Tabuk_History.htm

After importing thousands of AK-47 rifles from many countries, Saddam Hussein ordered the Iraqi Ministry of Defense in the late 1970s to pursue a domestically produced copy of the AKM rifle to replace worn out rifles for Iraqi troops in the continuing war with Iran.

Capitalizing on the favorable relationship with Yugoslavia, Iraqi technicians secured cooperation with The Zastava Arms Factory in Kragujevac, near Belgrade. By the 1980, Iraq purchased tooling and machinery to establish its own factory near Baghdad under license from Zastava with aid from Yugoslavian workers and technicians. The main factory opened east of Bi'r Musammad, Babil, Iraq. The result was the introduction of AK-type rifles of excellent quality in a country not previously known for superior domestically produced weapons. The Iraqi produced AKM copies of the Yugoslavian M70B1 and M70AB2 rifles became known as the 'Tabuk.'

Iraq is known to have fielded the first Tabuks by at least 1980, making them a veteran of the Iran - Iraq War, the Gulf War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The rifles are currently used by all segments of the new Iraqi Defense Forces and continue to be among the most serviceable and robust weapons among Saddam-era arsenals. Iraq is now replacing it with the imported Colt M-16 Rifle.


Tabuk Types	Description	Remarks

Assault Rifle	Stamped, bulged receiver, wooden stock based on M70B1 in 7.62 x 39mm - SN 1,XXX,XXX	Most Common Type
Assault Rifle	Stamped, bulged receiver, folding stock based on M70ab2 in 7.62 x 39mm - SN 2,XXX,XXX	Most Common Type
Light Machine Gun	Light machine gun 'RPK' version 'Al Quds' with fixed barrel, wooden stock - SN 3,XXX,XXX	Most Common Type
Light Machine Gun	Light machine gun 'RPK' version 'Al Quds' with fixed barrel, folding stock - SN 3,XXX,XXX
Sniper Rifle	Sniper or Designated Marksman Rifle based on M76 but in 7.62 x 39mm - SN 4,XXX,XXX	Often mistaken as the only 'Tabuk'
Assault Rifle	Stamped, slab-side receiver, wooden stock based on M80 in 5.45 x 39mm - SN Unknown	Very few produced
Short Assault Rifle	Stamped, slab-side receiver,rfolding stock based on M92 in 7.62 x 39mm - SN 6,XXX,XXX	Krink Type
Assault Rifle	Stamped, slab-side receiver, wooden stock based on M70 in 7.62 x 39mm - SN 7,XXX,XXX
Assault Rifle	Stamped, slab-side receiver, folding stock based on M70A in 7.62 x 39mm - SN 8,XXX,XXX


General Data	Common Tabuk Assault Rifles
Caliber	7.62 x 39mm
Muzzle Velocity	2297 fps
Cyclic Rate	600-650 rds / min
Sustained Fire	100 rds / min
Weight	8.2 lbs (Wood Stock), 7.5 lbs (Folding Stock)
Length	35.4 inches (Wood Stock), 35.1 to 25.2 inches (Folding Stock)
Barrel Length	16.2 inches

	All data from Tabuk Production Catalog