The experience of many operations of special services and military units showed that a good result is possible only with careful preparation. Often the task requires discreet completion. This condition can be fulfilled if there is a special weapon designed for covert use. One of these models, designed specifically for the KGB and the Main Staff of the GRU of the USSR, was the noiseless pistol SME “Thunderstorm”.
History of the creation of weapons
At the end of 1965, engineers of the Tula Arms Plant and TsNIITOCHMASH in Klimovsk commissioned the State Security Committee to construct a unique pistol for the SME. According to the order of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR No. 145 of August 24, 1972, KGB officers were armed with this model (under the TOZ-37M index).
What does the acronym SME stand for?
Soviet-made pistol "Thunderstorm" in Western countries received several names. He is known throughout the world as the “Russian whisper” and the “perfect killer gun”. Such a glory went to the weapon, because its use makes it possible to exclude even the slightest sound when firing. During the shot, only a faint metal knock is heard, which is produced by parts of the mechanism. Thanks to this feature, this model in the Soviet Union became known as the SME - a small, silent special pistol.
Application
The SME “Thunderstorm” pistol was specially designed for the fighters of the Main Intelligence Directorate and special units of the KGB. This model was widely used during the military conflict in Afghanistan. During the Cold War, GRU fighters in Central America also used these weapons.
How is a complete lack of sound achieved?
Silent firing from a weapon such as an SME is achieved through the use of special cartridges. In their design there is a special piston located between the bullet and the powder charge, which prevents the contact of hot gases with air during combustion. During the shot, the powder charge burns out, the gases formed from this pressure do not press on the bullet, but on the piston, from which the energy transfers to the bullet. At the time of the shot, the bullet flies out of the barrel channel, and the piston remains in the barrel. The form does not allow him to fly out. The piston body thus holds the powder gases in the barrel, prevents them from flying out after the bullet.
Design
The SME pistol is a compact system that uses two barrels located in one rotary unit. The trunks have thickenings, allowing to restrain the bursting of sleeves from gases. USM consists of two triggers and helical coil springs of cylindrical shape. It is located in the handle of the SME.
The gun is brought into combat condition with the help of a special lever - a cock. Each trigger has its own trigger, which is under the influence of direct traction and the mainspring. To keep the trigger in the cocked position, the system has a spring-loaded sear.
USM pistol "Thunderstorm" is not self-cocking. The weapon is ready to fire after cocking the lever, which springs are pulled to the shock. Aiming with PSM is carried out using an unregulated rear sight and front sight. Due to the small size of this weapon and the use of a piston, it is structurally not possible to equip the gun with automation. In this case, the piston flying out of the barrel would complicate the work of the mechanics of the SME.
The Thunderstorm pistol has the following performance characteristics:
- USM single action.
- The weapon is designed for cartridges (SP-3) of 7.62x38mm caliber.
- Weight of the pistol without cartridges - 530 g.
- The mass of a weapon with a full combat kit is 560 g.
- The entire length is 115 mm.
- Barrel length - 66 mm.
- The height of the gun is 91 mm.
- The sighting range of the SME does not exceed 50 meters.
- Effective shooting is carried out at a distance of up to 15 meters.
- The capacity of the pistol magazine is 2 rounds.
- Rate of fire - 6 rounds per minute.
What ensures operational safety?
PSM design is equipped with several fuses:
- Manual or non-automatic refers to the flag type. It blocks the sear. Located behind the trigger guard on the left.
- Automatic is used to lock the trigger and trigger rod when the receiver is not closed.
- A fuse that keeps the trigger from contact with the strikers prevents accidental shots when the gun falls.
Weapons advantages
Compared to some other models of pistols, PSM “Thunderstorm” has several advantages:
- The weapon is completely silent. This is achieved due to the fact that the speed of the outgoing bullet is less than the speed of sound.
- The gun is small-sized and lightweight, which allows you to carry it discreetly.
- The use of cartridges SP-3 eliminates the formation of a cloud of powder gases: after combustion, they do not leave the barrel channel. When shooting does not form flashes that can unmask the shooter.
PSM has a large resource. With a careful attitude from each barrel of this weapon can produce more than 500 shots. In some cases, half-cuts occur. This is not a malfunction in the system. The cause of misfires are powder gases, which in 5% of cases have time to slip past the piston. The result is a slightly loud pop when shooting.
State security workers perform most combat missions in urban environments. The Thunderstorm pistol is ideally suited for this, since it does not have a high breakdown effect. From a distance of 50 meters with SMEs, a board with a thickness of 250 mm can be pierced through. A sheet of steel from this weapon cannot be pierced even at close range. Using this gun, you can not be afraid of ricochets and casualties among the civilian population.
