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by Leroy Thompson.
Softcover (7.25×9.75 inches). 80 pages. 2025.
Post-WWII Soviet and Russian MGs start with WWI designs and progress through WWII and post-war development. This examines a dozen models one by one and then offers an overview of deployment to various hot spots around globe including Cold War, Vietnam, Algeria, Afghanistan, Middle East, and Ukraine.
The Soviets sent weaponry across the globe and because US forces have been sent to a multitude of countries to teach tactics, US troops are familiar with Soviet weaponry. Sidebars showcase author’s experience with firing the various models in the booklet.
An interesting tidbit: During the Vietnam War, special forces would find a VC or NVA weapons and ammo cache and not blow it up. Instead, they’d drop in a few “Eldest Son” rounds into the cache. These were special rounds designed to blow up when being fired, injuring the firer and perhaps those around and making VC and NVA troops suspicious of their arms (p38-39).
The booklet contains eight black and white photos, 65 color photos, two color two-page cutaway diagrams (RPK and PKM guns), two color one-page action illustrations, and one color two-page action illustration.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
