Weapons 25/12/19 SVT: why not all the soldiers could fire rifles Tokarev
History knows many cases when decent weapons received mixed reviews from soldiers. It happened with a self-loading rifle Tokareva (SVT) – one of the most advanced samples of small arms of world war II. In spite of many positive sides, carabiner due to a number of shortcomings and did not stick in the red army as a massive weapon.
Following the “mosinki”
the Need to replace the Mosin rifle – the famous “trehlineyki” – was evident in the 1920-ies. On a new rifle worked many engineers young country of the Soviets. Among them – don designer Fedor Tokarev.
His name will be called rifle, designed to replace the outdated “mosinku”. Self-loading rifle Tokareva (SVT) after some modifications of previous versions were adopted in 1940.
the New rifle had several advantages over the three-line. Not required to recharge the weapon after every shot that was saved precious time in the battle. The soldiers liked the comfortable dagger type bayonet carbine.
in addition, the “Tokarev” had the advantage in size: new carbine in the fully packaged form with 10 cartridges weighing 4930 grams, while palipations “Mosin” – 5020. The soldiers noted the high firepower of the SVT, increased rate
the beginning of the war factories of Tula, Podolsk and Izhevsk produced more than a million units of “Tokarev”. The rifle was received mainly in the part situated on the West of the country. This predetermined the fate of the carabiner: the defeat of these units in the first months of the war led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of SVT, while production rifles were more expensive and more difficult, “mosinki”.
the Number at the expense of quality
because Of large losses in the first months of the war-worn parts we had to replenish recruits. The troops were workingcompared with plants, including the most qualified. It soon appeared that for the production of rifles, Tokarev sufficient for the number of troops is just not enough experienced personnel.
in addition, many businesses were destroyed in the bombings, others were evacuated to the East. The result was an acute shortage of production capacity. To compensate the loss of SVT in conditions of total war was impossible.
Available in the reserve rifles, the situation is not saved. In view of the prevailing circumstances the country’s leadership had to get back to three-line to produce it was much easier, and worth “mosinka” in 2,5 times cheaper. This allowed us to provide the army with sufficient weapons.
Capricious “Light”
Another critical drawback of CBT in conditions of war there were difficulties with the case. The rifle consisted of more than 130 parts, including 22 of the spring. In the end, the weapons often failed, it had to be repaired. And that breakdowns occurred required careful nursing, to which in war time almost was not.
In this regard the reinstallation of the regulator SVT. The process was extremely laborious and consisted of 15 manipulations. Compared to the “Tokarev” “Mosin” was a model of simplicity, practicality and simplicity.
Only for the prepared
Rifle Tokarev required not only nursing care, but also specific technical knowledge the one who uses it. Meanwhile, even before the war, the people’s Commissar of defense Semyon Timoshenko reported that the infantry in this plan is prepared worse other troops.
the Situation worsened in the first months of the war, when personnel were broken the backbone of the army. The level of knowledge of the new mobilized, mostly peasants, were unimpressive. Those who were more or less technical, were taken into the artillery, armored troops, units and other communication. For the simple infantryman is much clearer was the good old “mosinka” than “intellectual” SWT.
Life after death
it is Worth noting that the Soviet teamsmanagement refused, not from the rifles, Tokarev, and from its role as the primary weapon of the infantry. Production of the rifle was continued, though in smaller amounts.
So, the Izhevsk plant received in 1942 the plan for 309 thousand ordinary and 13 thousand sniper SVT. But he wasn’t done: the company produced 264 thousand rifles.
In the first years after the war “Tokarev” remain in service in the mouth of honor. Both in the USSR and in the countries of the socialist camp. Some samples remain in storage, was transferred in the form of “fraternal aid” to friendly countries.
Ivan Proshkin
Source:
© Russian Seven
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