Famous Yugoslav "Papovka" semi-automatic carbine or PAP M59

-

Yugoslavian SKS M5966 with the muzzle formed into a spigot-type grenade launcher and folded down grenade sight


Papovka ( Semiautomatic rifle 7.62 mm M.59) was a Yugoslav semi-automatic rifle that uses a charge of 7.62x39. After 11 years in the Yugoslav People's Army replaced the erstwhile military rifle Zastava M48.

Papovka PAP M59/66


In the mid-fifties in the Yugoslav military circles launched the idea of developing new semi-automatic rifle. For the final manufacturer of the new semi-automatic rifle factory "Crvena Zastava" from Kragujevac was selected. At the moment when the documentation was almost completed, there is an improvement in relations between the USSR and Yugoslavia. The new relations also included military cooperation, so the JNA switched to the purchase of a license for the production of the Soviet SKS rifle (Samozaryadny Karabin  Simonova).

Yugoslav PAP M59/66


Yugoslav experts did not hold the concept of SKS rifle in general, but they developed very similarly on the basis of the SKS, but with improved properties and capabilities. In the beginning of 1960 there appeared new weapons, semi-automatic rifles marked as M1959 which later developed and improved. Zero series produced in 1960 and already in 1961 began mass production.



In most variants (Yugoslav models being the most notable exception), the barrel is chrome-lined for increased wear and heat tolerance from sustained fire and to resist corrosion from chlorate-primed corrosive ammunition, as well as to facilitate cleaning. The chrome bore lining is common in military rifles. Although it can diminish accuracy, its effect on practical accuracy in a rifle of this type is limited. The Yugoslav M59/66A1 has fold-down luminous sights for use when firing under poor light conditions, while the older M59 and M59/66 do not.



The Yugoslavian-made M59/66 and M59/66A1 variants are the only SKS models with an integral grenade launching attachment. Integral grenade launcher attachment. M59 / 66 and M59 / 66A1 were factory-installed.



The grenade launcher is part of the rifle with which to launch Rifle grenade, Antitank M60.  The Grenade launcher allows shooting armored vehicles up to 150 meters and infantry up to 300 meters.
Yugoslav variants



Yugoslavian PAP M59: Manufactured by Zastava Arms between 1959 and 1966.[14] The barrel is not chrome-lined. PAP stands for "Polu-automatska puška" (Semi-automatic rifle) and the rifle was nicknamed "Papovka". Otherwise, this rifle is nearly identical to the Soviet version. Many were converted to the M59/66 variant during refurbishment.



Yugoslavian M59/66 with the muzzle formed into a spigot-type grenade launcher and a folding ladder grenade sight behind the front sight.

Yugoslavian PAP M59/66: Produced between 1967 and 1989. Added 22 mm rifle grenade launcher which appears visually like a flash suppressor or muzzle brake on the end of the barrel. The front sight has a fold-up "ladder" for use in grenade sighting. When the grenade sight is raised, the gas system is automatically blocked and the action must be manually cycled—rifle grenades must be fired with special blank cartridges, and this feature helps ensure that the gas pressure is not wasted on cycling the action. The gas system is not automatically unblocked when the sight is folded, however, and must be manually opened to again allow semi-automatic operation.[15] The barrel was not chrome-lined. Both the grenade launcher and grenade sight are NATO spec. The stock is typically made of beech wood.




Yugoslavian PAP M59/66A1: Same as above, except with the addition of flip-up phosphorus or tritium night sights.

Comments

  1. Danny SmithAugust 1, 2019 at 11:23 AM

    Very good article, I learned much and enjoyed it...thank you.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

POPULAR POSTS

14 things that every Yugoslav partisan wore at the beginning of World War II

-
Image
    1.  Partizan armed with a German submachine gun MP41 9mm, popularly known as "Schmeisser", today a rare example of the wooden butt. For a belt carrying a gun "Parabellum" P08 9mm and a hand grenade. Dressed in a civilian coat, the military jacket of unknown origin, the German military pants and cavalry boots. On the stroke has a partisan cap ("Tito hat") with a sewn red star. 2.       Three-pointed cap popularly called "Triglav cap" to the highest peak in Slovenia. Such as a cap made anti-fascist fighters of the Spanish Civil War and the first Junos Croatian partisans. Since 1944, it replaced the cap "Titov ka" a smooth edge. 3.       In September 1941, the partisan Supreme Headquarters ordered that the caps will wear red five-pointed star as a symbol of anti-fascist struggle. 3a. Since April 1942, stipulates that all elite Proletarian Brigade wear the star with a yellow hammer and sickle, the symbol of the int
Read more

JNA, the army that no longer exists: What is all possessed one of the most powerful European armies Part I

-
Image
Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), to its  decomposition , was one of the key pillars of the former Yugoslavia and was based on the doctrine of brotherhood and unity of all Yugoslav nations and nationalities and ideologically dependent on the League of Communists. Along with Tito and the Communist Party, considered to be one of the three pillars of Yugoslavia. Yugoslav People's Army, at its peak, was the fourth military power in Europe, behind the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. For JNA specifically, because of its non-alignment and strategic importance, in its possession had weapons of American and Soviet production. The establishment and development Its roots JNA pulling out of the National Liberation Struggle and Yugoslav partisan (POJ). Soon form a volunteer army of Yugoslavia, which soon became the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (NLA), and on 1 March 1945, the NLA has renamed the Yugoslav Army. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of
Read more

World War II Weapons: The Italian Carcano rifle

-
Image
Carcano Modello 1891 infantry rifle Carcano is the frequently used name for a series of Italian bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating military rifles and carbines. Introduced in 1891, this rifle was chambered for the rimless 6.5×52mm Carcano cartridge (Cartuccia Modello 1895). It was developed by the chief technician Salvatore Carcano at the Turin Army Arsenal in 1890 and called the Modello (model) 91 or simply M91. Successively replacing the previous Vetterli-Vitali rifles and carbines in 10.35×47mmR, it was produced from 1892 to 1945. The M91 was used in both rifle (fucile) and carbine (Moschetto) form by most Italian troops during the First World War and by Italian and some German forces during the Second World War. The rifle was also used during the Winter War by Finland, and again by regular and irregular forces in Syria, Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria during various postwar conflicts in those countries. Carcano Model 1891 TS Carbine The Type I Carcano rifle was
Read more

The Underground Airbase Slatina

-
Image
Yugoslavia had about forty objects of strategic importance, including several underground airports which were the largest military secret. Nearly $90 billion have been spent for the construction of these objects. Željava was the most expensive and the largest underground airport in the former Yugoslavia. Around $4.5 billion were spent for the construction of this air base. According to experts, the only airbase that could rival Željava, although much smaller, was the air base Slatina near Pristina. These two air bases represented the first level of defense. The second level of defense were also airports with underground galleries and the conditions for protection against a nuclear attack. Such were underground galleries in Podgorica, Mostar, and Split. The third level of defense was reinforced concrete shelters for aircraft and people. All airports had them. Each plane had its own reinforced concrete shelter. The Yugoslav underground project represents the labyri
Read more