The development of this Russian heavy machine gun started in 1944 and by 1949 it had entered service as an infantry weapon. By the 60's it was withdrawn as it was too heavy to be useful. However, it was also mounted on tanks, BTR's, BRDM-2 and other armor vehicles, even boats. It has heavy fire power and a very long range of 2-3,000m and up to 2,000m vertically as an AA weapon. This version, KPVT (tankovyi) was modified from the infantry version by shortening the receiver, providing a heavier barrel jacket and using a 50-round belt instead of the original 40-round belt. To us Americans, if you convert the 14.5mm it turns out to be .57 caliber. More than half way between the .50 caliber M2 MG and the 20mm round. With the larger bullet and case it provided approximately twice the energy of the .50 caliber round, making it a very formidable weapon.