→Gallery: better image |
cut material identical to material in Assault rifle, none of which mentions "automatic rifle", replace with lead of Assault rifle article |
||
Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
The [[FG 42]] was a [[selective fire]] automatic rifle produced in Germany during [[World War II]]. The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the [[Fallschirmjäger (World War II)|Fallschirmjäger]] [[Airborne forces|airborne infantry]] in 1942 and was used in limited numbers until the end of the war. It served as a squad automatic rifle in much the same role as the Browning BAR. It was considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of [[World War II]],<ref name="Senich">Senich, Peter: ''The German Assault Rifle: 1935–1945'', page 239. Paladin Press, 1987.</ref><ref name="Miller">Miller, David: ''Fighting Men of World War II: Axis Forces : Uniforms, Equipment and Weapons'', page 104. Stackpole Books, 2007.</ref> the FG 42 influenced post-war small arms development and most of its design was copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 GPMG.<ref name="Bishop">Bishop, Chris: ''The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II'', page 217. Sterling Publishing, 2002.</ref> |
The [[FG 42]] was a [[selective fire]] automatic rifle produced in Germany during [[World War II]]. The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the [[Fallschirmjäger (World War II)|Fallschirmjäger]] [[Airborne forces|airborne infantry]] in 1942 and was used in limited numbers until the end of the war. It served as a squad automatic rifle in much the same role as the Browning BAR. It was considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of [[World War II]],<ref name="Senich">Senich, Peter: ''The German Assault Rifle: 1935–1945'', page 239. Paladin Press, 1987.</ref><ref name="Miller">Miller, David: ''Fighting Men of World War II: Axis Forces : Uniforms, Equipment and Weapons'', page 104. Stackpole Books, 2007.</ref> the FG 42 influenced post-war small arms development and most of its design was copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 GPMG.<ref name="Bishop">Bishop, Chris: ''The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II'', page 217. Sterling Publishing, 2002.</ref> |
||
=== |
===Assault rifle=== |
||
An [[assault rifle]] is a [[selective-fire]] [[rifle]] that uses an [[intermediate cartridge]] and a [[Magazine (firearms)|detachable magazine]].<ref name=BritanicaDef>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/39165/assault-rifle |title="Assault rifle." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 3 July 2010 |publisher=Britannica.com |date= |accessdate=2012-08-26}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">C. Taylor ''The Fighting Rifle: A Complete Study of the Rifle in Combat'', ISBN 0-87947-308-8</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">F.A. Moyer ''Special Forces Foreign Weapons Handbook'', ISBN 0-87364-009-8</ref><ref name="autogenerated4">R.J. Scroggie, F.A. Moyer ''Special Forces Combat Firing Techniques'', ISBN 0-87364-010-1</ref><ref name="Musgave, Daniel D. 1967">Musgave, Daniel D., and Thomas B. Nelson, ''The World's Assault Rifles,'' vol. II, The Goetz Company, Washington, D.C. (1967): 1</ref> Assault rifles were first used during World War II.<ref name="auto">Firearms: The Life Story of a Technology. by Roger Pauly. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2004. page 145 & 146</ref><ref name="janesrecog" /><ref name="Shurkin, M.">http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/06/a-brief-history-of-the-assault-rifle/489428/ The Atlantic. A Brief History of the Assault Rifle. The gun’s name may have been coined by Adolf Hitler. by MICHAEL SHURKIN. JUN 30, 2016</ref> Though Western nations were slow to accept the assault rifle concept after World War II, by the end of the 20th century they had become the standard weapon in most of the world's armies, replacing [[battle rifle]]s and [[Submachine gun|sub-machine guns]].<ref name="Shurkin, M." /> Examples include the [[StG 44]], [[AK-47]] and the [[M16 rifle]].<ref name="Shurkin, M." /> |
|||
The Germans were the first to pioneer the [[assault rifle]] concept, during World War II, based upon research that showed that most firefights happen within 400 meters and that contemporary rifles were over-powered for most small arms combat. The Germans sought to develop a select-fire intermediate powered rifle combining the firepower of a submachine gun with the accuracy and range of a rifle. This was done by shortening the standard [[7.92×57mm Mauser|7.92×57mm]] cartridge to [[7.92×33mm Kurz|7.92×33mm]] and giving it a lighter 125-grain bullet, that limited range but allowed for more controllable automatic fire. The result was the [[Sturmgewehr 44]].<ref name="janesrecog">Jane's Guns Recognition Guide, Ian Hogg & Terry Gander, HarperCollins Publisher, 2005, p.287</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt07/stg44-assault-rifle.html |title=Machine Carbine Promoted: MP43 Is Now Assault Rifle StG44, WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 57, April 1945 |publisher=Lone Sentry |date=2007-05-10 |accessdate=2012-08-23}}</ref><ref>Military Small Arms Of The 20th Century, 7th Edition, 2000 by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks, p.243</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Major Thomas P. Ehrhart [http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA512331 Increasing Small Arms Lethality in Afghanistan: Taking Back the Infantry Half-Kilometer]. US Army. 2009</ref> |
|||
===AK-47=== |
|||
Like the Germans, the Soviets were influenced by experience showing most combat happens within 400 meters and that their soldiers were consistently outgunned by heavily armed German troops, especially those armed with the [[Sturmgewehr 44]] assault rifles.<ref>[http://www.oneworld-publications.com/pdfs/Small%20Arms%20Trade_ch1_22%20Nov.pdf Chapter 1. Symbol of violence, war and culture]. oneworld-publications.com</ref><ref name="washingtonpost2006">[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112400788.html Weapon Of Mass Destruction]. Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-19.</ref> The Soviets were so impressed with the Sturmgewehr 44, that after World War II, they held a design competition to develop an assault rifle of their own.<ref>[http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/weapons/ak-47-questions-about-most-important-gun-ever History of AK-47 Gun – The Gun Book Review]. Popular Mechanics (2010-10-12). Retrieved on 2012-02-09.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scribd.com/jdeere2012/d/77028741-American-Rifle-a-biography |title=Scribd |publisher=Scribd |date= |accessdate=2012-08-23}}</ref> The winner was the AK-47.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> It was finalized, adopted and entered widespread service in the Soviet army in the early 1950s.<ref name="washingtonpost2006"/> Its firepower, ease of use, low production costs, and reliability was perfectly suited for the Red Army's new mobile warfare doctrines.<ref name="washingtonpost2006"/> The AK-47 was widely supplied or sold to nations allied with the USSR and the blueprints were shared with several friendly nations (the [[People's Republic of China]] standing out among these with the [[Type 56]]).<ref name="washingtonpost2006"/> |
|||
===M14 rifle (Battle rifle)=== |
|||
The U.S. Army was influenced by combat experience with semi-automatic weapons such as the [[M1 Garand]] and [[M1 carbine]], which enjoyed a significant advantage over enemies armed primarily with bolt-action rifles.<ref name="pogoarchives.org">Richard R. Hallock, Colonel (retired) of US Army [http://pogoarchives.org/labyrinth/09/02.pdf M16 Case Study] March 16, 1970</ref> Although U.S. Army studies of World War II combat accounts had very similar results to that of the Germans and Soviets, the U.S. Army maintained its traditional views and preference for high-powered semi-automatic rifles.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> |
|||
After World War II, the [[United States]] military started looking for a single automatic rifle to replace the [[M1 Garand]], [[M1 carbine|M1/M2 Carbines]], [[M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle]], [[M3 submachine gun|M3 "Grease Gun"]] and [[Thompson submachine gun]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/> However, early experiments with select-fire versions of the M1 Garand proved disappointing.<ref>http://www.nramuseum.com/media/940585/m14.pdf |CUT DOWN in its Youth, Arguably Americas Best Service Rifle, the M14 Never Had the Chance to Prove Itself. By Philip Schreier, SSUSA, September 2001, p 24-29 & 46</ref> During the [[Korean War]], the select-fire [[M2 Carbine]] largely replaced [[submachine gun]]s in US service.<ref name="Rottman2011">{{cite book|author=Gordon Rottman|title=The M16|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=oRhIaYrN3sYC&pg=PA6|year=2011|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84908-690-5|page=6}}</ref> Although, combat experience suggested that the [[.30 Carbine]] round was underpowered.<ref>[http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/arms-chosin-few/ Arms of the Chosin Few]. Americanrifleman.org. Retrieved on 2011-11-23.</ref> American weapons designers reached the same conclusion as the Germans and Soviets: an intermediate round was necessary, and recommended a small caliber, high velocity cartridge.<ref>Donald L. Hall [http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/377335.pdf An effectiveness study of the infantry rifle] (PDF). Report No. 593. Ballistic Research Laboratories. Maryland. March 1952 (released March 29, 1973)</ref> |
|||
However, senior American commanders having faced fanatical enemies and experienced major logistical problems during WWII and the Korean War,<ref>''Fanaticism And Conflict In The Modern Age'', by Matthew Hughes & Gaynor Johnson, Frank Cass & Co, 2005</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificwar.org.au/JapWarCrimes/Explaining_JapWarCrimes.html |title=An Attempt To Explain Japanese War Crimes |publisher=Pacificwar.org.au |date= |accessdate=2012-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/korea/20-2-1/toc.htm |title=South to the Naktong - North to the Yalu |publisher=History.army.mil |date= |accessdate=2012-08-23}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/BigL/index.html#contents HyperWar: The Big 'L'-American Logistics in World War II]. Ibiblio.org. Retrieved on 2011-12-24.</ref><ref>[http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/NovDec03/Logistics_of_Invasion.htm The Logistics of Invasion]. Almc.army.mil. Retrieved on 2011-11-23.</ref> insisted that a single powerful .30 caliber cartridge be developed, that could not only be used by the new automatic rifle, but by the new [[general purpose machine gun]] (GPMG) in concurrent development.<ref name="independencearmory1">Col. E. H. Harrison (NRA Technical Staff) [http://independencearmory.com/downloads/M14_Articles/American%20Rifleman%20-%20New%20Service%20Rifle_%20Amer.%20Rifleman%20June,%201957.pdf New Service Rifle] (PDF). June 1957</ref><ref>Anthony G Williams |
|||
[http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Assault.htm Assault Rifles And Their Ammunition: History and Prospects]. Quarry.nildram.co.uk (revised 3 February 2012). Retrieved on 2011-11-23.</ref> This culminated in the development of the [[7.62×51mm NATO]] cartridge and the [[M14 rifle]]<ref name="independencearmory1"/> which was basically an improved select-fire M1 Garand with a 20-round magazine.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m14.htm M14 7.62mm Rifle]. Globalsecurity.org (1945-09-20). Retrieved on 2011-11-23.</ref> The U.S. also adopted the [[M60 machine gun|M60 GPMG]].<ref name="independencearmory1"/> Its NATO partners adopted the [[FN FAL]] and [[HK G3]] rifles, as well as the [[FN MAG]] and [[Rheinmetall MG3]] GPMGs. |
|||
===FN FAL=== |
|||
The FN FAL is a [[7.62×51mm NATO]], [[selective fire]], automatic rifle produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturer [[Fabrique Nationale de Herstal]] (FN). During the [[Cold War]] it was adopted by many [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) countries, most notably with the [[British Commonwealth]] as the [[L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle|L1A1]]. It is one of the most widely used rifles in history, having been used by more than 90 countries.<ref>Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. Ian Hogg & Terry Gander. HarperCollins Publishers. 2005 page 275</ref> The FAL was predominantly chambered for the 7.62mm NATO round, and because of its prevalence and widespread use among the armed forces of many western nations during the Cold War it was nicknamed "The right arm of the [[Free World]]".<ref>Bishop, Chris. Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc (1998). ISBN 0-7858-0844-2.</ref> |
|||
===H&K G3=== |
|||
The H&K G3 is a [[7.62×51mm NATO]], [[selective fire]], automatic rifle produced by the [[Germany|German]] armament manufacturer [[Heckler & Koch|Heckler & Koch GmbH]] (H&K) in collaboration with the [[Spain|Spanish]] state-owned design and development agency [[CETME]] (''Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales'').<ref>Woźniak, Ryszard: ''Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej—tom 2 G-Ł'', page 7. Bellona, 2001.</ref> The rifle proved successful in the export market, being adopted by the armed forces of over 60 countries.<ref>Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. Ian Hogg & Terry Gander. HarperCollins Publishers. 2005 page 288</ref> After WWII, German technicians involved in developing the [[Sturmgewehr 45]], continued their research in France at CEAM. The StG45 mechanism was modified by Ludwig Vorgrimler and Theodor Löffler at the Mulhouse facility between 1946 and 1949. Vorgrimler later went to work at CETME in Spain and developed the line of CETME automatic rifles based on his improved Stg45 design. Germany eventually purchased the license for the CETME design and manufactured the Heckler & Koch G3 as well as an entire line of weapons built on the same system, one of the most famous being the [[MP5|MP5 SMG]]. |
|||
===M16 rifle=== |
|||
The first confrontations between the AK-47 and the M14 '''([[assault rifle]] vs [[battle rifle]])''' came in the early part of the [[Vietnam War]]. Battlefield reports indicated that the M14 was uncontrollable in full-auto and that soldiers could not carry enough ammo to maintain fire superiority over the AK-47.<ref>Lee Emerson [http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14_RHAD_Online_Edition_061010.pdf M14 Rifle History and Development]. October 10, 2006</ref> A replacement was needed: A medium between the traditional preference for high-powered rifles such as the M14, and the lightweight firepower of the M2 Carbine. |
|||
As a result, the Army was forced to reconsider a 1957 request by General Willard G. Wyman, commander of the U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC) to develop a .223 caliber (5.56 mm) select-fire rifle weighing 6 lbs (2.7 kg) when loaded with a 20-round magazine.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The 5.56mm round had to penetrate a standard U.S. [[helmet]] at 500 yards (460 meters) and retain a velocity in excess of the speed of sound, while matching or exceeding the wounding ability of the .30 Carbine cartridge.<ref>Hutton, Robert (ed.), ''The .223'', Guns & Ammo Annual Edition, 1971.</ref> |
|||
This request ultimately resulted in the development of a scaled-down version of the [[Armalite]] [[AR-10]], called AR-15 rifle.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ezell |first=Edward Clinton |title=Small Arms of the World|year=1983|publisher=Stackpole Books|location=New York |isbn=978-0-88029-601-4|pages=46–47}}</ref><ref name="nodakspud.com">Peter G. Kokalis [http://www.nodakspud.com/RetroAR15.pdf Retro AR-15]. nodakspud.com</ref><ref name="m-14parts.com">Danford Allan Kern [http://www.m-14parts.com/M14toM16.pdf The influence of organizational culture on the acquisition of the m16 rifle]. m-14parts.com. A thesis presented to the Faculty of the US Army Command and General Staff College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE, Military History. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 2006</ref> However, despite overwhelming evidence that the AR-15 could bring more firepower to bear than the M14, the Army opposed the adoption of the new rifle.<ref name="m-14parts.com"/> In January 1963, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara concluded that the AR-15 was the superior weapon system and ordered a halt to M14 production.<ref name="m-14parts.com"/> At the time, the AR-15 was the only rifle available that could fulfill the requirement of a universal infantry weapon for issue to all services. After modifications (Most notably: the charging handle was re-located from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the receiver),<ref name="nodakspud.com"/> the new redesigned rifle was subsequently adopted as the M16.<ref name="m-14parts.com"/><ref name="autogenerated5">[http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a953110.pdf Report of the M16 rifle review panel]. Department of the Army. dtic.mil. 1 June 1968</ref> |
|||
===5.56mm NATO=== |
|||
In March 1970, the U.S. recommended that all [[NATO]] forces adopt the [[5.56×45mm]] cartridge.<ref name="autogenerated3">Per G. Arvidsson [http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2009infantrysmallarms/wednesdaysessionvArvidsson.pdf Weapons & Sensors]. NATO Army Armaments Group</ref> This shift represented a change in the philosophy of the military's long-held position about caliber size. By the middle of the 1970s, other armies were looking at assault rifle type weapons. A NATO standardization effort soon started and tests of various rounds were carried out starting in 1977.<ref name="autogenerated3"/> The U.S. offered the 5.56×45mm M193 round, but there were concerns about its penetration in the face of the wider introduction of [[ballistic vest|body armor]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/> In the end the Belgian 5.56×45mm SS109 round was chosen ([[STANAG]] 4172) in October 1980.<ref name="autogenerated3"/> The SS109 round was based on the U.S. cartridge but included a new stronger, heavier, 62 grain bullet design, with better long range performance and improved penetration (specifically, to consistently penetrate the side of a steel helmet at 600 meters).<ref name="ReferenceA"/> |
|||
During the 1970s, the USSR developed the [[AK-74]] and the [[5.45×39mm]] cartridge, which has similar physical characteristics to the U.S. 5.56×45mm cartridge.<ref>''Military Small Arms of the 20th Century''. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications 2000. page 271</ref> Also during the 1970s, Finland, Israel, South Africa and Sweden introduced AK type rifles in 5.56×45mm.<ref>''Military Small Arms of the 20th Century''. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications 2000. pages 235, 258, 274, 278</ref> During the 1990s, the Russians developed the [[AK-101]] in 5.56×45mm NATO for the world export market.<ref name="ReferenceB">[http://web.archive.org/web/20110718230910/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/weapon.shtml LEGION Ltd. – the producer of high-quality firearms with period artistic treatment (threading, engraving, incrustation) and improved finishing]. izhmash.ru</ref><ref>http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=256 |The Kalashnikov AK-101 is an export assault rifle in operational service withat least nine nations worldwide</ref> In addition, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and former countries of Yugoslavia have also rechambered their locally produced assault rifle variants to 5.56mm NATO.<ref>''Military Small Arms of the 20th Century''. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications 2000. pages 233, 257, 266, 296</ref><ref>http://www.arsenal-bg.com/defense_police/5.56_arsenal_assault_rifle_ar-m1_ar-m1f.htm | Arsenal AR-M1 5.56mm assault rifle</ref> The adoption these cartridges cemented the world-wide trend toward small caliber, high velocity cartridges. |
|||
===Bullpups=== |
|||
In 1977, Austria introduced the 5.56×45mm [[Steyr AUG]] bullpup rifle, often cited as the first successful [[bullpup|bullpup rifle]], finding service with the armed forces of over twenty countries. It was highly advanced for the 1970s, combining in the same weapon the bullpup configuration, a polymer housing, dual vertical grips, an optical sight as standard, and a modular design. Highly reliable, light, and accurate, the Steyr AUG showed clearly the potential of the bullpup layout. In 1978, France introduced the 5.56×45mm [[FAMAS]] bullpup rifle. In 1985, the British introduced the 5.56×45mm [[L85]] bullpup rifle. In the late 1990s, Israel introduced the [[IMI Tavor TAR-21|Tavor TAR-21]] and China's [[People's Liberation Army]]'s (the world's largest army) adopted [[QBZ-95]]. By the turn of the century, the bullpup design had achieved world-wide acceptance. |
|||
==Gallery== |
==Gallery== |
Revision as of 21:09, 12 October 2016
An automatic rifle is a type of magazine-fed rifle that uses either its recoil or a portion of the gas propelling the projectile to remove the spent cartridge case, cock the rifle, load a new cartridge and fire again repeatedly, as long as the trigger is held down or until the magazine is exhausted. Automatic rifles are distinguished from semi-automatic rifles in their ability to fire more than one shot in succession once the trigger is pulled. Many automatic rifles are select-fire weapons which are capable of firing in fully automatic and semi-automatic modes, or in some cases, even being capable of burst-fire.
History
Cei-Rigotti
The world's first automatic rifle was the Italian Cei-Rigotti. Introduced in 1900, these 6.5mm Carcano or 7.65×53mm gas-operated, selective-fire, carbines attracted considerable attention at the time.[1][2] They used 10-, 20- and 50-round detachable box magazines.[2] Unfortunately, they had several failings, including frequent jams and erratic shooting.[2] In the end, no Army took an interest in the design and the rifle was abandoned before it could be further developed.[2]
Browning Automatic Rifle
The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was one of the first practical automatic rifles. The BAR made its successful combat debut in World War I and approximately 50,000 were made before the war came to an end.[3][4] The BAR arose from the concept of "Walking Fire", an idea urged upon the Americans by the French who used the Chauchat light machine gun to fulfill that role.[5] The BAR never entirely lived up to the designers hopes; being neither a rifle nor a machinegun.[6] "For its day, though, it was a brilliant design produced in record time by John Browning, and it was bought and used by many countries around the world. It was the standard squad light automatic of the U.S. infantry during World War II and saw use in every theater of war."[7] "The US forces abandoned the BAR in the middle 1950s, though it was retained in reserve stocks for several years; it survived in smaller countries until the late 1970s."[8]
FG 42
The FG 42 was a selective fire automatic rifle produced in Germany during World War II. The weapon was developed specifically for the use of the Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry in 1942 and was used in limited numbers until the end of the war. It served as a squad automatic rifle in much the same role as the Browning BAR. It was considered one of the most advanced weapon designs of World War II,[9][10] the FG 42 influenced post-war small arms development and most of its design was copied by the US Army when they developed the M60 GPMG.[11]
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective-fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine.[12][13][14][15][16] Assault rifles were first used during World War II.[17][18][19] Though Western nations were slow to accept the assault rifle concept after World War II, by the end of the 20th century they had become the standard weapon in most of the world's armies, replacing battle rifles and sub-machine guns.[19] Examples include the StG 44, AK-47 and the M16 rifle.[19]
Gallery
-
M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle
-
Both early (top) and late-war (bottom) variants of the FG 42.
-
The German StG 44, the first assault rifle manufactured in significant numbers
-
An AK-47 with machined receiver
-
M1 Garand Rifle and M1 Carbine
-
U.S. M14 rifle, advanced by the proponents of the battle rifle concept
-
British L1A1 (FN FAL)
-
Norwegian AG-3 (HK G3)
-
American 5.56×45mm M16A1
-
Russian 5.45×39mm AK-74M rifle
-
The Steyr AUG was one of the first bullpup rifles to enter widespread use.
-
FAMAS G2 with bayonet
-
British SA-80 (L85A1) rifle in 1996.
-
Israeli Tavor 21
-
China's People's Liberation Army's QBZ-95
See also
- Semi-automatic rifle
- Assault rifle
- Battle rifle
- Marksman rifle
- Sniper rifle
- Light machine gun
- Squad automatic weapon
- List of firearms
References
- ^ http://www.forgottenweapons.com/early-semiauto-rifles/cei-rigotti/
- ^ a b c d Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications 2000. page 260
- ^ Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John. Military Small Arms of the 20th Century 7th Edition Krause Publications 2000 , p.285, "US Automatic Rifle, Caliber .30in M1918-M1922 (Brownings)".
- ^ The Browning Automatic Rifle. Robert Hodges. Osprey Publishing. 2012. pages 12–13
- ^ Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John. Military Small Arms of the 20th Century 7th Edition Krause Publications 2000 , p.285, "US Automatic Rifle, Caliber .30in M1918-M1922 (Brownings)".
- ^ Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John. Military Small Arms of the 20th Century 7th Edition Krause Publications 2000 , p.285, "US Automatic Rifle, Caliber .30in M1918-M1922 (Brownings)".
- ^ Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John. Military Small Arms of the 20th Century 7th Edition Krause Publications 2000 , p.285, "US Automatic Rifle, Caliber .30in M1918-M1922 (Brownings)".
- ^ Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John. Military Small Arms of the 20th Century 7th Edition Krause Publications 2000 , p.285, "US Automatic Rifle, Caliber .30in M1918-M1922 (Brownings)".
- ^ Senich, Peter: The German Assault Rifle: 1935–1945, page 239. Paladin Press, 1987.
- ^ Miller, David: Fighting Men of World War II: Axis Forces : Uniforms, Equipment and Weapons, page 104. Stackpole Books, 2007.
- ^ Bishop, Chris: The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, page 217. Sterling Publishing, 2002.
- ^ ""Assault rifle." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 3 July 2010". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- ^ C. Taylor The Fighting Rifle: A Complete Study of the Rifle in Combat, ISBN 0-87947-308-8
- ^ F.A. Moyer Special Forces Foreign Weapons Handbook, ISBN 0-87364-009-8
- ^ R.J. Scroggie, F.A. Moyer Special Forces Combat Firing Techniques, ISBN 0-87364-010-1
- ^ Musgave, Daniel D., and Thomas B. Nelson, The World's Assault Rifles, vol. II, The Goetz Company, Washington, D.C. (1967): 1
- ^ Firearms: The Life Story of a Technology. by Roger Pauly. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2004. page 145 & 146
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
janesrecog
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/06/a-brief-history-of-the-assault-rifle/489428/ The Atlantic. A Brief History of the Assault Rifle. The gun’s name may have been coined by Adolf Hitler. by MICHAEL SHURKIN. JUN 30, 2016