Zastava M84

The Zastava M84 is a general-purpose machine gun manufactured by Zastava Arms.[1][2] It is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed and fully automatic shoulder-fired weapon.

Zastava M84
Right side view of the M84
Type	General-purpose machine gun
Place of origin	Yugoslavia
Service history
In service	1980s–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Liberian Civil Wars Yugoslav Wars War in Afghanistan Iraq War Syrian Civil War Northern Mali conflict
Production history
Designed	1984
Manufacturer	Zastava Arms
Produced	1980s–present
Variants	M84 M86
Specifications
Mass	8.8 kg (19 lb)
Length	1,175 mm (46.3 in)
Barrel length	658 mm (25.9 in)
Cartridge	7.62×54mmR
Action	Gas-operated (rotating bolt)
Rate of fire	700-800 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	825 m/s
Effective firing range	1000 m
Feed system	Belt-fed with 100 and 250 round belts
Sights	Adjustable iron sights, optional mount required for optical sights

The M84 is a clone of the Soviet PKM, the sole difference being in the stock, which is not hollow like the original and is made out of a different type of wood.[3]

Variants

M84

The M84 is intended for infantry use, and is derived from the Soviet PKM, however the M84 has the flash hider from the original PK. It is also configured for tripod mounting (like the PKS).[4]

M86

The M86 is a clone of the PKT, and is designed to mount as a coaxial weapon on M-84 tanks and other combat vehicles.[4] The stock, bipod, and iron sights are omitted from this version, and it includes a heavier barrel and electric trigger. Another version, the M86A, is designed for external mounts and can be used dismounted.[4]

Users

Afghan National Army soldier with a M84 machine gun in 2012.

•  Afghanistan[5]
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina[6]
•  Burkina Faso: used by the Burkinabese contingent of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali[7]
•  Burundi[8]
•  Democratic Republic of Congo[9]
•  Croatia Former user, replaced by FN MAG and Ultimax 100[10]
•  Iraq[11]
•  Liberia[12]
•  North Macedonia[13]
•  Montenegro[14]
•  Serbia[15]
•  Slovenia former user
•  Somalia[16]
• Syrian National Army[17]
•  Yemen[18]
•  Yugoslavia: designated Mitraljez 7.62 mm M84[4]

Gallery

• 
  A Zastava M84/3
• 
  A Zastava M84
• 
  Side view of the light machine gun Zastava M84.
• 
  A Zastava M84 with telescopic sight

References

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) History of Zastava Arms
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. PK (& close variants) (PDF). Weapons Identification Sheet. Small Arms Survey. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
4. Gander, Terry J. (4 May 2001). "Zastava 7.62 mm M84 general purpose machine gun". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 5922–5923.
5. "Soviet Influenced Heavy Machine Guns in Afghan Service". thefirearmblog.com. 4 May 2018.
6. Republic of Serbia: Ministry of Economy and of Regional Development. Annual Report on the Transfers of Controlled Goods in 2008. pp. 51, 53. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014 – via Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
7. Cherisey, Erwan de (July 2019). "El batallón de infantería "Badenya" de Burkina Faso en Mali - Noticias Defensa En abierto". Revista Defensa (in Spanish) (495–496).
8. c:File:2013 08 27 Baidoa Awdinle 013 (9684135825).jpg
9. Wondo Omanyundu, Jean-Jacques (23 May 2018). "Joseph Kabila continues to over-equip his regime militarily for the upcoming political deadlines". desc-wondo.org.
10. "ISAF Peacekeepers from Croatia". Small Arms Defense Journal. Vol. 6 no. 2. 10 April 2014.
11. "Yugoslav M84 general purpose machine-gun". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
12. United Nations Security Council (25 Oct 2002). Report of the Panel of Experts concerning Liberia (S/2002/1115) (PDF). p. 18.
13. Krott, Rob (October 2003). "Macedonia's Weaponry: A New Nation Re-Arms and Fights". Small Arms Review. Vol. 7 no. 1.
14. Gobinet, Pierre (December 2011). Significant Surpluses: Weapons and Ammunition Stockpiles in South-east Europe (PDF). Special Report. Small Arms Survey. p. 96.
15. Infantry weapons
16. https://www.voanews.com/africa/mortar-rounds-shake-mogadishu-ahead-somali-presidential-vote
17. "Syrie: la 3eme Légion, rebelles syriens et supplétifs de la Turquie à Afrin". France-Soir (in French). 8 November 2018.
18. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhiWvloVMAEAyuV.jpg%5B%5D

External links

• Official website of Zastava Arms
• Zastava M84