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Aneedlegun, also known as aneedler,flechette gun orfletcher, is afirearm that fires small, sometimes fin-stabilized, metal darts orflechettes. Theoretically, the advantages of a needlegun overconventional projectile firearms are in its compact size, highrate of fire, and extrememuzzle velocity. The needle presents less frontal area than a bullet, producing less drag and thus more effective range (especially in water) than a wider projectile of the same mass and velocity. There have been experiments to make guided flechettes that can home in on targets.[1]
The first projectiles in early gun systems dating from the 14th century were typically hand wrought iron flechettes wrapped in aleathersabot.[citation needed] However, due to the expense and trouble of making these darts in apre-industrial society, they were soon replaced with the less accurate stone cannonball.
Flechettes again came into mass use in the years beforeWorld War I. Starting as early as 1910, the French began experimenting with air-dropped flechettes; flechettes dropped from planes were used extensively during the war.[2]
A June 1978 issue ofGallery Magazine[3] quotesL. Fletcher Prouty observing a test of flechette weapons in 1960 and the testimony ofWilliam E. Colby in theChurch Committee on September 16 to 18, 1975 describing flechette weapons. Charles A. Senseney testified that he was a project engineer of the M-1 dart launcher that was described as resembling aM1911 pistol with a sight mount at the top.
Senseney claimed the M-1 was designed for theUS Army Special Forces to be used in theVietnam War but never got there due to not being able to get into the US Army's logistics system in time.[4] Flechette ammunition encased in a sabot was available for theM-16, shotguns, and other weapons for use in Vietnam.
A June 1965Esquire magazine story on the making of the then-upcoming James Bond filmThunderball featured drawings of dart firing pistols that were not used in the completed film.[5]
At the same time several makes ofunderwater firearms fired a steel bolt just over 4 inches long (but without fins).
TheSpecial Purpose Individual Weapon was a long-runningUnited States Army program to develop, in part, a workable XM-216flechette-based "rifle", though other concepts were also involved. The concepts continued to be tested under the Future Rifle Program and again in the 1980s and 1990s under theAdvanced Combat Rifle program, but neither program resulted in a system useful enough to warrant replacing the currentM16.
InMarko Kloos'sFrontlines series of novels, the military commonly use M66 flechette rifles and pistols putting out thousands of rounds a minute.
InWilliam Gibson's novelNeuromancer, the characterMolly Millions uses a flechette pistol.
InNeal Stephenson's novelSnow Crash, characters use a modified version of a needle/railgun called Reason.
InMichael Moorcock'sJerry Cornelius stories, the title character uses a transistorized needlegun.
InTerry Brooks'sGenesis of Shannara stories, multiple characters use flechette guns.
InTSR's 1982 science fiction role-playing gameStar Frontiers, a "needler" was a common weapon with multiple variations existing in the game.
InBungie's 1996 video game sequel,Marathon Infinity, the KKV-7 10mm SMG Flechette makes its debut and introduces the player to an extreme rate of fire.
In theHalo video games, originally developed byBungie, the Needler is an alien weapon that fires homing crystalline needles that explode after a delay. In 2010, the Needle Rifle was introduced to the series with the release ofHalo: Reach.
InCall of Duty: Black Ops 4, a flechette rifle called the S6 Stingray can be unlocked. It is a two-round burst tactical rifle firing high damage serrated projectiles. Impact blasting projectiles can be equipped for maximum damage.
InFallout 2 there is a pistol variant of flechette firing weapons known as the "Needler Pistol".
In the videogameF.E.A.R., there are several 10mm flechette nailguns.
InCruelty Squad, there are flechette firing shotguns, an assault rifle, and a PDW.
In the fictional universe ofWarhammer 40,000, Needleguns are occasionally mentioned as being used by non-military combatants, such as inquisitors and assassins but they are sometimes used by imperial guard members or chaos cultists as shown in the founding a gaunt’s ghost omnibus.
InFrank Herbert'sDune novel, many organizations and houses wielded flechette projectile weapons, and a needlegun is featured in the1984 film adaptation as a pistol wielded byGurney Halleck.
InRobert A Heinlein's novelThe Number of the Beast, the character Deety (Deja Thoris Burroughs-Carter) owns an illegal flechette pistol for self-defence.
InDavid Weber'sHonorverse, several factions use flechette guns.
InK. A. Applegate'sAnimorphs, the alien race of Howlers use flechette guns.
InDan Simmons'Hyperion Cantos, flechette guns are used by many military and police forces.
In theAltered CarbonTV show,Takeshi Kovacs uses Ingrum 40 Flechette Gun for a period, a high tech needlegun pistol that magnetically pulls fired flechettes back into the bottom of the gun and automatically reloads them into the magazine.
InBob Shaw'sNight Walk, the protagonist, Sam Tallon, is blinded by being fired upon at point-blank range by hornet guns, which may be similar to needleguns, although they are also drugged, probably to increase incapacitation or pain.