5.45x39mm Soviet Submachine Guns

The RPK (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Kalashnikova) is a squad automatic rifle derived from the AK‑47 family, designed to provide sustained fire support while retaining the rugged simplicity of its assault‑rifle counterpart. Developed by the Kalashnikov Design Bureau in the early 1960s, the RPK features a longer, heavier barrel, reinforced receiver, and a bipod, enabling higher rates of fire and improved accuracy at the squad level. Chambered primarily in 7.62×39mm, it uses the same gas‑operated, rotating‑bolt system as the AK‑47 but with a heavier bolt carrier and a larger gas piston to handle the increased heat. Its reputation rests on exceptional reliability under adverse conditions, ease of maintenance, and logistical compatibility with standard AK magazines and ammunition, making it a staple in Soviet and Warsaw‑bloc forces. The weapon’s distinctive features include a stamped steel receiver with reinforced ribs, a detachable steel bipod, and a unique muzzle device that can accept a flash suppressor or a rifle grenade launcher, underscoring its versatility as both a light machine gun and a rifle grenade platform.