In what year did the Kalashnikov assault rifle appear and how was it used during the war?

The Kalashnikov assault rifle is one of the most famous and widespread small arms in the world. Its name has become a symbol of reliability, simplicity and efficiency. But few know that first AK-47 prototypes appeared not after, but right during the Great Patriotic War, when the Soviet Union was in dire need of modern automatic weapons to confront the Wehrmacht.

Many people mistakenly believe that the Kalashnikov assault rifle was created after 1945. In fact, development began in 1944, and the first prototypes were tested at the end of the war. Why then did the AK-47 not enter service en masse before May 1945? And how exactly did he influence the post-war rearmament of the Red Army? Let's sort it out in order.

In this article you will find not only the exact year of the AK’s appearance, but also little-known details of its creation, comparison with foreign analogues of that era, as well as answers to questions about why this particular machine gun became a legend. If you are interested in the history of weapons or technical nuances, read on.

1944: work began on the Kalashnikov assault rifle

Officially development of the Kalashnikov assault rifle began in 1944when 25-year-old Staff Sgt. Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov worked in the workshops of the Central Research Range of Small Arms (NIPSVO) in the town of Shchurovo near Moscow. It was here that he created his first prototype, which later became the basis for AK-47.

It is important to understand the context: by 1944, the Red Army urgently needed new automatic weapons. German soldiers were already actively using assault rifles StG 44, which were superior to the Soviet PPSh-41 and PPS-43 in terms of firing range and accuracy. The Soviet command realized the need to create intermediate cartridge (between rifle and pistol) and weapons under it.

Kalashnikov was not self-taught - he had experience as a designer even before the war, working at the railway depot in Matai (Kazakhstan). His first machine gun, created in 1944, was not yet the same AK-47, but already contained key innovations:

• 🔧 Gas exhaust automation with a long piston stroke (later became the hallmark of AK).
• 🎯 Trigger mechanism, allowing for single and automatic fire.
• 🔄 Split receiver (in the first prototypes it was solid, like StG 44).

However, the first Kalashnikov sample did not pass the competitive tests of 1944–1945 — he was overtaken by structures Sudaeva (AS-44) and Bulkina (TKB-415). But this did not stop the young engineer: he continued to refine it, taking into account the comments of the military commission.

1945–1947: from prototype to mass production

After the end of the Great Patriotic War, work on the new machine gun did not stop. In 1946, Kalashnikov presented an improved model, which was already officially called AK-46 (Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1946). However, this option was not adopted - the commission considered it not reliable enough in conditions of dirt and dust.

The decisive moment came at 1947, when Kalashnikov radically redesigned the design:

• 🔨 Replaced the solid receiver with detachable (from stamped parts), which simplified production.
• 🛡️ Improved dust and moisture protection mechanisms.
• 📏 Reduced a ton of weapons up to 4.3 kg (versus 5.3 kg for AS-44).

As a result of competitive tests in 1947–1948 AK-47 defeated all competitors, including slot machines Degtyareva (AD) and Simonova (AS-44). June 30, 1949 The machine gun was officially adopted by the Soviet Army under the name “7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1947 (AK-47)”.

⚠️ Attention: Despite the name AK-47, mass production began only in 1948–1949. In the war itself (1941–1945) this weapon did not participate — its role was played by prototypes and prototypes tested in 1944–1945.

Interesting fact: the first serial AK-47 had stamped receiver, but due to problems with the technology, it was replaced with a milled one (which increased weight but increased strength). Only in 1959 did he return to stamping - in the model AKM.

Why the AK-47 didn’t make it to the front: reasons for the delay

Many people wonder: if the prototype appeared in 1944, why AK-47 was not used in battles against Germany? There are several reasons:

1. Unavailability of production. The USSR was busy releasing already debugged PPSh and teaching staff, as well as rifles Mosin and SVT-40. Switching to a new cartridge (7.62×39 mm) required reconfiguration of factories.
2. Competition among designers. The Army tested dozens of prototypes (including AS-44 Sudaeva and ABS Korovin), and the choice in favor of the AK was made only in 1947.
3. No urgent need. By 1945, the Red Army was already victorious, and mass rearmament was not a priority.

Moreover, even after being adopted in 1949 AK-47 entered the troops gradually. The first to receive it elite units - paratroopers, marines and border guards. Widespread use only began in the mid-1950s, when the USSR began supplying its Warsaw Pact allies.

Comparison of the AK-47 with the German StG 44: who copied whom?

One of the most common myths is the assertion that AK-47 - this is a “copy of the German Sturmgewehr 44" In fact, the similarities between them are superficial, and Kalashnikov developed the key decisions independently. Let's compare:

Key differences:

• 🔄 Automation. U StG 44 - recoil with a short barrel stroke, AK-47 — gas exhaust system with a long piston stroke (more reliable in mud).
• 🛠️ Production technology. The German rifle required precision machining of parts, while the AK was designed for mass production with minimal manufacturing precision.
• 🌍 Versatility. StG 44 was not widely used even in the Wehrmacht, while the AK became the standard weapon in dozens of countries.

Kalashnikov never hid the fact that he studied German developments, but his assault rifle became a fundamentally new design, optimized for Soviet realities - cheap production and operation in any climatic conditions.

The role of AK prototypes in post-war rearmament

Although AK-47 did not make it to the front, its prototypes played a key role in transition of the Red Army to an intermediate cartridge 7.62×39 mm. Before this, Soviet soldiers used:

• 🔫 Submachine guns (PPSh-41, PPS-43) chambered for 7.62×25 mm - short range.
• 🎯 Rifles (Mosin, SVT-40) under 7.62×54 mm R - high recoil, low rate of fire.

The new cartridge made it possible to combine acceptable firing range (up to 800 m) with automatic controllability. This was a revolution in small arms that influenced developments around the world (for example, the American M16 and Belgian FN FAL intermediate cartridges are also used).

First serial AK-47 entered the troops in 1949–1951, and by 1955 its modifications were created:

• 🔗 AKS-47 - with a folding stock for paratroopers.
• 📌 DCA — with a night sight (experimental model).
• 🔥 PKK (1961) - light machine gun based on AK.

Universal cartridge 7.62×39 mm|Reliability in extreme conditions|Easy maintenance and repair|Low cost of mass production-->

Myths and legends about the AK-47: what is true and what is not

There are many myths surrounding the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Let's look at the most common ones:

Myth 1: “An AK-47 will never jam.”

Reality: Although the AK is known for its reliability, it not ideal. If it is heavily soiled or low-quality cartridges are used, misfires may occur. However, compared to competitors (e.g. M16 first versions) it is really less sensitive to operating conditions.

Myth 2: “Kalashnikov copied his design from the Germans.”

Reality: As already mentioned, similarities with StG 44 superficial. Soviet designers (including Kalashnikov) studied captured weapons, but AK-47 was the result self-development, optimized for Soviet production capacities.

Myth 3: “The AK-47 is the most accurate weapon in the world.”

Reality: In terms of accuracy of fire, the AK is inferior to many modern rifles (for example, AR-15 or HK G36). Its main advantage is reliability and simplicity, not sniper accuracy.

⚠️ Attention: On the Internet there are often photographs of “AK-47 from the Second World War” - as a rule, these are fakes or replicas. Real prototypes from 1944–1945 are extremely rare and are kept in museums (for example, in the Small Arms Museum in Tula).

The legacy of the AK-47: from the Korean War to the present day

Although AK-47 did not have time to participate in the Great Patriotic War, he was tested in dozens of conflicts:

• 🇰🇷 Korean War (1950–1953) - first mass combat use.
• 🇻🇳 Vietnam War — The AK has become a symbol of guerrilla warfare.
• 🇦🇫 Afghan War (1979–1989) - Soviet troops and Mujahideen used different modifications.
• 🌍 Local conflicts of the 21st century - from Syria to Ukraine.

Today AK-47 and its modifications (AKM, AK-74, AK-12) are in service in more than 100 countries. According to experts, released about 100 million copies - this is a record among small arms.

Reasons for this popularity:

• 💰 Low cost (2-3 times cheaper than Western analogues).
• 🛠️ Easy to repair — you can literally disassemble and reassemble the AK on your knees.
• 🌡️ Work in any conditions - from the Arctic tundra to the deserts of the Middle East.

It's interesting that I Mikhail Kalashnikov Until the end of his life he remained a modest person. When asked about the secret of the success of his machine gun, he answered: “I just did what the soldier needed.” In 2013, a year before his death, he even wrote a letter to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church with repentance for the fact that his invention “claimed so many lives.”

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the history of the AK-47