BBC Image: Al Shabab AK 47s, PKM Machineguns

Gun Watch ^ | 25 May, 2015 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

I found the photo of Al Shabab marching, presumably somewhere in Somalia, interesting.  It gives a clear look at some of their weaponry.  As an organization that deals in terror, I would expect it to be extremely conscious of the image that it puts forth.   This likely explains the preponderance of  PKM light machine guns in the hands of the four rightward ranks of the front marchers (their right).

These are probably the most powerful weapons that are carried on foot by Al Shabab.  I only see those four, and it appears that other troops are equipped with AK 47s of various types.  At least one is a folding stock model.  I do not see any evidence of spare barrels for the PKM machine guns, though that means little. 

All the troops that I see are wearing sandals.  Much better than nothing.    It appears that some Mali soldiers wear sandals.  I do not know if they are standard issue.  The vast majority of pictures of other African troops shows them wearing boots.

The PKM uses the 7.62x54 rimmed round, which is not interchangeable with the 7.62x39 round that the AK 47 rifles are chambered in.    The ammunition belts  on the machine gunners are probably the standard 100 round model.  Perhaps they are being carried exposed to play to the cameras.   It seems a particularly bad way to carry them in combat, as it exposes them to tangle with leaves, twigs and grass, and to be caked in mud.

In most depictions of the PKM, the belts are fed from an ammunition box.  I would expect at least one or two helpers to work as a team with the PKM machine-gunners.  The helpers could carry additional ammunition, and perhaps the spare barrel.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[2banana]

It is a parade of islamic thugs.

But they want to look good!

[Azeem]

The PK/PKM uses the same cartridge (7.62x54Rmm) as the PSL and SVD rifles. The AK-47 uses the same cartridge (7.62x39mm) as the light machines guns RPD and RPK. Many of the parts can be swapped, and, if necessary, parts can be combined to make mutant AKs.

[archy]

I do not see any evidence of spare barrels for the PKM machine guns, though that means little.

Particularly if they're the Russian PKP *Pecheneg* Squad automatic weapon version, fairly common with the Russian VDV airborne forces. They don't issue a *spare* barrel with them, as the heavier barrel is not removable.

[archy]

All the troops that I see are wearing sandals. Much better than nothing.

I always found the *takkies* [nylon tennis or running shoes] and *vellies* [Voeldskeins, roughout work shoes approximately equivalent to American suede *hush puppies* shoes popular with teenagers in the 1960s and '70s] used by the Rhodesian forces through the late 1970s to be damned practical in Rhodesia's southern California-like climate and conditions. Even the Rhodesian RLI paratroops made jumps wearing the things instead of the more usual jump boots.

Except for the British South African Police [BSAP] Police Tracking Units [PATU] and some Internal Affairs [INTAF] reserve units, proud of their polished black boots that set them apart from the other troopies.