Ksp 58

Ksp 58
A Ksp 58 in the Swedish Army Museum
TypeGeneral-purpose machine gun
Place of originBelgium
Sweden
Service history
In service1958–present
Used bySwedish Armed Forces
WarsWar in Afghanistan
2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerErnest Vervier
Designed1950s
ManufacturerFN Herstal
Carl Gustafs stads gevärsfaktori
Produced1958–present
Specifications
Mass11.79 kg (26.0 lb)
Length1,263 mm (49.7 in)
Barrel length630 mm (25 in)
Width118.7 mm (4.67 in)
Height263 mm (10.4 in)
Cartridge
ActionGas-operated, open bolt
Rate of fire650–1,000 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity840 metres per second (2,800 ft/s)
Effective firing range800 m
Maximum firing range1,800 m from tripod
Feed systemNon-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt
SightsFolding leaf sight with aperture and notch, front blade

The Ksp 58 (Swedish: Kulspruta 58, English: Machine Gun 58) is a Swedish variant of the Belgian FN MAG general-purpose machine gun, adopted by the Swedish Armed Forces in 1958.

History

After 1945, many countries were trying to produce their own machine guns based on the MG 42 design. In the early 1950s, Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal succeeded in developing a general-purpose machine gun called the MAG. The initial Ksp 58A version used by Sweden was chambered for 6.5×55mm, while the B and later models were chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO.

Users

  •  Estonia: Ksp 58B version in use. Was first received from Sweden in 1990's as military aid.
  •  Latvia: Ksp 58B version in use. Was first received from Sweden in 1990's as military aid.
  •  Lithuania: Ksp 58B version in use. Was first received from Sweden in 1990's as military aid.
  •  Sweden: Used by the Swedish Armed Forces since 1958 to the present.[1][2]
  •  Ukraine :Ksp 58B version in use. Received as military aid [3]

References

  1. ^ "Kulspruta 58 B - Försvarsmakten". Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2016-12-09. Medeltung kulspruta 58. Retrieved on October 9, 2008. (in Swedish)
  2. ^ Henrik Svensk. "SoldF". SoldF. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  3. ^ "Sweden's KSP-58 Machine Guns In Ukraine". youtube.com. The Armourer's Bench. November 8, 2022.
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