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The RPD is a 7.62x39mm light machine gun developed in the Soviet Union by Vasily Degtyaryov for the 7.62×39mm M43 intermediate cartridge. It was created as a replacement for the DP machine gun chambered for the 7.62×54mmR round. It is a precursor of most squad automatic weapons. It was succeeded in Soviet service by the RPK.
The RPD is a Soviet light machine gun chambered in [[7.62×39mm]] (M43), developed as a belt-fed squad automatic weapon for the intermediate cartridge. It feeds from non-disintegrating belts carried in a distinctive drum container and is optimized for mobile infantry support fire. The RPD is best known for bridging the gap between earlier magazine-fed light machine guns and later squad automatic weapons within the Kalashnikov-era small-arms family.
=HISTORY=
==HISTORY==
Work on the weapon commenced in 1943. Three prominent Soviet engineers were asked to submit their own designs: Vasily Degtyaryov, Sergei Simonov and Alexei Sudayev. Among the completed prototypes prepared for evaluation, the Degtyaryov design proved superior and was accepted into service with the Soviet armed forces as the 7.62 mm Ручной Пулемёт Дегтярёва, PПД (RPD, Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova or "Degtyaryov light machine gun") model 1944.
Development of the RPD began during World War II as the Soviet Union moved toward an intermediate cartridge to modernize infantry firepower. Several designers submitted prototypes, and Vasily Degtyaryov’s design was selected and refined into the RPD (''Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova''). Although late-war prototypes existed, the weapon was adopted after the war and entered wider production and distribution in the early 1950s, providing squads with sustained automatic fire in the new 7.62×39mm chambering.


Although the RPD was ready for mass production during the final stages of World War II, it was adopted in 1948 and large scale delivery of the weapon did not begin until 1953.
During the [[Vietnam War]], the RPD and especially Chinese-produced copies were widely fielded by the People's Army of Vietnam and the [[Việt Cộng]] as a standard light machine gun. Its combination of controllable automatic fire, belt-fed endurance, and relatively compact handling suited ambushes and small-unit actions in dense terrain. Over time it was supplemented and increasingly replaced in some roles by newer designs such as the [[RPK]] and later general-purpose machine guns, but it remained a common and recognizable weapon in the conflict.


During the Vietnam War, the RPD and its Chinese copy served the [[Việt Cộng]] and the People's Army of Vietnam as their standard light machine gun.
===Sources===
<br>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPD_machine_gun SOURCE]
* [https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?query=RPD%20machine%20gun Imperial War Museums Collections – search results for RPD machine gun]
* [https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search?edan_q=RPD%20machine%20gun Smithsonian (National Museum of American History) – collections search: RPD machine gun]
* [https://collections.royalarmouries.org/ Royal Armouries Collections – search “RPD” (collection database)]
* [https://shop.janes.com/collections/weapons Jane’s – Weapons / Infantry reference works]
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File:VIEP-180800-KILLERTECH-09.jpg|PHOTO OF A MARCH 1966 NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY TRAINING EXERCISE
File:RPD MachineGun.jpg|RPD light machine gun.
File:9lx8zixfhxo71.jpg
File:Rpd343.jpg|RPD with belt drum container.
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File:VIEP-180800-KILLERTECH-09.jpg|North Vietnamese Army training exercise, March 1966.
File:Rpd sogggg.jpg
File:9lx8zixfhxo71.jpg|RPD in use.
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File:Rpd sogggg.jpg|RPD with drum container fitted.
 
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Latest revision as of 04:33, 25 February 2026

Factions Weapon Icon Classes Ammo

VC
RPD		 Gunner
 100 / 200
Damage Base Headshot × Chest × Stomach × Leg × Arm × Bayonet Rifle Grenades Reload Speed
Partial Empty
42 ×2.3 = 96.6 ×1 = 42 ×0.95 = 39.9 ×0.6 = 25.2 ×0.55 = 23.1 NO NO 5.5 Seconds 6.2 Seconds
Designation Weapon Type Fire Modes Fire Rate Bullet Spread ° Bipod Bullet Spread ° Range Modifier Muzzle Velocity Projectile weight Weight
RPD LMG Auto 700 RPM 9.23° & 2.42° ADS 2.19° & 0.7° ADS 0.925 735 m/s 7.9g (121.9 gr) 7.4 kg (16.3 lbs)
Full name Caliber Place of Origin Date Manufacturer Barrel Length Total Length Weapon Script Name
ручной пулемёт Дегтярёва 7.62x39mm Soviet Union 1944 State Factories 20.5 in (520 mm) 40.8 in (1,037 mm) weapon_rpd


The RPD is a Soviet light machine gun chambered in 7.62×39mm (M43), developed as a belt-fed squad automatic weapon for the intermediate cartridge. It feeds from non-disintegrating belts carried in a distinctive drum container and is optimized for mobile infantry support fire. The RPD is best known for bridging the gap between earlier magazine-fed light machine guns and later squad automatic weapons within the Kalashnikov-era small-arms family.

HISTORY

Development of the RPD began during World War II as the Soviet Union moved toward an intermediate cartridge to modernize infantry firepower. Several designers submitted prototypes, and Vasily Degtyaryov’s design was selected and refined into the RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova). Although late-war prototypes existed, the weapon was adopted after the war and entered wider production and distribution in the early 1950s, providing squads with sustained automatic fire in the new 7.62×39mm chambering.

During the Vietnam War, the RPD and especially Chinese-produced copies were widely fielded by the People's Army of Vietnam and the Việt Cộng as a standard light machine gun. Its combination of controllable automatic fire, belt-fed endurance, and relatively compact handling suited ambushes and small-unit actions in dense terrain. Over time it was supplemented and increasingly replaced in some roles by newer designs such as the RPK and later general-purpose machine guns, but it remained a common and recognizable weapon in the conflict.

Sources

Real-Life Photos
  • RPD light machine gun.
    RPD light machine gun.
  • RPD with belt drum container.
    RPD with belt drum container.
  • North Vietnamese Army training exercise, March 1966.
    North Vietnamese Army training exercise, March 1966.
  • RPD in use.
    RPD in use.
  • RPD with drum container fitted.
    RPD with drum container fitted.
Videos
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