Copyright Peter Grining
This article doesn't follow the Twilight War and 2300 AD timeline. See Part 3 for 1984-2300.
The first mass produced flintlock smooth bore musket appeared around 1635. It was the first firearm that could be made by the village blacksmith and was cheap and reliable. The disadvantages of the musket were that the firer had to reload the weapon down the muzzle, meaning they had to stand to reload (Person reloading counts as 2300AD RPG stationary target in the open, making the task to hit this person one level easier). The musket was not very accurate as the lead ball was smaller than the muzzle bore. The ball would 'bounce' down the barrel and exit the muzzle at the direction of the last 'bounce'. Rate of fire was one round per 30 seconds.
Brown Bess (1700)
Type: muzzle loading musket Country:UK Weight: 3.3 kg Length: 119 cm (Bulk=4) Action: SS Magazine: none Ammunition: 10 Bore Lead Ball (1 ounce) Muzzle Velocity: 450 mps ROF: 0.5 (1st iniative action is reload, 2nd is aim and fire.) Aimed Fire Range: 50 m Area Fire Burst: 10 men firing 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 100 m DP Value: 0.4 (after armour penetration remainder doubled)
The rifled musket was slower to reload than a smooth bore, but was more accurate. It was originally more of a hunting weapon, but after the American War of Independence (1775-1783) was accepted into limited military service. Rate of fire was 1 round per minute.
Baker (1800)
Type: muzzle loading rifled musket Country:UK Weight: 3.6 kg Length: 116 cm (Bulk=4) Action: SS Magazine: none Ammunition: 0.65 inch Lead Ball Muzzle Velocity: ? ROF: 0.25 (3 iniative actions to reload, 4th is aim and fire.) Aimed Fire Range: 150 m Area Fire Burst: 10 men firing 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 300 m DP Value: ?
The French Minie bullet was the next step. This was reloaded down the barrel, and was smaller than the bore. Having a hollowed out rear, the exploding powder would expand the bullet and take up the rifling. Used extensively by both sides during the American Civil War (1861-1865). The Model 1853 was used in the Crimean War, Indian Mutiny and American Civil War.
Model 1853 (1853)
Type: muzzle loading rifled musket Country: UK Weight: 4 kg Length: 138 cm (Bulk=5) Action: SS Magazine: none Ammunition: 0.577 inch Bullet Muzzle Velocity: ? ROF: 0.5 (1st iniative action is reload, 2nd is aim and fire.) Aimed Fire Range: 200 m Area Fire Burst: 10 men firing 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 400 m DP Value: 0.4 (doubled remainder after armour penetration)
The Prussian needle gun or 1848, was the first bolt action weapon that reloaded via the breech. The user could reload whilst prone (2300 AD RPG Partial Cover). First used in 1864 against the Danes. Rate of fire was 8 rounds per minute. However the needle would rapidly wear out (9-12 rounds only) and the gas seal wasn't the best.
Zundnadel Gewehr or Neddle Fire M1841 (1848)
Type: bolt action needle fire rifle Country: Prussia Weight: 4.8 kg Length: 140 cm (Bulk=5) Action: SS Magazine: none Ammunition: 15.43mm Bullet Muzzle Velocity: ? ROF: 2 Aimed Fire Range: 200 m Area Fire Burst: 10 men firing 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 400 m DP Value: 0.4 (doubled remainder after armour penetration)
Most countries had converted to breech loading rifles during the 1870s. The next step was the addition of a box magazine, with these types in service in the 1890s. The magazine fed bolt action rifle was the primary rifle used in the first two world wars. The German Model 98 was used during the First World War and a shorter version during the Second. Likewise the UK used different versions of the Lee Enfield between 1888 and 1957. Before both World Wars rifles were produced in comparively small numbers. During war mobilisation large numbers of simplified rifles were produced. This resulted in a surplus of rifles and little development after the two world wars.
Gewehr M1898 Mauser (1898)
Type: bolt action rifle Country: Germany Weight: 3.9 kg Length: 123 cm (Bulk=5) Action: SS Ammunition: 7.92x57mm Muzzle Velocity: 870 mps Magazine: 5-round box Magazine Weight: 0.2 kg ROF: 2 Aimed Fire Range: 300 m Area Fire Burst: 10 men firing 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 600 m DP Value: 0.9
Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) No.1 Mk.III (1903)
Type: bolt action rifle Country: UK Weight: 3.7 kg Length: 112 cm (Bulk=4) Action: SS Ammunition: 0.303 Muzzle Velocity: 738 mps Magazine: 10-round box Magazine Weight: 0.2 kg ROF: 2 Aimed Fire Range: 300 m Area Fire Burst: 10 men firing 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 600 m DP Value: 0.8
The US Army adopted the Springfield 0.30 M1 Garand in 1932. This used the recoil action to reload the next round. It fed from a 8 round clip inside a magazine, and fired one shot per trigger pull ('Semi-automatic'). The US was the only power to enter the Second World War with the army fully equipped with an SLR.
M1 Garand (1936)
Type: semi-automatic rifle Country: USA Weight: 4.3 kg Length: 109 cm (Bulk=4) Action: SS Ammunition: 0.30-06 (7.62x63mm) Muzzle Velocity: 853 mps Magazine: 8-round clip Magazine Weight: ? ROF: 3 Aimed Fire Range: 300 m Area Fire Burst: 10 men firing 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 600 m DP Value: 0.9
The German Air Force's paratroop forces used the FG42 to replace the rifle, light machine gun and sub-machine gun. However only 7000 were made and it used a full size rifle round in automatic mode. The German Army used the Sturmgewhr 44 with an 'intermediate' round (a full size bullet in a cut down cartridge), as the first 'real' assault rifle. The Soviet Union followed after the war with the AK-47, firing a 7.62 x 39mm round.
FG.42 (1942)
Type: Automatic rifle Country: Germany Weight: 5.5 kg Length: 101 cm (Bulk=4) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 7.92x57mm Muzzle Velocity: 762 mps Magazine: 20-round box Magazine Weight: ? ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 300 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds(AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 10 m DP Value: 0.9
MP.44 (1944)
Type: Assault rifle Country: Germany Weight: 4.8 kg Length: 93 cm (Bulk=3) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 7.92x33 mm Kurz Muzzle Velocity: 647 mps Magazine: 30-round box Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 250 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds(AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 15 m DP Value: 0.7
AK-47 (1949)
Type: Assault rifle Country: Soviet Union Weight: 3.6 kg Length: 86 cm (Bulk=3) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 7.62x39mm Muzzle Velocity: 717 mps Magazine: 30-round box Magazine Weight: ? ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 250 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds(AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 15 m DP Value: 0.7
The UK developed a 7mm round for a revolutionary bullpup rifle, the EM2 (was to have been called '7mm Rifle, Automatic, Number 9, Mark 1'). This was approved for service in 1951. Canada and France were happy with this round, but NATO standardised on a slightly shorter 0.30 round called 7.62 x 51 mm NATO under US pressure. The UK could not justify another expensive redesign of the EM2 and adopted the Belgian FAL rifle as the L1A1 SLR. The L1A1 had no automatic feature. The rest of NATO followed suit with various 7.62mm weapons. However, the full size 7.62mm NATO round was too powerful for controllable full automatic fire from a rifle.
EM-2 (1949)
Type: Bullpup assault rifle Country: UK Weight: 3.4 kg Length: 88 cm (Bulk=3) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 0.28 or 7mm (7x43mm) Muzzle Velocity: 772 mps Magazine: 20-round box Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 250 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds(AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 15 m DP Value: ?0.7
FAL (1950)
Type: Assault rifle Country: Belgium Weight: 4.3 kg Length: 109 cm (Bulk=3) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 7.62x51mm Muzzle Velocity: 853 mps Magazine: 20-round box Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 300 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 10 m DP Value: 0.9
M14 (1957)
Type: Assault rifle Country: USA Weight: 3.9 kg Length: 111 cm (Bulk=3) Action: SS or Auto (most locked to SS only) Ammunition: 7.62x51mm Muzzle Velocity: 853 mps Magazine: 20-round box Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 300 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 10 m DP Value: 0.9
The US Operations Research Office (ORO) studied infantry fighting in WW2 and Korea, and came to the conclusion that most rifles were rarely used over 300 metres. Most fighting took place under 100 metres and volume was believed more important than accuracy. Although these results were not universally accepted, an existing 0.22 LR round was modified into the 0.223 round. USAF airfield guards used the Armalite 0.223 AR15 rifle in Vietnam in 1966. The US Army decided this would be a better close range jungle warfare rifle than the 7.62mm NATO M14. The 5.56 x 45mm M16 entered service in the late 1960s as the standard US rifle. The Soviet Union went with a 5.45 x 39mm round in its 1970s AK-74. NATO started looking for a new service round during the 1970s to replace its 1950s designs. After 4 years of trials a slightly heavier 5.56mm round was selected as the 5.56 x 45mm NATO (the earlier 5.56mm round had poor penetration). No attempt was made to standardise on a rifle and each country went its own way. The UK adopted a bullpup L85 and the US the M16A2. France went with the bullpup FAMAS.
AR-15/M16 (1961)
Type: Assault rifle Country: USA Weight: 2.8 kg Length: 97 cm (Bulk=3) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 5.56x45mm Muzzle Velocity: 991 mps Magazine: 20 or 30-round box Magazine Weight: 0.3 or 0.5 kg ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 150 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 20 m DP Value: 0.3 (remainder doubled after armour penetration)
FAMAS (1972)
Type: Bullpup assault rifle Country: France Weight: 3.8 kg Length: 76 cm (Bulk=2) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 5.56x45mm Muzzle Velocity: ? Magazine: 25-round box Magazine Weight: ? ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 150 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 20 m DP Value: 0.3 (doubled remainder after armour penetration)
AK-74 (1974)
Type: Assault rifle Country: Soviet Union Weight: 3.3 kg Length: 94 cm (Bulk=3), folding stock version folded 69 cm (Bulk=2) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 5.45x39mm Muzzle Velocity: 900 mps Magazine: 30-round box Magazine Weight: 0.3 kg ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 200 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 30 m DP Value: 0.6
The UK L85 was a recongnizable ancestor of the 1950s EM2. The L1A1 had a decent range and was considered a good all range weapon. However the UK had adopted the US M16 during jungle fighting in Borneo. In the 1970s, when the UK Army's main role shifted back towards mechanised warfare in Europe, a bullpup was tested in a 6.25 x 43mm, then a 4.85 x 49 mm (20 rds, 900 mps). However 5.56mm NATO was selected for the L85. It was an automatic and had a x4 sight.
L85A1 Individual Weapon (IW) SA80 (1985)
Type: Assault rifle Country: UK Weight: 4.5 kg Length: 76 cm (Bulk=2) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO Muzzle Velocity: 940 mps Magazine: 30-round box Magazine Weight: 0.5 kg ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 200 m Area Fire Burst: 10 rounds (AFV=1) Area Fire Range: 20 m DP Value: 0.6
The USMC was never happy with the M16 and wanted a longer range weapon. The M16A2 firing the 5.56mm NATO was the result.
M16A2 (1985)
Type: Assault rifle Country: USA Weight: 4 kg Length: 99 cm (Bulk=3) Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO Muzzle Velocity: 921 mps Magazine: 30-round box Magazine Weight: 0.5 kg ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 200 m Area Fire Burst: 3 rounds (AFV=0.3) Area Fire Range: 20 m DP Value: 0.6
During the 1980s Afghanistan fighting Russia found in some cases the 5.45mm was outranged by older large bore rifles. During the 1990s Russian SF went back to the 7.62 x 39mm round for some missions. Other countries SF also reintroduced the larger rounds during the 1980/90s for the same reasons.
The reunified Germany approved the caseless G11 for service 1990, but the huge costs meant the weapon never entered service. In 1996 the 5.56mm NATO HK50 entered service with the German rapid reaction force. It featured lightweight polymer plastics in the construction, and integral x3 sights (x1 red dot combat sight) as part of the carrying handle. Up to five 30 round magazines can be joined side by side, SF use a 100 round cylindrical magazine. An optional bipod adds 0.2 kg.
G36 (1996)
Type: Assault rifle Country: Germany Weight: 3.3 kg Length: 99 cm (Bulk=3), 76 cm (Bulk=2) with butt folded. Action: SS or Auto Ammunition: 5.56x45mm NATO Muzzle Velocity: 920 mps Magazine: 30-round box Magazine Weight: 0.5 kg ROF: 5 Aimed Fire Range: 200 m Area Fire Burst: 3 rounds (AFV=0.3) Area Fire Range: 20 m DP Value: 0.6
The simple open sights on rifles never really improved since the 1900s. However, the weapons, rounds and soldiers were up to the task of longer ranged shooting. The UK has always placed high demands on musketry skills and went with a standard x4 sight on the L85. The 1978 Austrian Steyr AUG rifle had a x1.5 sight. A quicker target acquistion time was possible with this. (1.5 seconds instead of 3 seconds for open sights). The US came up with standard Picatinny or Weaver sight rail. This enabled night sights or telescopic sights to be removed and reinstalled with no loss of zero. In the 1990s, the US Army started replacing the M16A2 with the shorter M4 carbine (yes even the M16 is too long for mechanised, airmobile and paratroops). The sight rails mentioned earlier featured extensively on the M4 versions. Other countries either adopted the same sort of rails on modified weapons (Australia) or adopted new 5.56mm weapons with the sight rails fitted as standard (M16A3 and Canadian C7). x1.5, x3.5 and x4 sights featured extensively (points to the UK for being 10 years early). The point being the sight was as important as the weapon.
Telescopic sights decrease task difficulty by one. However 5.56mm rounds lose this benefit over 600 metres, 7.62mm over 800 metres (1000 metres for sniper 'match' loads).
Open sights limit ROF to 2 for bolt action, or 3 for semi-automatic, regardless of ROF mentioned elsewhere in this article. However, above rifle ROF are used for automatic fire. x1.5 or HUD or 'red dot' sights have a ROF of 4 (max range 200 metres). Skill level increases ROF by 1 per level of skill over 3. In 1914, Sergeant Snaxall of the British Army fired 38 shots in one minute at 300 yards hitting the inner ring of the target with every shot! This was with a bolt action Lee Enfield, and the record has never been broken. (I'm not going to bother trying to simulate this). During WWI, the German army thought every British infantry battalion had more than the issued 2 machine guns due this fast and accurate shooting.
Laser sights are either visible or IR (not visible to unaided eye). As long as the laser is boresighted, a laser enables gives a +4 bonus up to 50 metres for aimed shots. Rifles can not be aimed using conventional sights if the user is wearing night vision goggles (NVG). An IR laser being visible to NVG, enables the weapon to be aimed. Visible light torches attached to rifles are better for room clearing as the user retains periphal vision.