There is a weapon in Soviet arsenal which is often overlooked. There are two valid reasons for it - it was very short lived and it did look very similar to a more common DP-27. Yet, this machine gun - DPM (Infantry Degtyarev, modernized) played a significant role in the Soviet small arms development. This article is part of the Soviet Weapons of the early Cold War list and more photos of DPM and other exiting weapons can be found in our book on the topic.
Names - DP-27, DP-28 or DPM?
The DP-27, DP-28, and DPM are all variations of the same Soviet light machine gun, which was developed by Vasily Degtyaryov. The DP-27 was the original design, which was introduced in 1927. It was the primary light machine gun for Soviet forces both before and during World War II. It was distinguished by a flat, circular pan magazine that could accommodate 47 rounds of 7.62x54mmR ammunition. The DP-27, which was also known as the DP-28 in certain contexts, was air-cooled and had a rate of fire of approximately 500-600 rounds per minute. This made it susceptible to overheating during protracted firing. The terms DP-27 and DP-28 are frequently used interchangeably, and there are no significant differences between the two models - the designation DP-28 is largely regarded as a fabrication.
The DPM, or Degtyaryov Pekhotny Modernizirovanny, was introduced in 1944 as a modernized variant of the DP-27. The DPM had numerous enhancements, the most significant of which was the relocation of the recoil spring from the buttstock to a tube beneath the barrel. This relocation enhanced the gun's overall durability and safeguarded the spring from injury. Furthermore, the bipod was redesigned to increase its durability, and the buttstock and receiver were modified to improve their handling and strength. Particularly in the severe combat conditions of the Eastern Front during World War II, these modifications were intended to enhance the weapon's reliability. The DPM was a robust variant of the original DP-27, which addressed numerous limitations of the earlier design.
DPM in WW2
The use of the DPM during World War II is a topic of some debate among historians and weapon experts. Officially, the DPM was introduced in 1943, which was still during the later stages of the war. However, despite its introduction date, there is limited concrete evidence to show that it saw widespread combat during the conflict.
While some sources claim that the DPM was used in the final years of World War II, the timeline for production, testing, and distribution suggests that the majority of Soviet forces continued to rely on the older DP-27 throughout most of the war. The DPM was primarily adopted after the war, when the Soviet military began to standardize and upgrade its infantry weapons in preparation for post-war conflicts.
In general, it is likely that only a limited number of DPMs were produced and issued before the war ended in 1945, and they may not have been widely distributed among Soviet troops. Therefore, while it's plausible that the DPM saw some limited use in the final months of the war, it was primarily a post-World War II weapon, which became more prominent in the Soviet arsenal during the early Cold War period.
The difference between the DP-27, DPM and RP-46
Feature | DP-27 (1927) | DPM (1943) | RP-46 (1946) |
Feeding Mechanism | 47-round pan magazine | 47-round pan magazine | 250-round metal link belt (also compatible with pan magazine) |
Bipod | Basic folding bipod | Strengthened bipod | Similar to DPM |
Barrel | Fixed, replaceable in the field | Fixed, same as DP-27 | Heavier barrel for sustained fire |
Gas System | Simple long-stroke piston | Improved gas system with a new gas regulator | Based on DPM, adjusted for belt-fed operation |
Recoil Spring | Located under the barrel | Moved to the stock for smoother operation | Similar to DPM |
Stock | Basic stock | Modified stock with recoil buffer | Similar to DPM |
Trigger Group | Standard | Redesigned for improved ergonomics | Similar to DPM |
Weight (Unloaded) | ~9 kg (19.8 lbs) | ~10 kg (22 lbs) | ~13 kg (28.6 lbs) |
Firing Rate | 500-600 rounds per minute | 500-600 rounds per minute | 500-600 rounds per minute |
Main Differences | Original version with pan magazine | More reliable with smoother recoil system | Belt-fed with heavier barrel for sustained fire |
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