gatnerd said:

I’m actually not sure what level the SVD was employed. Perhaps Max can tell us.

Max said in Msg 3152 that the SVD is employed at the squad level. 

However, the Battle Order folks show the SVD at the platoon level.

gatnerd said:

In terms of PKM, I tend to use that interchangeably with PKP. But for awhile now Russia has fielded a 7.62 class LMG as their ‘SAW’.

Battle Order shows the Aussies were two decades ahead of the Russkis in fielding a 7.62 SAW.

stancrist said:

Max said in Msg 3152 that the SVD is employed at the squad level. However, the Battle Order folks show the SVD at the platoon level.

platoon / squad TOE changed with the time and theater

In the Afghanistan marksmen with SVD were assigned to the squad level.

Another NGSW meme out in the wild:

gatnerd said:

A number of countries are now copying the SVD Soviet swag and introduced a 7.62 DMR at squad level...

Which is somewhat ironic, since employment of the SVD at squad level was unique to the Afghanistan theatre (see Msg 3160).

Since then, having a DMR in each squad apparently was deemed no longer necessary.  Now there is only one DMR at platoon.

gatnerd said:

In general I'm very in favor of a 2 caliber Soviet/Russian configuration vs the US attempt / GPC attempt at having 1x caliber at the squad level.

I dunno.  Even disregarding the Level IV armor question, there is still the matter of the short effective range incurred by the majority of squad members in any two-caliber system.

I can't help but wonder if it may be possible to have one caliber that combines the advantages of both SCHV and full-power ammo into a single "have your cake and eat it" round.

stancrist said:

I can't help but wonder if it may be possible to have one caliber that combines the advantages of both SCHV and full-power ammo into a single "have your cake and eat it" round.

So maybe start by defining those advantages? And what round is that pic BTW? I had a bit of a look around and 6mm BR Norma springs to mind for nice long projectiles. I know that 6mm BR Reminton would fit into AR15, but that ship has sailed anyway.

That's 6mm SAW, with a hybrid case it could probably satisfy the conditions for a 6mm "Optimum" round 

graylion said:

So maybe start by defining those advantages?

SCHV:  large magazine capacity; "controllable" full-auto fire (in a rifle).

Full-power:  greater effective range; tracers visible to longer distance.

graylion said:

And what round is that pic BTW?

6x45 SAW.  Reportedly had 7.62x51 range, but usable in the M16 with slightly lengthened receiver.

Gr1ff1th said:

That's 6mm SAW, with a hybrid case it could probably satisfy the conditions for a 6mm "Optimum" round 

How about 6mm AR? Looks good with a hybrid case?

stancrist said:

       gatnerd said: In terms of PKM, I tend to use that interchangeably with PKP. But for awhile now Russia has fielded a 7.62 class LMG as their ‘SAW’.

Battle Order shows the Aussies were two decades ahead of the Russkis in fielding a 7.62 SAW.

P.S.  The US Army was three decades ahead of the Russians in fielding a 7.62 machine gun at the squad level.

YouTube

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stancrist said:

I can't help but wonder if it may be possible to have one caliber that combines the advantages of both SCHV and full-power ammo into a single "have your cake and eat it" round.

yes, combining all advantages... and disadvantages. TANSTAAFL