Editing Automatic rifle (section)

===AK-47===
{{main|AK-47}}
[[File:AK-47 type II noBG.png|thumb|An [[AK-47]] with a machined receiver]]
Like the Germans, the Soviets were influenced by experience showing most combat happens within 400 meters and that their soldiers were consistently outgunned by heavily armed German troops, especially those armed with the [[Sturmgewehr 44]] assault rifles.<ref>[http://www.oneworld-publications.com/pdfs/Small%20Arms%20Trade_ch1_22%20Nov.pdf Chapter 1. Symbol of violence, war and culture] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616193104/http://www.oneworld-publications.com/pdfs/Small%20Arms%20Trade_ch1_22%20Nov.pdf |date=June 16, 2012 }}. oneworld-publications.com</ref><ref name="washingtonpost2006">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112400788.html Weapon Of Mass Destruction]. Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-19.</ref> The Soviets were so impressed with the Sturmgewehr 44, that after World War II, they held a design competition to develop an assault rifle of their own.<ref>[http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/weapons/ak-47-questions-about-most-important-gun-ever History of AK-47 Gun – The Gun Book Review]. Popular Mechanics (2010-10-12). Retrieved on 2012-02-09.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/jdeere2012/d/77028741-American-Rifle-a-biography |title=Scribd |publisher=Scribd |access-date=2012-08-23 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910222936/http://www.scribd.com/jdeere2012/d/77028741-American-Rifle-a-biography |archive-date=2012-09-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The winner was the [[AK-47]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/> It was finalized, adopted and entered widespread service in the Soviet army in the early 1950s.<ref name="washingtonpost2006"/> Its firepower, ease of use, low production costs, and reliability was perfectly suited for the Red Army's new mobile warfare doctrines.<ref name="washingtonpost2006"/> The AK-47 was widely supplied or sold to nations allied with the USSR and the blueprints were shared with several friendly nations (the [[People's Republic of China]] standing out among these with the [[Type 56]]).<ref name="washingtonpost2006"/> The AK-47 and AKM type rifles are the most produced firearms in history.