Select-fire self-loading rifle that fires an intermediate-power cartridge
This article is about automatic firearms used by many military and law enforcement organizations. For semi-automatic firearms restricted by some United States laws, seeassault weapon.
The first successfully deployed assault rifle, theStG 44 was adopted by theGerman army in 1944. It fires the7.92×33mm Kurz round.Currently the most used assault rifle in the world along with its variants, theAKM and theAK-74, theAK-47 was first adopted in 1949 by theSoviet Army. It fires the7.62×39mm cartridge.TheM16 was first introduced into service in 1964 with theU.S. Military, It fires the5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and is the most produced assault rifle in its caliber.
The termassault rifle is generally attributed toAdolf Hitler, who used the German wordSturmgewehr (which translates to "assault rifle") as the new name for the MP 43 (Maschinenpistole), subsequently known as theSturmgewehr 44.[6][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Allied propaganda suggested that the name was chosen for propaganda purposes, but the main purpose was to differentiate the Sturmgewehr from German submachine guns such as theMP 40.[15]
It has been suggested, however, that theHeereswaffenamt was responsible for the nameSturmgewehr, and Hitler had no input besides signing theproduction order.[16][15] Furthermore, Hitler was initially opposed to the idea of a new infantry rifle, as Germany lacked the industrial capacity to replace the 12,000,000Karabiner 98k rifles already in service, only changing his mind once he saw it first-hand.[17]
The StG 44 is generally considered the first selective fire military rifle to popularize the assault rifle concept.[6][8] Today, the termassault rifle is used to define firearms sharing the same basic characteristics as the StG 44.[6][8]
Definition
TheU.S. Army definesassault rifles as "short, compact, selective-fire weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges."[18] In this strict definition, a firearm must have at least the following characteristics to be considered an assault rifle:[2][3][4]
It must have an effective range of at least 300 metres (330 yards).
Rifles that meet most of these criteria, but not all, are notassault rifles according to the U.S. Army's definition. For example:
Select-fire rifles such as theFN FAL,M14, andH&K G3 main battle rifles are not assault rifles; they fire full-powered rifle cartridges.
Semi-automatic-only rifles like theColt AR-15 are not assault rifles; they do not have select-fire capabilities.
Semi-automatic-only rifles with fixed magazines like theSKS are not assault rifles; they do not have detachable box magazines and are not capable of automatic fire.
In the United States, selective-fire rifles are legally defined as "machine guns", and civilian ownership of those has been tightly regulated since 1934 under theNational Firearms Act and since 1986 under theFirearm Owners Protection Act.[19] However, the term "assault rifle" is often conflated with "assault weapon", a U.S. legal category with varying definitions which includes many semi-automatic weapons. This use has been described as incorrect and a misapplication of the term.[20][21]
The Fedorov Avtomat (also anglicized as Federov,[22][23] Russian:Автома́т Фёдорова,romanized:Avtomát Fyódorova,IPA:[ɐftɐˈmatˈfʲɵdərəvə],lit. 'Fyodorov's automatic rifle') is a select-fire infantry rifle and also one of the world's first operational automatic rifles, designed byVladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov in 1915 and produced in theRussian Empire and later in theRussian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. A total of 3,200 Fedorov rifles were manufactured between 1915 and 1924 in the city ofKovrov; the vast majority of them were made after 1920. The weapon saw limited combat inWorld War I, but was used more substantially in theRussian Civil War and in theWinter War. Some consider it to be an "early predecessor" or "ancestor" of the modern assault rifle.[23][24][25][26]
The Germans were the first to successfully implement the assault rifle concept during World War II, based upon research that showed that most firefights happen within 400 metres (1,300 ft) and that contemporary rifles were overpowered for most small arms combat.[7][8][9][27][28][29] They would soon develop a select-fire intermediate powered rifle combining the firepower of a submachine gun with the range and accuracy of a rifle.[7][8][9][27][28][29]
The result was the Sturmgewehr 44, an improvement of the earlierMaschinenkarabiner 42(H), and approximately half a million Sturmgewehrs were produced by the war's end.[7][8][9][28][29] It fired a new and revolutionary intermediate powered cartridge, the 7.92×33mm Kurz.[6][7][8][9][28][29][30] This new cartridge was developed by shortening the standard7.92×57mm Mauser round and giving it a lighter 125-grain bullet, which limited range but allowed for more controllable automatic fire.[6][7][8][9][28][29][30] A smaller, lighter cartridge also allowed soldiers to carry more ammunition "to support the higher consumption rate of automatic fire".[8][27]
The Sturmgewehr 44 features an inexpensive, easy-to-make, stamped steel design and a 30-round detachable box magazine.[31] This weapon was the prototype of all successful automatic rifles. Characteristically (and unlike previous rifles) it had a straight stock with the barrel under the gas cylinder to reduce the turning moment of recoil of the rifle in the shoulder and thus help reduce the tendency of shots to climb in automatic fire. The barrel and overall length were shorter than a traditional rifle and it had apistol grip to hold the weapon more securely in automatic fire. "The principle of this weapon—the reduction of muzzle impulse to get usable automatic fire within the actual ranges of combat—was probably the most important advance in small arms since the invention ofsmokeless powder."[30]
Like the Germans, the Soviets were influenced by experience showing that most combat engagements occur within 400 metres (1,300 ft) and that their soldiers were consistently outgunned by heavily armed German troops, especially those armed with Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifles.[32][33][34][35][36][37] On July 15, 1943, a Sturmgewehr was demonstrated before thePeople's Commissariat of Arms of the USSR.[38] The Soviets were so impressed with the Sturmgewehr that they immediately set about developing an intermediate caliber automatic rifle of their own to replace the outdatedMosin–Nagant bolt-action rifles and pistol-caliberPPSh-41 andPPS-43 submachine guns that armed most of the Red Army.[8][35][37][38][39][40]
The Soviets soon developed the7.62×39mm M43 cartridge, which was first used in the semi-automaticSKS carbine and theRPDlight machine gun.[41]Hugo Schmeisser, the designer of the Sturmgewehr, was captured after World War II and likely helped develop the AK-47 assault rifle,[17] which would quickly replace the SKS and Mosin in Soviet service.[42][43] The AK-47 was finalized, adopted and entered widespread service in the Soviet army in the early 1950s.[32] Its firepower, ease of use, low production costs, and reliability were perfectly suited for the Red Army's newmobile warfare doctrines.[32] In the 1960s, the Soviets introduced theRPK light machine gun, itself an AK-47 type weapon with abipod, a stronger receiver, and a longer, heavier barrel that would eventually replace the RPD light machine gun.[41]
The AK-47 was widely supplied or sold to nations allied with the USSR, and the blueprints were shared with several friendly nations (thePeople's Republic of China standing out among these with theType 56).[32] As a result, more AK-type weapons have been produced than all other assault rifles combined.[44] As of 2004, "of the estimated 500 million firearms worldwide, approximately 100 million belong to the Kalashnikov family, three-quarters of which are AK-47s."[44]
The U.S. Army was influenced by combat experience with semi-automatic weapons such as theM1 Garand andM1 Carbine, which enjoyed a significant advantage over enemies armed primarily with bolt-action rifles.[27] 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 failed to recognize the importance of the assault rifle concept,[27] and instead maintained its traditional views and preference for high-powered semi-automatic rifles.[8][27][29][45] At the time, the U.S. Army believed that the Sturmgewehr 44 was "intended in a general way to serve the same purpose as the U.S. carbine" and was in many ways inferior to the M1 carbine,[46] and was of "little importance".[27]
After World War II, the United States military started looking for a single automatic rifle to replace the M1 Garand, M1/M2 Carbines,M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle,M3 "Grease Gun" andThompson submachine gun.[29][47] Early experiments with select-fire versions of the M1 Garand proved disappointing.[48] During theKorean War, the select-fire M2 Carbine largely replaced the submachine gun in U.S. service[49] and became the most widely used Carbine variant.[50] Combat experience suggested that the.30 Carbine round was under-powered.[51] American weapons designers reached the same conclusion as the German and Soviet ones: an intermediate round was necessary, and recommended a small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge.[8][52]
Senior American commanders had faced fanatical enemies and experienced major logistical problems during World War II and the Korean War,[53][54][55][56] and insisted that a single powerful .30 caliber cartridge be developed, that could be used by the new automatic rifle, and also by the newgeneral-purpose machine gun (GPMG) in concurrent development.[8][57][58] This culminated in the development of the7.62×51mm NATO cartridge and theM14 rifle[8][57] which was basically an improved select-fire M1 Garand with a 20-round magazine.[59][60] The U.S. also adopted theM60 GPMG, which replaced theM1919 Browning machine gun in major combat roles.[57] Its NATO partners adopted theFN FAL andHeckler & Koch G3 rifles, as well as theFN MAG andRheinmetall MG3 GPMGs.
The FN FAL is a 7.62×51mm, selective fire, automatic rifle produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturerFabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN). During theCold War it was adopted by manyNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, most notably with theBritish Commonwealth as the semi-automaticL1A1. It is one of the most widely used rifles in history, having been used by more than 90 countries.[61] 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 theFree World".[62]
The Heckler & Koch G3 is a 7.62×51mm, selective fire, automatic rifle produced by the German armament manufacturerHeckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agencyCETME (Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales).[63] The rifle proved successful in the export market, being adopted by the armed forces of over 60 countries.[64] After World War II, German technicians involved in developing theSturmgewehr 45, continued their research in France at CEAM. The StG 45 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 StG 45 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 theMP5 SMG.
The first confrontations between the AK-47 and the M14 ("assault rifle" vs "battle rifle") came in the early part of theVietnam War. Battlefield reports indicated that the M14 was uncontrollable in full-auto and that soldiers could not carry enough ammunition to maintain fire superiority over the AK-47.[8][59][65] And, while the M2 Carbine offered a high rate of fire, it was under-powered and ultimately outclassed by the AK-47.[66] 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 2.7 kg (6 lb) when loaded with a 20-round magazine.[29] The 5.56 mm round had to penetrate a standard U.S.helmet at 460 metres (500 yd) and retain a velocity in excess of the speed of sound, while matching or exceeding the wounding ability of the .30 Carbine cartridge.[67]
This request ultimately resulted in the development of a scaled-down version of theArmaLite AR-10, called theArmaLite AR-15 rifle.[8][68][69][70] 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.[8][59][68] In January 1963, Secretary of DefenseRobert McNamara concluded that the AR-15 was the superior weapon system and ordered a halt to M14 production.[59][68][71] 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 it was on AR-10 to the rear of the receiver),[69] the newly redesigned rifle was subsequently adopted as the M16 Rifle.[8][59][68][72] "(The M16) was much lighter compared to the M14 it replaced, ultimately allowing soldiers to carry more ammunition. The air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle was made of steel, aluminum alloy and composite plastics, truly cutting-edge for the time. Designed with full and semi-automatic capabilities, the weapon initially did not respond well to wet and dirty conditions, sometimes even jamming in combat. After a few minor modifications, the weapon gained in popularity among troops on the battlefield."[59][73][74]
Despite its early failures, the M16 proved to be a revolutionary design and stands as the longest continuously serving rifle in American military history.[68][72] It has been adopted by many U.S. allies and the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge has become not only the NATO standard but "the standard assault-rifle cartridge in much of the world".[68][75][76] It also led to the development of small-caliber high-velocity service rifles by every major army in the world, including the USSR and People's Republic of China.[68] Today, many small arms experts consider the M16 the standard by which all other assault rifles are judged.[68][77][78]
During World War II, the Soviet Union primarily used the Mosin–Nagant rifle but began exploring modern alternatives like theAVS-36 andSVT-40.[79] In 1943, Soviet engineers developed the 7.62×39mm M43 cartridge, inspired by German designs, leading to the creation of theSKS carbine bySergei Simonov.[80][81] The carbine was based on the operating system of Simonov'sPTRS-41.[79][82][83][81] Officially adopted as the SKS-45 after the war, it briefly replaced the Mosin–Nagant before being overtaken by the AK-47.[80] In 1955, the Soviets shared SKS and AK-47 technology with China, resulting in the Type 56 carbine, which became thePeople's Liberation Army's standard rifle.[81][84][85] To improve on the SKS, China developed the select-fireType 63 assault rifle, but it suffered from poor quality control, with nearly 700 unauthorized design changes that compromised performance.[86][87][88][89][90] Production ended in 1978, and the PLA reverted to the more reliable Type 56, though some Type 63s were used briefly in the 1979Sino-Vietnamese War.[90][87]
Prompted by the shortcomings of the Type 56 weapons revealed during the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, theType 81 assault rifle was developed by blending features from the AK, SKS,SVD, and Type 63 rifles, such as its unique gas regulator.[91][92][93] Designed for improved accuracy, durability, and full-auto control, it retained the AK's layout but added a short-stroke gas system, recoil-reducing enhancements, and a spigot-style grenade launcher.[94][95][96] Entering PLA service in 1981, it replaced the Type 56 series and saw action in the later stages of the Sino-Vietnamese conflict.[97] Though largely replaced by newer rifles like theQBZ-95 andQBZ-03, it remains in reserve use and was exported, with Bangladesh using it as the BD-08 and Myanmar'sKachin Independence Army producing a polymer-based variant called the M23.[98][99][100]
The Type 81 rifle served as the foundation for the Type 87, which was developed as a test platform for China's new5.8×42mm DBP87 ammunition, used in the QBZ-03 and QBZ-95 rifles.[101][102] Featuring plastic furniture and a folding stock, the Type 87 never entered mass production and was soon succeeded by the Type 87A, a prototype refined between 1987 and 1989 for the "Project 8910" parade.[102][103][104][105] The Type 87A introduced polymer components and saw limited use, mainly withPLA special forces.[105] The design lineage continued with the QBZ-03, finalized in 2003, which retained the Type 81's gas system but offered improvements such as a folding stock and higher rate of fire.[106][107] It was developed partly in response to issues with the QBZ-95.[107]
During the 1960s other countries would follow the Americans' lead and begin to develop 5.56×45mm assault rifles, most notably Germany with theHeckler & Koch HK33. The HK33 was essentially a smaller 5.56mm version of the 7.62×51mm Heckler & Koch G3 rifle. As one of the first 5.56mm assault rifles on the market, it would go on to become one of the most widely distributed assault rifles. The HK33 featured a modular design with a wide range of accessories (telescoping butt-stocks, optics, bi-pods, etc.) that could be easily removed and arranged in a variety of configurations.
The adoption of the M16, the H&K33, and the 5.56×45mm cartridge inspired an international trend towards relatively small-sized, lightweight, high-velocity military service cartridges that allow a soldier to carry more ammunition for the same weight compared to the larger and heavier 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. The 5.56mm cartridge is also much easier to shoot.[108][109][110] In 1961 marksmanship testing, the U.S. Army found that 43% of AR-15 shooters achieved Expert, while only 22% of M-14 rifle shooters did so. Also, a lowerrecoil impulse, allows for more controllable automatic weapons fire.[108][109][110]
In March 1970, the U.S. recommended that all NATO forces adopt the 5.56×45mm cartridge.[76] 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.[76] The U.S. offered the 5.56×45mm M193 round, but there were concerns about its penetration in the face of the wider introduction ofbody armor.[29] In the end the Belgian 5.56×45mm SS109 round was chosen (STANAG 4172) in October 1980.[76] 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 metres or 2,000 feet).[29]
Also during the 1970s, Finland, Israel, and South Africa introduced AK type assault rifles in 5.56×45mm.[111] Sweden began the transition with trials in 1981 and full adoption in 1986. During the 1990s, Russia developed theAK-101 in 5.56×45mm NATO for the world export market.[112] In addition, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Yugoslavia (i.e., Serbia) have also rechambered their locally produced assault rifles to 5.56mm NATO.[113][114]
The AK-74 assault rifle was a Soviet answer to the U.S. M16.[115][116][117] The Soviet military realized that the M16 had better range and accuracy over the AKM, and that its lighter cartridge allowed soldiers to carry more ammunition. Therefore, in 1967, the USSR issued an official requirement to replace the AKM and the 7.62×39mm cartridge.[118] They soon began to develop the AK-74 and the5.45×39mm cartridge.[68][119][120] AK-74 production began in 1974,[118] and it was unveiled in 1977, when it was carried by Sovietparachute troops during the annualRed Square parade.[121] It would soon replace the AKM and become the standard Soviet infantry rifle.[121] In 1979, the AK-74 saw combat for the first time inAfghanistan,[122] where the lethality of the 5.45mm rounds led to theMujahadeen dubbing them "poison bullets".[123] The adoption of the 5.56mm NATO and the Russian 5.45×39mm cartridges cemented the worldwide trend toward small caliber, high-velocity cartridges.[68]
A USAF security policeman aims hisColt Commando during a live-fire demonstration, part of Operation Desert Shield. Note the large flash hider.
Following the adoption of the M16, carbine variants were also adopted for close quarters operations. The AR-15 family of weapons served through the Vietnam War. However, these compact assault rifles had design issues, as "the barrel length was halved" to 10 inches (250 mm) which "upset the ballistics", reducing its range and accuracy and leading "to considerable muzzle flash and blast, so that a large flash suppressor had to be fitted".[124] "Nevertheless, as a short-range weapon it is quite adequate and thus, [despite] its caliber, [theColt Commando] is classed as a submachine gun."[124] Other compact assault rifles, such as theHK53,AKS-74U and theDaewoo K1, have been made and they have also been called submachine guns.[125]
In 1977, Austria introduced the 5.56×45mmSteyr AUG bullpup rifle, often cited as the first successfulbullpup 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 5.56×45mmFAMAS bullpup rifle. In 1985, the British introduced the 5.56×45mmL85 bullpup rifle. In the late 1990s, Israel introduced the 5.56mm NATOTavor TAR-21. In 1997, China adopted theQBZ-95 in the new5.8×42mm cartridge, which they claim is superior to both the 5.56×45mm and the 5.45×39mm. By the turn of the century, the bullpup assault rifle design had achieved worldwide acceptance.
The Heckler & Koch G36 is a 5.56×45mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1990s by Heckler & Koch in Germany as a replacement for the heavier G3. It was accepted into service with theBundeswehr in 1997, replacing the G3.[126] The G36 isgas-operated and feeds from a 30-round detachablebox magazine or 100-roundC-Magdrum magazine.[citation needed] The G36 was made with the extensive use of lightweight, corrosion-resistant synthetic materials in its design; the receiver housing, stock, trigger group (including the fire control selector and firing mechanism parts), magazine well, handguard and carrying handle are all made of acarbon fiber-reinforcedpolyamide. The receiver has an integratedsteel barrel trunnion (with locking recesses) and a nylon 66 steel reinforced receiver.[127] The standardBundeswehr versions of the G36 are equipped with a unique ZF 3×4° dual optical sight that combines a 3× magnified telescopic sight and an unmagnifiedreflex sight mounted on top of the telescopic sight.[126] Widely distributed, it has been adopted by over 40 countries and prompted other nations to develop similar composite designs, such as theFX-05 Xiuhcoatl.
^abMusgave, Daniel D., and Thomas B. Nelson,The World's Assault Rifles, vol. II, The Goetz Company, Washington, D.C. (1967): 1
^abcdefFirearms: The Life Story of a Technology, by Roger Pauly. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2004. pp. 145–146
^abcdefJane's Guns Recognition Guide, Ian Hogg & Terry Gander, HarperCollins Publisher, 2005, p. 287 Sturmgewehr 44 "This is the father of all assault rifles, developed in Germany in 1941–42 a using a new short cartridge. Originally known as the MP 43 (Machine Pistol) for Nazi political reasons, it was renamed the "Sturmgewehr 44" after its successful introduction into battle on the Eastern Front. It introduced the concept of using a short cartridge with limited range in order to permit controllable automatic fire and a compact weapon, and because experience showed that most rifle fire was conducted at ranges under 400 metres (1,300 ft). After the war, it was examined and dissected by almost every major gun-making nation and led, in one way and another, to the present-day 5.56mm assault rifles."
^abcdefghijklmnopqrstu[1]Archived 2017-03-30 at theWayback MachineThe 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
^Musgave, Daniel D., and Thomas B. Nelson,The World's Assault Rifles, vol. II, The Goetz Company, Washington, D.C. (1967)
^Myatt, Major Frederic,Modern Small Arms, Crescent Books, New York (1978): 169
^Hogg, Ivan, and John Weeks,Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, 3rd ed., Hippocrene Books, New York (1977): 159
^Chris Bishop,The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2002, p. 218
^Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, 7th ed., Ian V. Hogg, p. 243
^abRottman, Gordon (2013).The Big Book of Gun Trivia: Everything You Want to Know, Don't Want to Know, and Don't Know You Need to Know. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 26.ISBN978-1-78200-949-8
^Fowler, William; Sweeney, Patrick (2008).The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rifles and Machine Guns: An illustrated historical reference to over 500 military, law enforcement and antique firearms... and automatic machine guns, a comprehensive guide. Lorenz Books. p. 68.ISBN978-0-7548-1758-1.
^Walter, John (2003).Military Rifles of Two World Wars. Greenhill. p. 19.ISBN978-1-85367-536-2.
^Musgrave, Daniel D.; Nelson, Thomas B. (1967).The World's Assault Rifles and Automatic Carbines. T.B.N. Enterprises. p. 149; see also discussion on p. 15.
^abcdefg[2]Archived 2015-09-06 at theWayback Machine M16 Rifle Case Study. Prepared for the Presidents Blue Ribbon Defense Panel. March 16, 1970. By Richard R. Hallock, Colonel U.S. Army (Retired)
^abcdeMilitary Small Arms Of The 20th Century, 7th ed., 2000 by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks, p. 243
^abc[3]Archived 2015-09-06 at theWayback Machine M16 Rifle Case Study. Prepared for the President's Blue Ribbon Defense Panel. March 16, 1970. By Richard R. Hallock, Colonel U.S. Army (Retired)
^Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th ed., Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. Krause Publications. 2000. pp. 242–243
^"AK-47 Inventor Doesn't Lose Sleep Over Havoc Wrought With His Invention". USA:FoxNews.com. 6 July 2007.OCLC36334372.Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved3 April 2010.It was before he started designing the gun that he slept badly, worried about the superior weapons that Nazi soldiers were using with grisly effectiveness against the Red Army in World War II. He saw them at close range himself while fighting on the front lines. While hospitalized with wounds after a Nazi shell hit his tank in the 1941 battle of Bryansk, Kalashnikov decided to design an automatic rifle combining the best features of the American M1 and the German StG44. 'Blame the Nazi Germans for making me become a gun designer', said Kalashnikov, frail but sharp at age 87. 'I always wanted to construct agriculture machinery.'
^Fisk, Robert (July 2001) [April 22, 2001]."For Patriotism and Profit: An interview with Mikhail Kalashnikov".World Press Review.The Independent (London).Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. RetrievedJuly 8, 2016.Born in November 1919 – one of 18 children, of whom only six survived – Mikhail Kalashnikov was a Soviet T-38 tank commander in 1941, wounded in the shoulder and back when a German shell smashed part of the tank's armor into his body. 'I was in the hospital, and a soldier in the bed beside me asked: 'Why do our soldiers have only one rifle for two or three of our men, when the Germans have automatics?' So I designed one. I was a soldier, and I created a machine gun for a soldier. It was called an Avtomat Kalashnikova, the automatic weapon of Kalashnikov – AK – and it carried the date of its first manufacture, 1947.
^ab[5]Archived 2015-09-06 at theWayback Machine M16 Rifle Case Study. Prepared for the President's Blue Ribbon Defense Panel. March 16, 1970. By Richard R. Hallock, Colonel U.S. Army (Retired) "Used in quantity against the Soviets at Stalingrad, the German Sturmgewehr made a deep impression on the Russians. They copied the ballistics of the cartridge while improving the configuration and improving the weapon. They standardized the weapon in 1947 as the AK-47 rifle."
^ab[6]Archived 2015-10-15 at theWayback Machine "The history of the world-known gun started on July 15th, 1943, when a captured complex—an MP-43 gun and a cartridge—were demonstrated at a meeting of the arms committee. Chief designer Nikolay Elizarov and chief engineer Pavel Ryazanov created the Soviet "interim cartridge " within a very short period of time. The technological support was provided by Boris Syomin. After that, scientists started working on a new fire arms system for that cartridge." The History of Kalashnikov Gun.Pravda. 02.08.2003
^ab[7] Small Arms Identification and Operations Guide-Eurasain Communist Countries. by Harold E. Johnson. September 1973. U.S. Army Foreign Science and Technology Center of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
^[8]Archived 2017-05-10 at theWayback Machine Interview with AK-47 rifle inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov. 'I sleep soundly' Shamed by his parents' exile, he was determined to do his bit for the Soviet cause. And so Mikhail Kalashnikov invented what was to become the world's most prolific killing machine. Nick Paton Walsh tracks down the 83-year-old at his tranquil lakeside. by Nick Paton Walsh.The Guardian, Thursday 9 October 2003
^The M16. By Gordon Rottman. Osprey Publishing, 2011. p. 6
^[9]Archived 2013-12-04 at theWayback Machine |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, pp. 24–29, 46
^Jane's International Defence Review. Vol. 36. Jane's Information Group, 2003. p. 43. "The M14 is basically an improved M1 with a modified gas system and detachable 20-round magazine."
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^Bishop, Chris.Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc. (1998).ISBN0-7858-0844-2.
^Woźniak, Ryszard:Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej—tom 2 G-Ł, p. 7. Bellona, 2001.
^Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. Ian Hogg & Terry Gander. HarperCollins Publishers. 2005 p. 288
^GX. The Guard Experience. The Pride of the Guard. by Major Darrin Haas. Volume 10. Issue 3. 2013. p. 67. "Nicknamed a 'Mattel toy' because of its small caliber and lightweight design, the M16 became the standard service rifle for U.S. forces in Vietnam in 1967. The weapon was much lighter compared to the M14 it replaced, ultimately allowing Soldiers to carry more ammunition. The air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle was made of steel, aluminum alloy and composite plastics, truly cutting-edge for the time. Designed with full and semi-automatic capabilities, the weapon initially did not respond well to wet and dirty conditions, sometimes even jamming in combat. After a few minor modifications, the weapon gained popularity among troops on the battlefield. Still in service today, the M16 is being phased out by the M4 carbine.
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Further reading
Crawford, S. (2003).Twenty-First Century Small Arms. MBI Publishing Company.ISBN0-7603-1503-5.
Cutshaw, C. (2006).Tactical Small Arms of the 21st Century. Gun Digest Books.ISBN0-87349-914-X.
Halls, Chris (1974).Guns in Australia. Sydney: Paul Hamlyn.ISBN0-600-07291-6.
Lewis, J. (2004).Assault Weapons: An In-Depth Look at the Hottest Weapons Around. Krause Publications.ISBN0-87349-658-2.
Popenker, M., et al. (2004).Assault Rifle: The Development of the Modern Military Rifle and Its Ammunition. Wiltshire, UK: The Crowood Press Ltd.ISBN1-86126-700-2.
Senich, P. (1987).German Assault Rifle: 1935–1945. Paladin Press.ISBN0-87364-400-X.
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