View source for DShK

{{Nofootnotes|date=January 2010}}
{{Infobox Weapon
 |name= DShK
 |image= [[Image:12,7-мм станковый пулемёт ДШК образца 1938 года (3-1).jpg|300px]]
 |caption= DShK on wheeled mount with shield.
 |origin={{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
 |type= [[Heavy machine gun]]
 |is_ranged=yes
 |service= 1938 – Present
 |used_by= See ''[[DShK#Users|Users]]''
 |wars=  [[World War II]]<br>[[Korean War]]<br>[[Chinese Civil War]]<br>[[Vietnam War]]<br>[[Cambodian Civil War]]<br>[[Cambodian-Vietnamese War]]<br>[[Six-Day War]]<br>[[Yom Kippur War]]<br>[[Iran-Iraq war]]<br>[[The Troubles]]<br>[[Gulf War]]<br>[[Yugoslav wars]]<br>[[Iraq War]] <br>[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghan War]]<br>[[Cambodian–Thai border stand-off]]<br>[[2011 Libyan civil war]]
 |designer= [[Vasily Degtyaryov]], [[Georgi Shpagin]]
 |design_date= 1938
 |manufacturer=
 |unit_cost=
 |production_date=
 |number= 
 |variants= DK, DShKM , DSHKS, Type 54 HMG
 |weight={{convert|34|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}} (gun only) <br>{{convert|157|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}} on wheeled mounting
 |length={{convert|1625|mm|in|abbr=on}}
 |part_length={{convert|1070|mm|abbr=on|1}}
 |crew= 
 |cartridge=[[12.7x108mm]]
 |action=[[gas-operated reloading]]
 |rate= 600 rounds/min 
 |velocity= 850 m/s (2,788 ft/s)
 |range= 2000 m
 |max_range= 2500 m
 |feed= belt 50 rounds
 |sights= Iron/Optical 
}}

The '''DShK 1938''' ('''ДШК''', for Дегтярёва-Шпагина Крупнокалиберный, ''Degtyaryova-Shpagina Krupnokaliberny'', 'Degtyaryov-Shpagin Large-Calibre') is a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[heavy machine gun]] firing the [[12.7x108mm]] cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy [[infantry]] machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield. It took its name from the weapons designers [[Vasily Degtyaryov]], who designed the original weapon, and [[Georgi Shpagin]], who improved the cartridge feed mechanism. It is sometimes nicknamed ''Dushka'' (lit. "Sweetie", "Dear"), from the abbreviation.

==History==
The requirement for a heavy machine gun appeared in 1929. The first such gun, the '''Degtyaryov, Krupnokalibernyi''' (DK, ''Degtyaryov, Large calibre''), was built in 1930 and this gun was produced in small quantities from 1933 to 1935.

The gun was fed from a drum magazine of only thirty rounds, and had a poor rate of fire. Shpagin developed a belt feed mechanism to fit to the DK giving rise, in 1938, to the adoption of the gun as the '''DShK 1938'''. This became the standard Soviet heavy machine gun in [[World War II]].

Like its U.S. equivalent, the M2 Browning, the DShK 1938 was used in several roles. As an anti-aircraft weapon it was mounted on pintle and tripod mounts, and on a triple mount on the [[GAZ-AA]] truck. Late in the war, it was mounted on the cupolas of [[IS-2]] tanks and [[ISU-152]] self-propelled guns. As an infantry heavy support weapon it used a two-wheeled trolley, similar to that developed by Sokolov for the [[Russian M1910 Maxim|1910 Maxim gun]]. It was also mounted in vehicle turrets, for example, in the [[T-40]] light amphibious tank. 

In 1946, the '''DShK 1938/46''' or '''DShKM''' (M for ''modernised'') version was introduced.

In addition to the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Russia]], the DShK has been manufactured under license by a number of countries, including the [[People's Republic of China]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Romania]]. Today, it has largely been phased out in favour of the more modern [[NSV (machine gun)|NSV]] and [[Kord machine gun|Kord]] designs.

One [[Westland Lynx|Lynx]] helicopter was hit 15 times and shot down in June 1988 during [[The Troubles]] by two DShK deployed by the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|PIRA]] near Cashel Lough Upper, south [[County Armagh]].<ref>[[Toby Harnden|Harnden, Toby]] (2000).''Bandit Country:The IRA and South Armagh''. Coronet Books, pp. 360-361 ISBN 0340717378</ref> They were also used in 2004, against [[British troops]] in [[Al-Amarah]], [[Iraq]].<ref name="elite snajper">{{cite book |title=Sniper One |last=Mills |first=Dan|year=2007|chapter=16|publisher=[[Penguin Group]]|isbn=978-0-718-14994-9|quote= They were Dshkes, a Russian-made beast of a thing that fires half-inch calibre rounds and was designed to bring down helicopters.| page =192}}</ref>

== Users ==
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->

[[Image:Expomil 2005 01 TR-85M1 02 Mitraliera PKT.jpg|thumb|DShKM on a Romanian [[TR-85]] main battle tank]]
[[Image:DShK on T-55 DD-SD-01-05147.JPEG|thumb|DShKM anti-aircraft machine gun on a [[T-55]] tank loader's roof hatch]]
[[Image:Jamiat e-Islami in Shultan Valley 1987 with Dashaka.jpg|thumb|[[Jamiat-e Islami]] [[Mujahideen]] of Afghanistan in 1987 with a DShK]]

{{multicol|65%}}
* {{flag|Afghanistan}}<ref name="jones2009">{{cite book |editor1-first=Richard D. |editor1-last=Jones |editor2-first=Leland S. |editor2-last=Ness |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 |date=January 27, 2009 |edition=35th |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Coulsdon |isbn=9780710628695}}</ref>
* {{flag|Albania}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Algeria}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Angola}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Armenia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Azerbaijan}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Bangladesh}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Belarus}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Bulgaria}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Cambodia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Cape Verde}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Central African Republic}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Chad}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Chile}}<ref name="gander1995">Gander, Terry J.; Hogg, Ian V. ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 1995/1996''. Jane's Information Group; 21 edition (May 1995). ISBN 978-0710612410.</ref>
* {{flag|Congo-Brazzaville}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Cuba}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Cyprus}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}: Produced ''DShKM'' variant.<ref name="miller2001">{{cite book |first=David |last=Miller |date=2001 |title=The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns |publisher=Salamander Books Ltd. |location=London |isbn=9781840652451}}</ref>
* {{flag|Czech Republic}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Democratic Republic of Congo}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Egypt}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Eritrea}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Ethiopia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Finland}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Georgia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Ghana}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Guinea}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Hungary}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Indonesia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Iran}}: Manufactured ''DShKM'' variant.<ref name="g3defencemag">http://en.calameo.com/read/000127853fed679f5ecec</ref>
* {{flag|Iraq}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Israel}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Kazakhstan}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
{{multicol-break}}
* {{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Laos}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Libya}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Lithuania}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Macedonia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Madagascar}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Mali}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Malta}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Mozambique}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Nicaragua}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Nigeria}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|North Korea}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|North Vietnam}}<ref name="miller2001"/>
* {{flag|Pakistan}}: Manufactured ''DShKM'' variant.<ref name="g3defencemag"/>
* {{flag|People's Republic of China}}: Produced ''DShKM'' variant.<ref name="miller2001"/>
* {{flag|Peru}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Russian Federation}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Serbia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Seychelles}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Sierra Leone}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Slovakia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Somalia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Soviet Union}}<ref name="miller2001"/>
* {{flag|Syria}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Tanzania}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Togo}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Turkmenistan}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Uganda}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Ukraine}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Vietnam}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Yemen}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Yugoslavia}}: Manufactured ''DShKM'' variant.<ref name="g3defencemag"/>
* {{flag|Zambia}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
* {{flag|Zimbabwe}}<ref name="jones2009"/>
{{multicol-end}}

===Non-state users===
* [[Iraqi insurgency]]<ref name="elite snajper"/>
* [[Provisional IRA]]<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ira/inside/weapons.html uncovering the irish republican army] pbs.org</ref>
* [[Viet Cong]]: Extensively used during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="miller2001"/>
* [[Anti-Gaddafi forces]]: Used along with other heavy automatic weapons mounted on [[Technical (vehicle)|technicals]] during the [[2011 Libyan civil war]].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr1tm9uMFq4&feature=related Al-Jazeera coverage of Libyan uprising] Youtube.com</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:DShK-batey-haosef.jpg|DShK 1938 in Batey ha-Osef museum, Israel.
File:MITRALOZ 12.7 mm KA.jpg|Albanian DShK probably of [[China|Chinese]] origin - Close Air Defence version.
File:Romanian Humvee in service with the Romanian military.jpg|DShK firing at [[Babadag]] Training Area, Romania.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[M2 Browning machine gun]]
* [[NSV machine gun]]
* [[KPV cannon|KPV-14.5]]

== External links ==
* [http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg03-e.htm DShK and DShKM] at guns.ru.
* [http://www.thetankmaster.com/english/afv/dshk-wheeled-heavy-machine-gun-01.asp Russian 12.7 mm (0.5") DShK Wheeled Heavy Machine Gun – Walk around photos]
* [http://www.thetankmaster.com/english/afv/dshk-navy-machine-gun.asp Soviet 12.7 mm DShK a/a navy machine gun – Walk around photos]
* [http://www.thetankmaster.com/english/afv/dshk-machine-gun.asp Soviet 12.7 mm DShK on ZIS-5V truck – Walk around photos]
* [http://lh4.ggpht.com/_o1VK70DwQoQ/R5VsFVBhbXI/AAAAAAAAAT0/fBGgwG-PgPw/PB200419.JPG image]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9bQmtaW0L4%20 Video of Operation]

== References ==
<references/>
*{{cite book
  | last = Koll
  | first = Christian
  | authorlink = 
  | coauthors = 
  | title = Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm
  | publisher = Koll
  | date = 2009
  | location = Austria
  | url = http://www.russianammo.org
  | doi = 
  | id = ISBN 978-3-200-01445-9
  | page = 53 
}}
{{WWIIUSSRInfWeapons}}
{{Weapons of Iran}}

[[Category:World War II Soviet infantry weapons]]
[[Category:12.7 mm machine guns]]
[[Category:Machine guns of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Korean War infantry weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons of the Vietnam War]]

[[ar:دوشكا]]
[[cs:Kulomet DŠK]]
[[de:DSchK (Maschinengewehr)]]
[[es:Ametralladora DShK]]
[[fa:دوشکا]]
[[fr:DShK]]
[[ko:DShK]]
[[id:DShK]]
[[it:DShK]]
[[he:מקלע DShK]]
[[hu:DSK]]
[[nl:DSjK]]
[[ja:DShK38重機関銃]]
[[no:DShK]]
[[pl:Karabin maszynowy DSzK]]
[[pt:DShK]]
[[ro:DȘK]]
[[ru:ДШК]]
[[sv:DSjK]]
[[tr:DShK]]
[[vi:DShK]]
[[zh:DShK重機槍]]