AKM Assault Rifle : HMAS Darwin

7.62mm AKM style assault rifle. This weapon is ostensibly an AKM, but has a number of characteristics that were typical of the earlier AK47 series, including the plain stamped steel (un-corrugated) cover on receiver and the method of attaching the butt stock to the receiver. This evidences manufacture in a non-Soviet or Russian country. Weapon has stained softwood butt, trigger grip and fore stock. Sighted to 800 m. Corrugated trigger guard. Rear sling attachment on rear-most part of receiver, on left hand side. Fore sling attachment point is mid way along the gas piston housing. Gas piston tube has four vent holes. Fire selector markings are engraved with symbol for infinity and 'I'. There are no manufacturer's marks (other than a serial number) present.

Weapon seized by HMAS Darwin on 27 February 2016 from a stateless fishing vessel, the 'Samer', approximately 170 nautical miles (313 kilometres) off the coast of Oman and headed for the Somalian coast. The intercepted weapon cache, which was concealed under fishing nets, included some 1989 AKM assault rifles, 100 rocket propelled grenade launchers, 49 PKM general purpose machine guns, 39 PKM spare barrels and 20 60mm mortar tubes. Darwin's deployment on Operation MANITOU in January-July 2016 was part of Australia's committment to the Combined Maritime Forces, (CMF) a multinational effort to prevent terrorism, piracy and drug smuggling in the Middle East and off the North East Coast of Africa.