M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB)
Type: | Assault rifle |
Place of origin: | Unified Governorates |
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In service: | 1687 AN – |
Used by: | Black Legions (Operational testing) UDF (Production partner) Military of Alduria-Wechua (Evaluation) Home Guard (Evaluation) Sanaman Armed Forces |
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Designed: | 1679–1684 AN |
Manufacturer: | Mishalan Arsenal |
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Length: | 889mm |
Barrel Length: | 518mm |
Weight: | 3.86Kg |
Cartridge: | 7.62×67mmB |
Magazine: | 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine |
Rate of Fire: | 675-750RPM |
Muzzle Velocity | 1,000 m/s |
Effective Firing Range | 274 m – 620 m |
Maximum Firing Range | 1,110 m |
Cost: |
Soon after the end of the Second Amokolian War work began at the Mishalan Arsenal, in what is now the Autonomous Bailiwick of Mishagrad, on a new assault rifle to replace the existing plethora of incompatible small arms inherited by the Raspur Pact aligned forces in Benacia after the Kalirion Fracture. The new arm was of somewhat unconventional design, influenced by earlier Babkhan "bullpup" assault rifles and by development work underway in Sanama for a new infantry carbine, with the working parts and the magazine housed behind the trigger in a rearward extension of the body, which also had the buttplate attached to it. As the buttplate was in line with the axis of the barrel it was necessary to elevate the line of sight and this was done by incorporating a x6 magnification telescopic sight, with phosphor-powered illumination reticle, as part of the carrying handle.
The weapon operates by the conventional method of gas and piston with a rotating bolt. The rifle is capable of being operated in a select fire mode with the operator having the choice of shifting between single shot, semi-automatic, or fully automatic, as necessity or preference dictates. In this way the rifle can meet the doctrinal preference of the Black Legions for aimed shots at medium to long range, as well as the tendency for UDF infantry to lay down heavy volumes of suppressing fire, disgorged at closer distances of engagement.
The rifle has been chambered for the recently developed 7.62×67mmB round, available with cylindrical tipped tungsten bullets, hollow-tipped arsenic capsule rounds for Jing targets, and cyanide coated "bodkin" tipped exploding bullets for use against Bassarids. The loading chamber can house box magazines of twenty or thirty rounds. The calibre of the rifle also permits the fitting and firing from the muzzle of the Type 01 rifle-grenade, provided that the bespoke "percussion-striker" adaptor and flash-guard has been fitted to the front of the weapon before firing is attempted.
As of 1686 AN the weapon is undergoing field trials with units assigned to bandit hunting duties in central Benacia with mass production and roll-out to the line infantry of the UDF and Black Legions to commence from 1687 onwards. As of 1687 the M1686 was additionally accepted for use by the Confederate States Armed Forces and the Military of Alduria-Wechua with procurement orders placed by Floria and an agreement inked for licensed production to commence in Alduria.
The Imperial Constancian Armed Forces began transitioning to the M1686 assault rifle effective 1691, with procurement via the licensee in Alduria.
Development work on a 5.56 mm carbine variant of the rifle began towards the end of 1686 following an expression of interest by the Sanaman Army.
The rifle was retired by Floria in 1711 AN, in favour of a domestic rival - the SA1680, with the surplus weapons being sold on to Western Natopia in 1713 AN.
Production history
Customer | Manufacturer | Date of Order | Quantity Ordered | Quantity Delivered |
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Black Legions | Mishalan Arsenal | 1687 AN | 2,628,109 | 2,628,109 |
Union Defence Force | Mishalan Arsenal | 1687 AN | 3,241,620 | 3,241,620 |
Confederate States Armed Forces | Mishalan Arsenal | 1687 AN | 500,000 | 500,000 |
Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie | Javelin Industries | 1687 AN | 500,000 | 500,000 |
Imperial Constancian Armed Forces | Javelin Industries | 1691 AN | 500,000 | 320,008 |
Sanaman Army | Mishalan Arsenal | 1691 AN | 325,000 | 325,000 |
Hurmu Peace Corps | Javelin Industries | 1697 AN | 200,000 | 200,000 |