AAI ACR
Country of
Origin: US
Appears in: US
ACR competition of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Notes: The AAI
ACR (also called the AAI Low-Impulse ACR, as part of the design includes an
internal anti-recoil device) was based on AAI’s previous work during the SPIW
program of the 1970s. The AAI ACR
design presented for evaluation outwardly looked almost completely conventional,
but was quite unconventional in many ways.
Like all the other ACR candidates of the time, the AAI ACR was rejected
by the US Army and became a museum piece.
The
18.5-inch barrel was tipped by a compact pepperpot-type muzzle brake; the bore
used a very lazy twist rate (1:85), since the ammunition was essentially
self-stabilizing. Most of the was
of steel or light alloy, but the stock, fore-end, and pistol grip were of
polymer/plastic construction using materials that were advanced for the time.
(Early versions of the AAI ACR did not have a pistol grip, but instead a
pistol grip wrist.) The fire
selector used a 3-round burst mechanism that fired at a cyclic rate of 1800 rpm
– so fast that the third round would be well downrange before the shooter would
feel the recoil from the first round.
The firing mechanism also fired from a closed bolt for semiautomatic fire
and from an open bolt on burst; this optimized the AAI ACR for both aiming in
semiautomatic fire and cooling in rapid burst fire.
Strangely, though AAI’s round for its ACR had naturally low recoil, AAI
decided use primarily mechanical means in the firing mechanism to limit
dispersion of the rounds. Atop the
receiver was a mount able to use most US and NATO optics and night vision
equipment; in addition, AAI used an early version of Trijicon’s ACOG-type sights
that are now so common on assault rifles and submachineguns today.
This ACOG, though roughly twice as large as modern ACOGs, set the stage
for future developments. The ACOG
had 4x magnification and limited night vision, and even worked well at night.
Standard adjustable iron sights were also developed, with the rear sight
assembly being removable and fitting onto the receiver’s sight base, and a low
sighting rib was also found above the barrel for quick shooting.
The ammunition
that AAI used was based on flechette rounds developed well before the SPIW
program. The muzzle velocity of the
flechettes was very high (over 1400 meters per second), and the flechette had
excellent penetration. The
flechette (like most flechettes) twisted into a fishhook-shape upon striking a
person, causing wounds out of proportion to the size of the flechette – so much
so that it was briefly thought that AAI’s round might be a violation of the
Geneva Accords. However, the AAI
flechette was not without its problems; the long, finned, needle-like shape
(about 1.6x41mm) together with its very light weight (about 0.56 grams) made it
extremely susceptible to wind. The
round, nestled in its casing and liquid-crystal boot, was almost identical in
size to the 5.56mm NATO round, and the magazines themselves were based on
M-16-type magazines. The AAI ACR
could not fire 5.56mm NATO rounds, though – doing so would cause a chamber
explosion, usually accompanied with the bolt assembly blowing backwards out of
the weapon at high speed, possibly injuring or even killing its shooter.
The M-16-based magazines were quickly modified before such an accident
could happen so that one could not load 5.56mm NATO rounds into AAI ACR
magazines and standard M-16-type magazines would not fit into the AAI ACR.
(A 62-round drum was also developed for the AAI ACR, as the company
planned to develop a whole family of small arms based on its ACR if the military
decided to adopt it – including a SAW.) The problems with the ammunition were
one of the main strikes against the AAI ACR; in addition, the cost per round was
very high.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
AAI ACR |
5.56mm AAI Flechette |
3.53 kg |
30, 62 Drum |
$920 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
AAI Low-Impulse ACR |
3 |
2 |
1-1-Nil |
7 |
2 |
3 |
49 |
Heckler & Koch G-11
Country of
Origin: Germany
Appears in:
German weapon competition of the 1970s and 1980s, and later the US ACR
competition.
Notes: The
initial design work for the G-11 began in 1969, in response to a German Army
request for a new rifle with a high first-round hit-probability, even when fired
on automatic, yet would be light, compact, and extremely resistant to harsh
climates. Many designs came and went, but by the late 1980s, Heckler and Koch
presented the G-11 in final form. The G-11, though reportedly a very effective
weapon, suffered from rumors that the ammunition could cook off, that it’s
construction made maintenance difficult for both armorers and users, and that
it’s looks and design were so exotic as to assault the sensibilities of
traditional weapons. In addition, it did not fire 5.56mm NATO ammunition, which
was a cardinal sin in NATO at the time. On top of this came the reunification of
Germany, and the massive amounts of AKM and AK-74-type weapons the former East
German Army already had available. Finally, the G-11 was going to be an
expensive weapon to produce, and retooling for series production would take even
more expense. By 2006, despite reports of very limited use by special operations
forces in various countries, the G-11 is largely a curiosity piece, found mainly
in museums or gun collections.
The G-11 was a
revolutionary design, almost completely encased in plastic composites, with
50-round composite magazines that were sealed in plastic until they were loaded.
Operation is by gas with a hint of blowback, with a cocking "dial" on the side
of the stock and a fire selector above the pistol grip. Original G-11’s had
selector settings for safe, semiautomatic, 4-round burst, and fully automatic.
Once a magazine is loaded into the G-11 (slid into a track atop the handguard),
the rounds face downward, and rounds are pushed downwards into the
breech/chamber. The breech/chamber then rotates 90 degrees to line up with the
21.26-inch barrel. The cocking "dial" does not move when the G-11 fires, and can
also be used as a decocker. The magazine moves back and forth in its track as
the rifle fires; this actually helps dampen recoil, along with some other
recoil-dampening mechanisms inside the G-11. When firing on full automatic, the
cyclic rate is rather slow, at about 600 rpm; but when on burst, the cyclic rate
rises to over 2000 rpm – so fast that the fourth round is well downrange before
the recoil from any of the rounds is felt. (This kind of burst feature served as
a model for future burst-firing weapons, and is now quite common on such
weapons.) This makes bursts extremely accurate and virtually immune to barrel
climb. There is, of course, no spent case ejection, but dud rounds are
automatically ejected from a port with a hinged cover under the "receiver." This
port closes again after the round is ejected. The "receiver" is topped with a
carrying handle that contains a simple 1x aiming tube with a Mil-Dot reticule,
with provisions for the removal of this aiming tube and replacement with a
special 3.5x scope or certain other optics. The G-11 is also a very compact
assault rifle, only a little over 29.5 inches long, despite the length of its
barrel. The barrel is tipped by a cylindrical flash suppressor. The original
version of the G-11 had no provision for the mounting of a bayonet, but this was
quickly rectified.
Heckler & Koch
went through a number of prototypes over the intervening years, but the initial
production model was supposed to be the G-11K2; this model used 45-round
magazines, but there were three mounted above the handguard (which was also
larger, rounded on the bottom, and otherwise rather squarish). (The G-11K2 is
still capable of being loaded with the original 50-round magazines, but they
will not fit into the spare magazine tracks on the sides of the loaded
magazine.) One of these magazines was to be carried inserted into the rifle,
with the other two on separate tracks on either side of the inserted magazine to
allow for quick magazine changes. The three magazines were carried lower on the
top of the handguard than on the original G-11. A locking slot for a special
bayonet was added, and the cylindrical flash suppressor was replaced by
semi-flash suppressor combined with a muzzle set well back from the front of the
weapon, effectively doing the same job. The carrying handle was replaced with
one which could be completely removed, with a mount for various NATO-compatible
optics. (A future modification was to include a length of MIL-STD-1913 rail.)
The burst setting was changed from four to three rounds, to simplify the fire
mechanism. A number of other mechanical and ergonomic modifications were also
carried out, and the shape of the G-11K2 is very different from that of the
original G-11.
Of course, the
most revolutionary aspect of the G-11 is its ammunition, which is caseless. The
bullet and combustible primer is embedded in a block or propellant, and nothing
needs to be ejected after firing; there is no spent brass. The ammunition is
therefore extremely light in weight and compact in size, allowing for a large
magazine capacity without undue weight or magazine size. (I personally think
this sort of ammunition for small arms may be the wave of the near future, but
that’s just my opinion.)
When the US military announced its competition for the ACR (Advanced Combat
Rifle), Heckler and Koch sent some G-11K2s for that competition, where it picked
up monikers like "space rifle" and "plastic plank," despite the fact that the
troops testing the G-11 liked its performance and compact size. However, the US
military had such a large investment in M-16-type weapons, and especially in the
5.56mm NATO cartridge, at the time of testing, which was probably the biggest
reason for its ultimate rejection.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Production of the G-11 began very rapidly in 1990, and just as quickly
slowed in 1991; by 1994, Heckler & Koch were concentrating on the G-41 and
then-upcoming G-36. Despite some 20,000 examples of the G-11 being made, by
2000, most of them had been discarded as pre-war stocks of ammunition were
largely expended and new stocks were almost impossible to make using the
production methods available by 2000.
Merc 2000 Notes:
This is a popular weapon for special ops forces operating in harsh climates. If
you encounter a force armed with the G-11, they are probably clandestine forces
of a large national government or of someone who has a lot of money to spend on
exotic weapons and ammunition.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
G-11 |
4.7mm Caseless |
3.6 kg |
50 |
$805 |
|
G-11K2 |
4.7mm Caseless |
3.6 kg |
45, 50 |
$805 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
G-11 |
4/5 |
3 |
1-1-Nil |
5 |
2 |
3/5 |
48 |
|
G-11K2 |
3/5 |
3 |
1-1-Nil |
5 |
2 |
3/5 |
48 |
Kalashnikov AKMR
Country of
Origin: Russia (Soviet Union)
Appears In:
Twilight 2000 game since its
inception.
Notes: This
weapon was never produced in the real world, at least not officially, though it
is possible that some early AK-74s were in fact modified AKMs.
Any such weapons, however would still be of better quality than a
hypothetical AKMR.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Early in the Twilight War,
the Russians and some of its Eastern European allies had a problem: they had
invested heavily in the new 5.45mm Kalashnikov round, but production of the
AK-74s to fire them was seriously lagging.
At the same time, there were large amounts of AK47s and even AKMs that
were no longer mechanically reliable due to wear.
The decision was made to “fix” those old rifles; they were rebarrelled
and rechambered to accept 5.45mm Kalashnikov ammunition and the new magazines
designed for it, other worn out parts were sometimes replaced, and rotting
wooden stock were replaced with new ones (or sometimes even ones made of plastic
or fiberglass). These weapons were
then issued back out to the hoards of Category III, Mobilization only, and
militia units being raised. The
“AKMR,” as the weapon was dubbed, was regarded as being unreliable compared to
the average AK series weapon, and modification standards were generally poor and
got poorer as the war went on.
Depending on the base weapon, a soldier might either be issued a standard AKMR
or a folding stock AKMRS.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
AKMR |
5.45mm Kalashnikov |
3.7 kg |
30, 40, 75D |
$496 |
|
AKMRS |
5.45mm Kalashnikov |
3.2 kg |
30, 40, 75D |
$521 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
AKMR |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
5 |
2 |
6 |
42 |
|
AKMRS |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
2 |
6 |
42 |
Kalashnikov AK-47 – the Prototypes
Country of
Origin: Russia (Soviet Union)
Appears In:
Russian research leading up to the AK-47.
Notes: There
have been a lot of prototypes, experimental versions, and variants of the AK
series from Soviet and Russian designers over the years.
Many of them failed or were never adopted, for a variety of reasons –
they didn’t work, they were too complicated, they were technologically
infeasible at the time of their inception, the improvements weren’t necessary,
too complex, or too expensive, their designers were not in political favor at
the time, etc. Some of them were
good, solid weapons, some sucked, and some were quite interesting.
This entry will describe some of these variants and put them into game
terms.
There is much
evidence that work on the rifle that became the AK-47 may have started as early
as late 1943 (most experts believe Kalashnikov started with captured Nazi
StG-44s, though Mikhail Kalashnikov himself insisted until his death that his
was an original, independent design, with no influence from any other weapon).
However, the first prototype of the AK-47 that is generally known was
actually the AK-46 No. 1 of 1946.
The AK-46 No. 1 fired the predecessor of the current 7.62mm Kalashnikov round,
which is generally called the 7.62x41mm Kalashnikov or 7.62x41mm M-1943 (both
cartridges were designated by the Russians the M-1943).
The AK-46’s design was quite similar to that of the AK-47, though the
receiver has features reminiscent of the StG-44 – it actually looks like a sort
of blend of the StG-44 and AK-47.
Unlike the AK-47, the AK-46 used a gas piston and rod assembly that are separate
from the bolt carrier. The pistol
grip is actually made of a steel frame with thick wooden grip plates.
The 15.63-inch barrel was ported with 3 holes on either side of the
barrel, just behind the front sight assembly – a feature later dropped,
reportedly as a cost-cutting and manufacturing time-saving measure.
(The front sight assembly actually sits directly above the muzzle.)
The safety and selector switch were separate, and located on the left
side of receiver above the trigger.
Ironically, the receiver was made of stamped steel instead of milled and
machined steel, in order to make the AK-46 lighter and cheaper to produce – a
feature that would not be found on production AK rifles until the introduction
of the AKM.
Prototypes
rapidly moved along to the AK-46 No. 2 version.
Though for the most part similar to the No. 1, the No. 2 changed to a
sectional receiver built out of a combination of stampings that are welded
and/or riveted as necessary. (This
made production easier and cheaper, but led to a somewhat weaker receiver
assembly.) The charging handle
could be detached from the bolt carrier in order to prevent it from being caught
on equipment, clothing, or other possible snags; the AK-46 No. 2 could still be
operated with the charging handle removed by a finger hole in the bolt carrier
face (similar to that of the M-3A1 Grease Gun submachinegun).
The barrel porting was deleted, and the handguards and gas tube made
shorter. The barrel length was
increased to 17.72 inches, though it included a substantial length of
unprotected barrel from the end of the gas block to the muzzle – and the barrel
itself is of a rather narrow cross-section, leading one to believe that bending
could be a problem. The AK-46 No. 3
is based on the No. 2, but has a forward-folding stock of the type found on the
later AKS-47 and AKMS; in addition, the barrel length is reduced to 15.75
inches.
The first AK-47
prototype, the AK-47 No. 1, was still chambered for the 7.62x41mm cartridge.
In external appearance, it looked more like the AK-47 we all know and
love, though the stock had more of a drop and the handguards looked a bit
lumpish. The barrel length remained
at 15.75 inches, but the barrel porting reappeared. The gas piston and rod
assembly assumed their current form, integral with the bolt carrier, joined by a
threaded portion and secured by a pin.
The receiver of the AK-47 No. 1 was once again made of stamped steel,
with a chamber extension to ensure a proper fit with the barrel.
Changes were made to the operation to make locking more reliable and case
extraction simpler and more reliable.
The safety and fire selector were relocated to the now-familiar position
on the right side, with a paddle switch almost identical in shape to production
AK-series weapons. The gas system
did not have the regulator of production AKs.
The AK-47 No. 2
prototype lengthened the barrel somewhat to 15.94 inches, and the barrel porting
was replaced by a two-chamber muzzle brake; the front sight assembly was moved
behind this brake. (The barrel
length does include this brake; the nominal length of the barrel was still 15.75
inches.) The assembly was also of stronger construction.
The handguards were a bit shorter.
The structure of the front end of the gas tube and the gas block are
rather striking – they look almost identical to those of the StG-44.
There were two brass strips on the right side of the receiver near the
front; these were used to mount various vision devices for testing purposes.
The stock had a slightly-raised cheekpiece and much less of a drop than
the AK-47 No. 1; the wood of the pistol grip was checkered.
The AK-47 No. 3 was virtually identical to the No. 2, but the end of the
gas tube and gas block assumed their now-familiar shape, and the two-chamber
muzzle brake was replaced by two simple, oval shaped barrel ports. The AK-47 No.
4 was basically the same weapon as the AK-47 No. 3, but used the same folding
stock as the AK-46 No. 2. The AK-47
No. 5 is the AK-47 No. 4, but without the barrel porting, and a few other
measures to lighten the weapon.
The AK-48 No. 1
and No. 2 were the last prototypes of the AK-47 before the rifle that is known
today as the AK-47 began mass production (which began in late 1948, with first
issues to units starting in mid-1949).
These prototypes were generally in the same form as the production AK-47
and AKS-47; the No. 1 corresponded to the production AK-47 and the No. 2 the
production AKS-47. The ammunition
had been revised, and both examples of the AK-48 fired what is now called the
7.62mm Kalashnikov round. The
barrel assumed the length of production AK-47s – 16.34 inches.
However, while the barrel porting was deleted, the muzzle was threaded to
allow the attachment of various muzzle devices, including silencers and
suppressor, muzzle brakes, or even an adapter for use with a possible (at the
time) vehicular firing port that might be later developed.
The No. 2 used a folding wire stock, though it was simplified in
construction over the folding stock used on the other AK-47 prototypes.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
AK-46 No. 1 |
7.62x41mm Kalashnikov |
3.91 kg |
30 |
$833 |
|
AK-46 No. 2 |
7.62x41mm Kalashnikov |
4.03 kg |
30 |
$830 |
|
AK-46 No. 3 |
7.62x41mm Kalashnikov |
3.9 kg |
30 |
$835 |
|
AK-47 No. 1 |
7.62x41mm Kalashnikov |
4.21 kg |
30 |
$835 |
|
AK-47 No. 2 |
7.62x41mm Kalashnikov |
3.85 kg |
30 |
$860 |
|
AK-47 No. 3 |
7.62x41mm Kalashnikov |
3.89 kg |
30 |
$835 |
|
AK-47 No. 4 |
7.62x41mm Kalashnikov |
3.95 kg |
30 |
$860 |
|
AK-47 No. 5 |
7.62x41mm Kalashnikov |
3.77 kg |
30 |
$835 |
|
AK-48 No. 1 |
7.62mm Kalashnikov |
3.95 kg |
30 |
$797 |
|
AK-48 No. 2 |
7.62mm Kalashnikov |
4.03 kg |
30 |
$822 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
AK-46 No. 1 |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
6 |
3 |
8 |
43 |
|
AK-46 No. 2 |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
6 |
3 |
9 |
52 |
|
AK-46 No. 3 |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
4/6 |
3 |
9 |
44 |
|
AK-47 No. 1/No. 2 |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
6 |
3 |
8 |
44 |
|
AK-47 No. 3 |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
6 |
3 |
8 |
44 |
|
AK-47 No. 4 |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
4/6 |
3 |
8 |
44 |
|
AK-47 No. 5 |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
4/6 |
3 |
9 |
44 |
|
AK-48 No. 1 |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
6 |
3 |
9 |
46 |
|
AK-48 No. 2 |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
4/6 |
3 |
9 |
46 |
Baryshev
B-10
Country of
Origin: Czech Republic
Appears In:
Czech competition for both international markets and to replace the Vz-58.
Notes: This
weapon appears at first to be a reworked AK, but in fact employs a form of
delayed blowback action similar to that of the Hungarian M-39 and M-43
submachineguns, instead of the gas operating system of the AK series.
It is part of a series of weapons, including the B-20 battle rifle, the
B-30 sniper rifle, and the B-40 grenade launcher.
Versions of the B-10 were also designed in 5.56mm NATO caliber (produced
in very small numbers, and producing virtually no sales) and 9mm Parabellum
caliber (mostly as a technology demonstrator, with almost no sales).
Twilight 2000
Notes: This weapon was in very limited issue during the Twilight War, and for
most of the war, its existence was regarded as only a rumor.
Merc 2000 Notes:
Though not a big seller in the Czech or the Slovakian military, the B-10 was
quite popular among several Southeast Asian and African nations who felt the
need to replace their tired old AK-series weapons.
(The modular nature of the weapon also helped in this regard.)
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
B-10 |
7.62mm Kalashnikov |
3.6 kg |
30, 40, 75 |
$853 |
|
B-10 |
5.56mm NATO |
3.6 kg |
20, 30, 40 |
$588 |
|
B-10 |
9mm Parabellum |
3.6 kg |
20, 30, 40 |
$305 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
B-10 (7.62mm Kalashnikov) |
5 |
4 |
2-Nil |
5/6 |
4 |
9 |
46 |
|
B-10 (5.56mm NATO) |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5/6 |
2 |
6 |
41 |
|
B-10 (9mm Parabellum) |
5 |
2 |
2-Nil |
5/6 |
1 |
2 |
36 |
Boeing/HK-USA XM-8
Country of
Origin: Germany/US
Appears In:
Abortive competition to replace the M-16 series in the early 2000s.
Notes: This
weapon was designed to address the numerous flaws of the M-16/M-4 series, and to
provide a sister weapon to the OICW.
The XM-8 is derived from the rifle portion of the OICW (which is itself
derived from the G-36), but does not have the grenade launcher or computerized
sight attached. It is a modular
construction weapon allowing the weapon to be modified for a variety of
different uses and with a large amount of accessories and optics.
The furniture is almost entirely made of high-strength polymer, and does
not get hot to the touch like a metal rifle.
It can also be molded with a variety of camouflage finishes.
The XM-8 boasts an operation that does not foul as easily as the
M-4/M-16, and can be stripped and cleaned much faster.
Ambidextrous controls allow the weapon to be easily used by left or right
handed shooters. The 3-round burst
setting has been dispensed with (to be replaced with better training in fire
control), and the weapon is issued with a day/night 3.6x optical sight
integrated with a laser aiming module.
There are mounts on all sides of the handguard and on top for virtually
any sort of optic or accessory. The
XM-8 was a Heckler & Koch invention, but in 2004, the rights to manufacture the
XM-8 were acquired by Boeing in the US.
Five models of the
XM-8 assault rifle are contemplated at present: the standard XM-8 Carbine, the
XM-8 Compact carbine, two other XM-8s with 10-inch and 14.5-inch barrels, and a
Designated Marksman (DMAR) version with a 20-inch barrel, bipod, and a
higher-powered scope. The Compact
Carbine can be used with or without a buttstock; both have a telescoping stock
(which in the case of the Compact Carbine can be removed completely, reducing
the weight to 2.23 kg). The two
intermediate-length XM-8’s are being experimented with, but probably will not
make the cut, though they may be built and issued in small number for special
applications. The DMAR is not
exactly a sniper rifle, but more a tactical sharpshooting weapon; while the
standard “scope” of the XM-8 has no magnification, and is used only to increase
efficiency of aiming, the DMAR has an actual 3.5x scope.
The magazines are semitransparent polymer 30-round magazines.
It is anticipated that the XM-8 will begin field tests in 2005.
Twilight
2000/Merc 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in these timelines.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
XM-8 Carbine (12.5”
Barrel) |
5.56mm NATO |
2.92 kg |
30 |
$698 |
|
XM-8 Compact Carbine
(9” Barrel) |
5.56mm NATO |
2.73 kg |
30 |
$662 |
|
XM-8 (10” Barrel) |
5.56mm NATO |
2.77 kg |
30 |
$672 |
|
XM-8 (14.5” Barrel) |
5.56mm NATO |
2.91 kg |
30 |
$719 |
|
XM-8 DMAR (20”) |
5.56mm NATO |
4.13 kg |
30 |
$1293 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
XM-8 Carbine |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
3 |
6 |
27 |
|
XM-8 Compact Carbine |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
3/4 |
3 |
6 |
16 |
|
XM-8 Compact Carbine (No Stock) |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
3 |
3 |
7 |
11 |
|
XM-8 (10”) |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
3/4 |
3 |
6 |
19 |
|
XM-8 (14.5”) |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
3 |
6 |
34 |
|
XM-8 DMAR (20”) |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5/6 |
2 |
6 |
55 |
|
XM-8 DMAR (Bipod) |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5/6 |
1 |
3 |
72 |
BSA Model 28-P
Country of
Origin: Britain
Appears in:
Competition to replace the standard British service rifle after World War 2.
Notes: This
rifle was developed to compete with the EM-2 and other weapons during the
British Army weapon trials of 1949-50.
As such, it fires what was supposed to be the new standard British
military cartridge – the .280 British.
The Model 28-P had a squared receiver incorporating an optical sight, but
a rather conventional pistol-gripped half-stock similar to that of the US M-1
Carbine. The trigger mechanism was
made deliberately heavier than required to slow the rate of fire.
The flash suppressor could double as a grenade launcher (though it is not
capable of launching modern-pattern rifle grenades).
Unfortunately, testing showed that it was not a particularly accurate
weapon (by the standards of the time); the Model 28-P also suffered breech
explosion during testing. Though
the breech design was revised and proved reliable, the Model 28-P was cut from
the testing program. No more than
15 of these rifles were ever built.
|
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
|
Model 28-P |
.280 British |
4.01 kg |
20 |
$951 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
Model 28-P |
5 |
3 |
2-Nil |
7 |
4 |
9 |
62 |
Colt ACR
Country of
Origin: US
Appears in: US
ACR competition of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Notes: Colt’s
ACR was a result of the US military’s Advanced Combat Rifle (ACR) program.
The Colt entry was based on the M-16A2; one can see the family
resemblance, but the Colt ACR is still a greatly-modified version.
Like the rest of the ACR candidates, the Colt ACR was rejected and they
were placed in museums (I saw one on display at the Infantry Museum at Ft
Benning) or taken back to Colt for further study.
The Colt ACR
used an adjustable stock similar to the XM-177/M-4 carbine series, but with
seven positions. The standard M-16A2 handguards were replaced with handguards
with heavy heat shielding as well as a long sighting rib, used for short-range
reflex shooting in the same manner as the rib on a shotgun.
The 20.5-inch heavy barrel was tipped with new muzzle brake designed to
be effective, compact and low-profile, yet allow for the use of rifle grenades
and underbarrel grenade launchers.
Fire controls were ambidextrous.
The receiver was topped with a very early version of what became the
MIL-STD-1913 rail; on this rail, an integral Leitz Wildcat 3.5x sight was meant
to be mounted for troops who needed it, or it could be replaced with other
US/NATO optics or a simple carrying handle with iron sights.
The ACR was
specially designed to fire a new 5.56mm duplex round, which features two
smaller-than-normal bullets point-to-tail.
This increases hit probability (and effectively doubles rate of fire),
but also significantly reduces effective range, as the two rounds are each much
lighter and less stable. Standard
5.56mm NATO ammunition could still be fired from the Colt ACR.
Twilight 2000
Notes: As this project was shelved several years before the Twilight War, it was
largely a non-participant in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
The Infantry Museum at Fort Benning had one that was taken along with
most of the weapons, and it was put to use by US Army troops; in addition, at
least 4 others were known to have been used during the war (all in the US).
Duplex ammunition was extremely limited in quantity and the Colt ACRs
were almost always used with standard 5.56mm NATO ammunition.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
Colt ACR |
5.56mm Duplex or 5.56mm
NATO |
3.31 kg |
20, 30 |
$890 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
Colt ACR (5.56mm Duplex) |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
5/6 |
2 |
5 |
41 |
|
Colt ACR (5.56mm NATO) |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5/6 |
2 |
5 |
59 |
*The duplex round consists
of two smaller bullets within one cartridge case instead of one standard-sized
one. Upon achieving a hit upon a
target, the firer will hit the target with at least one bullet.
The second bullet will automatically hit at short range, hit 75% of the
time at medium range, 50% of the time at long range, and 25% of the time at
extreme or longer range. The damage
listed is per individual bullet.
Colt M-16A1 (Experimental)
Country of
Origin: US
Appears in: A
company experiment on the M-16A1 in the mid-1970s.
Notes: This
oddball variant of the M-16A1 was modified from a standard M-16A1 in 1974 to
fire an experimental cartridge (essentially a standard 5.56mm NATO round necked
down to 4.32mm). The idea was to
further lighten the M-16A1 as well as the ammunition.
This experimental M-16A1 was never given an official designation.
The M-16A1 was simply rebarreled to fire the 4.32mm ammunition, and the
bolt and chamber were also modified for the same purpose (in the case of the
bolt, most of the modifications were in the bolt face; the bolt and bolt carrier
assembly were otherwise almost a standard M-16A1 bolt carrier assembly).
This experimental M-16A1 also had some other unusual features – the
carrying handle was removed and replaced with a reflex collimator sight, barrel
was tipped with a muzzle brake, and it used a 3-round burst setting in addition
to a full-auto setting. (The
3-round burst setting was the only feature kept, and reappeared on the M-16A2 in
a simplified form; however, a similar sight was used on the Colt ACR.)
30 of these
rifles were so modified, and extensive field trials were done with them.
Despite the fact that the objective of lighter weight was achieved, and
the collimator sight made the modified M-16A1 quite accurate, the bullet was
simply too light in weight, and was
highly subject to long-range dispersion from wind due to that light weight; it
also did not have the damaging potential of even the lightweight 5.56mm NATO
round The cartridge and the rifle
were therefore dropped from testing.
|
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
|
M-16A1 (Experimental) |
4.32mm Rodman |
3.36 kg |
30 |
$749 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
M-16A1 (Experimental) |
3/5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
6 |
1 |
2/3 |
42 |
Colt M-16EZ
Country of
Origin: United States
Appears in:
Twilight 2000 First Edition Small Arms Guide, though I have embellished the
story a little.
Fictional
(Twilight 2000-Only) Notes: The M-16EZ is a crude copy of the M-16A1 issued to
US militia units starting in 1999. They were built by both Milgov and Civgov so
that their militia forces could have something that is better (and gives them
more credibility) than deer rifles and shotguns. They are made from
reconditioned parts that were originally tagged by the US military as too worn
out for military use, and what newer parts were still available. They vary in
quality and appearance, often having wooden stocks and handguards, telescopic
sights, and other modifications limited only by imagination. Unfortunately, due
to the generally poor condition of the parts involved, they also vary widely in
reliability and performance. The figures given below are for an average M-16EZ.
(The M-16EZ
could also be used in other Twilight 2000 campaign areas, or even in some Merc
2000 or Dark Conspiracy games, representing the sort of weapon that sometimes
appears in various parts of the world -- a crude copy of an existing weapon
built in local machine shops, or even someone's garage.)
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
M-16EZ |
5.56mm NATO |
3.6 kg |
10, 20, 30 |
$575 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
M-16EZ |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
6 |
2 |
6 |
45 |
Colt M-4 Mods
Country: US
Appears in:
Late-2000s tests of “new” technology for the M-4 Carbine (ie, they were meant to
be technology demonstrators and not issue weapons).
Notes: Inundated
by a number of gas-piston M-4/M-16-type designs that are vying for military
attention (particularly the US military), Colt has recently (as of the time I
write this, December 2009) been experimenting with several gas piston and hybrid
designs to keep up with the Jonses.
Gas piston designs are, by and large, more reliable and less subject to fouling
than the Stoner direct gas impingement system, and allow for reliable
functioning with shorter barrel lengths.
The Colt APC
(Advanced Piston Carbine) in an M-4 that uses a gas piston operation, but that’s
not all there is to it. The APC
also has a monolithic upper receiver with a MIL-STD-1913 rail and the upper
receiver being one piece. The front
sight post remained and a flip-up rear sight may be attached to the rear end of
the MIL-STD-1913 rail. The barrel,
while still 14.5 inches, is free-floating to increase accuracy. The combination
of a floating barrel and a gas piston system required that the APC have a
specially-designed piston system, as standard piston systems would warp or break
under the stresses imposed by a floating barrel. The barrel used is also a
heavier than standard barrel. The
APC comes in two variants: one with an integral suppressor (with the standard
flash suppressor extending from the end of the suppressor, and a standard one
with no suppressor. The suppressor
can use standard 5.56mm NATO ammunition; though the suppressor is designed for
long life, the use of standard ammunition cuts life considerably, so subsonic
ammunition is recommended.
The AHC
(Alternative Hybrid Carbine) is sort of a middle-of-the-road solution, designed
to be retrofitted to existing M-4s.
The new operating system is basically a gas piston operated by direct gas
impingement, allowing for retrofitting while cutting down on some of the fouling
and increasing reliability. The gas
tube essentially has a piston system halfway down the gas tube.
Most combustion gasses and their deposits are released under the
handguard rather than being directed back towards the chamber and into the
barrel. Other than the different
operation, the AHC is identical to the APC for game purposes, including having a
suppressed and non-suppressed option.
The SCW
(Subcompact Weapon) is essentially a short, PDW variant of the M-4, though you
wouldn’t know it by looking at it.
The basic M-4 body upper and lower receiver is there, and the operation is the
same as the M-4 as well. However,
the handguards have four MIL-STD-1913 rails, and the upper receiver also has a
monolithic MIL-STD-1913 rail. The
stock is designed to fold even shorter than that of the M-4; it not only slides
back and forth, it folds to the right just behind the buffer tube.
The barrel is a mere 10.3 inches, and tipped with a compact muzzle brake.
(An 11.5-inch barrel has also been tested.) The SCW is designed to be
used with a foregrip; the one Colt uses is a Lasermax foregrip that incorporates
a laser sight. The charging handle
is also relocated; instead of being at the rear of the receiver, the SCW uses an
ambidextrous handle that extends from the forward quarter of the handguard and
uses a short charging stroke. The
SCW-P is identical, but uses gas piston operation. In addition to being useful
as a PDW, the SCW is also a good CQB weapon and for use from firing ports.
Going the
opposite direction, we have the ERC (Extended-Range Carbine).
This is designed for use by designated marksmen, and are not meant to be
dedicated sniper rifles. There are
two versions, the ERC-16 and ERC-20, with a 16 and 20-inch floating
match-quality barrel, respectively.
These retain the sliding stock of the M-4, but have a monolithic MIL-STD-1913
rail and four more rails on the handguards.
They are designed with bipods in mind, though they could still mount
underbarrel grenade launchers instead.
Iron sights are flip-up; primary sights are meant to be anything from
simple Trijicon ACOG sights to low-power telescopic sights.
The muscle memory of the M-4 is retained, but the ERC is a much more
accurate weapon. (The price below includes an ACOG and a light bipod.)
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
APC |
5.56mm NATO |
2.81 kg |
20, 30 |
$579 |
|
APC (Suppressed) |
5.56mm NATO Subsonic |
4.11 kg |
20, 30 |
$884 |
|
AHC |
5.56mm NATO |
2.81 kg |
20, 30 |
$575 |
|
AHC (Suppressed) |
5.56mm NATO Subsonic |
4.11 kg |
20, 30 |
$880 |
|
SCW/SCW-P (10.3”
Barrel) |
5.56mm NATO |
2.83 kg |
20, 30 |
$982 |
|
SCW/SCW-P (11.5”
Barrel) |
5.56mm NATO |
2.89 kg |
20, 30 |
$994 |
|
ERC-16 |
5.56mm NATO |
3.58 kg |
20, 30 |
$1155 |
|
ERC-20 |
5.56mm NATO |
3.71 kg |
20, 30 |
$1285 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
APC |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
3 |
7 |
35 |
|
APC (Suppressed) |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
6/7 |
1 |
3 |
25 |
|
AHC |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
3 |
6 |
34 |
|
AHC (Suppressed) |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
6/7 |
1 |
2 |
24 |
|
SCW/SCW-P (10.3”) |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
3/4* |
2 |
5 |
20 |
|
SCW/SCW-P (11.5”) |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
3/5* |
2 |
5 |
24 |
|
ERC-16 |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/6 |
2 |
6 |
42 |
|
With Bipod |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/6 |
1 |
3 |
55 |
|
ERC-20 |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5/6 |
2 |
6 |
59 |
|
With Bipod |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5/6 |
1 |
3 |
77 |
*The Bulk rating is 3 if
the stock is side-folded.
Colt M-41A Pulse Rifle
Appears in:
Aliens 2
Notes: This is
the signature weapon of the Colonial Marines in the sequel to
Aliens, Aliens 2.
It is a short barreled assault rifle that fires 10mm caseless
explosive-tipped armor-piercing ammunition.
The rounds are caseless chemically-propelled rounds; however, the primer
is electrically-ignited. It uses a
rotating breech mechanism and the barrel is free-floating, granting a bit more
accuracy. The M-41A is constructed
largely of what would be considered in our time exotic composites, such as
carbon nanotubes. The weapon has a
gyroscopic recoil compensator to help control recoil, as well as a conventional
muzzle brake. On the side of the
magazine well is a digital ammunition counter; this device counts the ammunition
as it is being fired or reloaded in clear, easy-to read red LED numbers.
Of course, the
assault rifle portion is only half the weapon.
The M-41A includes a 30mm grenade launcher under the barrel for heavier
work. This is a pump-action weapon
which, though not designed for sustained fire use (its magazine holds only four
rounds), it useful for quick explosive work.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
M-41A Pulse Rifle |
10x24mm Caseless |
4.9 kg |
99 |
$9710 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
M-41A (Ball Ammo) |
4/10 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
4/5 |
1 |
2/6 |
55 |
|
M-41A (AP) |
4/10 |
4 |
1-2-3 |
4/5 |
1 |
2/6 |
66 |
|
M-41A (HE) |
4/10 |
C0
B4 |
Nil |
4/5 |
1 |
2/6 |
40 |
|
M-41A (HEAP) |
4/10 |
(5) C0
B4 |
1-2-3 (5C) |
4/5 |
1 |
2/6 |
53 |
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazine |
Price |
|
PN Grenade Launcher |
30x45mm Medium Velocity |
Integral to Rifle |
4 Tubular |
Integral to Rifle |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Round |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
IFR |
|
PN Grenade Launcher |
PA |
APERS |
2 |
Nil |
15 |
Nil |
|
|
PA |
CHEM |
2 |
Nil |
120 |
730 |
|
|
PA |
Flash-Bang |
2 |
Nil |
120 |
730 |
|
|
PA |
Flechette |
2 |
Nil |
20 |
Nil |
|
|
PA |
HE |
2 |
Nil |
120 |
730 |
|
|
PA |
HEAT |
2 |
Nil |
120 |
730 |
|
|
PA |
HEDP |
2 |
Nil |
120 |
730 |
|
|
PA |
HE Airburst |
2 |
Nil |
120 |
730 |
|
|
PA |
ILLUM |
2 |
Nil |
120 |
730 |
|
|
PA |
Thermobaric |
2 |
Nil |
120 |
730 |
|
|
PA |
WP |
2 |
Nil |
120 |
730 |
PN Grenade Launcher Ammunition
|
Round Weight |
Round Price |
Damage |
Penetration |
|
|
APERS |
0.08 kg |
$2 |
1d6x8 |
Nil |
|
CHEM |
0.15 kg |
$2/$4/$6 |
C2 (B1) |
Nil |
|
Flash-Bang |
0.12 kg |
$3 |
(C4) |
Nil |
|
Flechette |
0.08 kg |
$4 |
1d6x8 |
1-2-Nil |
|
HE |
0.16 kg |
$2 |
C2
B11 |
Nil |
|
HEAT |
0.16 kg |
$6 |
C1
B9 |
29C |
|
HEDP |
0.16 kg |
$4 |
C2
B11 |
4C |
|
HE Airburst |
0.17 kg |
$6 |
C3
B14 |
Nil |
|
ILLUM |
0.15 kg |
$2 |
(B145) |
Nil |
|
Thermobaric |
0.18 kg |
$10 |
C6
B6 |
14C |
|
WP |
0.15 kg |
$5 |
C2
B6 |
Nil |
Enfield EM-2
Country of
Origin: Britain
Appears in:
Competition to replace the standard British service rifle after World War 2.
Notes: This
bullpup rifle, years ahead of its time, really looked for a short time like it
was going to become the new infantry rifle of the British Commonwealth.
It was a very unconventional rifle for its time; not only was it a
bullpup weapon reminiscent of the much-later L-85 series, it fired a small,
short cartridge – the .280 British round, developed specifically for the
purpose. The weapon incorporated a
carrying handle and an optical sight to increase aiming accuracy.
Experience with bullpup-type rifles at the time was small, and there were
initially some difficulties with an overly-complicated operating mechanism in
its predecessor, the EM-1. (The
EM-1 borrowed heavily from another rather complicated design, the Nazi Gerät 06,
a gas-operated roller-locking experimental rifle designed by Mauser.)
Enfield then
turned to a less complicated (but still rather modern) gas-operated system with
flap locking, and instead of the stamped steel of the EM-1, returned to largely
machined parts, which were more suited to British manufacturing methods of the
time. Another modern feature was
that the primary sight was a 1x reflex-type sight which could be replaced with a
compact 3.5x sight, with backup iron sights.
The EM-2 was ergonomically sound, well balanced with easy-to-reach
controls and quite controllable in automatic fire.
The EM-2 design worked quite well and was very reliable, and about the
only thing that stopped its adoption by British armed forces was politics – in
this case, the beginning of NATO, the demand for a common NATO round for its
members’ rifles, and an absolutely intractable United States, who insisted on
what would become the 7.62mm NATO round.
The British briefly considered going its own way rifle-wise – The EM-2
even received the British Army designation of “Rifle, Automatic, No. 9 Mk 1” –
and Belgium and Canada also produced experimental designs firing the .280
British cartridge. The US
essentially bullied the rest of NATO into adopting the 7.62mm NATO cartridge.
Enfield tried
converting the EM-2 to fire 7.62mm NATO, but the result was a rifle that (like
most of the 7.62mm NATO rifles designed at the time) was uncontrollable in
automatic fire. They then converted
the EM-2 to fire only on semiautomatic, but the British Government, citing the
costs and the length of the development program, decided to license a variant of
the FN FAL (which became the L-1A1).
Only 25 examples of the EM-2 were built in .280 British, plus the very
few experimental 7.62mm NATO versions.
I feel this is a shame, as the British would have had an exceptional
assault rifle at least a decade before anyone else in NATO; in addition, the
.280 British is a much better intermediate round than the 5.56mm NATO that we
eventually ended up with. (In
addition, this would not be the last time that the US would use political
bullying to stop the British from fielding a superior assault rifle…)
Just for the
heck of it, I included a 7.62mm version below, though I don’t even know if any
examples of those experimental versions of the EM-2 even exist anymore.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
EM-2 |
.280 British |
3.41 kg |
20 |
$974 |
|
EM-2 |
7.62mm NATO |
3.62 kg |
20 |
$1194 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
EM-2 (.280) |
5 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
6 |
3 |
8 |
71 |
|
EM-2 (7.62mm) |
5 |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
6 |
4 |
10 |
76 |
Enfield XL-64
Country of
Origin: Britain
Appears in:
Experiment into a possible new assault rifle for British Forces in Mid to late
1970s.
Notes: In 1960s,
the British were (as many countries) looking for smaller, lighter assault rifles
to replace their larger, bulkier battle rifles firing high-powered ammunition.
The British MoD liked the compactness and light weight of the US M-16
series and its 5.56mm NATO round, but had also paid close attention to the
numerous deficiencies of the M-16 series and its ammunition that were being
revealed in Vietnam. The idea of a
lightweight rifle firing small-caliber, high-powered ammunition was a good idea,
but they felt they could do better.
This led to the predecessor of the L-85, called the XL-64.
Enfield and the
British MoD had always liked their EM-2 design (and rightly so).
The bullpup design made for a compact, handy weapon, suitable for a
variety of roles, from a cook who has it slung over his shoulder for emergencies
to infantrymen on the attack.
Enfield felt that improvements in ammunition propellant and bullet construction
meant that they could use a far smaller round than that of the EM-2 – it
wouldn’t be as powerful as the .280 British round, but could outclass the 5.56mm
NATO. Radway Green, the company
contracted to produce the ammunition, started with a necked-down and trimmed
5.56mm NATO case, eventually ending up with a 4.85x49mm round.
(This round was very close in dimensions to the 5.56mm NATO round, and
many 5.56mm-firing weapons could be easily converted to fire it using a kit that
Enfield also intended to produce.)
The XL-64 could
easily be mistaken for an early L-85 at first glance – because they are
essentially the same weapons. (More
on this later.) The XL-64 had been
long in the design and finalization of its configuration, and it was the
mid-1970s before it was revealed; trials didn’t even start until 1978.
Once trials started, problems began immediately – and they were almost
entirely political (and monetary) problems.
Once again, the United States had already decided that the new version of
the 5.56mm NATO round, the FN-designed SS-109, was going to be the new NATO
standard assault rifle round, and weren’t interested in anyone else’s cartridge
designs. (Of course, tons of money
were also on the line.)
Enfield had
realized almost from the beginning that the same thing that happened to their
.280 British cartridge would almost certainly happen to their new 4.85mm round.
Therefore, they designed into the XL-64 almost from its inception the
capability to be easily converted to fire the 5.56mm NATO round and use
M-16-type magazines. Though the
SS-109 round was in its infancy when Enfield began working on the XL-64, only a
few modifications were needed to accommodate the SS-109.
That, and some more cost-cutting measures, morphed the XL-64 into the
L-85.
One good thing
did survive the XL-64 program – the SUSAT 3.5x light weapons sight.
This compact scope would go to equip many L-85s, and draw the attention
of the entire world.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
XL-64 |
4.85mm British |
3.89 kg |
20, 30 |
$711 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
XL-64 |
5 |
3 |
1-1-Nil |
5 |
2 |
5 |
48 |
Interdynamic
MKS/MKR
Country of
Origin: Sweden
Appears in:
Company experiment into an alternative type of assault rifle.
Notes:
These were very unusual-format assault rifles designed by Interdynamic in
the late 1970s. The idea was to
provide a compact weapon for vehicle crews, paratroopers, and special operations
troops. They are “semi-bullpup”
designs; the layout is fairly standard, but the magazine is used as the pistol
grip of the weapon, and this contributes to a shorter length.
The bodies of the rifles are largely of high-impact plastic.
The MKS fires 5.56mm NATO ammunition, but the MKR fires an experimental
4.7x26mm rimfire cartridge in addition to a version firing 5.56mm NATO.
The MKR has a longer barrel and uses a standard stock, while the MKS uses
a folding stock. Both of these
weapons were rejected by Sweden and everyone else, and there were only tiny
amounts of civilian sales. They are
presented as a “what-if.”
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
MKS |
5.56mm NATO |
2.72 kg |
30 |
$609 |
|
MKR |
5.56mm NATO |
2.99 kg |
30 |
$622 |
|
MKR |
4.7mm Interdynamic Rimfire |
2.99 kg |
50 |
$398 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
MKS |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
3 |
7 |
49 |
|
MKR
(5.56mm) |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
5 |
3 |
7 |
61 |
|
MKR
(4.7mm) |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
5 |
2 |
6 |
55 |
KRASA
Country of
Origin: Czechoslovakia
Appears in:
Czech research into a new short assault rifle for special Ops and police forces.
Notes: The KRASA
(for Kratky Samapol – short automatic
weapon) was an extremely small and compact short assault rifle, more a
submachinegun in appearance but firing assault rifle ammunition, developed in
the late 1970s for Czechoslovakia’s special operations troops and for police.
The KRASA was a gas-operated weapon with a tilting block mechanism, and
the magazine under the barrel forward of the chamber and bolt in order to make
the KRASA more compact. A two-stage
feeding system moved rounds out of the magazine and back to the chamber for
firing. The barrel, only 6.7 inches
long, was tipped with a compact but useful muzzle brake.
Feed is from 10 or 20-round magazines built for the KRASA or from AK-type
magazines. Much of the KRASA was
built using light alloys and high-strength polymers, and the folding stock was
of tubular light alloy struts with a plastic/rubber buttplate.
Prototypes of the KRASA were built in both calibers, but apparently that
is all that was built of this interesting little design, despite the fact that
it apparently (at least in a mechanical sense) worked quite well.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
KRASA |
7.62mm Kalashnikov |
2.8 kg |
10, 20, 30, 40, 75 Drum |
$779 |
|
KRASA |
5.45mm Kalashnikov |
2.2 kg |
10, 20, 30, 40, 75 Drum |
$484 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
KRASA
(7.62mm) |
5 |
3 |
2-Nil |
3/4 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
|
KRASA
(5.45mm) |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
2/4 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
Country of
Origin: Brazil
Appears in:
Competition to replace the LAR in the mid-to-late 1980s.
Notes: This
weapon was seriously considered to replace the LAR in the mid-to-late 1980s.
However, using the LAPA would have meant extensive retooling and updating
of weapon factories, as well as possible importation of the plastics used to
make the body of the weapon. In
addition, retraining of the troops for a new type of weapon would have been
required. Finally, the Brazilian
troops themselves did not trust this very non-traditional rifle, particularly
those who had grown up with firearms.
As a result, the LAPA was quickly withdrawn from consideration by the
Brazilian armed forces, and had no luck on the international market either.
It was, perhaps, a weapon that was just too far ahead of its time.
The M-03 is a bullpup design, molded almost entirely out of two pieces of
plastic. The M-03 has a single-action setting instead of a safety (but can still
be fired at the BA rate at this setting).
It can use standard US/NATO-pattern magazines, or a 40-round magazine
designed for it.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Factories could not be geared up quickly enough to produce this weapon in
large quantities, and after the November Nuclear Strikes, the materials to
produce it were almost unobtainable.
However, the troops who did use the LAPA loved it, since it was virtually
indestructible and idiot-proof.
Merc 2000 Notes:
This is a Brazilian assault rifle that was adopted for a short time by Brazilian
armed forces, and also had some success with foreign sales.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
LAPA FA M-03 |
5.56mm NATO |
3.16 kg |
20, 30, 40 |
$760 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
LAPA FA M-03 |
3/5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4 |
2 |
4/6 |
47 |
Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW)
Country of
Origin: US
Appears in:
Advanced weapon experiment in the early 2000s.
Notes: This
weapon was designed in the aftermath of the failure of the US Army and Marines
to choose a new assault rifle in the late 1980s.
The OICW bears no resemblance to any assault rifle, having a 20mm grenade
launcher and a 5.56mm NATO carbine, as well as newly-designed optics which
greatly-increase hit probability, and a computer-controlled 20mm round which is
designed to shower enemy soldiers hiding behind cover with shrapnel.
Development of
the weapon began in 1994, but development has been a very slow process.
The OICW’s 20mm round explodes over the target, showering the target(s)
with 1d6+2 pieces of shrapnel.
Point-detonations are also possible, with 1d6 pieces of shrapnel being produced,
or attacking fortifications with a DPW of 6.
The OICW’s sight is equivalent to both an image intensifier and a
starlight scope, as well as being an electronic sight.
A sticking point of the OICW is the weapon’s high cost and high weight.
The OICW, as presented here, is probably not in the final form, and it is
not expected to be in service before 2006 at the earliest.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The OICW does not exist in the Twilight 2000 World.
Merc 2000 Notes:
As the Notes, except that the service date is delayed until 2008 due to
budgetary concerns.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
OICW |
5.56mm NATO + 20mm OICW
Grenade |
8.42 kg |
20, 30 + 6 |
$5834 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
|
OICW (Carbine) |
2 |
2 |
1-Nil |
5 |
2 |
2 |
39 |
|
OICW (GL, HE) |
SA |
C1
B7 |
Nil |
5 |
1 |
Nil |
DF 140, IF 830 |
|
OICW (GL, HEDP) |
SA |
C1
B7 |
2C |
5 |
1 |
Nil |
DF 140, IF830 |
POF-USA/Vltor P-415/P-416
Country of
Origin: US
Appears in:
Special Weapons for Military & Police
April 2009 issue; the weapon is a special modification done by Charlie Cutshaw.
The P-416 version was something I added in as a “what-if.”
Notes: Noted
firearms expert and gunsmith Charlie Cutshaw took a POF-USA P-415 chambered for
6.5mm Grendel and modified it using a Vltor VIS (Versatile Interface Structure)
kit for the upper receiver, along with a Vltor Rifle Modstock.
Then Cutshaw added some other extras, such as a Vltor top-mounted bipod,
attached to the top of the handguard.
The trigger group is match-quality.
The rifle uses an 18.5-inch match-quality tipped with a Vltor VC-65 flash
suppressor/brake. The handguards
have four-point MIL-STD-1913 rails, and the upper receiver has its own
MIL-STD-1913 rail. The receiver
rail is topped with a Leupold Mk 4 1.5-5x20mmMR/T telescopic sight, and the
upper handguard rail uses an AN/PVS-22 UNS (Universal Night Sight), a 3rd-Generation
night vision scope. The two can be
used together day or night since the AN/PVS-22 has a day and a night channel.
On the lower rail is a SureFire M-900 Foregrip WeaponLight with an IR
filter attached to allow night use without showing a bright visible light
source. It also includes a vertical foregrip behind the light.
(The SureFire M-900 is required since the AN/PVS-22 needs a light source
to function.)
Charlie
Cutshaw’s conversion job is based on the semiautomatic P-415; simply use only
the semiautomatic figures for this version.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
POF-USA/Vltor
P-415/P-416 |
6.5mm Grendel |
3.63 kg |
16, 25 |
$1877 |
|
Weapon |
|