The BS-1 (Cyrillic: БС-1), also known as the RGA-86 (Cyrillic: РГА-86) or GSN-19, was an underbarrel grenade launcher designed in the 1960s and produced from the 1970s by TsNIITochMash. The weapon is intended to be used on the AKMSB and AKS-74UB platforms in two different iterations.
History[]
The BS-1 was designed in the 1960s by TsNIITochMash engineers and manufactured by TsNIITochMash in the 1970s to replace the Izdeliye D and Izdeliye DM platforms.[1] The BS-1 was used in the SSK-1 Tishina (Специальный Стрелковый Комплекс Spetsial'nyy Strelkovyy Kompleks, lit. "Special Rifle Complex), consisting of an AKMSB unit with the BS-1. The weapon was updated as the BS-1M in the 1980s when the AKMSB was replaced with the AKS-74UB; it would then be used in the 6S1 Kanareyka (Канарейка, lit. "canary") weapon platform.[2] The weapon remains in use today but only with Spetsnaz forces and potentially other ex-USSR-affiliated nations.[1]
Design Details[]
The BS-1 builds on the previous Izdeliye D and DM launchers in that it is also a "silent" grenade launcher of sorts. The weapon is bolt action and is mounted onto the AKS-74UB platform using two brackets which key into slots under the handguard and barrel. When installed on the host rifle, grenade launching sights are added to the weapon. When not in use, a leather cover is used to cover the weapon's mounting interface. The weapon feeds from a 8- or 10-round detachable box magazine (depending on variant), and chambers using a bolt action.[1] The weapon is intended to be used as an underbarrel weapon only as the weapon has no real provisions for shoulder-firing.
Ammunition[]
The BS-1 and BS-1M take 7.62×53mmR and 5.45×39mm blanks respectively; these are used to propel the 30mm VOG-T grenade inserted in the muzzle of the weapon. These cartridges function very similarly to the 9×93mm cartridge used in the Izdeliye D and DM, in that they feature a piston and a small amount of primer; when the weapon fires, the primer pushes the piston forward, forcing the bullet out while the piston itself is jammed at the case's mouth, trapping powder gases and masking the sound.[1]
Variants[]
- BS-1M
Version using 5.45×39mm blanks.
Gallery[]
