The 14.5 mm 2M-5 is a Soviet deck-mounted twin KPV/KPVT heavy machine-gun installation designed for fast motor torpedo boats such as Project 123K/P-4 craft. It combined two 14.5x114 mm guns, local optical aiming, 360-degree traverse, and 80-round belts per gun in a compact manually operated naval mount, giving small boats close-range fire against aircraft, surface targets, and shore positions.
North Vietnamese P-4 torpedo boats attacked USS Maddox on 2 August 1964 with torpedoes and 14.5 mm machine-gun fire; the 2M-5 was the twin 14.5 mm KPV mount associated with Project 123K/P-4 motor torpedo boats, so this row is limited to that P-4/14.5 mm gun evidence.
The 2M-5, 2M-6, and 2M-7 were related Soviet 14.5 mm naval KPV/KPVT mount designs adapted to different small-craft roles.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2M-5 | Motor torpedo boat deck mount | WeaponSystems.net identifies the 2M-5 as the twin 14.5 mm KPV naval mount produced by Tulamashzavod for Soviet and export small craft. Sources: WeaponSystems 14.5mm 2M-5 |
| 2M-6 | Armored-boat turret counterpart | Tank Encyclopedia describes the 2M-6 as a related 14.5 mm naval installation for armored boats. Sources: Tank Encyclopedia KPV |
| 2M-7 | Patrol and minesweeping boat mount | The 2M-7 was the related patrol-boat and minesweeper twin KPV mount; a separate catalog page covers an MT-LB field conversion that reused that mount. Sources: Tank Encyclopedia KPV |
The 2M-5 is a naval mount for the KPV/KPVT heavy machine-gun family rather than a separate cartridge or gun design.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 14.5 mm heavy machine gun family | WeaponSystems.net identifies the 2M-5 ordnance as two 14.5 mm KPV heavy machine guns, while the cataloged KPV page covers the wider gun family and its vehicle, anti-aircraft, and naval installations. Sources: WeaponSystems 14.5mm 2M-5 |
The 2M-5 gave Project 123K/P-4-size torpedo boats a compact twin 14.5 mm weapon for close surface, shore, and low-altitude air targets. The mount sat above deck with no deck penetration, used local optical sights, and relied on the gunner rather than powered fire-control drives.
Designed for motor torpedo boats, the 2M-5 replaced lighter heavy-machine-gun fits on postwar small craft with twin KPV-class 14.5 mm firepower.
Sources: WeaponSystems 14.5mm 2M-5; Tank Encyclopedia KPV.
The mount used local optical sights, one gunner on the mount, and separate 80-round belts for each gun.
Source: WeaponSystems 14.5mm 2M-5.
The Vietnam row rests on North Vietnamese P-4 boats and 14.5 mm machine-gun fire in the 2 August 1964 Gulf of Tonkin action, not on a claim that every P-4 operator used identical Soviet-built mounts.
Sources: HistoryNet North Vietnam P-4 Torpedo Boat; WeaponSystems 14.5mm 2M-5.
Tank Encyclopedia traces the Soviet Navy requirement for three twin 14.5 mm Vladimirov machine-gun installations to March 1946, with OKB-43 assigned to the work.
Sources: Tank Encyclopedia KPV
WeaponSystems.net lists 1952 service entry and Tulamashzavod production for the 2M-5 naval mount.
Sources: WeaponSystems 14.5mm 2M-5
HistoryNet describes three North Vietnamese P-4 torpedo boats attacking USS Maddox, with two boats firing 14.5 mm machine guns and one round striking the destroyer.
Sources: HistoryNet North Vietnam P-4 Torpedo Boat
