Apparently was very appreciated by MACV-SOG, especially when cut down. Seems to have been the premier weapon for long range patrols and counterinsurgency shit since the Rhodies and Saffers seemed to like them too. Makes sense, for its time it was the lightest MG you could get your hands on
Its weight wasn't that low, 7.5km isn't very far from the M60's 10kg, it's the ammo that was the selling point. In the dense jungle, the lower recoiling and lighter 7.62x39 was very good as its rainbow trajectory didn't matter and the heavy bullet could go through the brush reasonably well.
I bet they'd sell their asses for a minimi if they could get their hand one one during that time.
2.5 kilos isn't something to sneeze at, especially when you consider the M60 is nearly 12 kilos when loaded. Like they said in boy scouts, ounces make pounds and pounds make pain
RPD ammo box adds another 0.8kg and loaded ammo adds even more as well. It's lighter but not really so much lighter that it's a big deal. The lighter ammo is more important here, as well as the lower recoil.
That's why 5.56 was such a big deal - it weighed half as much as the .308 did while having essentially the same trajectory. 7.62x39 isn't nearly as high performing, weighing about a quarter to a third less than the .308 and having much shorter range but in cases where range isn't important it was still quite desirable.
MAC-SOG guys who commonly used RPDs still b***hed about the weight. It was not all that light. Yet the firepower it gave such a team was useful, particularity the way such teams would operate.
The only direct counterpart to it would have been the Stoner 63A light machine gun but those were only around in very limited numbers.
I bet they'd sell their asses for a minimi if they could get their hand one one during that time.
Yeah, despite the hate the M249 gets, (most of which seems caused by not replacing worn-out-beat-to-shit machine guns) I'm sure something like it would have been greatly appreciated back then.
M249 gets a lot of hate for the mag feeding thing and not being a GPMG like the FN MAG, the Maximi or the M60E6 while being widely fielded among infantry in a similar role. The latter part i quite agree with, as outside of long range patrols where both the ammo capacity and weight are of paramount importance the actual firepower and reach of the weapon is lackluster in comparison.
Maximis get shit on plenty for being unreliable. The entire point of the design was working with lighter ammo. The Minimi works fine doing what its supposed to. If you want a heavier caliber MG you need something meant for it.
RPD ammo box adds another 0.8kg and loaded ammo adds even more as well. It's lighter but not really so much lighter that it's a big deal. The lighter ammo is more important here, as well as the lower recoil.
That's why 5.56 was such a big deal - it weighed half as much as the .308 did while having essentially the same trajectory. 7.62x39 isn't nearly as high performing, weighing about a quarter to a third less than the .308 and having much shorter range but in cases where range isn't important it was still quite desirable.
>ackshully the loss of several pounds doesn't matter at all
LMAO shut the frick up dude. Sure it's still heavy, but it's still significantly lighter.
The belts that were used on the RPD were 100 and 125 round non disintegrating and are far more easy to prep than M60.
Anyone who knows what they frick they are talking about knows this - you apparently don't
2 weeks ago
Anonymous
I don't give a shit about soviet shit-weapons obsolete by the cold war, sorry to tell you. If my point wasn't clear enough then i'll spell it out so even subhuman like you can understand - RPD's weight was worth jack shit.
2 weeks ago
Anonymous
>i know more about combat effectiveness than MACV:SOG!!!11
2 weeks ago
Anonymous
>all warfare is special operations!!!!!
moron, larrpers didn't do jack shit but drop acid and commit warcrimes, which is based as frick but not very effective
SOG liked it bc the shots wouldnt be identifiable as an American position and their indig troops spotted holding it would have an extra 15 seconds or so to react bc they looked like VC
Its weight wasn't that low, 7.5km isn't very far from the M60's 10kg, it's the ammo that was the selling point. In the dense jungle, the lower recoiling and lighter 7.62x39 was very good as its rainbow trajectory didn't matter and the heavy bullet could go through the brush reasonably well.
I bet they'd sell their asses for a minimi if they could get their hand one one during that time.
It was 50% heavier than a Stoner 63 which was used extensively by MACV-SOG and ST1&2.
It's effectiveness has more to do with the moronic 'weapons platoon' organization of the USMC/USA than it's actual performance vs it's most similar competitor, the Stoner, which is better in pretty much every possible way.
It didn't, it's a completely different class of weapon and comparison is useless. You and your thread are moronic.
While the RPD had a number of appealing aspects as mentioned, it was apparently shit enough that the Soviets thought that a heavy AK with a big mag was superior and a suitable replacement.
Its weight wasn't that low, 7.5km isn't very far from the M60's 10kg, it's the ammo that was the selling point. In the dense jungle, the lower recoiling and lighter 7.62x39 was very good as its rainbow trajectory didn't matter and the heavy bullet could go through the brush reasonably well.
I bet they'd sell their asses for a minimi if they could get their hand one one during that time.
bitch, 2.5 kg is a whole ass fricking XM177, or a little under an M79. You could carry an entire other weapon, or better yet more ammo, equipment, and provisions.
I think it had a lot to do with the very thin handguard that heated up very quickly and the exposed gas piston. Seems like a bad weapon to fire for extended periods of time but good for quick, high intensity engagements. That and the RPK was lighter, cheaper, and easier to train for
>lighter than the M60 >larger caliber and magazine capacity than the M16 >more reliable than both >simple manual of arms >rare malfunctions are easily fixed in the field
not sure if what you're saying is even true but if it is then these are the obvious reasons why such a gun would be appreciated in a muddy, humid, low visibility, high cover environment
In what way? HK certainly didn't lose money from it. In fact I would call HK11/21 as commercial success when compared to RPD or M60.
There were no such things as "commercial" for Soviet arms factories. Countries that adopted them either had to because the soviet said so or were given as gibs to client countries.
M60 were bought primarily by US military and after vietnam war a large chunk lf them were sold off as EDA to SEA Black folk or latino countries (plenty of whom were still using M1919, captured japanese MG or even fricking maxim guns). That or the MG came free with any american made armored vehicles. Even when compared to MG3 as significant portions of these MG3 were either refurbed/rechambered MG42 so rheinmetall wouldn't see much profit selling refurbed funs
The only GPMG that truly beat HK11/21 as a "commercial success" is FN-MAG. For LMG, there were really no other better options available from the western bloc (that isn't Bren) until FN Minimi came out
Anon, you're arguing with a homosexual who doesn't know guns and only took a quick look at the wikipedia article because he's butthurt you disagreed with his shit take.
Likely a british poster.
Australia had all sorts of shit in Vietnam >SLR for most troops >M16s for fireteam leaders/scouts >Owen Gun SMGs for radio operators >M60s for machinegunners >also the heavy barreled SLR with 30 round mags for SASR machineguns >also the 7.62x51 Bren Gun for machinegunners >SMLE bolt guns for snipers >Browning Hi Powers >Colt M1911s >Webley revolvers
Has anyone ever seen a photo of one of those 125 round drums that the MACSOG guys came up with for the RPDs they used? I've never found one but I believe the accounts they existed.
lighter than the m60 and looks cooler
x39 is a good jungle bullet
it cant really be compared to the m16 and a lighter intermediate machine gun is still in a lot of ways complementary to a bigger one. they also had pkms
I don't know if they ever received any of the PKM but they did get some of the original PK which was a bit heavier but still a good all-around GPMG. It can't have been very common compared to other types though.
Did it?
Apparently was very appreciated by MACV-SOG, especially when cut down. Seems to have been the premier weapon for long range patrols and counterinsurgency shit since the Rhodies and Saffers seemed to like them too. Makes sense, for its time it was the lightest MG you could get your hands on
Its weight wasn't that low, 7.5km isn't very far from the M60's 10kg, it's the ammo that was the selling point. In the dense jungle, the lower recoiling and lighter 7.62x39 was very good as its rainbow trajectory didn't matter and the heavy bullet could go through the brush reasonably well.
I bet they'd sell their asses for a minimi if they could get their hand one one during that time.
2.5 kilos isn't something to sneeze at, especially when you consider the M60 is nearly 12 kilos when loaded. Like they said in boy scouts, ounces make pounds and pounds make pain
RPD ammo box adds another 0.8kg and loaded ammo adds even more as well. It's lighter but not really so much lighter that it's a big deal. The lighter ammo is more important here, as well as the lower recoil.
That's why 5.56 was such a big deal - it weighed half as much as the .308 did while having essentially the same trajectory. 7.62x39 isn't nearly as high performing, weighing about a quarter to a third less than the .308 and having much shorter range but in cases where range isn't important it was still quite desirable.
MAC-SOG guys who commonly used RPDs still b***hed about the weight. It was not all that light. Yet the firepower it gave such a team was useful, particularity the way such teams would operate.
The only direct counterpart to it would have been the Stoner 63A light machine gun but those were only around in very limited numbers.
I bet they'd sell their asses for a minimi if they could get their hand one one during that time.
Yeah, despite the hate the M249 gets, (most of which seems caused by not replacing worn-out-beat-to-shit machine guns) I'm sure something like it would have been greatly appreciated back then.
M249 gets a lot of hate for the mag feeding thing and not being a GPMG like the FN MAG, the Maximi or the M60E6 while being widely fielded among infantry in a similar role. The latter part i quite agree with, as outside of long range patrols where both the ammo capacity and weight are of paramount importance the actual firepower and reach of the weapon is lackluster in comparison.
Maximis get shit on plenty for being unreliable. The entire point of the design was working with lighter ammo. The Minimi works fine doing what its supposed to. If you want a heavier caliber MG you need something meant for it.
>ackshully the loss of several pounds doesn't matter at all
LMAO shut the frick up dude. Sure it's still heavy, but it's still significantly lighter.
All it amounts to is a single 50rd belt of ammo. The weight savings are miniscule and the RPD is still by no means lightweight.
What i was saying is that its weight was the least important thing about it.
The belts that were used on the RPD were 100 and 125 round non disintegrating and are far more easy to prep than M60.
Anyone who knows what they frick they are talking about knows this - you apparently don't
I don't give a shit about soviet shit-weapons obsolete by the cold war, sorry to tell you. If my point wasn't clear enough then i'll spell it out so even subhuman like you can understand - RPD's weight was worth jack shit.
>i know more about combat effectiveness than MACV:SOG!!!11
>all warfare is special operations!!!!!
moron, larrpers didn't do jack shit but drop acid and commit warcrimes, which is based as frick but not very effective
>Calling MACVSOG LARPers
gay ass fanfiction cringe
SOG liked it bc the shots wouldnt be identifiable as an American position and their indig troops spotted holding it would have an extra 15 seconds or so to react bc they looked like VC
It was 50% heavier than a Stoner 63 which was used extensively by MACV-SOG and ST1&2.
It's effectiveness has more to do with the moronic 'weapons platoon' organization of the USMC/USA than it's actual performance vs it's most similar competitor, the Stoner, which is better in pretty much every possible way.
It didn't, it's a completely different class of weapon and comparison is useless. You and your thread are moronic.
While the RPD had a number of appealing aspects as mentioned, it was apparently shit enough that the Soviets thought that a heavy AK with a big mag was superior and a suitable replacement.
bitch, 2.5 kg is a whole ass fricking XM177, or a little under an M79. You could carry an entire other weapon, or better yet more ammo, equipment, and provisions.
I think it had a lot to do with the very thin handguard that heated up very quickly and the exposed gas piston. Seems like a bad weapon to fire for extended periods of time but good for quick, high intensity engagements. That and the RPK was lighter, cheaper, and easier to train for
m16 bullets were easily deflected by jungle floral
m60 bullets were 6moa at best
RPDees nuts in yo mouth
By getting killed 10:1.
Nobody tell this guy how many centuries of angle RPD has
>By getting killed 10:1.
Yeah but it didn’t win the war like the RPD
The team with the higher K:D ratio arguably lost the war.
What date would you say they lost the war at? When did NV win the war?
>The team with the higher K:D ratio arguably lost the war.
>Germany won WWII after all
Based?
>lighter than the M60
>larger caliber and magazine capacity than the M16
>more reliable than both
>simple manual of arms
>rare malfunctions are easily fixed in the field
not sure if what you're saying is even true but if it is then these are the obvious reasons why such a gun would be appreciated in a muddy, humid, low visibility, high cover environment
>COD mindset
>7.62x39
I prefer the big boy bullets, so M60>RPD.
Each LRRP man carried like 20 full mags and 1000 extra spare rounds.
the RPD was Coveted
It was a SAW Anon.
this thing was so ass the soviets immediately dropped it for an ak with a slightly larger mag
this whole thread reads like it was written by 16 year old nogunz larpers. Or AI.
Superior LMG coming through
Make way for an actually useful LMG
Commercial failure
In what way? HK certainly didn't lose money from it. In fact I would call HK11/21 as commercial success when compared to RPD or M60.
There were no such things as "commercial" for Soviet arms factories. Countries that adopted them either had to because the soviet said so or were given as gibs to client countries.
M60 were bought primarily by US military and after vietnam war a large chunk lf them were sold off as EDA to SEA Black folk or latino countries (plenty of whom were still using M1919, captured japanese MG or even fricking maxim guns). That or the MG came free with any american made armored vehicles. Even when compared to MG3 as significant portions of these MG3 were either refurbed/rechambered MG42 so rheinmetall wouldn't see much profit selling refurbed funs
The only GPMG that truly beat HK11/21 as a "commercial success" is FN-MAG. For LMG, there were really no other better options available from the western bloc (that isn't Bren) until FN Minimi came out
Anon, you're arguing with a homosexual who doesn't know guns and only took a quick look at the wikipedia article because he's butthurt you disagreed with his shit take.
Likely a british poster.
Only third world shitholes used Hk11/21s
Of course
Make way for the LMG that actually won wars
please don't start
Did the Australian really brought Bren to Vietnam? I thought they bought those heavy barreled SLR instead
Australia had all sorts of shit in Vietnam
>SLR for most troops
>M16s for fireteam leaders/scouts
>Owen Gun SMGs for radio operators
>M60s for machinegunners
>also the heavy barreled SLR with 30 round mags for SASR machineguns
>also the 7.62x51 Bren Gun for machinegunners
>SMLE bolt guns for snipers
>Browning Hi Powers
>Colt M1911s
>Webley revolvers
on paper they had it in reality no snipers were used in nam by the aussies the 762x51 brens were only used for perimeter control.
Is some moronic teenager who has never even touched an RPD spending 6+ hours fanboying over it? Is that what this is?
Has anyone ever seen a photo of one of those 125 round drums that the MACSOG guys came up with for the RPDs they used? I've never found one but I believe the accounts they existed.
lighter than the m60 and looks cooler
x39 is a good jungle bullet
it cant really be compared to the m16 and a lighter intermediate machine gun is still in a lot of ways complementary to a bigger one. they also had pkms
I don't know if they ever received any of the PKM but they did get some of the original PK which was a bit heavier but still a good all-around GPMG. It can't have been very common compared to other types though.
>looks cooler
No taste Black person