Kbs wz.96 (Beryl)

History

In the 1980s, the Polish Army began to develop a new assault rifle, the shape of which continued the classic Kalashnikov AK-47. This weapon for the Soviet 5.45x39mm cartridge became the Kbk wz. In 1988 the "Tantal" was subsequently adopted as the standard infantry assault rifle by some 25,000 Polish armies. However, with the fall of the Soviet Empire in 1991 and the subsequent entry of Poland into NATO in 1999, the search for a new automatic weapon began with the NATO standard 5.56x45mm cartridge, and this work resulted in the Kbs wz.

1996 "Beryl" series, launched in 1997.

Development of the new rifle began in the early 1990s, but gained momentum in the mid-19th century when engineers from the Luznik Arms Factory (Radom) took over the basic wz. It was modified by Tantal Workings in 1988 for the requirements of the 5.56mm cartridge.

The first rifles appeared in 1995 and underwent extreme testing, leading to subsequent evaluations that paved the way for the weapon's official adoption in 1996. Serial production began in 1997, but was not until 2011 wz.

It was finally standardized in the Polish Army stockpile in 1996, replacing the earlier Tantal designs and other Soviet-inspired automatic weapons in circulation at the time.

The core of the assault rifle is the same clear outline (albeit properly modernized) as the classic AK-47 established decades ago. Its receiver is large, rectangular, with the cylinder above the barrel, which extends below.

The two-piece front end supports and protects the front support hand while firing. The AK-style curved magazine is located under the receiver and in front of the trigger assembly as usual. Wire support shoulders are typical and can be routed on the receiver side to facilitate a tighter profile.

Iron sights are fitted as standard, although the receiver also supports mounting optics due to the use of a small section of Picatinny rails. A bipod attached to the barrel in front of the cylinder turned the beryl into some sort of light squad support weapon. The flash hider is also capable of firing rifle grenades, and the lower handguard is designed to support the installation of a single-shot 40mm Lower Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) - significantly extending the tactical reach of Polish infantry bases. The field bayonet that can be attached to the weapon also comes with a standard wz.

1996 weapon kit.

Beryl's cartridge feeding system uses 20 or 30 round plastic curved magazines, and a special adapter allows the weapon to be fed from M16 STANAG magazines. Although wz. 1996 via wz origins. 88 Tantal, Tantal's magazines are not interchangeable with new weapons. While primarily used for the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, two other main forms emerged in the series, the Beryl M545 and Beryl M762 - undoubtedly introduced to increase the weapon's mass market appeal.

The two variants are for 5.45mm and 7.62mm cartridges, respectively. wZ. The 2004 is another variant featuring an expanded tactical design with new lightweight folding shoulder straps and extensive use of Picatinny rails to support tactical accessories, including vertical fore grips. As with all modern offensive weapon systems, the base is wz.

The 1996 full-length beryl weapon was also modified to complete the role of the assault carbine by using a shorter barrel and front end assembly. The model was aptly named "Mini-Beryl" and was introduced in 1997.

About 65,000 wz. Since 1996, the gun has been adopted by the Polish army, and the gun has also been adopted by the Lithuanian special forces and the Nigerian general army. The Afghan Reconstruction Army reportedly received thousands of wz. 1996 Polish Rifle Team.

The weapon has a large share of combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan with Polish, Lithuanian and Afghan forces.

The future of wz, although it continues to be useful. 1996 is already suspected as MSBS-5 in today's Polish Army (2015). The 56 Radom assault rifle is being considered for release as a future standard. This modular weapon (described in detail elsewhere on this page) is available in standard configuration and in bullpup form.

It is more or less of a traditional design, holds 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges, is fed by a 30-round curved magazine, has extensive Picatinny rail support, and is gassed by a short stroke piston and a rotating bolt sports.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes