| SS-77 | |
|---|---|
 South African National Defence Force soldier with a SS-77 machine gun | |
| Type | General Purpose Machine Gun |
| Place of origin |
 South Africa |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | South African Border War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1977 |
| Manufacturer | Denel Land Systems |
| Variants | Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
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.
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 Lazlo 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 light machine gun version, the Mini-SS, 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: Policía Nacional de Colombia, Infantería de Marina de Colombia.[3]
Kuwait[4]- Philippines: Philippine National Police (Special Action Force).[citation needed]
- Romania: 215 SS-77 MK1 LMGs acquired in late 2008 and delivered in 2009.[5]
- South Africa: General-purpose machine gun of the South African National Defence Force.[6] Issued since 1986.[7]
Variants[]
- SS-77 is the 7.62×51mm NATO caliber
- Mini-SS is chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO.
- Mini-SS Compact
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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.
- ↑ dpa.ro Retrieved on February 15, 2012.
- ↑ 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[]
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The original article can be found at Vektor SS-77 and the edit history here.