NationStates Jolt Archive

History

Following the development of new assault rifles by other nations using intermediary cartridges, the decision was made to produce a new Praetonian rifle with a new Imperial Ordnance round to use with it. The rifle is of the bullpup configuration, like all previous Praetonian assault rifles, and is designed to be able to operate at a longer range than assualt rifles such as the M16 and G36.

Ammunition

As well as a new rifle, a new round was needed to go with it. The new round had to be both light and small but also able to impart a large amount of energy to its target, and so a heavy caseless 6.3mm tungsten round, weighing 8.2 grammes, was developed with a suitably large 35mm charge behind it. The ammunition is believed to have an effective range of 750m when fired from the L63, assuming the operator is able to aim accurately at that distance.

The 6.3 x 35mm Imperial Ordnance round, as it is now known, is capable of penetrating most body armour carried by troops, especially at short range, and with practical certainty with burst fire. The round is also sufficiently powerful to penetrate several sheets of regular glass and thin steel whilst retaining the ability to inflict a lethal wound at the end of it.

A version of the 6.3mm round made of 'blended metal' is also in production, but this bullet has been limitted so far to special operations sections due to concerns about its penetrative capailities in a general combat scenario.

Weapon Layout

The L63 is arranged in a bullpup format, with the 40-round magazine or 80-round drum located to the rear of the weapon, with the pistol grip just behind the forward hand grip. The weapon is 800mm long, of which 550mm is barrel. The long barrel imparts considerable speed and accuracy to the bullet, whilst the bullpup format keeps the gun suitably compact.

The weapon is constructed primarily of aluminium alloys and light composite materials, and weighs 4.25kg fully loaded with a scope attached to one of its two detachable rails. The primary such rail is mounted above the gun, and is usually used for mounting a scope, and the secondary rail is mounted below the grip and is used for mounting a 40mm grenade launcher, torch, Etc. A 12" sword or 5" knife bayonet may be attached to the muzzle guard.

The L63 can fire single shot, burst or full automatic. The ammunition is fired electronically in order to allow the 3-round burst a RoF of 2,200 rounds / minute (or the whole burst fired in 0.08 seconds). The full automatic mode is limitted to 650 rounds / minute in order to avoid wasted ammunition, although it could theoretically go higher. Both rails carry a wire from the gun into suitably equipped accessories, allowing an underslung grenade launcher to be fired electronically from the same trigger as the KE weapon, and to feed information from the forward mounted laser rangefinder to the scope.

In order to save power, the gun has a recoil energy-reclamation outer barrel which recharges the battery (with a shelf life of 15 years) as the weapon is fired. Since the recoil of the rifle greatly exceeds the small current required to ignite the primer in a round, in theory the battery can last indefiantely without recharge. However, if energy-consuming accessories such as torches, the laser rangefinder and scope, Etc. are left on for long peroids it may be necessay to recharge the battery manually. In an emergency, rounds may be expended in order to recharge the battery, and a manual charging system exists in case the battery completely runs out of power and is incapable of firing another round.

Integrated General Scope (IGS)

Based on the British SUSAT, the L63 is equipped with a scope as standard - usually 4x magnification, although both 2x and 6x are available. The IGS, like the SUSAT, is carries a tritium illuminator for night fighting. Unlike the SUSAT, the IGS has an electronic overlay (which is not required for the operation of the scope) linked in to the weapon's laser rangefinder which displays the range of whatever the weapon is pointed at, giving the user vital information for adjusting his aim, as well as allowing him to report exact positions of enemy troops and vehicles.

The scope is highly durable and constructed mainly of aluminium. Lense caps are provided to protect the lenses, and the electronic overlay view (as well as the rangefinder) can be turned off most of the time in order to conserve electricity. Ironsights are also available for the rifle, but are not generally used in Praetonian service.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/Praetonia/L63ServiceRifle.png
An L63 painted in Praetonian Field Khaki (light)

Specifications - General

Length (body): 800mm
Length (barrel): 550mm
Ammunition: 6.3 x 35mm Imperial Ordnance (caseless)
Ammunition Capacity: 40 + 1 rounds standard
Range: 750m (effective); 1600m (round becomes spent)
Weight: 4.25kg
Rate of Fire: Semi-automatic; 3 round burst (2,200 rpm); full-auto (650 rpm)
Muzzle Velocity: 972m/s
Accessories: 2x detachable rails for use with a variety of accessories; bayonet lug; recoil energy reclamation system

Production Cost: $2,100 / unit
Purchase Cost: $2,500 / unit

Specifications - Carbine

Length (body): 500mm
Length (barrel): 250mm
Ammunition: 6.3 x 35mm Imperial Ordnance (caseless)
Ammunition Capacity: 30 + 1 rounds standard
Range: 320m (effective); 1600m (round becomes spent)
Weight: 2.8kg
Rate of Fire: Semi-automatic; 3 round burst (2,200 rpm); full-auto (650 rpm)
Muzzle Velocity: 872m/s
Accessories: 1x detachable rail for use with a variety of accessories; bayonet lug; recoil energy reclamation system

Production Cost: $1,800 / unit
Purchase Cost: $2,200 / unit

Specifications - Squad Automatic Weapon / Marksman Rifle

Length (body): 920mm
Length (barrel): 670mm
Ammunition: 6.3 x 35mm Imperial Ordnance (caseless)
Ammunition Capacity: 120 + 1 rounds standard
Range: 910m (effective); 1600m (round becomes spent)
Weight: 5.8kg
Rate of Fire: Semi-automatic; 3 round burst (2,200 rpm); full-auto (650 rpm)
Muzzle Velocity: 1,025m/s
Accessories: 1x detachable rail for use with a variety of accessories; recoil energy reclamation system

Production Cost: $2,200 / unit
Purchase Cost: $2,600 / unit

ooc prae get on msn
ic the future tech empire would like 5 of these for our ancient artfiacts musemem

The re-armament of your army Praetonia, is perceived as a hostile act. If you do employ these weapons in the African situation, I shall have no choice but to bring in outside force.
I do not want to fight you when it's not necessary
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In order to counter attack, and improve, the Optischerian Technological Military, we are upgrading our guns to a Laser and Sonic version.
http://www.compasseco.com/shop/images/redh.jpg
We will employ whatever forces necessary against you.

The re-armament of your army Praetonia, is perceived as a hostile act. If you do employ these weapons in the African situation, I shall have no choice but to bring in outside force.
I do not want to figt you when it's not necessary

Official Statement, Incorporated Sarzonian Government

The Incorporated Sarzonian Government finds as laughable your assertion that the Imperial Praetonian Government's decision to outfit its military with new weapons is on its face a hostile act.

Make no mistake about it: If you attempt to interfere with a sovereign decision by the Imperial Praetonian Government, Sarzonia will respond severely. This is your only warning.

Mike Sarzo
President
Incorporated States of Sarzonia

[OOC: A thread where players roll out new products is generally not the place to lob military threats. Just so you'll know.]

The re-armament of your army Praetonia, is perceived as a hostile act. If you do employ these weapons in the African situation, I shall have no choice but to bring in outside force.
I do not want to fight you when it's not necessary
"Any force that Optischer would be able to bring to bear in any situation would be irrelevent at best. At worst, it would actually damage their nation as their fragile economy would hardly be able to support such an army abroad. I find it odd that they accuse us of 'rearming' when the Democratic Imperium has always invested heavily in defence, and it has always been the case that a single Praetonian Division could sweep aside any petty force Optischer could muster with ease. Their continued and petty provokation of us over this issue seems foolhardy in the extreme."

- The Prime Minister talking in Parliament yesterday.

[OOC: A laser gun wouldnt work in modern tech, as we dont have the batteries for it. Even if it did, a laser would leave a clean, sterilised and shallow wound in contrast with a bullet, which would actually be more dangerous and far more deadly. I dont see what (if any) effect a "sonic gun" would have.]

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Type of Communiqué: Miscellaneous
To: Praetonian Leadership
From: The Oligarch of Kriegorgrad, Comrade Leader Nikolai Fedorenkov
Subject: Typical

------------

”It is most curious, that a nation which seems to take such pride in its cultural and social evolution, is one so blatantly obsessed with war. Guns, ships, tanks and planes - we hear of these machines of death coming from Praetonia to no end. Can I ask, that seeing as you have your people on such a loose leash, that they all seem to leap at the chance to get into one of those tanks or planes or ships, and go off to war to die for a bit more land so the aristocrats at home can sip their tea from an exotic land?

The Collective Oligarchy's preoccupation with armed conflict is one of survival and to maintain the vanguard against any issues that may lead to the old Zan Varr regime rising again...Or any other extremist faction. While I expect you not to reply to this at all, I'd appreciate it if you answered or countered the issues raised, rather than just ignoring them and trying to pick holes in the Collective Oligarchy's political physique.“

Yours Sincerely,


The Oligarch of Kriegorgrad, Comrade Leader Nikolai Fedorenkov

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Foreign Office Telegram - Kriegorgrad [CLOSED]

Dear Sir,

Defence is for us, as for any other right-minded state, a vital area of Government and one of the few areas where the state alone can make a real difference. There is a difference between being 'civilised, liberal and advanced' and being 'socialist, pacifist and isolationist'. The defence industry is an extremely profitable one, both in foreign and domestic sales, and as long as it remains so, that defence industry will continue to produce new weapons.

It is not true that Praetonians 'leap at the chance to... go off to war to die', but it is true that Praetonians care about their country, and are willing to fight and yes, in many instances die, in its defence. It is not true that they will happily run into machinegun fire for no real purpose, but it is true that they will fight for the furtherment of the Commonwealth and for the defence of the Nation and Commonwealth, as well as to protect our interests abroad. Their is a difference between partiotism and fascism. I hope that this has helped.

Yours,

Sir Humphrey Wallpole
Praetonian Ambassador to Kriegorgrad

OOC: By closed Praetonia, you mean to say that the message was only sent to the receipient?

Secret IC:

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Dear Sir Tiberius,

With the majority of the members of the Southeast Asian government not wanting to make a public statement about this situation, we have decided to make this a private transmission to you. I hope that the current Optischerian Government gets thrown out and from there arises a more rational, less rash leadership that is actually intelligent.

Alas, since that it doesn't exactly concern us, we will not do anything about it. But we think that President Sarzo's - to use the political aviary term -'hawkish' policies are overstretching a bit. Especially now that he is playing a hardball game with the Yallakians and the Amestrians, whom are blockading the former New Order Republic of Torontia. The Saint Fedskians have chosen the wrong choice of words to convey the message across. As a result, the peace-talks have not caused an end to the violence, and the Xirniumite-Amestrian-Yallakian coalition are butchering the Commonwealth Army and the Torontian Interim Government.

Sarzo is backing Saint Fedski because the Commonwealth is a member-state of the recently refounded Council of Air Powers. The Federal Sikh Republic of Space Union is also supporting them. There are other factions that may be involved, and rumors of Czardaian aid toward the Commonwealth of Saint Fedski are running amuck, but alas, aid may come too late as by the time the convoy arrives, the Saint Fedskians will be crushed by the Imperial Navy of Yallak and the Amestrian Occupational Authority.

The Yallakians have not taken much effort in reconcilating with Saint Fedski. By far, the worst insult the High Council came up with is calling the Sarzonian-designed ships of Portland Iron Works as 'floating metal deposits' (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9956525&postcount=131), in their so-called 'Infinite' Empire's arrogance.

We are not saying that you should give the Sarzonians and the other pro-Saint Fedskian factions military support. I'm saying you should give them diplomatic support, pressure the psuedo-fascistic coalition that claims to be better for the Torontian people into giving up the goose and letting Saint Fedski go. But be careful: the Yallakian Navy, which is blockading the TIG (Torontian Interim Government) controlled territory, has over one thousand ships: support personnel included.

If diplomacy fails, be prepared to teach the Yallakians, they backed the Organization of Maritime Powers during the Operation Hellfire conflict all right...in lip service. The Union government refuses to militarily get involved, but has contacted other nations to assist the CSF and the ISS in their fight against the Yallakian-Xirniumite-Amestrian coalition. May Saint Fedski prevail!

Yours Truly,
His Excellency,
USNSEA Minister of Foreign Affairs
Joshua Lin


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bump for Praetonia

OOC: Southeastasia, don't you think you should make a separate thread for what you're talking about? This is afterall a thread about his new rifle... :rolleyes:

ooc prae get on msn
ic the future tech empire would like 5 of these for our ancient artfiacts musemem

ooc: sephiroth, are you a mod on totse.com by any chance?
IC: The Commissar of War, Zbigniew Yarczouk, has recently stated that he is interested in this new weapon. He has been working with the Commissariat of Trade to perhaps organize some trade between our two nations (my nation is more of a movement, not a nation, but whatever).

bump

OOC:A 35mm charge behind a 6.3mm projectile? That's practically a sub-machine gun caliber. Such a small charge will make the weapon pretty inadequete at range, and the velocity would be too low for it to go through modern plate armor. Add tungsten ammo on top of that, and your velocity is even worse. I'd say performance for this weapon would be more along the lines of a P-90 (albeit better, but still...)

Range is gonna be nowhere near the stated, more like 350-400 meters for the rifle, even less for the carbine, maybe 500 for the SAW.

OOC:A 35mm charge behind a 6.3mm projectile? That's practically a sub-machine gun caliber. Such a small charge will make the weapon pretty inadequete at range, and the velocity would be too low for it to go through modern plate armor. Add tungsten ammo on top of that, and your velocity is even worse. I'd say performance for this weapon would be more along the lines of a P-90 (albeit better, but still...)

Range is gonna be nowhere near the stated, more like 350-400 meters for the rifle, even less for the carbine, maybe 500 for the SAW.
[OOC: That would be true for a cased round, but caseless rounds are both more space efficient and compact and do not lose gas (and therefore kinetic energy for the bullet) through the ejection port. According to Scandavian States, a caseless bullet's length is equivalent to 1.3x - 1.7x the length in charge of a cased bullet, therefore this is equivalent to a 45.5mm - 59.5mm cased bullet, looking towards the higher bands. Having a caseless bullet with a 51mm charge would give you an absurd 85mm cased equivalent.

Southeastasia - Im not really sure what to say to that...]

[OOC: That would be true for a cased round, but caseless rounds are both more space efficient and compact and do not lose gas (and therefore kinetic energy for the bullet) through the ejection port. According to Scandavian States, a caseless bullet's length is equivalent to 1.3x - 1.7x the length in charge of a cased bullet, therefore this is equivalent to a 45.5mm - 59.5mm cased bullet, looking towards the higher bands. Having a caseless bullet with a 51mm charge would give you an absurd 85mm cased equivalent.

Southeastasia - Im not really sure what to say to that...]

It would be nicer if we had more roudns out there to make that a hard and fast rule but it does seem to the true, the RL Voere 5.7x26mm UCC caselss round is pretty much indentical to 5.56x45mm in terms of performance.

[OOC: 45 / 26 = ~1.7. Doesnt that just prove my point?]

OOC:From what I recall, the G-11 fires a cartrage with a 33mm charge, the projectile having a diameter around 4.7-4.8mm. You upped the charge by only 2mms but increased diameter by nearly 2. The G-11's round supposedly had performance in the area of 5.56mm. Now, this increase in diameter and minimal increase in charge would probably give you similar performance to something like 7.62x39mm, which is notoriously unbalanced in terms of charge to projectile. However, like I said before, your knockdown power at closer range would be pretty damned good.

OOC: I'd be interested in finding out what you used before this and buying 1,400 surplus models to outfit my tiny military. Any chance that would happen?

OOC:From what I recall, the G-11 fires a cartrage with a 33mm charge, the projectile having a diameter around 4.7-4.8mm. You upped the charge by only 2mms but increased diameter by nearly 2. The G-11's round supposedly had performance in the area of 5.56mm. Now, this increase in diameter and minimal increase in charge would probably give you similar performance to something like 7.62x39mm, which is notoriously unbalanced in terms of charge to projectile. However, like I said before, your knockdown power at closer range would be pretty damned good.
OOC: So going by this logic, the 6.8x43mm SPC is supposed to be less accurate and of a worse performance than a 5.56x45mm just because it is 2mm off? It doesn't entirely depends on the length of the charge in porportion to the diameter, it depends on other ballistic factors as well.
Also, in terms of performance against the human body, the G11's round and the 5.56mm NATO are still fairly different. However, the philosophy behind the G11's smaller round was that more rounds can be actually put into the target's body, while each individual round would generally have less damage.

This is certainly a nice rifle however, and I'd have bought a huge batch if it weren't for the fact that we already have anew one.

OOC:From what I recall, the G-11 fires a cartrage with a 33mm charge, the projectile having a diameter around 4.7-4.8mm. You upped the charge by only 2mms but increased diameter by nearly 2. The G-11's round supposedly had performance in the area of 5.56mm. Now, this increase in diameter and minimal increase in charge would probably give you similar performance to something like 7.62x39mm, which is notoriously unbalanced in terms of charge to projectile. However, like I said before, your knockdown power at closer range would be pretty damned good.
It would be nicer if we had more roudns out there to make that a hard and fast rule but it does seem to the true, the RL Voere 5.7x26mm UCC caselss round is pretty much indentical to 5.56x45mm in terms of performance.
Clearly these two cant both be right. For the sake of simplicity, I'll go with the one that doesnt mean I have to edit everything.

Omz - Thanks.

bump for Praetonia

I'll TG you something later.

bump

Why are you bumping this thread?

Well, wouldn't you want someone to buy it? G&C said he would. And when are you going to do what Sarzonia did to all three of his sfs: combine them to form a HUGE arms megacorporation?