Weapons of Mass Distruction

Weapons of Mass Destruction

2007

AK-47 is a widely accepted weapon of choice developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947 . It is the most devastating weapon that mankind has ever developed after the atom bomb and claims half a million lives a year . The AK is the first choice of fighters on account of its low costs , light weight , high accuracy , acceptance by infantry soldiers and excellent Soviet design compared to its nearest rival , the American M-1 It is the firearm of preference for armies across the continent and has the capability

to dominate a nation

The AK first saw its test action in the Budapest where 50 ,000 Hungarians were killed compared with about 7 ,000 Soviet soldiers which saw the use of tanks and proved the superiority of a soldier provided right technology and strategy are supplemented . The U .S made M-1 was chunky costly and was out of design meeting the demands of soldiers which resulted in its devastating defeat in the Vietnam War . It was never a match in the jungle warfare which needed the action for unexpected face to face quick action . The AK had a higher magazine capacity and was automated to fire hundreds of rounds a minute

The AK`s international reach expanded after the USSR collapsed and former Soviet bloc countries auctioned off their arms stockpiles . The arms were sold at prices well below the international rates in the markets of Africa which found its way to the local tribal gangs engaged in ethnic conflicts . The dissemination of the weapon happened after the insurgents and terrorists took over the reigns after the Soviet War in Afghanistan . The same scenario is well documented in Iraq , Sierra Leone and Sudan in the urban conflicts with guerrillas holding their own against better trained troops

Sophisticated , expensive arms are in no match for AK-47wich requires little training . It has helped in continuation of conflicts and the weapon 's spread heslps explains the emergence of `small wars` that have lingered far beyond the months and years . It is the best assault rifle developed in the past century though the judicious use remains a matter of concern

References

Larry Kahaner , `AK-47 : The Weapon That Changed the Face of War ,` Wiley Publishers , USA .s

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Weapons of Mass Destruction

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