The DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7×108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield. It took its name from the weapons designers Vasily Degtyaryov,  and Georgi Shpaginn. It is sometimes nicknamed Dushka (lit. &quot;Sweetie&quot;, &quot;Dear&quot;), from the abbreviation.