RPD machine gun

RPD
A right-side view of the RPD
Type	Light machine gun Squad automatic weapon
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1944–1961 (Soviet Union) 1944–present (other states)
Used by	See Users
Wars	See Wars
Production history
Designer	Vasily Degtyaryov
Designed	1943–44
Produced	1944–1960
Variants	RPDM, Type 56, Type 56-1, Type 62
Specifications
Mass	7.4 kg (16.31 lb) when empty
Length	1,037 mm (40.8 in)
Barrel length	520 mm (20.5 in)
Cartridge	7.62×39mm 5.56×45mm NATO (Israeli conversion)
Action	Gas operated long stroke piston, flapper locking and fires from the open bolt
Rate of fire	650 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	735 m/s (2,411 ft/s)
Effective firing range	100–1,000 m sight adjustments
Feed system	Non-disintegrating 100-round segmented belt stored in a drum container. Custom 125 round belt (MACVSOG version)
Sights	Open-type sights with rear sliding notch and semi-hooded front post, 596.6 mm (23.5 in) sight radius

The RPD (Russian: ручной пулемёт Дегтярёва, romanized: Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova, English: Degtyaryov hand-held machine gun) is a 7.62x39mm light machine gun developed in the Soviet Union by Vasily Degtyaryov for the 7.62×39mm M43 intermediate cartridge. It was created as a replacement for the DP machine gun chambered for the 7.62×54mmR round. It is a precursor of most squad automatic weapons.^[1] It was succeeded in Soviet service by the RPK.