Denel SS-77 Mk1

The SS77 Mk1 was designed in 1977 by Richard Joseph Smith and Lazlo Soregi, hence the name "SS-77". "SS" for Smith and Soregi, "77" for 1977, the year it was designed. At that time South Arfica was under international arms embargo so Denel had to develop and manufacture the SS77 Mk1 by itself to replace the FN MAG. The SS77 is a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), firing 7,62 mm x 51 mm ammunition. The SS77 is gas operated, firing from an open breech, with positive side-locking. The weapon has a quick-release barrel, folding bi-pod and butt. The SS77 is a belt-fed machine gun capable of firing various types of non-disintegrating and disintegrating belts with a wide range of ammunition, typically ball-, tracer- and armour piercing, without any changes required to the weapon. The 7,62 mm SS77 GPMG can be used as a light machine gun or in a sustained fire role. The configuration of the weapon makes it a flexible and portable weapon, which is highly suited for use on armoured vehicles and as a platoon, section or paratroops weapon and weighs 9,6 kg. Ammunition is fed from the left by non-disintegrating (DM1) belt, or alternatively by disintegrating (NATO M13 or R1M1) link belts in either 100-round dustproof pouches fitted to the weapon, or from plastic, waterproof and rigid boxes containing 200 rounds. To cope with extreme environmental conditions, the weapon is fitted with dust covers on the feed cover and ejection slot. The feed mechanism housed inside the feed cover, like the feed tray, is linked to the central section of the receiver. The cartridge is guided by a bullet lead into the chamber. The weapon has a folding butt for compactness and easy handling, which makes it ideally suited for paratroopers. The rear sight consists of a leaf sight graduated for ranges from 20 m to 800 m in the horizontal position and from 800 m to 1 800 m in the vertical position. The sights are fitted with a Tritium-light (luminous) sight which allows firing under night conditions.