Photo File: OZ-14 Grosa

The OZ-14 Groza (Russian ОЦ-14 Гроза) is a Russian bullpup assault rifle with multiple fire modes in caliber 7.62 × 39 mm and 9 × 39 mm subsonic. It was developed in the 1990s at ZKIB-SOO (Central Design and Research Bureau for Sports and Hunting Weapons) in Tula, Russia. The weapon is colloquially known as OZ-14 or OZ-14 "Groza" ("Thunderstorm"). There is a variant derived from the OZ-14-4A "Groza-4", the TKB-0239 (ТКБ-0239), also known as OZ-14-1A "Groza-1", in caliber 7.62 × 39 mm.

Work on the OZ-14-4A project began in December 1992. The chief developers of the weapon were Valery Telesh, responsible for the GP-25 and GP-30 underslung grenade launchers, and Yuri Lebedev. The team was tasked with developing an integrated system that would combine all the advantages of weapons for short combat distances in a single weapon based on the AKS-74U. First prototypes were ready for testing within a year, and the weapon was production-ready by early 1994.

The weapon was presented to the public in April 1994 at the MILIPOL Expo in Moscow and shortly thereafter adopted by the Russian Interior Ministry. The success of the OZ-14-4A in the hands of Interior Ministry troops drew the attention of the Russian Defense Ministry, which was also seeking such a weapon. After testing, the weapon was included in the arsenal of Spetsnaz, some airborne units, and specialized combat units such as engineers. The weapon was originally designed to fire four calibers - 5.45 × 39 mm, 5.56 × 45 mm, 7.62 × 39 mm, and 9 × 39 mm. This idea was abandoned, and the assault rifle was designed for the 9 × 39 mm caliber to meet the Interior Ministry's requirements for a close combat weapon for use in Chechnya.

The components of the OZ-14-4A are 75% compatible with those of the AKS-74U. The basic components of the weapon are borrowed directly from the AKS-74U and only slightly modified, simplifying the overall design and significantly reducing the cost of the weapon. The design of the weapon is modular, allowing for the assembly of one of the four weapon versions depending on the mission requirements. The bullpup layout improves balance and makes the weapon easier to carry. The grip is shifted forward, making the assault rifle compact enough to be carried concealed and well-balanced enough to be fired like a pistol with only one hand.

The weapon is straight pull bolt-action and has a hammer. It has only one trigger; a three-position fire mode selection and safety switch on the left side of the receiver determines whether the trigger fires the rifle or the grenade launcher, or if it is secured. The assault rifle has open sight in the carrying handle, consisting of an adjustable peep sight, pre-calibrated for distances from 50 to 200 m, and a front sight. A flip-up sight is used for aiming with the underslung grenade launcher. The weapon can be equipped with various optical aiming devices, such as the PSO-1 telescopic sight, which can be mounted directly on the carrying handle, or, as in early models, on a mounting point on the left side of the receiver. The OZ-14-4A has a rail for night vision optics, on which all common night vision optics can be mounted.

The weapon is delivered in an aluminum transport container with equipment and accessories for a wide range of tactical situations. The transport container includes two different grip frames and trigger groups, one for use with the modified GP-25/30 underslung grenade launcher and another for use without the grenade launcher. When the underslung grenade launcher is installed, the rifle/grenade launcher system is operated with a common trigger. A selector switch on the left side of the grip near the trigger guard allows the user to choose between the rifle or grenade launcher barrel. If the underslung grenade launcher is not mounted, a front vertical grip takes its place. Also included in the standard equipment are a suppressor and a quickly attachable shorter barrel for use with the suppressor, if maximum compactness is desired.

VARIANTS OF THE GROZA:

• OZ-14-1A Grosa-1 – Main model in caliber 7.62 × 39 mm M43; uses the same magazines as the AK-47/AKM assault rifle family. The weapon in this caliber, originally only experimentally used in this weapon, was later adopted by the army in 1998 for paratroopers, engineers, and Spetsnaz troops. It has a longer range and stopping power than the subsonic version and can use cheaper and already stockpiled ammunition.
  • OZ-14-1A-01 – Carbine variant with a short barrel and a front vertical grip.
  • OZ-14-1A-02 – Special carbine variant with a short barrel with suppressor thread.
  • OZ-14-1A-03 – Special sniper variant with a short barrel, suppressor thread, and a mounting point for scopes on the carrying handle.
  • OZ-14-1A-04 7.62/40 – Grenade launcher variant with a long barrel and a GP-30 underslung grenade launcher.
• OZ-14-2A – Experimental model in caliber 5.45 × 39 mm M74. Abandoned due to lack of stopping power compared to the M43 and 9 × 39 mm subsonic models.
• OZ-14-3A – Experimental model in caliber 5.56 × 45 mm NATO. Not produced due to lack of interest from the military and the company's foreign customers.
• OZ-14-4A Grosa-4 – Main model in caliber 9 × 39 mm subsonic; uses the same 20-round magazines as the AS Val assault rifle and the VSS Vintorez sniper rifle. Introduced in 1994 for the OMON special forces of the Interior Ministry.
  • OZ-14-4A-01 – Carbine variant with a short barrel and a front vertical grip.
  • OZ-14-4A-02 – Special carbine variant with a short barrel and suppressor thread.
  • OZ-14-4A-03 – Special sniper variant with a short barrel, suppressor thread, and a mounting point for scopes on the carrying handle.
  • OZ-14-4A-04 9/40 – Grenade launcher variant with a long barrel and a GP-30 underslung grenade launcher.

Benefits

• Compact size, relatively light weight, and the bullpup layout provide good balance and reduced recoil.
• Equally reliable as Kalashnikov assault rifles, as the internal components are based on the same design.
• 9 × 39 mm SP-5 and SP-6 subsonic projectiles, together with the included suppressor, enable very quiet shooting.
• The heavy 9 mm projectile (16 g) has high stopping power.
• Good accuracy, along with high damage potential and good penetration of the projectiles, as well as a decent rate of fire, allow for reliable engagement of targets with Class III ballistic vests and targets behind cover.
• The modular design allows the system to be converted into an assault rifle, a close combat assault rifle, a grenade launcher, or a sniper rifle.
• The subsonic speed of the 9 × 39 mm projectiles makes them surprisingly useful for close combat situations, with the Groza being no exception.

Disadvantages

• The short distance between the rear sight and front sight makes aiming difficult. The quickly dropping trajectory of the 9 × 39 mm projectiles makes selecting the aiming point challenging.
• The bullpup layout makes magazine changes difficult.
• The 9 × 39 mm subsonic version has a small magazine capacity of 20 rounds.
• Using a common trigger for both the assault rifle and the grenade launcher slows down the transition between the two types of ammunition.
• The side mounting options for various optical aiming devices need to be mounted separately.
• In variants without a grenade launcher, the center of gravity shifts.
• Shooting left-handed is impossible since the spent cases are ejected close to the face on the right side of the weapon.
• The center of gravity is in the pistol grip and strains the right hand, reducing precision.

Source: Wikipedia