DSHK: also written DShK: Degtyarov-Shpagin Krupnokaliberny - Russian / Soviet 12.7 mm Heavy Machine Gun. The DShK is a Russian 12.7 mm heavy machine gun developed during the 1930s, and produced from 1938 to 1980. The DShK takes a 50 round belt and fires at a rate of 550 to 650 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 860 meters per second (m/s). The DShK was the standard multi-role Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) of the Soviet Military. The DShK was fielded in 1938 and subsequently used during "The Great Patriotic War" (a.k.a. WW II) and with modifications and updated configurations, is still is service with the Russian military and several other countries to the present day. The DShK is widely used around the world from Afghanistan to Vietnam to Africa to Central and South America. Like the famous AK-47 Assault Rifle, this well made Heavy Machine Gun was widely exported, sold and given to East Block and Warsaw Pact allies by the Soviet Union for use by it allies all over the world.