Table Of Contentteve Crawford
Twenty-First Century Small Arms is a
compendium of the most innovative and
important modern infantry weapons. This
highly illustrated book focuses oimthe
rifles, machine guns, and submachine guns
that have been developed to equip modern
infantry forces. Examples include the
famous Kalashnikov range of assault rifles
and machine guns that have served the
Russian Army so well since the late i
1940s, and which have been widely
exported, such as the AI<-47, AK-lOl,
RPK, and AI<S-74. Simple to operate,
robust, and reliable, Kalashnikov weapons
have rightly earned a place in the small
arms hall of fame. Assault rifles in use
with Western armies are also covered in
full, including the US M16, French
FAMAS, British SA80, and Austrian AUG.
Submachine guns featured in Twenty-First
Century Small Arms include the MP5
range produced by the German company
Heckler & Koch, notably the shortened
MP5K model, the suppressed MP5SD
version, and the MP5N variant that is
used by the US Navy's elite SEAL teams.
Twenty-First Century Small Arms also
features the most potent sniper rifles in
use with the world's armies, such as the
Barrett M82A1, Accuracy International
L96A1, and SIG SSG3000.
Each weapon featured in Twenty-First
Century Small Arms is illustrated by a
full-color photograph and accompanied by
text that examines its unique design
features, service history, and accessories.
There is also a specificaticwas table for
each weapon, with the following categories
(all weights and measures in imperial and
metric): manufacturer, type, caliber,
cartridge, length, length of barrel, number
of grooves, weight, cyclic rate of fire, j
practical rate of fire, operation, magazine
capacity, fire mode, muzzle velocity,
maximum range, effective range, and
service entry date. ^
111 ■
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
SMALL ARMS
THE WORLD'S GREAT INFANTRY WEAPONS
■‘If*
*■#
iUfjs 41
i-
•i’ V
> ■
f: iv
t
\
f.
t .,, *.; .’Ti
jir- ■>, ,j; /•.
4:^ • . » .• -.. j /<k
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
SMALL ARMS
THE WORLD'S GREAT INFANTRY WEAPONS
Steve Crawford
IVBl
J
This edition first published in 2003 by MBI, an imprint of
MBI Publishing Company, Gaitier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street,
St. Paul,
MN 55101-3885, USA
© 2003 The Brown Reference Group pic
All rights reserved. With the exception of quoting brief passages for the
purposes of review, no part of this publication may be reproduced
without prior written permission from the Publisher.
The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our
knowledge. All recommendations are made without any guarantee on
the part of the author or Publisher, who also disclaim any liability
incurred in connection with the use of this data or specific details.
We recognize that some words, model names and designations, for
example, mentioned herein are the property of the trademark holder.
We use them for identification purposes only. This is not an official
publication.
MBI titles are also available at discounts in bulk quantity for industrial
or sales-promotional use. For details write to Special Sales Manager at
Motorbooks International Wholesalers & Distributors, Gaitier Plaza,
Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885 USA.
ISBN: 0-7603-1503-5
Printed in China
Senior Editor: Peter Darman
Editor: Stephen Crane
Picture Research: Susannah Jayes
Design: Seth Grimbly
Production: Alastair Gourlay
Picture Credits
API: 28, 58, 63, 65, 67
Barrett Firearms: 91, 92, 93
FN Herstal: 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Heckler & Koch: 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41,
42, 43, 44, 45, 46
MPL: 27, 55, 89
Private collection: 8, 10, 54, 56, 59, 60, 61, 62, 68, 71, 77, 78, 82,
88, 94
Sako Ltd: 22, 23, 24
SIG: 79, 80, 81
Singapore Technologies Kinetics: 72, 73, 74
Steyr-Manniicher AG: 6, 7, 9, 11
Tim Ripley: 47
TRH Pictures: 13, 15, 21, 25, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 57, 64, 66, 69
70, 95
US Department of Defense: 26, 75, 76, 83, 84, 85, 86, 90
Use by permission from Remington Arms Company, Inc.: 87
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
AUSTRIA. 6
BELGIUM.12
CHINA. 21
FINLAND. 22
FRANCE. 25
GERMANY. 28 n
GREAT BRITAIN. 47
ISRAEL. 52
ITALY. 58
RUSSIA. 62
SINGAPORE. 72
SOUTH KOREA. 75
SPAIN.76
SWITZERLAND. 79
UNITED STATES. 82
INDEX. 96
153
JO
6 TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SMALL ARMS
AUG-A1
he AUG {Armee Universal Gewehr — Universal Army
Rifle) was developed by the Austrian company Steyr- SPECIFICATIONS
Mannlicher AG in the 1970s and its production began
in 1978. It was almost immediately adopted by the Austrian Manufacturer: Steyr-Manniicher AG
Army as the Stg 77 (Stmmgewehr 11 — Assault Rifle, Model Type: assault rifle
1977). It later entered service with the armies of Australia,
Calibre: 5.56mm
New Zealand, Oman, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Ireland, as
Cartridge: 5.56mm x 45mm Ml93 or NATO
well as with the US Coast Guard.
Length: 790mm (31. lin)
From the start the AUG was designed with versatility in
Length of battel: ^ 508mm (20in)
mind: quick-interchange barrels (they can be removed and
re-installed within seconds, even when hot, as a front grip is Number of grooves: 6
used as a barrel-replacement handle) of different lengths, Weight: 3.6kg (7.921b)
and an ambidextrous fire capability. The AUG features an
Cyclic rate of fire: 650rpm
aluminium alloy receiver and polymer stock, bullpup layout,
Practical rate of fire: 150rpm
and conventional gas-powered action with rotating bolt. The
Operation: gas
bolt carrier itself rides on two guide rods and thus does not
come into contact with the receiver. The left rod interoper¬ Magazine capacity: 30
ates with the charging handle, while the right rod also acts Fire mode: semi-, full-auto
as a gas piston. The hammer group is located in the butt¬
Muzzle velocity: 970mps (3182lps)
stock and is made almost entirely from polymer, including
Maximum range: 1000m (3280ft)
the hammer itself. The translucent magazine allows the user
Effective range: 400m (1312ft)
to see how much ammunition has been expended in action.
Despite its looks the AUG is very strong, and in testsTas Entered service: 1978
worked after having been driven over by an army truck.
