The AK-47 In Special Operations

Hey there. This has just been a bit of a brain-itch and had me wondering.

The AK-47 is a rugged, dependable, reliable weapon and is one of my personal favorites. Despite this, I know only a little about it's use in special operations.

I know that the Green Berets would often use the AK-47 for long trecks in the bush in the Vietnam conflict. And that Mercenaries in Seria Leone prefered the weapon.

But I am mostly intrested in Special Ops units in the former Soviet Union as well as areas in Africa and Asia. I have seen photos of Yugoslavian Paratroopers, but there is little information otherwise.

My second half of my inquirery is; how efective is the AK-47 and various other derivitives are in the Special Operations role? I imagine that they are rather well off for this role, but I always find myself suprised.

Well I have to admit I used to be surprised by the idea of the AK being used as a spec ops weapon, but if you think about it with your head instead of your eyes it tends to make sense. (I used to think aesthetics were everything.)

First it's worth considering what requirements a spec op operator would expect to be fulfilled by his/her assault rifle...

Pros

1) Firepower - I'd say it's nice being able to put down an enemy with 1~2 bullets as opposed to those complaints about the M-4 series.

2) Reliability - No gun is useful if it breaks down or jams all the time. Of course it's nice for ALL infantry rifles to be reliable, but even moreso for spec ops who tend to operate away from home, and would be really fucked up if their gun breaks down.

3) Compatability - This one depends on who the spec ops are, but generally in most hot spots in the world you would expect the opposition to also by carrying AKs (Unless your spec ops team is a PRC/Russian one attacking the USA -_- so your ammo is compatible with the enemy's, you can pick up their guns and use them easily, etc.

Cons

1) Weight - The AK is heavy as hell. Then again there are people crowing about how light and convenient the M-4 is. Buddy, when you've outfitted it so it looks like an advertisement in a gun magazine it's not so light anymore. But I digress.

2) Customizability - In all honesty I don't know how customizable the AK series is. But then again I'm not sure exactly what you really need from a rifle. A scope, silencer, and grenade launcher, perhaps?

So I guess... seeing the AK in Special Operations shouldn't be too surprising. It is certainly *strange* from an American-accustomed POV, though.

Most of the cons arnt really cons, as there are newer AK varients with polymer furniture redugin weight and can come with plenty options. The rocoil is still a disadvantage, as well as overheating.

The Ak-47 has a shorter barrel than most other full sized rifles, making it a bit more convenient in cramped places, and if I am right, the AKM weighs 3.14kg empty? I don't know about a loaded AK, but 3.14 is about the same as a loaded M4. If it's heavy, that's because it's a full size rifle, but it depends on the user.

The AKM-47 doesn't heat up much since it has chrome, the Type 56 is a different story. As for recoil, it's a lot for an assault rifle, but what can you expect from a 7.62 rifle that has no muzzle brake?

Yes, the AK-47 can't be customized much. There is no space to fit silencers (Front sight too front). I don't think there is any place on the gun to fit sights either. I imagine a better case for the AK-103.

It depends on what you mean by customization. You -can- put just as many lights and lazers and other gizmos on an AK as you can on any AR variant, you just have to replace the foregrip with a "picatinny" style quad-rail that mounts right onto the spot where the foregrip used to be. This enables you to mount just about anything that you would need on your gun. You can put these things on just about any assault rifle, and are becoming more of a standard feature among most American Military and Police assault/patrol rifles. Heck, I have them both on my VEPR AK and my Remington870 shotgun There is also a bracket on the left side of the AK47 reciever that lets you attach a scope mount.

This VEPR has the quad-rail mount I was talking about:

Err............yes, your VEPR has a body that is made in America right? The body is much different from AK-47s that you'd find around the world.

I've never seen a regular AK with sights, not even RPKs. And the P-rail is of course a Western feature added to your VEPR, so I don't think regular AKs would have those. And since the regular AK got the front sight right on the muzzle, there is no way of fitting on suppressors.

Err... no. On every VEPR the only thing that is made in America is the stock, pistol grip, foregrip and they change a few things to the trigger assembly and firing mechanism to make them semi auto to meet ATF regulations. Everything else is made in Russia and is standard on all Russian AK and RPK variants. So yes you can still put a scope on even the older AK's.

Damn Mr. Clean you own that thing?! Sweet, but also very unnecessary. But still sweet.:nana:

What about the AK-74. That gun is the standard weapon for the Russian Army. It is essentially a lighter more modern Ak-47. It might have a muzzle brake.

Is there gonna be a new AK series weapon anytime soon? A cheap reliable gun for the 21st, and judging by the AK 47s reputation, the 22nd too?

Kampfwagen said:

Hey there. This has just been a bit of a brain-itch and had me wondering.

The AK-47 is a rugged, dependable, reliable weapon and is one of my personal favorites. Despite this, I know only a little about it's use in special operations.

I know that the Green Berets would often use the AK-47 for long trecks in the bush in the Vietnam conflict. And that Mercenaries in Seria Leone prefered the weapon.

But I am mostly intrested in Special Ops units in the former Soviet Union as well as areas in Africa and Asia. I have seen photos of Yugoslavian Paratroopers, but there is little information otherwise.

My second half of my inquirery is; how efective is the AK-47 and various other derivitives are in the Special Operations role? I imagine that they are rather well off for this role, but I always find myself suprised.

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Kampfwagen Special Operation forces usually have quite diverse weaponry at there disposal; it all depends on your mission requirements. During covert operations it is desirable that you blend in whit locals; in Afghanistan if you are dressed in ACU and armed whit M16 locals will know from few km that you are American but if you are dressed in local clothes and armed whit AK they will probably assume that your team are joust another gang of drug smugglers/Taliban’s…

As for Soviet Spetsnaz most of data is still secret but some details became available after breakup of Soviet Union. For example when Spetsnaz brigade stationed in Isislav became part of Ukraine army they released data about her Afghan experience:
Brigades 3. battalion was formed during 1985. and specially trained and equipped for Afghanistan. There mission was recon and surveillance of rebel forces. Unit members used local clothing and personal documents; they were familiar whit local customs and language. In 3 years this unit had 650 combat missions, 473 mission captures of rebel equipment and weapons and they set 645 ambushes.

Teams were equipped whit:
- team commander: silenced AKS-74 or AKMS , silenced Makarov handgun, RGD-5 hand grenade, R-392 short range radio, Bn-1 passive night binoculars.
-radio operator: silenced AKS-74, handgun, R-357 long range radio.
-grenadier: RPG-7D whit 5 rockets, AKS-74U, Makarov handgun
-scouts: AKS-74, RPG-18/22, hand grenade
-sniper used SVD rifle and handgun
All rifles were equipped whit NSPU night vision sights…

Soviets also used large variety of special operations weapons like AS 'Val' silenced assault rifle, APS underwater assault rifle etc.

MIGleader said:

The rocoil is still a disadvantage, as well as overheating.

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While recoil can be problem for some at full auto I personally newer had any problems whit it nor whit overheating. AK doesn’t have any more problems whit overheating then any other assault rifle currently in service. AFAIK complains about overheating are connected only to old low quality type56 rifles… High quality AK variants newer had that problems.

While recoil can be problem for some at full auto I personally newer had any problems whit it nor whit overheating. AK doesn’t have any more problems whit overheating then any other assault rifle currently in service. AFAIK complains about overheating are connected only to old low quality type56 rifles… High quality AK variants newer had that problems.

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Once during my armytimes we had this TST (I don't know any correct english term, basicly this basic way of move towards under enemy fire) drills and one of our NCOs was tasked to be the guy simulating the enemy fire. He shot over 300 rounds under hour and he was actually able to set small forest fires on the barrel...

...But the thing is, no assault rifles are designed for situation where they overheats. That task is preserved to the LMGs like RPKs wich have fast-changing barrels...