The General Resource Limited AR-1A is considered a major quantum-leap in small arms technology, as it is the first operational, full production gauss gun in history.
The General Resource Limited Assault Rifle Type 1 Model A (or AR-1A), is a revolutionary advancement in technology and is a prime example of Belkan ingenuity. By using electromagnetism (a Gauss gun) to fire a specially developed ferromagnetic 7.62 mm x 39 mm round, the Belkan Waldreich had created the most accurate assault rifle in history, not only because of the already prodigious accuracy associated with Gauss weapons, but also because it has virtually no recoil whatsoever thanks to an ingenious gyroscopic counter-balancing system. The primary operator of the AR-1A was the BSK. It is commonly referred to as the "Punisher".
Initial Development (1995-2045)[]
Although produced by General Resources Limited beginning in 2045, the weapon had in fact been in development for many years, the concept being concieved as early as the outbreak of the Belkan War in 1995. Fifteen Years later, after the successful trials of the prototype, a hundred pre-production versions under the designation G-1A were manufactured prior to the end of the Circum-Pacific War and were used by Belkan infantry against the forces advancing on Sudentor; when the defense became hopeless, the Belkans destroyed their weapons to prevent the allies from aquiring it. However, one example of the G-1A was not destroyed and was later picked up by a young Osean soldier named Frederick Garretson, who would later go on to earn a doctorate in mechanical engineering and would work for General Resource Limited. In 2015, Garretson successfully reverse-engineered the rifle and discovered how it worked prior to making modifications that actually improved certain characteristics by reducing weight and the number of moving parts, making it a more economical weapon to produce in large numbers.
The weapon, however, went unnoticed until 2042, when General Resource Limited hired the amatuer weapons designer and allowed him to continue on his project following a jaw-dropping demonstration of its superiority compared to all other assault weapons of the day. Along with the gun, Garretson would develop armor and even tactics and training for use by the supersoldiers that would be produced by Project Dragonchild. Unfortunately, said program fell through, but upon the outbreak of the Corporate War in 2045, elite Special Forces teams in the GRDF would give the weapon its baptism of fire, and they were not dissappointed.
The "Punisher" in Combat (2045-2048)[]
In 2045, the Corporate War simulated by Neucom's Project NEMO in 2040 became reality, but on a far larger and bloodier scale than predicted. The simulated version was impersonal, efficient and mechanical, but in the case of the actual war, technology had only further increased the horrors faced by fighting forces on the battlefield.
In order to strike Neucom where it was most vulnerable: its factories and communications hubs, the GRDF deployed the 9th Black Ops Division, the infamous "Devil's Legionaires" as they were known by Neucom and UPEO forces that was notorious for their brutality and machine-like precision (they later became the 1st BSK Division). The primary weapon carried by these elite commandos was the first mass-produced variant of the G-1A rifle, now dubbed Assault Rifle Type 1 Model A, or AR-1A.
These troops made a major nuisance of themselves by devastating Neucom employees and soldiers, as well as attacking civilians in Neucom-controlled areas. Such was the lethality of the AR-1A that it was nicknamed "Punisher" by the commander of the Devil's Legionaires, Hal "Judge" Darmann; the nickname stuck, and eventually became a common reference for the weapon.
It is believed that at least a fifth of all of Neucom and UPEO's casualties due to small arms fire combined were killed by the AR-1A. The age of magnetic weaponry had arrived, and the Punisher would show the way.
Inner Workings[]
The weapon itself borrows many features from Hecklar & Koch firearms, in particular the G.11 and G.36. For example, other than the frame of the gun itself, the configuration of the ammunition clip (which holds an astonishing 80 rounds due to the space freed up from not having charge casings) and the loading mechanism, which rotates the bullet ninety degrees before it is loaded and fired. Other features are taken from the Steyr AUG, partcularly the lightweight construction, ease of production and the forward handgrip. The Gyroscopic Stabilization System is one commonly used in the guidance systems on ICBMs, only modified for use in small arms.
The electromagnetic launcher that makes the weapon so effective is also remarkably simple, consisting of coils of copper wire inside of a special sheath built into the barrel, which carry current from a single rechargable Lithium-ion battery with enough power per charge for three magazines of ammunition, or 240 rounds, and soldiers would typically carry at least two spare batteries with them in case they were needed. A small computer controls the current to ensure the bullet is accelerated at the optimum velocity and in a straight line.
Another feature that proves quite useful is its scope, which rather than having a soldier look through it sends a live video feed to a Heads-Up Display on the soldier's helmet visor, allowing one to shoot around corners simply by aiming the gun with ones arms without putting themself in harm's way.
Pros[]
- High accuracy
- Long range
- High muzzle velocity
- Large ammo clip
- Relatively easy to fight with
- Can fire anti-tank rounds if needed
- Uses caseless ammunition
- Slow rate of fire (helps to reduce recoil and conserve ammunition)
- Cheap ammunition (The ammo is basically Kalashnikov bullets minus the bullet casing)
Cons[]
- Overly complicated
- Expensive to manufacture
- Expensive to purchase (limiting use to Special Forces)
- Barrel prone to overheating (Early models in the Corporate War of 2045; this was rectified by 2048)
- Difficult to maintain without specialized training
- Difficult to train with/Use limited to Special Forces
- Slow rate of fire (less dounds downrange)
- Useless if battery is damaged
- Can be shorted out and rendered useless by EMP weapons
- Difficult (but not impossible) to manually load magazines
- Does not function well in moist conditions and is prone to malfunction when wet
- Incompatible with rail systems used to mount accessories on other, conventional firearms (an aftermarket conversion kit released in late 2045 aleviated this issue, although rail-mounted grenade launchers are still not used with the weapon )
- Dangerous to use with over-under-type grenade launchers when fitted with the aftermarket rail kit (the charge from the barrel can cause the grenade to fire off prematurely, or worse, detonate when the trigger is pulled), requiring a specialized grenade and launcher to be designed specifically for the AR-1A.
Specifications[]
Type: Semi-Automatic, Burst or Fully-Automatic Gauss-Pattern Assault Rifle
Caliber: 7.62x19mm (repurposed Kalashnikov rounds without the casing)
Fire Rate: 450 rpm (full-auto)
Magazine: 60-round preloaded helical magazine
Attachments: Suppressors and Grenade launchers (the scope is built-in to the rifle's casing)
Notes[]
- In 2046, GR Ltd produced a Squad Automatic Weapon variant dubbed the MGG-1A (Machine Gun, Gauss Pattern, Type 1, Model A), with a higher rate of fire of 600 rpm, a larger 140 round helical magazine, a longer and heavier barrel with a bipod and a fixed stock inline with the bore. This weapon also featured a select-fire feature and could use a supressor, making it useful as a Sniper Rifle as well.
MGG-1A SAW variant of the AR-1A
Comparable Weapons[]
None really, but several firearms have similar roles:
- FN-21 SCAR
- G.36E Valkyrie
- G.11