Vektor SS-77 explained

SS-77
Origin:South Africa
Type:General purpose machine gun
Is Ranged:yes
Service:1986–present
Used By:See Users
Wars:South African Border War
Rwandan Civil War
Kivu conflict
Design Date:1977
Manufacturer:Denel Land Systems
Variants:Variants
Weight:9.6kg (21.2lb) (SS-77)
8.26kg (18.21lb) (Mini SS)
Length:1155 mm (SS-77)
1000 mm (Mini-SS)
Part 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:600–900 rounds/min
Feed:Disintegrating R1M1 link belt
alternatively disintegrating M13 belt or non-disintegrating DM1 belt (SS-77)
Disintegrating M27 belt (Mini-SS)

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 Col. Richard Joseph "Boer" Smith and Lazlo Soregi. The "SS" in its name stands for Smith and Soregi, and "77" for 1977, the year it was designed.[1] The design was put into action and the prototype components were hand manufactured in the armoury shop of 61 BWS under the supervision of Sgt Hattingh, L/cpl Nel and two privates. When said components worked well in the prototype, it was handed over to Lyttleton Engineering, who eventually manufactured and brought the SS77 into production.

Denel unveiled at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2016 exhibit that the SS-77 will be replaced in production by the DMG-5 and DMG-5 CX GPMG.[2]

SS-77s typically feed ammunition using an R1M1 disintegrating link belt, though M13 disintegrating link belts and non-disintegrating DM1 belts are also compatible. The belt may also be further contained in a dust-proof nylon pouch with a 100-round capacity, or a waterproof and rigid box with a 200-round capacity.

Mini-SS

In 1994, 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 9.6to with a folding bipod and fixed butt.[3]

Variants

Users

Policía Nacional de Colombia, Infantería de Marina de Colombia.[4]

Indonesian National Armed Forces[6] [7]

Kenya Air Force: For IAR 330 helicopters.[8]

Royal Malaysian Navy-PASKAL[10] and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency

Mini-SS for the Peruvian Army

Philippine National Police-Special Action Force[11]

215 SS-77 MK1 LMGs acquired in late 2008 and delivered in 2009.[12]

SS-77 machine guns were delivered in 1992. Some were captured by the Rwandan Patriotic Front.[13]

Mini-SS[14]

General-purpose machine gun of the South African National Defence Force.[15] Issued since 1986.[16]

Popular culture

Video games

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/1600/1665.htm Security Arms Vektor SS-77 & Mini-SS.
  2. Web site: Denel Land Systems Small Arms production at full capacity defenceWeb. Martin. Guy. www.defenceweb.co.za. 6 June 2017. en-gb. 2017-09-01.
  3. http://jdw.janes.com/public/adlink/ads/1291514.pdf Denel Land Systems Brochure.
  4. Web site: aerospace-index.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092111/http://www.aerospace-index.com/images/denel/denelnewslettersept06.pdf. dead. 7 July 2011. 2021-05-08. www.aerospace-index.com.
  5. Book: Small Arms Survey. Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world. https://web.archive.org/web/20150701142546/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Highlights-EN.pdf. dead. 1 July 2015. Cambridge University Press. 2015. 201. Waning Cohesion: The Rise and Fall of the FDLR–FOCA. . Small Arms Survey. http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Chapter-07-EN.pdf.
  6. Web site: Pamungkas . Bayu . 2022-12-16 . Helikopter NAS 332 Super Puma TNI AU Dilengkapi "Door Gun" Vektor SS-77 Kaliber 7,62mm . 2024-07-02 . Indomiliter.com . id.
  7. Web site: Reborn . Keris . 24 April 2024 . Perairan Selat Malaka (25/4) - KRI Beladau-643 yang sedang melaksanakan operasi dibawah BKO Guspurla Koarmada I, melaksanakan Latihan penembakan di perairan Timur Pulau Berhala . 2024-07-02 . www.facebook.com.
  8. Web site: Martin. Guy. Denel Land Systems shows off capabilities. 3 July 2014. defenceweb.co.za. 20 November 2013. defenceweb.
  9. Book: Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. 27 January 2009. Jane's Information Group. 978-0-7106-2869-5. Jones. Richard D.. 35th. Coulsdon. Ness. Leland S..
  10. Dan. Alex. 9 February 2016. PASKAL Malaysian Special Forces Weapons. Military Factory. Small Arms. 10 February 2016.
  11. Web site: 26 September 2015. S.A.F. – Special Action Force – Armi e Mezzi | Corpi d' élite – Forze speciali italiane, antiterrorismo, intelligence. 7 October 2015. Corpidelite.net.
  12. Web site: Buletinul Contractelor de Achizitii Publice. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120302190847/http://www.dpa.ro/rp/publicatii/buletine/bc2009_1.pdf. 2 March 2012. 15 February 2012. 2.
  13. January 1994. Arming Rwanda: The Arms Trade and Human Rights, Abuses in the Rwandan War. 6. 1. 16, 21. Human Rights Watch Arms Project.
  14. Web site: Grey Tiger. 2014. World Infantry Weapons: Saudi Arabia. https://web.archive.org/web/20160312062507/https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_me_saudiarabia. 12 March 2016. sites.google.com.
  15. Web site: 13 December 2010. Machine Guns. https://web.archive.org/web/20100704171239/http://www.army.mil.za/equipment/weaponsystems/infantry/Machine_Guns.htm. dead. 4 July 2010. 18 May 2015. Army.mil.za.
  16. Web site: Modern Firearms – Vector SS-77 and Mini-SS. 27 October 2010. 18 May 2015. Modernfirearms.net.