The Izdeliye D Dyatel (Cyrillic: Изделие Д «Дятел», lit. "Device D 'Woodpecker'") was a combination Soviet pistol-grenade launcher platform designed and manufactured in secrecy during the early 1960s.
History[]
The Dyatel was designed in the early 1960s as a weapon intended for use by the Spetsnaz; these were intended to destroy various lightly armored targets, all without giving away the position of the shooter. The weapons were produced in secrecy during the 1960s and 1970s,[1] and was ultimately replaced by the BS-1 in its role.[2] A related weapon known as the Izdeliye DM was also designed.
Design Details[]
The Dyatel, in essence, is a single-shot bolt-action pistol. The weapon can fire two different types of ammunition: a subsonic round and a 30mm grenade. The pistol is loaded through an opening through the top of the weapon when the bolt is opened.[2]
The weapon features a stock attachment, a bipod attachment and a muzzle cup used for launching the grenade. The use of a serial number consisting of Latin characters and numerals along with the lack of any manufacturer markings were intended to mask the weapon's origin in the event one was misplaced or captured.[1]
Ammunition[]
The Dyatel could fire the 9×93mm cartridge, along with the 30mm BMYa-31 Yascheritsa (lit. "lizard") grenade. The 9×93mm cartridge was available in two forms: the PFAM Phalanga (lit. "phalanx") armor-piercing cartridge and the PMAM Mundshtuk (lit. "mouthpiece") blank cartridge, used to fire the 30mm grenade. Both cartridges featured a pusher rod 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.[2]
Gallery[]
