Mitch Costner photo.
The Soviet made RPD was
widely used and encountered in Vietnam. It was
at the time standard squad automatic weapon of the Communist World. It is
also known as the Chinese type 56 light machinegun. It is chambered for the
exact same round as fired by the AK-47 and SKS, the 7.62 x 39mm. The RPD
uses a drum type magazine to hold a 100 round linked belt of ammunition. The
metallic links are the non-disintegrating type, but separate into two or
three sections when fired. The RPD, or formally known as the Ruchnoi Pulemet
Degtyarev, was one of the lightest machine guns ever produced. The RPD is
simple in design, easy to maintain and very reliable. It has a slow cyclic
rate of fire of 150 RPM with a max effective range of 800 meters. It is gas
operated, air cooled and can be fired from the shoulder like a rifle or in a
prone supported position. The bipod is permanently attached, but can be
folded along side the barrel for ease in movement. It weighs 19.4 pounds
fully loaded and fires from the open bolt position. The closest comparison
to a U.S. weapon is the BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle).
Bob Suchke photos.
Bob firing the RPD on the B sector of Camp Eagle.
Jim Suomela lettin' her rip.