Battlefield Forensics for Persian Gulf States

Regional and U.S. Military Weapons, Ammunition, and Headstamp Markings

Don Mikko, William Bailey

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781138370609
• eBook ISBN: 9780429765537
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Cyber Security
• Index: Computer Science

Battlefield Forensics for Persian Gulf States provides an illustrative reference of various weapons, toolmarks, headstamps, and other traits in order to identify the origins of a variety of guns, casings, and ammunition that can be found in the Middle East. Various conflicts in the region have led to innumerable weapons being used throughout the years. The lead author, Don Mikko, has investigated and examined firearms related items of evidence in countless crime scenes throughout the world. As the Chief of the Firearms Branch at the United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL), Fort Gillem, Georgia, he recruited, trained, and competency tested military contractors deploying to various combat related areas of the world, those providing forensic firearm and toolmark identification support to local commanders. What was learned was that various foreign weapons and ammunition were being utilized in conflicts and by opposing forces.

This book educates readers on the technical data for different types of firearms, ammunition, countries of origin, proof marks, penetrator information and the typical firearm markings imparted on fired cartridge cases, such as breech-face, firing pin, ejector, and extractor markings. Forensics and biometrics within the Persian Gulf have been leveraged since the early 1990s and many of the firearms and types of ammunition covered in this handbook are addressed in an effort to assist those on the ground who are required to be able to identify such items in various scenarios. The information contained within the book has proven to be effective on the battlefield and has helped shape combat operations.

This handbook will serve as a useful reference not only to assist military and contractor personnel within the various combat locations but will also prove to be beneficial for law-enforcement, crime laboratory personnel, forensic firearm and toolmark examiners, crime scene investigators, students, practitioners, and civilian personnel throughout the world.

Weapons of the Opposing Forces in the Persian Gulf, Middle East, and Other Foreign Countries I

The weapons encountered in the Middle East, Persian Gulf, and other foreign countries are far ranging in type, caliber, origin, and application. These devices include handguns, selective fire rifles, sniper and assault rifles, submachine guns, and heavy machine guns, as well as various delivery systems for grenades used against targets as diverse as the foot soldier, armored personnel carriers, tanks, and aircraft.

This section outlines those weapons commonly encountered. The following information includes detailed images for definitive identification, ammunition types and applications, rate of fire, barrel’s rate of twist, effective range, origin of manufacture, and other operational characteristics, as well as physical characteristics such as weight and length of the barrel/overall weapon. Also included is a listing of strengths and weaknesses for each, a brief summary of functionality, and precautionary information.

Contents

I.1 Makarov 9mm Pistol (PM)

I.2 Tariq 9mm Pistol

I.3 Hungarian PA-63 Pistol

I.4 Iraqi Model 74 Pistol

I.5 Soviet AK-74 Assault Rifle

I.6 Soviet AK-47/AKM Assault Rifles

I.7 UZI Submachine Gun

I.8 UK L2A3/L34A1 Submachine Guns

I.9 German G3 Rifle

I.10 Soviet PPS-43 Submachine Gun

I.11 Soviet PPSh-41 Submachine Gun

I.12 Soviet Dragunov Sniper Rifle (SVD)

I.13 Romanian FPK Sniper Rifle

I.14 Soviet RPD Machine Gun

I.15 Czechoslovakian VZ52/57 Light Machine Gun

I.16 Soviet PK Machine Gun

I.17 Soviet DShK 1938/46 Heavy Machine Gun

I.18 Soviet AGS-17 Grenade Launcher

I.19 Soviet RPG-7 Antitank Grenade Launcher

I.20 Soviet RPG-18 Antitank Rocket Launcher

I.21 Soviet SPG-9 73mm Recoilless Gun

I.1 Makarov 9mm Pistol (PM)

TECHNICAL DATA

• Caliber: 9 × 18mm Makarov
• Operation: Double-action, Blowback, semiautomatic
• Max eff range: 40 m
• Feed: 8 rd box mag
• Rate of fire: 40 rds/min
• Weight: 1.7 lbs.
• Length, overall: 6.34 in.
• Length, barrel: 3.83 in.
• Rifling: 4 right
• Rate of twist: 1:9.5 in.
• Land width: 0.084–0.092 in.
• Groove width: 0.180–0.184 in.
• Extractor: 2 o’clock
• Ejector: 7 o’clock
• Manufacturer: Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, Soviet Union

Weapons Brief

The Makarov 9mm pistol (PM) was produced in the former Soviet Union and was the standard firearm within their exhaustive inventory. The Makarov can easily be recognized by the lanyard loop and encircled star located on the grips. The serial number is located on the left side of the frame and on the left side of the slide. The safety is located on the left side of the slide, just in front of the hammer. The Makarov has a double-action trigger mechanism and is semiautomatic.

Also, the Makarov typically uses a low-powered cartridge that subsequently reduces its overall range and penetration power.

The former East German government called this weapon the Pistole M and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) calls it the Type 59 Shi. The Pistole Model has regular handgrips without a landyard loop while the PRC ve...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• Debt of Gratitude
• About the Authors
• Assistant Editors
• Introduction
• I Weapons of the Opposing Forces in the Persian Gulf, Middle East, and Other Foreign Countries
• II Foreign and U.S. Weapons Review
• III Selector Markings and Proofmarks
• IV Armor-Piercing Penetrators Found in the Persian Gulf/Middle East
• V Headstamps
• Index