/DSzKM date back to the late 1930s. They use powerful 12.7x108 mm cartridges, providing an effective range of over 1 mile.
Until recently, these weapons were reserved for vehicles due to their weight of around 77 lbs. However, the insufficiency of standard machine guns, like the PK/PKM using 7.62x54R mm ammunition or the MG5 using 7.62x51 mm NATO, created a need for something with greater firepower.
Although the declared range for the aforementioned weapons is about 1 mile, this only applies to open terrain. Any form of protection, like an earth mound or a wall fragment, can offer protection at a distance of even hundreds of yards.
Simply put, a bullet weighing 9-13 grams with a muzzle energy exceeding 3,000 joules has its limits compared to a 12.7 mm bullet weighing 48 grams, characterized by a muzzle energy of over 16,000 joules. This energy is practically identical to that of large-caliber anti-material rifles like the PGW LRT-3, although with reduced precision.
Even the world's best ballistic plate can't protect against it, nor can the wall of a typical building. Additionally, even the side armor of Russian infantry fighting vehicles from the BMD and BMP series and BTR transporters is insufficient when loaded with armor-piercing ammunition.
Portable DSzKM — a two-meter giant
Large-caliber machine guns like the DSzK/DSzKM, equipped with a stock, bipod, and large muzzle brake, measure over 6.5 feet long, with 42 inches dedicated to the barrel alone. The muzzle brake reduces felt recoil by about 50 percent. However, deviations to one side or the other can occur due to redirecting propellant gas energy in the opposite direction.
These guns also feature a pistol grip with a traditional trigger mechanism, replacing the electric trigger used in tanks. Often, an additional rail for mounting optical or optoelectronic sights is added. Stocks frequently include a cheek pad and a thick layer of rubber or another material on the butt plate.
