EPK (Pyrkal) Machine gun

Infobox Weapon
name= EPK (Pyrkal) Machine gun


caption=
origin=flagcountry|Greece
type=Light machine gun
is_ranged=yes
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service=
used_by= Built for the Hellenic Army
wars=
designer= Pyrkal staff
design_date=1939
manufacturer=EPK (Pyrkal), Athens
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weight= 4.15 kg (unloaded)
length= 900 mm
barrel_length= 400 mm
width=
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crew=
cartridge=7.92x57mm Mauser
caliber=
action= gas operated
rate= 720 round/min
velocity= 2,700 ft/s (823.1 m/s)
range= 750 m
max_range=
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The EPK Machine Gun was designed by EPK, a Greek defense company (in English, "Greek Powder and Cartridge Company", GPCC) later known as Pyrkal. The gun's creation is connected to EPK's ambitions to become a major producer of infantry weapons and a relevant 1937 proposal to the Greek government. The proposal was followed by the development of a modern machine gun of EPK-own design, as well as construction of a small number of prototypes in 1939. The whole project, including building of infrastructure for massive production of the gun was underway when war with Italy broke out on October 28, 1940, and subsequent events prohibited its completion. A total of no more than (probably) 10-15 was built, their fate remaining unknown. Later publications suggested that this 7.92 mm weapon exhibited characteristics closer to those of a submachine gun; others, though, including Pyrkal itself, have argued that the weapon was indeed a very advanced design for its time, featuring pioneering elements of a whole class of assault rifle types that appeared later.

References

*Christos Sazanidis, "Ta opla ton Ellinon (Arms of the Greeks)", Maiandros, Thessaloniki (1995)
*W. Smith - J. Smith, "Small Arms of the World", 10th rev.ed., Stackpole, Harrisburg (1973)