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War-time Red Army side-car M-72 with DP infantry MG - Мотоцикл Красной Армии М-72 с ручным пулемётом ДП

Vintage arms exhibition. The Day of Mourning - the 70th anniversary of Hitler's attack of Soviet Union.

M-72 is a Soviet copy of the German Wehrmacht BMW R-71 motorcycle. The external distinction between them is that original BMW had the fuel tank with flattened top. Due to the direct Josef Stalin's order five pieces of BMW have been bought anonymously in Sweden. Soviet engineers had no any technical documentation - only the very machines. And they have elaborated all necessary documentation and technology by themselves. Mass production of motorcycles started under the designation M-72 at once on five motorcycle workshops: in Moscow, Leningrad, Kharkov, Gorky and Irbit cities. By this way Red Army have get the excellent motorcycles, which have shown the best service in scout and liaison units during the Great Patriotic war 1941-1945 against Nazis.

M-72 with sidecar were usually armed by Diegtyariov Pekhotny (DP) infantry machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber. Very few pieces were armed by 82-mm mortar instead of lull. M-72 production run immidiatelly since 1941 till 1960.

Curiously but being armament carrier M-72 motorcycles were considered in Soviet military account system as 'armored vehicles' - together with tanks and self-propelled guns.

After the War M-72s were widely used in Soviet police (militia), in Frontier guard and other state institutes - naturally, in army too.

M-72 were the dream of every Soviet motorcycle fun. But only since 1955 the personal ownership of this model was allowed. And all private motorcycles still were on the military account and they ought to be enlisted in a case of war.

Especially this piece has been built by his owner - the member of Kharkov Vintage Automobiles Funs Club - just from the Army depot - together with machine gun istallation. So this piece actually did not take part in the WWII. But been stored at Army depot it remained in the original, authentic state - just the same as war-time motorcycles war. Only MG's barrel has been drilled due to the Police regulations to make impossible it use as a weapon.

Technical data:

Weight (single / sidecar) 225/350 kg

Length - 2130/2380 mm

Width - 815/1590 mm

Height - 960/1000 mm

Base - 1430 mm

Clearance 135 mm

Seat height - 790 mm

Engine power 22 hp at 4600 rev / min

Working volume of 746 cm ³

Number of cycles 4

number of cylinders 2

Cylinder diameter 78 mm

Compression ratio 05.05

Stroke 78 mm

Type A 11 candles

K-37 Carburetor

Ignition battery 3 MT-14

6 V

Relay-regulator RR-1/RR-31

Generator, the power of the T-11, 45W

Transmission drive shaft

Transmission 4-speed

Gear ratios of 3.60 / 2.28 / 1.7 / 1.3

3,75 x19 bus

Tyre pressure 1.5 / 2.5 bar (front / rear)

Fuel capacity 22 liters

7 Fuel consumption l/100 km

The maximum speed 110/95 km / h

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Uploaded on June 26, 2011
Taken on June 22, 2011