DShK

The DShK M1938 (Russian: ДШК, for Дегтярёва-Шпагина крупнокалиберный, Degtyaryova-Shpagina krupnokaliberny, 'Degtyaryov–Shpagin large-calibre') is a Soviet heavy machine gun. The weapon may be vehicle mounted or used on a tripod or wheeled carriage as a heavy infantry machine gun. The DShK's name is derived from its original designer, Vasily Degtyaryov, and Georgi Shpagin, who later improved the cartridge feed mechanism. It is sometimes nicknamed Dushka (Душка, lit. 'darling' or 'a dea' or 'or beloved person') or Dochka (Дочка, 'daughter') in Slavic-speaking regions and in the DShK using countries, from the abbreviation.