- Vektor SS-77
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SS-77 Type General Purpose Machine Gun Place of origin 
South AfricaService history Used by See Users Wars South African Border War Production history Designed 1977 Manufacturer Denel Land Systems Variants Variants Specifications Weight 9.6 kg (21 lb 3 oz) (SS-77)
8.26 kg (18 lb 3 oz) (Mini SS)Length 1155 mm (SS-77)
1000 mm (Mini-SS)Barrel length 550 mm (SS-77)
500 mm (Mini-SS)Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO (SS-77)
5.56×45mm NATO (Mini-SS)Action Gas-operated, open bolt Rate of fire 600–900 rounds/min Feed system Belt-fed The Vektor SS-77 is a general-purpose machine gun designed and manufactured by Denel Land Systems—formerly Lyttleton Engineering Works (LIW)—of South Africa.
Contents
History
In the late 1970s, South Africa was involved in an international controversy over apartheid and the South African Border War in Angola. As a result, it was subject to an international arms embargo and had to, out of necessity, design and manufacture its own weapons.[1] The SS-77 was developed to replace the FN MAG. It was designed in 1977 by Richard Joseph Smith and Soregi, hence the name "SS-77". "SS" for Smith and Soregi, "77" for 1977, the year it was designed.[1]
Mini-SS
In the early 1990s, a version, the Mini-SS LMG, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO was introduced. LIW also manufactured kits to convert existing SS-77 to the Mini-SS. Changes include the weight decrease from 9.6 to 8.26 kg (21 lb 3 oz to 18 lb 3 oz) with a folding bipod and fixed butt.[2]
Users
Colombia[3]
Kuwait[4]- South Africa: General-purpose machine gun of the South African National Defence Force.[5] Issued since 1986.[6]
Variants
- SS-77 is the 7.62×51mm NATO caliber
- Mini-SS is chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO.
- Mini-SS Compact
References
- ^ a b Security Arms Vektor SS-77 & Mini-SS. Retrieved on May 14, 2008.
- ^ Denel Land Systems Brochure. Retrieved on May 14, 2008.
- ^ http://www.aerospace-index.com/images/denel/denelnewslettersept06.pdf
- ^ Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds (January 27, 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- ^ http://www.army.mil.za/equipment/weaponsystems/infantry/Machine_Guns.htm
- ^ http://world.guns.ru/machine/safr/vector-ss-77-and-mini-ss-e.html
External links
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) 2B-P-10 · AA-52 · AEK-999 · FN MAG · Heckler & Koch HK21 · Heckler & Koch HK121 · M60 · Mekanika Uirapuru · MG 34 · MG 42 · MG 51 · Pecheneg · PK · MG3 · SIG MG 50 · SIG MG 710-3 · S&T Daewoo K12 · Sumitomo NTK-62 · Type 67 · Type 80 · Type 88 · Uk vz. 59 · UKM-2000 · Vektor SS-77 · Zastava M84Categories:- 5.56 mm firearms
- 7.62 mm firearms
- General-purpose machine guns
- Light machine guns
- Modern weapons of South Africa
- Firearms stubs
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