Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the heavy machine guns (hmg) category.
01 / Overview
KPV heavy machine gun
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1949–
Quantity
49
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
HEAVY MACHINE GUNS (HMG) · EARLY COLD WAR
2
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
87
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the heavy machine guns (hmg) category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1949
- Service Entry Year1949
- DesignerSemyon Vladimirov
- Weight (Empty)49 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersSoviet Union, China, North Korea, Romania, Iraq, Syria
◈Cartridge & Calibre7MOD.7
- Cartridge14.5×114mm
- Calibre14.5 mm
- Case Length114 mm
- Calibre ClassHeavy machine gun
- Bullet Weight64.4 g
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation6MOD.6
- Action TypeShort Recoil
- Fire ModesAutomatic
- Select FireNo
- Feed SystemBelt
- Cyclic Rate of Fire600
- Practical Rate of Fire150
◇Ballistics5MOD.5
- Muzzle Velocity1,005 m/s
- Muzzle Energy31,000
- Effective Range (point)3,000 m
- Maximum Range4,000 m
- Penetration32 mm
◆Barrel & Sights2MOD.2
- Sight Typeiron or optical
- Iron SightsYes
▤Construction2MOD.2
⬢Features4MOD.4
▲Production & Cost1MOD.1
- Production Start1949
◎Additional Dimensions2MOD.2
- Width162 mm
- Height225 mm
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1949Production started
77
years in service
49
units produced
57
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 1 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
KPV HEAVY MACHINE GUN · CONFLICTS SERVED IN27% win·18% loss
Total Conflicts
11
Victories
3
Ongoing
0
Losses
2
2014–2017Iraqi Civil War of 2014–2017—→2008Russo-Georgian WarDecisive victory→2003–2011Iraq WarDecisive victory→1979–1989Soviet-Afghan WarDecisive victory→1975–1991Western Sahara War—→1975–2002Angolan Civil War—→1975–1990Lebanese Civil War—→1967–1975Cambodian Civil War—→1959–1975Laotian Civil WarDecisive victory→1955–1975Vietnam WarDecisive victory→1950–1953Korean War—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries58country
AfghanistanACTIVE
AlbaniaACTIVE
AlgeriaACTIVE
AngolaACTIVE
ArmeniaACTIVE
BangladeshACTIVE
BeninACTIVE
BulgariaACTIVE
CambodiaACTIVE
CameroonACTIVE
CubaACTIVE
Czech RepublicACTIVE
EgyptACTIVE
EritreaACTIVE
EthiopiaACTIVE
FinlandACTIVE
GeorgiaACTIVE
Guinea-BissauACTIVE
HungaryACTIVE
IndiaACTIVE
IranACTIVE
IraqACTIVE
Ivory CoastACTIVE
LaosACTIVE
LebanonACTIVE
LibyaACTIVE
MalawiACTIVE
MaliACTIVE
MaltaACTIVE
MongoliaACTIVE
MoroccoACTIVE
MozambiqueACTIVE
MyanmarACTIVE
NicaraguaACTIVE
North KoreaACTIVE
PakistanACTIVE
PanamaACTIVE
People's Republic of ChinaACTIVE
PolandACTIVE
RomaniaACTIVE
RussiaACTIVE
São Tomé and PríncipeACTIVE
SerbiaACTIVE
Sierra LeoneACTIVE
SloveniaACTIVE
SomaliaACTIVE
South AfricaACTIVE
Sri LankaACTIVE
SudanACTIVE
SyriaACTIVE
TanzaniaACTIVE
TogoACTIVE
TurkeyACTIVE
UkraineACTIVE
VietnamACTIVE
YemenACTIVE
ZimbabweACTIVE
GermanyRETIRED 06 / MASS Score
HEAVY MACHINE GUNS (HMG) RANKING Heavy Machine Guns (HMG) · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
5HEAVY MACHINE GUNS (HMG)2EARLY COLD WAR · HEAVY MACHINE GUNS (HMG)54RUSSIA · ALL WEAPONS7PERFORMANCE/PRICE · HEAVY MACHINE GUNS (HMG)
ⓘ Rankings are within theHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)category.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE3terms
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a flexible or rigid container (magazine) inserted into the grip or attached externally, feeding rounds into the chamber via a spring or follower.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Short recoil is a firearm operating mechanism where the barrel and slide move together for a short distance after firing, then separate to complete extraction, ejection, and chambering.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources