As part of this special series, we take a look at some of the most powerful weapons that have been produced during the past several years. Because the field of weaponry is so vast, only a few can be presented here. Bear in mind that the specifications that are to follow are far from comprehensive, but rather rudimentary and intentionally incomplete. Nevertheless it is meant to be a showcase of lethal weapons; weapons that are part of the arsenal of some of the world's special forces, including GROM.
GALLERY OF WEAPONS
BUSHMASTER ACR
The Bushmaster ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) is a relatively new design in the arsenal of weapons and is being used by the United States Army, as well as by GROM forces. The design is borrowed from the Magpul Masadan, which is an amalgamation of the best features of rifle designs recently developed: the short-stroke gas system from the Armalite AR-18; the upper receiver, charging handle location, from the FN SCAR; the liberal use of polymer components from the Heckler & Koch G36/XM8; the trigger pack from the M16/AR-15; and the barrel from the M16. The Busmaster also includes a quick-change barrel/trunnion system, adjustable gas regulator, non-reciprocating charging handle and storage compartments in the stock and grip. The weapon's caliber can easily be changed by replacing the bolt head, magazine and barrel. Incidentlaly the rifle was named after the Siege of Masada, though Magpul Industries is not Jewish-owned or Israeli-backed.
Specifications
Type: Assault Rifle
Place of Origin: United States
Service: 2011 to present
Used by: USA and Poland
Wars: Afghanistan War
Weight: 3.54 kg (7.8 lb) (14.5" barrel no mag)
Length: (with stock deployed mid) 32-5/8 in
Barrel Length: 10.5 to 18 in (266-508 mm)
Width: 2.5 in (63.5 mm)
Height: 7.75 in (196.9 mm)
Cartridge: Current: 5.56x45mm NATO, .308 Winchester
Future: 6.5 mm grendel, 6.8 Remington SPC, 7.62x39mm
Action: Gas-piston, rotating bolt
Rate of Fire: 800-950 RPM (est)
Muzzle Velocity: (.223) 792-990ms (2600-3250 ft/s)
Effective Range: (.223) 300 m.
Feed System: 30 round Magpul PMAG
Sight: Magpul MBUS iron sights
HECKLER & KOCH MP5
The Heckler & Koch MP5, the "Maschinenpistole 5" is a 9mm submachine gun developed in the 1960s by a team of German engineers for the small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K)and Oberndorf am Neckar. The MP5 is still being manufactured and is one of the most widely used machine guns in the world, used by countless number of military forces, police units and intelligence and security organizations. In the 1990s Heckler & Koch developed a new successor to the MP5, called the Heckler & Koch UMP, both of which remain in wide production. There are virtually dozens of variants of the MP5 on the market - for example the MP5A2, which is a lightweight, air-cooled, selective fire delayed blowback operated 9x19mm Parabellum weapon with a roller-delayed bolt. It fires from a closed bolt (bolt forward) position. The MP5-N ("N" for Navy)was developed especially for the United States Navy in 1986. This particular model has a collapsible stock, a tritium-illuminated front sight post and a 225mm (8.9 in) threaded barrel for use with a stainless steel sound suppressor (made by Knight's Armanent Company) combined with quieter subsonic ammunition. The MP5K (K for the German word kurs, meaning "short") was developed in 1976. It was a shortened version of the MP5A2 and was designed for battle in close quarters, ideally used by clandestine operatives and special services. The MP5K model does not have a shoulder stock (the receiver end is covered with a flat end cap, featuring a buffer on the inside and a sling loop on the outside) and the bold and receiver were shortened at the rear. It produces a higher rate of fire than the MP5. The barrel, cocking handle and its cover were shortened and a vertical foregrip was used to replace the standard handgard. The barrel ends at the base of the foresight preventing the use of any kind of muzzle device. The MP5 is being manufactured under license in several countries including Greece, Iran, Mexico, Turkey, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom. It is the Ultimate weapon for battle in close quarters. It's lightweight, small, but wields deadly accuracy.
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| US. Navy SEALs armed with MP5s on a training exercise |
Specifications (of MP5-K)
Type: Submachine Gun
Place of Origin: Germany
Service: 1976- current
Used by: over 70 countries, including Poland.
Weight: 2 kg (4.4 lb)
Length: 368 mm (14.5 in) stock folded
Barrel Length: 115 mm (4.5 in)
Width: 50 mm (2.0 in)
Height: 210 mm (8.3 in)
Cartridge: 9x19mm Parabellum
Action: Roller-delayed blowback, closed bolt
Rate of Fire: 900 rounds/min
Muzzle Velocity: 375 m/s (1,230.3 ft/s)
Effecive Range: 100 m (328 ft)
Feed System: 15-30 or 32 round detachable box magazine,
100-round Beta C-Mag drum magaine.
Sights: Iron sights: Rear: rotary drum; Front: hooded post.
FN F2000
The FN F2000 was designed by Belgian manufacturer, FN Herstal and made its debut in March 2001 at the IDEX defense exhibition at Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.
The F2000 is a modular weapon system. Its principal component is a compact 5.56x45mm NATO caliber assault rifle configured in a bullpup layout. The F2000 is a selective fire weapon operating from a closed bolt. The rifle consists of two main assemblies: the barreled receiver group and the frame, coupled together by means of an axis pin located above the trigger guard. The barrel group has an integral ML-STD 1913 Picatinny rail used to mount optical sights. The frame or lower receiver contains the trigger group, the bolt and bolt carrier assembly, return mechanism and magazine well. The removable handguard is installed in front of the trigger which completes and enclosed the trigger guard.
The F2000 is a gas operated, fully automatic and ambidextrous bullpup rifle. One of the modules developed for the F2000 system is a proprietary lightweight 40 mm under-slung GL 1 grenade launcher that uses standard low-velocity 40x46mm grenades. The launcher is a single-shot breech-loaded pump-action weapon with a barrel that slides forward for loading and unloading (like the M203 grenade launcher), locked by axial rotation of the barrel.
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| Slovenian soldiers with F2000 S rifles. |
Type: bullpup assault rifle
Place of Origin: Belgium
Service: 2001 - current
Used by: about 10 countries including Poland
Wars: 2011 Libyan Civil War, Operation Astute (2006 East Timor Crisis, War in Afghanistan Weight: 3.6 kg (7.9 lb Length: 688 mm (27.1 in)
Barrel Length: 400 mm (16 in)
Width: 81.3 mm (3.20 in )
Height: 259.1 mm (10.20 in)
Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO Action: gas-operating, rotating bolt
Rate of Fire: 850 rounds/min
Muzzle Velocity: 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)
Effective Range: 500 m (1,600 ft)
Feed System: detachable box magazines/ capacities: 10 rounds restricted, 30 round (standard STANAG
Sights: 1.6× magnified telescopic sight, notch back-up sight
BOR
When Poland became a member of NATO in 1999 the Polish Armed Forces were required to produce firearms that were compatible with NATO standards. In the early 2000s, Aleksander Lezucha embarked on a joint venture with the Polish Science Research and Information Technology Ministry to create a new standard sniper rifle. During the development stage the rifle was named "Alex" but received the military designation of "Bor" thereafter.
The Bor is a bullpup-configuration bolt-action magazine-fed sniper rifle. The barrel length (of 680 mm, or 26.8 in) provides increased accuracy while minimizing the overall length of 1,038 mm (40.9 in). Weight has been reduced by the use of a free-floting fluted barrel, without sacrificing accuracy. The muzzle is fitted with a double-baffle muzzle brake, which is claimed to reduce recoil by up to 30%. The "in-line" design of the barrel-receiver group also directs recoil rearwards in a straight line, minimizing muzzle flip. A sturdy adjustable bipod is fitted to the front of the fore-end. The rifle features a fully adjustable buttstock and cheek riser. A folding/adjustable monopod located behind the magazine on the inside of the buttstock can be used to support the rifle in firing position during extended periods of deployment. No iron or emergency sights are provided; a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail is mounted above the centerline of the barrel, over the receiver area for mounting various optical sights. The standard telescopic sight is a Leupold 4.5-14x50, with sight grid mil-dot reticle, parallax correction and an adjustment range of 100 MOA.
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| Sgt. Chad Droege, Illinois Army National Guard, learns how to fire a Polish sniper rifle from Polish army Cpl. Lukasz Bocwinski during Immediate Response 07 at the Wedrzyn Training Area in Poland. |
Specifications
Type: Sniper Rifle
Place of Origin: Poland
Service: 2007 - current
Used by: Polish Army
Weight: 6.1 kg (13.45 lb)
Length: 1,038 mm (40.9 in)
Barrel Length: 680 mm (26.8 in)
Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
Action: Bolt action
Muzzle Velocity: 870 m/s (2,854 ft/s
Effective Range: 800 m
Feed System: 10-round detachable box magazine.
Sights: day or night optics, ZTOCS-1 ACRAB (also Carl Zeiss Optronics NSV 80 )
SAKO TRG - 42
These sniper rifles are developed by SAKO, a Finnish firearm manufactuer. The TRG-22 was designed to fire standard.308 Winchester ammunition, while the TRG-42 was designed with a larger action and barrel to fire more powerful .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition. The SAKO has a folding stock, and are normally fitted with muzzle brakes to reduce recoil, jump and flash. The muzzle brakes vent sideways and are detachable. Most are fitted with a Zeiss or Scmidt & Bender PM II telescopic sight with either fixed or variable power of magnification. However, variable telescopic sights can be fitted for operators needing more flexibility to shoot at variable ranges, or when a wider field of view is required.
What is unique about the TRG is that it is a purpose-designed sniper rifle rather than an accurised version of an existing rifle. The heart of the TRG system is a cold-hammer forged receiver and barrel, which provide the maximum strength at minimum weight making it exceptionally resistant to wear. The "resistance free" bolt has three massive lugs and requires a 60 degree bolt rotation and a 98 mm (3.86 in) bolt throw for the short and 118 mm (4.65 in) bolt throw for the long bolt-action - features that should be appreciated by the shooter during multiple firings that require rapid projectile placement on the target.
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| Sako TRG M-10 |
Specifications
Type: Sniper Rifle
Place of Origin: Finland
Service: 2000 to present
Users: 22 countries including Poland (Policja, GROM, 1st Special Commando Regiment of Lubliniec)
Wars: Afghanistan War, Iraq War
Weight: 4.7 kg (10.4 lb) empty
Length: 1,000 mm (39.37 in
Barrel: 510 mm (20.08 in)
Cartridge: .260 Remington, .308 Winchester (Magnum), .338 Lapua Magnum
Action: Bolt Action
Effective Range: (TRG-42 /.300 Win. Mag) = 1,100 m (1,203 yd)
(TRG-42 /.338 Lap. Mag) = 1,500 m (1,640 yd)
Feed System: 5, 7 or 10-round detachable box magazine
Sights: Aperture rear (with flip-up open tritium night/combat sight); day or night optics.
AT4
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| AT-4 Light Anti-Tank Rocket |
The AT4 built by the Swedish, Saa Bofors Dynamics (formerly Bofors Anti-Armour Systems), is an 84-mm unguided, portable, single-shot recoilless smoothbore weapon. The AT 4, as well as its variants, AT4 CS, AT4CS have had considerable success and has become one of the most commonly used anti-tank weapons in the world.
The designation "CS" (confined space) refers to the propellant charge which makes it possible to operate the AT effectively within buildings in an urban environment. It enables infantry units a means to destroy, or disable armored vehicles and fortifications. But it is not designed to defeat a modern MBT (main battle tank). The launcher and projectile are manufactured prepacked, and issued as a single unit of ammunition with the launcher discarded after a single use.
The designation "CS" (confined space) refers to the propellant charge which makes it possible to operate the AT effectively within buildings in an urban environment. It enables infantry units a means to destroy, or disable armored vehicles and fortifications. But it is not designed to defeat a modern MBT (main battle tank). The launcher and projectile are manufactured prepacked, and issued as a single unit of ammunition with the launcher discarded after a single use.
The AT4 took many of its design features from the Carl Gustav, and may be considered a disposable, low cost alternative to a Carl Gustav recoilless rifle. It operates on the principle of a recoilless weapon, where the forward inertia of the projectile is balanced by the mass of propellant gases ejecting from the rear of the barrel. But unlike the Carl Gustav, which uses a heavier and more expensive steel tube with rifling, the disposable AT4 design greatly reduces manufacturing costs by using a reinforced smoothbore fiberglass outer tube. Since recoilless weapons generate almost no recoil, a relatively large projectile can be fired which would otherwise be impossible in a man-portable weapon.
To fire the AT4, the gunner must first remove the safety pin located at the rear of the tube, thereby unblocking the firing rod. He then takes a firing position ensuring that no one is present in the back blast area. If firing from the prone position (lying on his stomach) he must also place his legs well to the side to avoid burning himself. Then the gunner moves back the front and rear sight covers, allowing the sights to pop up into their firing positions. After firing, the AT4 is discarded. Unlike the heavier Carl Gustav, the AT4 outer tube is built only to take the stress of one firing and is not reusable and cannot be reloaded like the Carl Gustav.
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| Spc. Thomas Johnson shoots an Swedish AT-4 anti-tank weapon during familiarization training at the Udari range in Kuwait. Johnson is a legal specialist assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Soldiers of the division recently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sean Kimmons. (February 3, 2004) |
Specifications
Type: Anti-tank weapon
Place of Origin: Sweden
Used by: over 20 countries including Poland, USA, and UK
Wars: USA invasion of Panama, Afghanistan War, Iraq War
Weight: 6.7 kg (14.8 lb)
Length: 102 mm (40 in)
Caliber: 84 mm
Muzzle Velocity: 290 m/s (950 ft/s)
Effective Range: 300 m (point target)
Maximum Range: 500 m (area target) / 2100 m (maximum)
Sights: Iron sights, optional night vision unit
Filling: Octogen/TNT
Filling Weight: 440 g HE (HEAT round)
AWM
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| Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum Folding (AI AWM F 300WM) .300 Winchester Magnum / 7.62x63 sniper rifle |
The AWM (Arctic Warfare Magnum) is a sniper rifle manufactured by Accuracy International. It is also known by the acronym AWSM (Arctic Warfare Super Magnum), which typically denotes the .338 Lapua Magnum version.
The AWM rifle is a variant of the British Accuracy International Arctic Warfare, and has a longer bolt to accomodate larger magnum-length cartridges such as the .300 Winchester Magnum and the .338 Lapua Magnum, that are approved by NATO standards. The AWM has a detachable box magazine which holds five rounds. Muzzle brakes are fitted to reduce recoil, jump and flash and act as a base for optional iron sights and suppressors.
The AWM rifle is normally supplied in a metal transit case together with scope, mount, butt spacers, bipod, spare magazines, sling, cleaning and tool kits.
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| A Dutch ISAF sniper team displaying their Accuracy International AWSM .338 Lapua Magnum rifle and Leica/Vectronix VECTOR IV laser rangefinder binoculars. (originally uploaded to Wiki by Francis Flinch) |
Specifications
Type: Sniper Rifle
Place of Origin: United Kingdom
Service 1996 - now
Used by: 9 countries including Poland (GROM, 1 Pulk Specjalny Komandosow) .338 L.M
Wars: Afghanistan War, Iraq War
Weight: 6.9 kg (15.1 lb) (.338 Lapua Magnum) with stock, bipod and empty magazine
Length: 1230 mm (48.4 in) (.338 Lapua Magnum
Barrel Length: 686 mm (27 in) (.338 Lapua Magnum)
Cartridge: .300 Winchester Magnum or .338 Lapua Magnum
Action: bolt action
Effective Range: 1,500 m (1,640 yd) (.338 Lapua Magnum)
Feed System: 5-round detachable box magazine
Sights: detachable aperture type iron sights day or night optics.
SPIKE MISSILE
As well as engaging and destroying targets within the line-of-sight of the launcher ("fire-and-forget"), some variants of the missile are capable of making a top-attack profile through a "fire, observe and update" guidance method - the operator can track the target, or switch to another target, optically through the trailing fiber-optic wire while the missile is climbing to altitude after launch. This is similar to the lofted trajectory flight profile of the US FGM-148 Javelin.
The missile is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance and equipped with an imaging infrared seeker, that is available for medium, long, and extended range missiles.
Spike is connected by a fiber-optical wire that is spooled out between the launch position and the missile. It allows the operator to obtain a target if it is not in the line of sight of the operator at the time of launch, permits switching targets while in flight, and is capable of compensating for the movement of the target if the missile is not tracking the target for some reason. Hence, the missile can be fired speculatively for a target of opportunity, or to provide observation on the other side of an obstacle. The missile has a soft launch capability - the motor firing after the missile has left the launcher- which allows for the missile to be fired from confined spaces, which is a necessity in urban warfare.
The missile uses a tandem warhead - two shaped charges, a precursor warhead to detonate any explosive reactive armor and a primary warhead to penetrate the underlying armor. Currently, it is replacing aging second generation anti-tank missiles like the MILAN and M47 Dragon in the armies of the user nations.
Spike can be operated from the launcher by infantry, or from mounts that can be fitted to vehicles such as fast attack vehicles, APCs or any utility vehicle.
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| PORTABLE SPIKE MISSILE BEING FIRED
Specifications
Type: anti-tank missile
Place of Origin: Israel
Service: 1997 to present
Used by:
Chile 2,200 Spike-MR/LR missiles
Equador 244 missiles, delivered October 2009
Finland 300 Spike-MR and 400 Spike-ER missiles; 100 MR launchers plus an option for 70 more, and 18 ER launchers for coastal anti-ship use.
Germany 4,000 Spike-LR missiles, 311 LR launchers on Puma vehicles.
Italy 1,155 Spike-MR/LR missiles. Army: 65 Infantry Launchers, 36 LR launchers, 20 LR launchers, 26 indoor and 37 outdoor training systems. Navy: 6 Infantry Launchers, 2 indoor and 2 outdoor training systems. Contract: at least 120 million Euros.
Netherlands 2,400 Spike-MR missiles, 297 launchers.
Peru 516 Spike-LR missiles, 48 launchers.
Poland 2,675 Spike-LR missiles, 264 launchers.
Romania 1,000 Spike-ER and 950 Spike-LR.
Singapore 1,000 Spike-LR missiles, with associated launchers.
Slovenia 75 missiles. (Spike MR/LR in operational use since 2009)
South Korea A South Korean government deal concluded on 6 September 2011 has confirmed the procurement of unspecified numbers of Spike NLOS, of which about 50 missiles will be forward deployed to the South Korean islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong, close to the Northern Limit Line with North Korea.
Spain 2,600 Spike-LR and 200 Spike-ER; 236 Spike LR launchers (option for 100 more), 2,360 missiles for Spanish army, 24 Spike LR launchers and 240 missiles for Spanish marines. Spike ER on Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters (Spanish army).
Wars: Second Entifada, 2006 Lebanon War, Afghanistan War (2001 - present), Gaza War. Weight: (a) Spike ER from helicopter Missile in canister: 34 kg (74 lb) Launcher: 55 kg ( 121 lb) Launcher + 4 missiles: 187 kg (412 lb) (b) Spike MR/LR from ground Missile round: 14 kg (30 lb) Command & launch unit (CLU) 5 kg (11 lb) Tripod: 2.8 kg (6 lb) Battery: 1 kg (2 lb) Thermal sight: 4 kg (8 lb) Length: 1,670 mm (5 ft 6 in) (Missile w/launcher) Diameter: 170 mm (6.7 in) (Missile w/launcher) Rate of Fire: Ready to launch in 30 seconds, reload in 15 seconds Maximum Range: 800 to 25,000 m (870 to 27,000 yd) depending on version Sights: 10× optical sight Warhead: Tandem=charge HEAT warhead Detonation: on impact Engine: Solid Rocket Fuel Guidance System: Infrared homing - Electro Optical (CCD, IR or Dual CCD/IIR), Passive CCD or dual CCD/IIR seeker |
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| GROM POLISH SPECIAL ELITE FORCES |
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Nicely described about rifles with their specification. Army's are looking very strong.
ReplyDeleteSako Rifles
What about the M416 GRECKO´S version?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your message. I apologize for omitting specs on the M416 as well as for many other weapons. There were too many to include in one blog post. But I am planning to post another blog in the near future that will be all-inclusive! Stay tuned!
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