The Greatest Individual

     Mikhail Kalashnikov, shown above holding an AK-47, or Avtomat Kalashnikova model 1947, has had arguably the greatest impact on the modern world out of any other individual in history. The AK series of assault rifles, designed by Kolashnikov for use by the Red Army, is the most recognizable and feared weapons platform in the world. It has claimed more lives than any other weapons system ever designed. Its ease of use and reliability has made the AK the favorite weapon of over 50 countries, as well as both criminals and freedom fighters worldwide. Without a doubt, the AK is the most well known weapons platform in the world. The man behind the gun, however, is far less famous.

Early Career

     Kalashnikov began his military career in 1938, when he was conscripted into the Red Army. He was assigned to the 24th Tank Regiment of the 12th Tank Division and was made a Senior Sergeant, or tank commander, because of his skills as both a tank driver and a mechanic. In 1941, at the Battle of Bryansk, Kalashnikov received a wound that would end up changing the world for ever. While recovering in the hospital, which he walked to by himself while injured, Kalashnikov suffered frequent flashbacks to the battle. He blamed the slaughter of Soviet troops on the German’s superior submachine gun, the MP-40. At the time, the Nazi war machine’s main strategy was known as Blitzkrieg, or Lightning War. The strategy involved rapidly swooping through a city, eliminating resistance all the while. Without the reliable rapid-fire the MP-40 offered, Blitzkrieg would likely have been significantly less effective. In his hospital bed, he began working on preliminary designs a submachine gun he hoped would give the Red Army an edge over the Germans. This marked the beginning of Kalashnikov’s career as a weapons designer.

The AK Is Born

     Even though Kalashnikov’s original smg was rejected by the Soviet higher ups, it was not a complete failure. His commanding officers recognized his talent and appointed him to the Central Scientific-Developmental Firing Range for Rifle Firearms of the Chief Artillery Directorate. There, he designed his first rifle, a gas-operated carbine that chambered the new 7.62 x 39mm cartridge, a shortened version of the 7.62 x 54mmR round. The new cartridge was developed in response to the shorter rifle round utilized by the German StG-44, a Nazi assault rifle that heavily influenced the AK-47. The carbine was rejected in favor of the SKS rifle. Third time, however, proved to be the charm. In 1947 Kalashnikov’s third gun was adopted as the main battle rifle of the Red Army. Christened the AK-47, it was quickly circulated throughout all the countries of the Soviet Union.

Changing The Face Of War

     The AK-47 brought about a new era of warfare. Because of the ease-of-use and reliability of the AK, poor, untrained soldiers could fight well trained national armies effectively. Perhaps the best example of this is the Vietnam War. Once U.S. troops entered Vietnam, they found themselves up against a new kind of enemy. The Viet Cong, equipped with Soviet AK-47and Chinese Type 56 rifles, were able to ambush American troops with rapid firepower. The American main battle rifle at the time, the M14, despite its superior accuracy and larger, more powerful round, could not compete with the AK’s rate of fire. In response, the U.S. based company ArmaLite, headed by Eugene Stoner, developed the AR-15, an assault rifle that chambered the intermediate 5.56 x 45mm NATO round. Later purchased by Colt and renamed the M16, it became the main battle rifle of the U.S. forces in Vietnam. Variants of the M16 are still used today. The M16 matched the Ak-47 in rate of fire, but was still not nearly as effective. Unlike Kalashnikov’s design, the M16 had a nasty tendency to jam in the less-than-perfect firing conditions of Vietnam. This flaw would prove fatal. By 1971, the U.S. began withdrawing troops from Vietnam. Communist forces, armed with Kalashnikov’s guns, had taken Vietnam. Clearly, war had changed. In Iraq, similar things are happening. Islamic extremists armed with AK-47 and AK-74 rifles are creating havoc for U.S. troops armed with M4 carbines, which, like the original M16s, jam in less than perfect environments like the sandy Middle East. Thanks to the AK, smaller, poorly trained forces could defeat the armies of superpowers.

The Greatest Weapon Ever Created

“I am still ready to shake hands with anyone who designs a better assault rifle than mine.”

-Mikhail Kalashnikov

     It is accepted amongst numerous weaponologists that the AK is the best assault weapon ever made. In a world where assault rifles are the main battle implements of nearly every fighting force in the world, Kalashnikov’s rifles are the top of the line. While it is certainly not as accurate as other rifles like the M16 or FN-FAL, its reliability and simple design makes it truly exceptional. The Military Channel, a division of Discovery, named the AK-47 the #1 combat rifle of all time. The AK series of rifles has enabled small forces to over power well trained armies because anyone can use it.

Mozambique features it on its flag.

Osama Bin Laden was rarely seen without it.

Criminals love it.

Even 9 year olds can be trained to use it.

Kalashnikov Today

Today, Mikhail Kalashnikov is viewed differently in different parts of the world. In countries who gained independence with the AK, he is viewed as a hero. In much of the West, he is cast as a villian that profits of the death of others. It is true that without the AK-47, the world might be a better place. Perhaps, without Mikhail Kalashnikov, there might even be world peace. No one can know this for sure. All we do know is the Kalashnikov’s invention changed the world forever. Kalashnikov got no more than a government pension for his invention. He had no intention of making money when he designed the most effective assault weapon of all time. In fact, most of his wealth comes from the brand of vodka he also created. He was simply a patriot that wanted his comrades to be well equiped. For a long time, he has defended his fellow arms makers. In 2002, however, he showed a surprising level of remorse.

“I’m proud of my invention, but I’m sad it is used by terrorists. I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could use and that would help farmers with their work-for example, a lawnmower”

-Mikhail Kalashnikov

 In fact, Kalashnikov did invent a lawnmower which he still uses to cut his grass today. It looks like a mixture between a locomotive and a weedwacker and is held together by blue gaffer’s tape, but it works perfectly. It isn’t overly fancy, but it gets the job done, a trait common in all of Kalashnikov’s inventions.

Even Gandolf loves The AK!!!