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Allied Small Arms and Equipment
Whee shooting
Faction AlliedLogoThumb Allied Nations
Function Peacekeeping through superior firepower
Brief Cool and futuristic guns

Infantry Weapons

Service Pistols

.45 cal M1911

MX-1920

The .45 cal M1911 was the first ever pistol that was standardized across the Allied Nations. Made in 1911, it was the standard issue firearm for all Allied combat personnel from 1949 all the way to 1960, when it was eventually replaced. The M1911 is a semi-automatic pistol with a 11-round magazine. It fired deadly hollow-point .45 cal bullets, which dealt significant damage to the human body, and could down a man in two to three shots. However, it had significant recoil, and inexperienced users found the guns flying out of their hands when used. The firing mechanism also tended to jam when incorrectly used, and was a constant source of frustration to non-combat personnel stuck in combat.

The M1911 was extremely cheap to manufacture, and over 2.5 million of them have been produced. Although they have been replaced in the Allied Nations by new pistols, other countries lacking resources (such as the ARVN), continue to issue them as sidearms to their infantry. The rugged M1911 continues to perform well, even though many of them are over a decade old and are rusting away.

9mm Beretta 59

Berretta 98

A replacement for the M1911 developed following the close of World War II, the Beretta 59 was chosen for its ease of usage and foolproof reloading mechanism. Although it lacks the stopping power of the M1911, the large magazine size (18), and reduced recoil made up for the disadvantages. Allied personnel foreign to small arms, such as tank crews and air force pilots, could easily pick up a Beretta 59 and shoot it without a hitch. The reload mechanism was also made to be foolproof, with large tolerances for inexperienced loading. The Beretta 59 is also much more accurate than its predecessor, with an effective range of up to 250 m, compared to the M1911's 120 m.

Although combat personnel have complained about the new, weaker pistol, other Allied personnel have welcomed the change towards a more user-friendly pistol, following the M1911.


Nightingale Pistol

Nightingale AP

The Beretta 59 was fine and good for logistics and non-combat personnel, but for the Peacekeepers, having a sidearm that would bounce off even light body armour was ridiculous, especially seeing how much danger they got into on a daily basis. Allied command considered Beretta's later offering, the 10.9mm M61, but it was ultimately turned down, perhaps due to the propaganda implications of arming Peacekeepers with a favoured weapon of mercenaries and gangsters. Thus, the Peacekeepers were issued their own sidearm, the mighty .50 cal Nightingale. Resembling more of a hand cannon than a pistol, a single shot from the Nightingale could down a man, and the Nightingale holds 10 of those shots. The recoil from firing these pistols is enormous, and untrained personnel should keep their hands off the silver pistol, lest they want to knock themselves out with their own gun.

For the Peacekeepers, however, the pistol adds welcome firepower to their arsenal and replaces an underpowered, tiny popgun that they have been whining about for two whole years. Tanya's "Black Buzzard" custom pistols are also believed by a few to be extremely heavily modified versions of the Nightingale Pistol, although it is highly likely that the "modifications" involve completely dismantling the pistol and replacing every single part. After all, the Nightingale is going to require quite a few changes before it can turn into something that can fire .50 cal bullets at full automatic while still having manageable recoil.


Submachine Guns

M192 Thompson Submachine Gun

M192 Thompson SMG

The "Tommy Gun" or "Chicago Typewriter" was first issued to members of the American Expeditionary Force, a special, six company all-volunteer unit dispatched via executive order to Europe in 1949 to support German and Polish forces against the Soviet invasion and assess the war effort while Congress debated joining the war. With a forward carrying handle, a 50-round drum magazine loading the dangerous .45 ACP round, and a heavy wood finish that helped manage recoil, the Thompson proved a lethal weapon in close quarters fighting, especially in large numbers. When an encounter between two Soviet rifle battalions and the AEF in Toruń resulted in a Soviet rout, the Tommy Gun's expanded magazine and heavy stopping power proving invaluable against long rifles in the narrow streets of the medieval city, the Soviets immediately adapted a drum magazine for their submachine guns and began issuing them en mass to assault units.

As the Americans joined the war proper, the Tommy Gun was never issued broadly, but still saw use throughout the war due to its reputation. They were popular with commandos due to their extended magazines, and cut-down box magazine versions would occasionally find their way into the hands of officers. Because of their cost, they were status symbols among troops that used them. A small number of them still see service with special forces units. A handful of Confederate members are also known to use Tommy Guns in battle, including the infamous Dixie. Bizarrely, it has also turned up in Vietcong hands in the form of homemade versions, usually made without stocks or foregrips as holdout weapons in the tunnels.

Schmeisser MP 45

Schmeisser MP 45

A stamped steel 9mm submachine gun, designed to be cheap to make and easy to use, the MP 45 was designed by famed weapon designer Hugo Schmeisser. With a front-loading 31 round box magazine, a left-side mechanism which could be locked as a safety feature, and a removable, folding metal stock, the MP 45 could be stamped out in massive quantities and issued in large numbers. It was extremely popular with infantry, especially paratroopers and mechanized units, who found it easy to fire from the hip or in a sitting position on a vehicle, and the fact that it would hang close against the body when left to dangle from its strap, but was considered a failure as an alternate side-arm for vehicle crews, its awkward shape making it easy to stow. Issues were also caused when soldiers would hold it by the magazine as though it were a handle; this could deform the sheet metal of the magazine, causing jamming or interrupted fire. Despite these issues, the easy ergonomics inspired a large line of similar sub-machine guns. It continues to see service in mechanized units because of the ease of firing from the hip, and a .45 conversion was made for heavy assault units. Many Peacekeepers in urban environments also keep one as a holdout weapon, removing the stock and slinging it around their shoulders so it hangs in a ready firing position.

Sten Machine Carbine

Sten Machine carbine

Basically a knock-off design of the Schmeisser by British forces which eliminated the pistol grip and turned the magazine into a left-side carrying handle, the Sten was designed to correct some of the issues of the MP 45, such as its difficulty firing from a prone position, but ended up introducing several more, including control issues and difficult to use iron sights. However, the weapon famously included an easily incorporated silencer and rubber inserts that would cut the firing noise down to almost nothing, making it outrageously popular with night raiders and special forces. It was phased out quickly, but the ease of manufacture ensured there were still several thousand of them made. It has seen a resurgence among tunnel rats in Vietnam as it is extremely narrow once the magazine is removed, allowing it to fit in tight spaces, and the silencer helps protect the ears of the user in the tunnels.

Hex-49 Machine Pistol

HEX-49

A French weapon designed to be unobtrusive as possible, and to stack easily in boxes for shipping, the Hex-49 is well known for its extremely compact form when collapsed. The wire stock can be retracted against the body, the pistol grip folded back, the barrel removed and stowed on the top, and the receiver folded forward, resulting in an 8 inch long, six inch tall and two inch wide box. It's so small that one can easily fit it into pouches intended to carry 30-shot MX-15 magazines. The weapon was mostly overlooked during WW2, but has since become the weapon of choice for heavy weapon crews, spies, aircraft pilots and other users in need of a weapon that can be stowed away when not in use.

Thousands of these weapons were stolen from French warehouses in Vietnam and continue to turn up there, modified to fire Soviet 9X18mm rounds.

MP-61 Submachine Gun

An updated version of the MP-45, the MP-61 was jointly developed by German manufacturer Walter, and Belgian arms manufacturer FN. Compared to its predecessor, the MP-61 is virtually identical except for several changes, such as the use of synthetic material for the gun's exterior, and the inclusion of an ambidextrous safety. The receiver for the magazine has also been lengthened so can be used as a handle without causing misfires, which was common when users of the MP-45 tried to use the magazine as a forward grip, while the distinctive needle nose barrel of the original MP-45 has been replaced with one now more in proper proportion to the rest the gun. Capable of accepting standard 30 round magazines as well as the 31 round magazines of the MP-45, the MP-61 is currently in use with the Peacekeepers as well as the militaries of several Allied member states. It is especially popular with paratroopers and navies; many Allied warships carry a quantity of MP-61s aboard, in case hostiles or pirates attempt to board them.

Service Rifles and Carbines

Karabiner 98k

Karabiner 98k

The Kar 98 actually dates back to the First World War, and was in fact considered a carbine at the time. After the war, war, it was considered a rifle, however, due to changes in thinking, and was eventually accepted as the new service rifle of Germany. The full power rifle variant, the Gewehr 98, was even more accurate, and was quite popular among snipers.

When World War 2 broke out, the Karabiner 98k was more often than not the standard weapon on the front lines throughout the Second World War, even after the M-1 Garand was introduced. Germany had gone out of their way to manufacture a large number of these weapons in between the two wars, so that they would at least have a weapon even if they could not have a sufficient number of soldiers.

As a result, Germany freely issued the weapon to any Allied unit that wanted them, to simplify supply lines. Simple, reliable and already known for its extreme accuracy, the weapon was very popular, especially in reserve or low intensity units which were not given priority for the issuing of M-1 rifles. However, it has since been phased out of service entirely, and snipers have moved on to other weapons.

Variants include:

  • Gewehr 98 - In fact the original, full power version, the Gew 98 was long barreled and heavy, but extremely accurate. Snipers often used this weapon, modified with telescopic sights and other features. Some snipers still use it, although others prefer other rifles, such as the Springfield 1903 or the newer No. 7 (T) sniper rifle.
  • Karabiner 98 - Originally designed as a carbine for cavalry troops, following the First World War, many considered the Kar 98 as a rifle. It was the Allies' service rifle during WWII. After the war, the various stocks of rifles were either disposed of or left in warehouses, and many eventually found their way onto various markets.

M-1 Garand

M1 Garand Rifle

Specifically designed to be "The Gun of Democracy" throughout the late 1930s, the M-1 Garand, named for its designer, is widely considered to be one of the best infantry weapons ever issued. Its innovative semi-automatic action, which allowed for unpresidented high rates of fire while preserving its accuracy and reliability, gave it an edge over the Soviet SKAS with its overly complicated and breakage-prone system. About its only disadvantage was that it used an 8-round clip, as compared to the 25 round magazine of the SKAS.

Many soldiers, generals and historians have gone on record as saying that the M-1 rifle was the single most important component of Allied success in WW2; Patton himself called it "The Greatest Battle Implement Ever Devised". Though in service in the US when the Second World War broke out, the M-1 ran into manufacturing issues which slowed its adoption considerably; it wasn't until mid-1953 that a line unit could rely on being issued the weapon, and by that time it was already facing replacement by the new Rangemaster 14 and FN FAIL. However, during the Second World War itself, the M-1 was king, and a squad would do almost anything to have even one M-1 issued among their number.

Because line units got priority, reserve units being moved to replace units on the front lines would frequently be without. Due to these supply problems, soldiers rotating off the front lines would leave their M-1s in the foxholes, to ensure the next unit would be properly armed. It became tradition to carve your name and nationality into the stock of the M-1 so the next user would know who to thank; a guesture that was probably in great part responsible for the international goodwill that energized the post-war Allies. It is still used by honour guard units, such as the marines who guard the US president.

USM-01 Carbine

M1 Carbine

Loved by soldiers for its light weight and ease of use, combined with the high rate of fire provided by the semi automatic mechanism it shared with the Garand, the USM-01 quickly became popular among soldiers soon after its introduction. Not only that, but it was extremely cheap to produce, at barely $45 a rifle. The USM-01 was produced in multiple variants, including various police and paramilitary variants. The USM was so popular that production continued for a time after even WWII had ended. By the time production had ended, over 6.5 million copies had been produced. Even with the offloading off many of these carbines to various Allied affiliated factions like the Blue Chinese, there are still many in use.

Variants include:

  • USM-01 - The original model, firing the .30 round and with a semi automatic mechanism. No longer in frontline service with the Allies. A large number of them are in use with the Nationalists.
  • USM-02 - Selective fire variant. The USM-02 had a higher rate of fire, and had two settings. Single shot, and full automatic. This variant was extremely popular, but was only ever deployed among military units, although conversion kits were made that could convert USM-01s into selective fire carbines.

FN FAIL Assault Rifle

FN FAIL

One of the first assault rifles ever issued, the FN FAIL was a joint design by French, German and Flemish designers. The FN FAIL had a small production run but made a big impact. Debuting in shock trooper units in 1953, the weapon was paired with an experimental night vision system and "infared tracers" which only showed up under the same system. The weapon was very successful despite being issued only in small numbers, and officers would put in requests for the weapon alongside commendations for medals, ensuring they ended up in the best hands.

The weapon later became the standard rifle of the Allied Peacekeepers after the Second World War, though it has since been phased out in favour of more advanced weapons. Nowadays it is seen in the hands of pro-Allied militia, police in areas of unrest, and German National Divisions due to its intimidating roar when firing and the limited issue tungsten AP rounds that are commonly employed with the weapon.

No. 7 (T) .303 Lee-Enfield Sniper Rifle

No

While other weapons, including the American Springfield 1903 and the Mauser G98 were also used as sniper rifles during WWII, with the cementing of the Hesketh-Prichard Sniper Training School's status as the premier school for aspiring snipers following the war, the No. 7 (T) Lee-Enfield Sniper Rifle became synonymous with the elite Allied Riflemen and by extension, Allied snipers.

The No. 7 (T) Lee-Enfield sniper rifle is a modification of the Lee-Enfield No. 7 used by the British Army during WWII, and which itself was a semi-automatic conversion of the Lee-Enfield No. 4. The Lee-Enfield sniper rifle differs little from the No. 7; mostly, it added a wooden cheek piece, a telescopic sight mount and a telescopic sight. The No. 7 (T) would prove to be an excellent sniper rifle; the No. 7 managed to retain its accuracy at long ranges, and had an advantage over other sniper rifles thanks to its semi automatic mechanism and generous magazine capacity of 10 rounds, allowing a trained sniper with a Lee-Enfield to put a larger volume of precision rifle fire than their bolt action rifle-using counterparts. The only disadvantage was that a semi automatic rifle has slightly more recoil than a comparable bolt action rifle; this can be annoying for a sniper trying to kill a man from a distance of several hundred metres, where even a slight shift can result in a miss.

Of course, the No. 7 (T) wasn't the only sniper rifle used during WWII. Other rifles, such as the Springfield 1903 and the Mauser G98 were also used. However, it was the weapon of choice for the riflemen of the 60th and 95th Rifle Regiments, who proved some of the best shots anywhere in Allied territory. When the Rifle Regiments were integrated into the newly formed Peacekeepers and the Hesketh-Prichard Sniper Training School was cemented in its position as the premier school for snipers, the No. 7 (T) became synomous with the elite Allied Riflemen.

The other components of the rifle have remained mostly unchanged since the end of the Second World War; there have been various things like better telescopic sights, but otherwise the Lee-Enfield sniper rifle as it is today is the same rifle that saw action with millions of British troops during WWII. It still uses the original British .303, rather than the standardised 7.62x51mm round. Some claim it is because the .303 is superior; others dismiss it as sentiment or some other emotion on the part of the Riflemen.

The other components of the rifle have also been updated; incorporated above the receiver is an integral rail, which allows for a variety of attachments, such as telescopic sights and spectrum rangefinders, to be attached without too much trouble. Since the rifle no longer needs to be produced in huge numbers to support an army of millions, the components are of higher quality - if significantly more expensive. One feature of the original rifle that is retained is the .303 inch calibre - some claim that it is because the .303 British is superior to the 7.62x51mm at long ranges, while others say it is merely sentiment on the part of the Riflemen. Some believe that the Riflemen might do better to switch to a more modern rifle; nevertheless, the Lee-Enfield sniper rifle remains one of the deadliest sniper rifles in the world; a rifle which can put a bullet hole clean through the head of a man from a distance of over a thousand metres, or fell 20 men in one minute with 20 shots fired. In the right hands, the Lee-Enfield is a weapon to be feared.

MX-14 Rangemaster

Rangemaster 14

An evolution of the M-1 Garand, the Rangemaster was essentially a patch fix for the only issue the M-1 had, replacing the ejecting clip with a proper removable magazine holding 20 shots. The Rangemaster was issued through the late 1950s and early 1960s, and saw extensive use in the early parts of the Third World War. It was also released and sold among the civilian population so as to provide future partisans with weapons to fight the Soviets if their country was overrun; this has unfortunately led to the Confederate Revolutionaries making use of a large number of these weapons.

MX-15 Assault Rifle

MX-15

A drawing of an MX-15 assault rifle

The current service rifle of the Allied Nations, used by Peacekeepers and Reservists alike, the MX-15 is a gun of many firsts. It's the first service weapon with three firing modes, having single shot, three round burst, and fully automatic fire available. It is extremely popular for its versatility; thanks to the mounted rails soldiers can customize rifles with variety of attachments, ranging from additional sights to underbarrel weapons; one particular favourite among Reservists is the MY-148 under slung grenade launcher. The ARVN, on the other hand, prefer the MY-243 Masterkey shotgun. It is the first weapon to use the 5.56x45mm round, which is extremely light.

It's also the first weapon to have synthetic plastic furniture, as a result of its manufacturer, Hasbro, which is better known as a toy company. Light, accurate, and modular, the weapon is extremely popular with almost everyone it is issued to. However, it sees little use in Peacekeeper divisions; a Peacekeeper in recoil-absorbing, weight transferring battle armour has little use for a weapon designed to be light and non-intrusive, and so usually the weapon is discarded in favour of the Grummond-8 shotgun or MG-60 light machine gun.

Variants include:

  • MX-15 Assault Rifle – The original model and current service variant, in full production and in use among Defenders and Jungle Rangers. It is compatible with a large variety of attachments, including the MY-243 Masterkey and the MY-148 under slung grenade launcher.
  • MXC-4 Carbine – With a shorter (10 inch) barrel and a telescoping stock, and several other improvements in weight, the MXC-4 is a lightweight, compact variant of the MX-15. Originally designed for Paratroopers, who need to travel as light as possible, the MXC-4 has been used by other units for its compactness and light weight.

Machine Guns

M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle

BAR

The M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle was first revealed to the world by John Browning in 1917 in a live-fire demonstration to over 300 members of the United States press, Congress, and the Senate, as well as foreign dignitaries and military officials. The gun so impressed all present that it was quickly mass-produced (in the case of the first batch, too quickly) and issued to U.S. infantry divisions fighting in the First World War.

It saw extensive action during that war, and was later issued one a piece to each eight-man squad. According to the mythology that grew around the weapon, The "BAR-man" or "BARtender" was supposedly always the smallest man on the team (he made the smallest target after all). Whether that was true or not is of course impossible to determine; however, what is known is that the weapons performed remarkably against Soviet human-wave tactics during the Second World War; one man with a Browning Automatic Rifle possesed both the mobility of most infantrymen and the firepower of an emplaced machine gun.

Even with its age, the BAR continues to be effective as an automatic rifle today. While it may not match the performance of the ADK-45 or MX-15, it's still preferred to a bolt-action or semi-automatic weapon, and the Allies sell off hundreds of them in surplus, to be used by nations and organisations that do not have access to more modern equipment. Saudi Arabia for example has equipped each member of their White Gaurd with one of these rifles.

The BAR has also been reported in encounters with several Serbian terrorist groups who seemingly are capable of putting all twenty bullets in a magazine on a single target. This is of course ridiculous; not even the strongest performance-enhancing drugs could give someone that kind of fire discipline.

Browning M2 .50 cal Heavy Machine Gun

Browning M2

Perhaps the most iconic machine gun of all time, the M2 is an all American design, dating back to WWI. The old relic can put 450 dollar-sized bullet holes into a target 2 miles downrange a minute without overheating. Two variants have been developed for use on aircraft, which boast higher firing rates of 700 RPM and 1,200 RPM, respectively, although with the much higher firing rates comes the problem of overheating. The M2 almost never jams, a testament to its extreme reliability. Designed to be able to be belt-fed from either side, with spent cartridges ejected straight down, the sheer versatility of the M2 has resulted it being deployed everywhere, from Riptides to Multigunner modules.

To this day, no other machine gun in the world has been able to match the M2's unprecedented reliability, destructive ability, versatility, accuracy, and ease of production. The only weakness of the M2, if it could be considered a weakness, is its weight (38 kg, 58 kg with a tripod and) when fully loaded and primed. However, Allied infantry around the globe have said that they would rather carry a M2 Browning for twenty miles and three days to a battle in the remotest of jungles, than fight in a single engagement without it.

FN-MIN General Purpose Machine Gun

LMG-50 GPMG

During the Second World War, a joint effort between German and Belgian designers was undertaken to develop a general purpose machine gun, drawing upon the Mauser MG 34 developed by Germany during the inter-war period. The result of this joint effort was a powerful, air-cooled, gas-operated machine gun that has since become a fixture in the Allied Forces; the FN-MIN.

Also known as the MG 49, the FN-MIN has gained itself a reputation for reliability, durability, and ease of operation among Allied soldiers, and a reputation for being able to put down a stunning rate of suppressive fire among Soviet soldiers. The belt-fed machine gun can easily put a hail of 7.62mm rounds 1,000 metres downrange. As a general purpose machine gun, the FN-MIN is suited for a wide variety of roles; from helicopter door gun to infantry support weapon, it can support infantry and vehicles from a multitude of mounts, from bipods to tripods; in addition, the rate of fire can be adjusted from a fairly moderate 650 RPM to an arm wrenching 1,500 RPM, allowing one to tailor the firing rate to one's needs.

For example, a Heavy Defender, who would spend most of his time with his finger glued to the trigger and his weapon firmly on a stable mount, could adjust the firing rate to the maximum, as most Heavy Defenders do, and still manage to maintain some semblance of accuracy. Others might settle for a more reasonable firing rate, since it would mean less ammunition usage and a more manageable level of recoil.

Bren Light Machine Gun

Bren LMG

Originally chambered in .303 British, the Bren Gun (as it was popularly known) served as the British Army's light machine gun, adopted in the 1930s. The Bren is actually based on a Czech design, and has a distinctive curved box magazine, quick change barrel and conical flash hider. The Bren was a highly reliable and effective machine gun, and can be handled by a single gunner. The British used it during the WWII, before the standardization fo equipment, and it proved itself as a rugged, simple, design. The Bren was extremely accurate, so much that soldiers preferred worn out barrels as they would provide a wider cone of fire. At 8.7 kg, it is extremely light for its calibre, but still manages to deliver considerable firepower a respectable ranges. When the Allies standardised ammunition types, the Bren lent itself very well to the 7.62x51mm AN. The Bren's basic design was of extremely high quality, such that even now, decades after it was originally developed, it is still in service with several Allied militaries (as well as the famed Peacekeeper Recon battalions), albeit with many upgrades over the years to keep it modern. The Recon Peacekeepers find its reliability, combined with its light weight, accuracy, and the power of the 7.62mm to be most useful, and many of them have made personal modifications to the weapon, making it even more potent.

MG-60 Light Machine Gun

M60

The MG-60 is an American designed squad automatic weapon, combining the firepower of a machine gun with the accuracy and light weight of a rifle. Developed in the final days of WWIII, the MG-60 saw little action in the war it was intended for. However, it has since become extremely popular in Vietnam, where the need for a man portable, light weight, squad automatic weapon became apparent. The MG-60 has proven itself a most reliable and durable weapon, a must in the harsh climate of Vietnam, where less reliable weapons often jam. In addition, it is noted for its ease of use, as well for being easy to clean and maintain.

Affectionately nicknamed "The Boar" by Allied Reservists and ARVN soldiers alike, the MG-60 excelled in laying down staggering rates of suppressive fire in the close confines of the Vietnam jungle, where a LMG-50 would easily get bogged down. The 5.56mm round used proved powerful enough to penetrate the thick jungle of Vietnam, in spite of its small calibre. The light weight of the weapon (around 8.4 kg) and the relatively low recoil (thanks to the small 5.56mm rounds) meant that only a single soldier is required to operate it, and furthermore it could be fired on the move, a highly effective, although heavily discouraged, tactic that sent many Vietcong soldiers scurrying back into their tunnels. However, in the jungle, one key distinguishing figure ensured its popularity was the fact that the MG-60 could use a wide variety of feeds, ranging from belt feeds to rifle magazines. This meant that in the event an MG-60 operator ran out of ammunition, he could simply grab a 30 round magazine from any of his squad mates and keep on firing. A quick change barrel and handle allowed a jammed or overheated barrel to be quickly and easily swapped out for a fresh one, allowing the operator to resume firing as soon as possible.

These weapons have proved successful enough that the Peacekeepers have begun issuing the new light machine guns to all divisions; the MG-60 is expected to fully replace the ageing Browning Automatic Rifle in the role of squad automatic weapon in all Peacekeeper squads by the end of 1969.


MX-336/GAU-3 Microgun

XM-336 Microgun

Referred to almost universally as the "Eliminator", the MX-336/GAU-3 Microgun is a scaled down version of the MX-234/GAU-2 Minigun. The Eliminator was designed with the intention of creating a rotary barrelled machine gun that would be man-portable, and represents the furthest miniaturisation of Gatling technology the Allies have been able to achieve thus far.

The Eliminator is chambered in 5.56x45mm ammunition, as compared to its larger cousin, which is chambered for 7.62mm. Through the shedding of unneccessary components and the extensive use of lightweight composite materials, designers were able to cut the weight of the Eliminator to a mere 12 kg, which would conceivably allow the gun itself to be carried by a single man. Powered by a powerful electric motor and internal battery, the Eliminator could spit out 4,000 rounds a minute on maximum setting.

There were still a few problems with the Eliminator; the first was the recoil. In testing, the recoil generated by the system proved fearsome. Fortunately, it was found that with some modifications to Peacekeeper Assault Armour, a man could withstand the recoil of firing the gun. Another problem was cost; the system proved expensive to field, especially with the additional modifications to Peacekeeper Armour.

While still a long way from widespread service, the Eliminator has been issued to a number of Peacekeepers operating in Vietnam. Thus far, it has proven effective, capable of suppressing and shredding through multiple targets with ease, and the Peacekeepers have given generally positive comments, aside from the occasional complaint about sore shoulders.

MX-19/GAU-50 Gatling Gun

A brand new weapon developed by General Electric, the MX-19/GAU-50 Gatling Gun, or "The Triangle", is intended to be used on Peacekeeper Leopards, Riptides, and helicopters.

The Triangle fires 12.7x99mm AN, the same ammunition as the famous Browning 50. cal machine gun. The three barrels that give it its name allows the Triangle to fire at either 1000 or 2000 rounds per minute; a rate of fire that vastly surpasses regular single barrel .50 cal machine guns. The original design possessed six barrels, which would have given it an even higher rate of fire, but the design was altered for cost and maintenance reasons.

Allied High Command hopes to make the MX-19/GAU-50 standard issue for the Peacekeepers by 1971. Until then, a four-barrelled version has been equipped on select Riptides, while the standard three-barrelled guns have been issued to Peacekeeper Recon for use on their Leopards. The remainder of the guns have been relegated to warehouses in the American Southwest for the time being, where they will surely be safe from looting.

Shotguns

MY-243 "Masterkey" Shotgun

MY-243 Masterkey

The MY-243 Masterkey was one of the first official Allied standard issue shotguns pressed into service. Developed in WWII, the Masterkey proved crucial in urban conflicts, granting Allied troopers an advantage in close quarters combat. Though the pump-action MY-243 could only hold 5 12-gauge shotgun shells, the compact shotgun had a short barrel length of only 10 inches. This made it perfect for indoor combat, where it proved extremely effective at breaching doors, and could be used in confined areas where larger weapons such as the M-1 Garand and SKAS would get caught on corners and protruding walls. The 12 gauge ammunition of the MY-243 comprised of solid lead pellets packed densely into a cartridge which, when fired, could easily kill a man in a single shot.

The Masterkey was highly popular among urban combat troops and paratroopers in WWII, to the point where it exceeded M-1 Garand production midway through the war. Even after the war had ended, Allied Reservist troops still clung on tightly to their Masterkey shotguns, refusing to let them go even for the new MX-15s. A compromise was eventually reached, however. A small modification was made to the design of the MX-15 before it was due to go into full production, in order to allow it to accept the Masterkey as an under barrel attachment. While the Masterkey has been superseded by larger, more powerful shotguns like the MY-4 Enforcer and the Grummond-8, they continue to be used by ARVN Jungle Rangers and some Reservists to give their MX-15s some extra firepower.

MY-4 "Enforcer"

MY-4

The MY-4 "Enforcer" is the successor to the famous MY-243. Packing enough power to level a fire team in a single magazine, it was an instant hit among Allied Reservists in Vietnam, where there was almost certainly a shotgunner in every squad. The MY-4 also could fire solid slugs, which could penetrate civilian vehicle bodies and engine blocks from over 50 m away, turning it into a light anti-materiel weapon. This proved especially useful in Vietnam, where the Vietcong loved to use thin-skinned pickup trucks as supply vehicles and troop transports. The weapon soon grew to notoriety, with entire Vietcong platoons scattering when the loud distinctive boom of the MY-4 could be heard. Captured MY-4 operators were also almost always killed and their guns destroyed due to the amount of Vietcong blood they have shed (and the fact that the Vietcong lack Allied standard issue 12-gauge buckshot rounds).

Much to the Vietcong's dismay, the Enforcer was also the first shotgun to trial zirconium-coated incendiary rounds. After the initial platoon issued with the rounds blazed their way to victory, the ammunition has become heavily issued in Vietnam, and has even been adapted for use on the Grummond-8. A white phosphorous canister round was also developed for the Enforcer, but was quickly pulled after a squad succeeded in burning down an entire acre of the Vietnamese jungle after "a short one-minute fire fight against a Vietcong platoon".

Grummond-8 Pump Action Shotgun

Grummond8&9

The massive Grummond-8 shotgun is a potent symbol of the power of the Allied Peacekeeper. At first glance, the weapon looks impossibly unwieldy; a four foot long shotgun with a large bore and an oversized mechanism. To a Peacekeeper in full armour, however, the weapon is just right; they can barely feel its monstrous kick against their padded shoulder or notice its considerable weight thanks to the weight distributing properties of their battle armour. The Grummond-8 was designed for urban combat and breaking down doors, but the huge weapon proved so useful that it was soon being used in any situation.

Loaded with buckshot, it can clear a hallway in a single pull of the trigger or knock down a drug-crazed Auxiliary in a single roaring blast. Loaded with slugs, it will punch holes in light body armour or tear apart unarmoured vehicles. There are even saboted slugs which are effective over longer distances. Apart from these, there are also a number of specialised rounds, from tear gas shells and rubber slugs to breaching rounds designed to blow open doors while minimising collateral damage.

The key to the Grummond-8's success is its twin detachable magazines; two tubes of ammunition running on the underside of the rifle. Simply by flipping a switch and clearing the chamber, a Peacekeeper can switch between two types of rounds, and a whole tube can be replaced at once. Of course they can still top off magazines by hand as well. It's no surprise the flexible weapon sees such widespread use.

Grummond-9 Semi Automatic Shotgun

Apart from its short range, it could be argued that the only other disadvantage of the Grummond-8 shotgun was its slow rate of fire. The Grummond-9 was developed to fix this flaw. Similar in appearance, the Grummond-9 simply replaced the pump-action of the Grummond-8 with a recoil operated reloading mechanism, enabling the Grummond-9 to fire on semi automatic, allowing Peacekeepers to maintain a staggering rate of fire. The tube size of the Grummond-9 was also expanded to cope with the sheer rate at which the Peacekeeper burnt through his ammunition. However, the Grummond-9 has yet to become standard issue in the Allied military due to the sheer expense of the weapons and several production issues. For instance, the gas operated feed mechanism has to be made out of solid titanium to withstand the sheer recoil of the massive shotgun shells, and the complexity of the gas operated pistons meant that they had to be hand crafted, a costly and time consuming process.

Variants of the Grummond-9 have also popped up in Vietnam, with spring assisted feed mechanisms to cope with the reduced recoil from Dragon's Breath shells affecting the load mechanism. Although fewer than 20 of these variants have been deployed, their effect in Vietnam have already sparked a new wave of fear in the Vietcong, with legends of Peacekeepers who keep fire-breathing dragons as pets. Ironically, since the proliferation of these rumours, some of the Vietnam Theatre Peacekeepers have mounted dragon shaped heads on the front of their Grummonds, much to the amusement of the ARVN.

MX-24 Automatic Shotgun

MX 24 Auto Shotgun

Since the creation of the Grummond-9 Semi Automatic Shotgun, Allied weapon designers have been experimenting with ways to make shotguns shoot faster. Though attempts to modify the Grummond for full automatic fire failed spectacularly, a more conservative attempt was then made on the MY-4 Enforcer. Starting with a basic MY-4, the designers proceeded to install a gas powered reloading mechanism. The barrel of the MY-4 was reinforced in a manner similar to the Grummond-8, enabling it to withstand the high pressures of continuous fire.

The result was a weapon capable of unleashing an impressive torrent of lead, a trait that led to someone dubbing the Blitz. Though the weapon was far from perfect, with its short barrel making it ineffective beyond the shortest ranges, within such ranges it excels, putting down a massive volume of fire and allowing the operator to dispatch multiple foes with ease. While far less useful in open combat than the Grummond, it is hard to refute the claim that the Automatic Assault Shotgun 12 is the best shotgun in the world for close quarters combat.

Anti-Tank Weapons

TAD-60 Anti-Materiel Rifle

TAD-60

A relatively new design, having been developed after WWIII, the TAD-60 is a semi automatic anti materiel rifle, designed for use against light armoured vehicles and material. The TAD-60 actually comes in two calibres, .50 cal and the larger 25mm. The TAD-60 can be easilt reconfigured from .50 cal to 25mm, and back again, by switching out the receiver. The 25mm grants it increased effectiveness against vehicles, but increases the recoil dramatically and as such the elite Riflemen who use this weapon prefer the more versatile .50 cal configuration, which is effective against infantry and light vehicles alike. In contrast, the Rocket Pathfinders who use this weapon utilize the 25mm configuration for increased lethality against vehicles. The TAD-60 has an extremely long range, courtesy of the high powered rounds it uses, and its semi automatic action allows a respectable rate of fire, although this is hampered by the 5 round magazine. Even if one lacks the skill of a Rifleman, the rifle is still an extremely potent anti vehicle weapon. It is not without disadvantages, however. One of its biggest disadvantage is the massive recoil, which is negated to some extent by various recoil absorbing systems. Apart from that, the rifle is fairly expensive and requires considerable skill to master, meaning that the rifle is only issued to the most experienced of Riflemen and Rocket Pathfinders.

RDM-9 Rocket Launcher

RDM-9

A Panzergrenadier using a RDM-9 in Africa

When the Soviet Union launched its initial invasion during WWII, it was quickly discovered that the frontal armour of the Soviets' Anvil tanks was next to impenetrable. In response to this, the Allies scrambled to develop better and more powerful anti-tank weapons, since it was clear that few existing weapons could defeat the Anvil's frontal armour.

One of the more promising innovations in anti-tank technology made around this time was the portable rocket launcher, a tube that fired a rocket propelled HEAT warhead. Germany was the first to put such a weapon into production, mass producing a large number of cheap if crude single shot rocket launchers so that their soldiers would not be stuck without anti-tank weapons to combat the Soviets. Though effective, the poor accuracy, limited power of the rocket's 60mm warhead, and a number of other flaws resulted in the weapon being replaced once something better came along. That something was the RDM-9 rocket launcher, better known as the "Stovepipe" or "Bazooka".

The Bazooka proved its usefulness soon after the first launchers were issued to soldiers fighting on the German front. With a 90mm warhead, it could reliably penetrate the frontal armour of an Anvil, with only the Soviets' monstrous superheavy tanks having armour too tough to defeat. Good accuracy and reusability were among its other strengths, its only faults being the weight of the launcher and the cost of production compared to the Germans' disposable launchers.

While the Bazooka has since been replaced by newer anti-tank weapons in the armed forces of many Allied member states, quite a few member states continue to use it, and with the recent Confederate rebellion the Bazooka has also seen use with some Confederate groups; though it is not as modern as the Javelin or other anti-tank weapons, it still retains effectiveness; having been originally designed to defeat the armour of what was and still is one of the toughest tanks in the world, even newer main battle tanks don't pose much of a problem for it.

PF60 Light Anti-Tank Weapon

PF60 LAW

During the Second World War, the powerful RDM-9 rocket launcher quickly became the anti-tank weapon of choice for most infantry. Its 90mm HEAT warhead provided impressive penetration, and it was one of the few infantry-portable weapons that could reliably stop an Anvil tank. It was not without flaws, however. Though powerful, the RDM-9 was heavy, cumbersome, and expensive. Furthermore, it required training to use properly. Though its penetration was needed to counter the heavy Soviet armour, by the end of the war disposable anti-tank weapons (such as the German Wagenfaust) were becoming increasingly popular.

Developed after the war, the PF60 Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW for short) is the descendant of such weapons, an unguided 66mm single shot rocket launcher. Though not nearly powerful enough to defeat a main battle tank, it costs less than $300 apiece and can be collapsed for transportation, while still possessing enough stopping power to halt lighter armoured vehicles. These traits led to its popularity with many Allied soldiers (though the Peacekeepers would stick to the RDM-9 until the introduction of the Javelin), and it has even seen some use outside of official Allied member states, most notably South Vietnam. Next to no training is needed to operate one, allowing any Vietnamese soldier to pick up one and fire it, and it was cheap enough to be issued in bulk. Even the elite ARVN Rangers employ these weapons, prizing its light weight, low cost and ease of use.

M64 "Javelin" ATGM launcher

M64 Javelin

A first of its kind, the M64 Javelin anti-tank guided missile launcher is a completely unique design that no other missile launcher has adopted to date. It is comprised of two stages; a gunpowder cartridge which gives the initial push, and a rocket motor that propels the missile to the target after launch.

This minimises the exhaust generated by the Javelin missile, and meant that multiple missiles can be loaded into a single tube. Indeed, the launcher has a large capacity magazine that enables up to 4 missiles to be loaded. The firing chamber is separated from the rest of the magazine by a rear protective shield, ensuring that no hot gases can reach the explosive ammunition. After firing, the shield retracts, and a spring loading mechanism pushes the next missile into firing position before closing the shield.

The large magazine size of the Javelin compared to other missile launchers gives it the edge in hunting down enemy tanks, as the operator can fire off multiple missiles before having to reload. In addition, the Javelin launcher also sports a spectrum target designator. While it is possible to simply use the Javelin on a "fire and forget" mode, using the spectrum designator allows the operator to 'paint' a tank's vulnerable spots; the missile will 'ride' the spectrum beam, homing in on these vulnerable spots and striking them for maximal effectiveness. In addition, the spectrum designator has a longer range than the missile's internal seeker, thus allowing the operator to attack from further away. The disadvantage of this system is that it can take some time to establish a proper lock.

The Javelin does have some disadvantages; it requires extensive training to use, and the weight of the weapon makes it unsuitable for certain situations. Compared to some other anti-tank weapons, it is also fairly expensive. Despite this, the Peacekeepers favour it for its accuracy, penetration and anti-aircraft capability.

Grenades

MX2 Fragmentation Grenade

MX2 HE-FRAG

The iconic MX2 is a grenade design that has been adopted worldwide by various factions. Shaped similar to a pineapple, the grenade is filled with deadly ball bearings that shot out at supersonic speeds after detonation, tearing apart any meaty objects within 15 m of the blast. It was commonly used by Peacekeepers and Reservists alike in the 1950s to clear trenches, pillboxes and even entire bunkers. A single MX2 in the right place is usually more than enough to empty a machine gun nest, and a barrage of them can stop even the most determined of Vietcong charges.

The MX2 has been mass produced to the extent that total number of grenades produced total more than 5 million, and a single grenade could come for as cheap as US$7, making it a favourite among third-world militias and guerrilla factions, which ironically include the Vietcong and the GLA. The Allies themselves however, have moved on to deadlier designs, such as the MX12 fragmentation grenade.

MX12 Fragmentation Grenade

MX12

A relatively new addition to the Allied arsenal, the MX12 was developed in 1965, just in time for WWIII. The new grenade was lighter and could thus be thrown further than the MX2, it was also filled with a much more potent high explosive that had an effective blast radius of 20m. One of the most important changes however, was the replacement of the old timed fuse mechanism. Instead, pulling the pin powered up a radio receiver inside the grenade. The pin of the grenade contained a button, which when pressed, detonated the grenade. This removed the need for the highly risky action of "cooking a grenade", which could very well blow up the soldier's own squad, and prevented any casualties from grenades thrown back by enemy troops. Safety measures were also included that prevented accidental detonation, including a hardwired 3 second powerup sequence for the receiver and the button is in a small hole and can only be pressed by inserting the pin into the hole.

As a result of implementing the new grenade, friendly fire incidents as a result of misdirected grenades and redirected grenades have fallen to zero, however, complaints about the complicated detonation process and difficulty in inserting the pin have been raised.

MX17 Smoke Grenade

Smoke grenades are a general use utility tool issued to both Peacekeepers and Reservists. They are used both in and out of combat to designate landing zones, combat drop locations, airstrike coordinates or even simply to obscure enemy vision. A smoke grenade works through a chemical reaction between potassium chlorate and lactose, with dye for added colour. The reaction generates a copious amount of smoke that lasts for 5 minutes, creating the perfect shield to move behind.

Smoke grenades come in all sorts of colours, from the conventional blue, white, green, red to the rather distinct violet, turquoise or orange. One platoon of Peacekeepers operating in Vietnam is even known to operate with rainbow-coloured smoke grenades, much to the amusement of the pilots above.

MX18 "Blinder" Stun Grenade

MX18 Blinder

The "Blinder" is a relatively recent development of the Allied Nations. Developed by Picatinny Arsenal, the headquarters of the Allied Nations Armanent Research, Development and Engineering Centre, the Blinder was developed when the risk of collateral damage was too high, and was originally intended to be used by Riot Agents and Peacekeepers to incapacitate suspects, allowing Peacekeepers to close in and arrest the individual. However, the Blinder soon saw action in combat as a disorientation device that, when hurled into a squad of advancing enemy troops, caused them to break formation and wander around aimlessly, turning them into easy pickings for the Defenders.

The "Blinder" consists of a perforated cylinder with a magnesium based pyrotechnic charge. When the pin is pulled, the inner aluminium casing is consumed, and only the visual and auditory effects are allowed to escape the cylinder, in order to minimize the risk of the reaction from escaping the steel cylinder. The pyrotechnic charge produces intense light of up to 8 million candela, enough to distract and temporarily disorient everyone within a 1.5 metre radius.

Although new to the battlefield, "Blinders" have nonetheless been accepted by the Allied Defenders, who now use it frequently against the Vietcong and GLA to great effect. In fact, the "Blinder" has exceeded the MX12 in number used in the Vietnam War by over 20%.

MM-2 Grenade Launcher

File:Allied Grenades.jpg

The MM-2 with a number of rounds and the MX14

Grenade launchers were a relatively new concept to the Allies, with their first grenade launchers only coming into service late into WWIII. However, they have since caught on, and have become pretty commonplace among the Allies. The MM-2 Grenade Launcher is the primary grenade launcher of the Allied Nations. It has a variable-round rotating cylinder (from 6 to as much as 12 round cylinders are in use) that can hold a variety of grenades, from standard 40mm HE rounds, to HEAP projectiles, to non-lethal Flash Bangs and tear gas grenades in the case of the Riot Agents. To speed up the reloading process, a quick loader exists that can reload all cylinders at once, but requires significant training to use properly. Thus, experienced troops are able to keep up the suppression fire on enemy troops, a strategy they commonly refer to as "Strategic Projection of Area-denial Munitions".

The success of the MM-2 grenade launcher, particularly in Vietnam, has sparked Allied funding in the field of grenade launchers, and has thus created offshoots of the MM-2, including the now widely used MY-148 underslung grenade launcher.

MY-148 Grenade Launcher

The MY-148 is a highly effective and deadly weapon designed to be incorporated with the MX-15 as standard issue for all Allied Reservist Defenders facing combat action. The MY-148 attaches to the underbarrel of the MX-15, creating a seamless munitions delivery platform that is highly portable and does not add excess weight to the Defender's combat load. The MY-148 is a single shot breech loaded 40mm grenade launcher. Like the MM-2, it is capable of firing a variety of munitions that serve a multitude of roles, giving the Defender the edge on the battlefield.

However, the Defenders rarely use the 40mm HE-FRAG round at all, instead using the "Blinder" Flash-Bangs to blind the enemy while other Defenders shoot. The primary reason being a 40mm HE-FRAG round weighs 0.2kg, while a "Blinder" only weighs 0.1kg, enabling the Defender to carry more grenades and 5.56mm ammunition.

Other Service Weapons

EXPseries

EXP-1 Spectrum Pistol

A recent miniturisation of Spectrum technology, designed to provide Allied personnel with a sidearm capable of penetrating Soviet combat armour and exoskeleton suits, the EXP-1 is a system consisting of the pistol, a belt or backpack mounted battery system, a firing glove, and a recharging holster. While in the holster, the pistol charges its internal capacitor from the external battery, ensuring it is ready to fire once drawn.

The pistol itself is a short, pointed ovoid shape with a stubby lensing barrel at one end, and the pistol grip and sighting fin at the other. It is mostly devoid of features, with a simple horizontal cooling shroud above the grip for emergency active cooling and an ambedextrous safety switch near the trigger. The weapon lacks a full pistol grip or conventional hair-trigger, instead having a firing button mounted to a magnetic bolt. Unless the weapon is fired using the index finger while wearing the firing glove, squeezing the trigger in an approved motion, the circuit will not complete and the weapon will not fire. As firing gloves are fitted to the user, this helps to prevent enemy forces from turning the gun around on Allied personnel.

The aiming fin on this weapon contains a sophisticated reflex sight, making the weapon easy to aim in one or both hands. As the weapon obviously doesn't fire in a ballistic arc, there is no need for the sight to be adjustable. Underneath the sight is a small gauge roughly displaying the charge of the capacitor with a coloured dot.

One of the features of this weapon is the unique pulsed firing action. When the trigger is pulled, the weapon fires two brief pulses; the first wider but with more power, the second more focused. This action ensures maximum armour penetration, with the first pulse weakening the armour and the second punching through. This makes it ideal for use against heavily armoured infantry and light vehicles.

The internal capacitor is good for 50 shots, and takes six minutes to charge to capacity. However, the capacitor cannot retain a charge for long, and will steadily bleed power while out of the holster. The external battery can recharge the weapon five times before it needs to be recharged, which takes two hours using a standard solar or gas field generator. Do note that while the capacitor is charged, the weapon is somewhat unstable; it has been found in the field that it can be induced to overload explosively by pulling off the safety tab at the botton of the pistol grip, pulling out the charging wire, and holding down the firing button until the capacitor overloads. Allied High Command stresses this is only to be done if it appears the weapon might fall into enemy hands, as it is quite dangerous to everyone involved and is far too expensive to throw away as an improvised hand grenade.

EXP-2 Spectrum Assault Rifle

Created as a down powered version and more mass producible of the EXP-1 Spectrum Pistol, the EXP-2 focuses more on rate of fire and reliability. Its spectrum beam generator fires kilowatt spectrum beams instead of megawatt beams like those of the EXP-1, thus having a battery life of over 250 shots, and the entire battery pack can simply be ejected from the weapon, much like a cartridge, and replaced with a new one. The reduction in power however, means that the Assault Rifle suffers slightly against armour, although it is still deadly against infantry.

The relatively low cost of the EXP-2 compared to the EXP-1 (a mere $15,000 per rifle compared to $75,000 per pistol) means that the Allies can afford to distribute a small cache of them among the Recon Peacekeepers. The successes that have resulted have spurred Allied Command to pump more funding into the weapon, although it will still probably be a while before the EXP-2 becomes standard issue among any unit.

EXP-3 Proton Collider Gauntlet

When a guy wants to kill a tank, he uses a Javelin. When he wants to level an entire tank column, he uses his hands (after a fashion.) The highly advanced Proton Collider Gauntlet may look like kids' toys, but they carry enough fire power to level a tank column. Each gauntlet is capable of releasing bursts of ionized hydrogen at 75% light speed towards the enemy, each shot having as much kinetic energy as a tank shell. Normally, the recoil of such a shot would tear the arm straight off of a man; however, built-in rockets within the glove counteract this by firing whenever the gauntlet releases a shot, negating the recoil of the shot.

The internal workings of the weapon itself are complex; as the Allies currently lack the capability to construct proton colliders of so small a size, a more indirect solution must be used; the protons must first be accelerated in a stationary particle accelerator, before being transfered into a "loop" inside the gauntlet. Electromagnets built into the gauntlet confine these protons to this loop, until the gauntlet's user wants to blow something up.

The rockets also unexpectedly serve another role. When threatened by infantry and on the ground, the Rocketeer can unleash a rocket-assisted punch that would send a fully grown man flying for 40 metres through the air backwards. Retro rockets then fire (after the gauntlet connects with said person's face) to prevent the gauntlet from comically dragging the Rocketeer forward with his face stuck in the dirt. The gauntlet is constructed from a high strength alloy, save for the joints, in order to increase the damage of the punch. Naturally, extensive training is required with this weapon, lest the operator wishes to be dragged along by a rocket powered invisible dog, or knock himself out with a gauntlet to the face when firing. Several Rocketeers have modified their gauntlets with various additions, which not only make the gauntlet look cooler but also make the punches even more painful. Most notably, more than one conscript has succeeded in setting a new human cannonball world record after picking one of these up and attempting to fire it at the nearest rock.

Infantry Equipment

Armour

Peacekeeper Assault Armour

During the Second World War, the Soviet Union issued a variety of body armour kits to assault teams, elite units and Black Guard divisions. Though too expensive and difficult to make to issue to everyone, these body armour suits went a long way to increasing the survivability of Red Army soldiers and multiplied their combat effectiveness considerably. During the war, the Allies never managed to match the effectiveness of Soviet armour; though soldiers were issued flak vests during the last years of the war, this armour was generally considered to be barely effective.

Building a proper armour system became a serious concern post-war, but engineers ran face first into serious restrictions in material sciences. Creating armour worth wearing without having it weigh too much to bother was a seemingly impossible task. Attempts were made to reverse engineer the Soviet powered frame that allowed the Soviet Shock Troopers to operate, but the Allies were incapable of recreating a powerful enough power source small enough to wear.

Fortunately a breakthrough was soon made. Engineers at FutureTech created a specialised, unpowered weight bearing frame that would go under the armour components of a suit of body armour, keeping the suit rigid and transferring the weight of the armour straight to the ground through the legs, or if necessary the arms or even the top or bottom of the torso, thanks to a gyroscopic mechanism. This allows the Peacekeeper to stand, sit, or lie down without ever noticing the weight of his rigid armour suit or the equipment hanging off of it. The hardened joints even have spring-assisted mechanisms that allow the Peacekeeper to run or jump with only a marginal impact to their mobility.

With this sorted, the Peacekeeper can wear a 23 kg armour suit, carry a shotgun larger than some anti-tank weapons, and even keep a large bullet resistant shield on hand, all while barely noticing it. Of course, this is not to say Peacekeepers are completely unaffected; the sheer mass still slows them up somewhat. However, it does mean the Peacekeeper can wear a suit of armour for days that most people couldn't hope to use for more than a few hours at a time (in theory: not even Peacekeepers can sleep in full armour).

Peacekeeper armour does have a few more features to recommend it. The joints can be made considerably more rigid if required, allowing Peacekeepers huddled behind their shields to take impacts that would break a man's arm with ease. Their helmet contains a built-in starlight night vision system and can be easily sealed against gas attack; this seal will also harden the soldier against overpressure from nearby explosives. Finally, the suit has a self-contained air conditioning system for warm days and an optional cold weather undersuit for cold ones, which includes a trenchcoat, sealed gloves, and heated boots.

Legion Riot Shield

During the interwar period, as well as after WWIII, the Peacekeepers rapidly evolved from a purely military force to one that also involved humanitarian aid, disaster relief, building up the infrastructure of developing countries, and above all, law enforcement. Peacekeepers were and are called in to suppress riots in countries still crippled by the Soviets.

This presented a problem, as a group of rioters throwing rocks and bottles can quickly turn into local Communist guerrillas throwing Molotovs and Mosin–Nagant rounds. As standard riot shields are often incapable of withstanding direct impacts from a rifle, a heavier ballistics shield was needed.

The Legion is both a riot and a ballistics shield. As it was designed for use with the Peacekeeper armour, the Legion can afford to be much heavier and larger than its civilian counterparts (this has the unforeseen bonus of discouraging Conscripts from trying to loot them from the battlefield). A ceramic sheet is covered on both sides by layers of "ballistics rubber", a special compound that gives the riot shield the elasticity needed to absorb the impact from a Sickle round without breaking the wearer's arm. The outward-facing surface is covered in a layer of sheet metal, often painted blue or camouflage (threatening messages and bulls-eyes are strictly against regulations), or simply left unpainted.

In battle, the Legion allows the user to get into the kind of range where the Grummond can blow a man off his feet, and provides an essential tool for breaching garrisoned buildings. Riot shields also serve as melee weapons of sorts, as Peacekeepers are not issued combat knives or bayonets, so while the majority of close-quarters combat training given to them teaches them non-lethal martial arts like Judo and Aikido, it also involves shield-checking someone, and then smashing them in the face with the stock of their shotgun. Somehow, this is more civilized than stabbing them.

Armoured Ballistic Vest

ABV

The Armoured Ballistic Vest, better known as the ABV, is a standard issue self protection body armour fielded by the Allied Nations. Developed in the early 1960s, the ABV is extremely cheap and easy to manufacture, with a single vest costing less to manufacture than an MX-15 assault rifle. As such, it has seen widespread use on all fronts, from standard infantry to engineer corps to even the air force. Even commanders are issued with a tougher version of the vests in case of an unexpected attack.

Even with its low cost, the ABV is nothing to be sniffed at. It is made of tightly woven Kwolek, a material which has 5 times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, yet is extremely flexible and easy to move in. The Kwolek has little issue with stopping pistol rounds and light submachine gun fire, although the wearer will still feel the impact. However, it does struggle against higher power assault rifles and machine guns. Preliminary tests have shown that even 5.56mm bullets have no trouble passing through the armour and still retain sufficient kinetic energy to kill.

Thus, the ABV also includes ceramic plate inserts to increase survivability. With the addition of these plates (of which up to three can be placed into a pouch), the ABV is capable of stopping even 7.62x51mm rounds, or at least until all the ceramic plates break. It also greatly increases survivability against fragmentation grenades and shrapnel from high explosive rounds, giving infantry a fighting chance when faced with HE munitions.

Uniforms

Generally speaking, the Peacekeepers employ three basic uniforms with a great many variants; the field uniform, the dress uniform, and the officer-only day uniform.

Field Uniform

Worn by officers within a war zone, and enlisted personnel at all times while on duty, the field uniform consists of a zippered jacket with a mandarin collar, trousers, and a branch-specific soft cap in theatre colours, black heavy wear gloves, a reversible black/white sleeveless shirt, moisture wicking socks, and hobnailed jackboots. The jacket contains two breast pockets, two lower pockets, a right-side internal flat pocket for documentation, and a drawstring loop on the right hand side where gloves can be easily stowed. The left side breast pocket is augmented with three "emergency loops" that can be used to externally stow small items such as shotgun shells, rifle rounds, code cylinders or medication, while the right hand pocket has an internal loop for a pen or pencil. A pair of reinforced epaulettes are designed to be used as handles should it be necessary to drag a wounded soldier out of danger. The trousers have to thigh storage pockets with zippers and two cargo pockets, the right hand side pockets internally segmented into two. Left handed soldiers are issued uniforms with reversed pockets. Typically, infantry are issued suspenders while vehicle crew are issued belts. Boots are replaced as required for the theatre. The uniform is reinforced for field use, with toughened sections in the knees and elbows. Infantry are also permitted to wear a light scarf around the neck while in a combat zone; in cold or hazardous environments this can be pulled over the face, in warm environments it can be soaked in water to help cool the body, and in an emergency it can be used as a tourniquet.

AlliedParadeUniform

A group of Allied Officers on parade.

The soldier wears a nametag and a small, optional national flag on the left hand side of the jacket, and decoration patches on the right, both coloured to match the theatre patterns. The Peacekeeper emblem is displayed prominently near the shoulder on both sleeves, in full colour for visibility; a pull-down velcro patch can be applied to disguise it. Service patches are worn under the flag, which may also include unit decorations. Non-commissioned officers wear their strips on the lower left arm, and are also mirrored inside the sleeves such that if the sleeves are rolled up in the approved fashion, they are visible. Officer ranks are denoted by rank patches on the collar, which are mirrored both under and atop so they are visible in both configurations. A branch or unit pin or patch is worn on the front of the soft cover.

In cold or particularly wet environments, a trenchcoat is worn over the field jacket. It shares the arm patches with the field jacket, but lacks any ornamentation save a triangular allied eagle, due to it buttoning over. The collar can be propped up around the neck and sealed at the front with a patch of fabric on a belt. Depending the severity of the weather, a lining can be zipped in. Heavy weapon specialists often wear the trenchcoats at all times, allowing them respite from mud.

The undershirt is silkscreened with an allied eagle, the soldier's name on the left hand side, and a small rank indicator under the collar.

Variants include:

  • The General Infantry uniform, which is issued with a German-style ski cap. Otherwise exactly the same.
  • The Armoured Vehicle Operator uniform, which has a beret and a pair of hard shoes instead of boots. All external loops are removed to avoid catching on instrumentation, and zippers are replaced with plastic buttons. Belt buckle is made of a reinforced carbon.
  • Marine uniforms, which are treated with a water-resistant seal on the outside, are issued with a patrol cap, and replace the jackboots with a pair of waterproof low-rise combat boots.
  • Ranger variants, which are issued with a boonie hat. The undershirt is rendered in theatre colours, as rangers are encouraged to wear their jackets open in warm weather.
  • The Rifleman uniform, which deviates heavily from the norm. This includes a recut jacket, colloquially known as a Greenjacket, though it is rarely green. The recut has no epaulettes, wide sleeve ends, no pockets, and is much shorter. Instead of trousers, Riflemen wear utility kilts, which are heavy-wear black garments with over a dozen pockets, making it much easier to access equipment from a prone position. Riflemen are issued patrol caps but are allowed to wear Tam o' Shanter caps; the lack of a visor can interfere with vision but will not nudge against scope attachments.
  • Airborne uniforms, which use a reduced-cut jacket augmented with a sleeveless overcoat, which is covered in pockets. This is much more comfortable than traditional webbing for paratrooper operations. Paratrooper boots are also issued.

Other

Rations

Food Pills

File:Ration Pill Dispenser.jpg

As the saying goes, an army marches on its stomach. One of the least-documented but most pressing issues ever faced by the Allied army was the vast effort in feeding their armies; shipping food into huge war zones for countless millions of soldiers is a massive task that took up a huge amount of capital and cargo space, occupying ships, trucks and planes that could otherwise serve to move ammunition, parts or reinforcements.

Fortunately, during World War Two, the fields of France provided a direct link for feeding troops, but even then, supplying soldiers in the vague, shifting front lines of the war in Germany and Poland was a difficult task, and one that was not always accomplished successfully; during the 1953 winter war, most Allied troops on the front lines received insufficient caloric intake; when the front stabilized in early 1954 many units had to be rotated away from combat in order to recover from health problems caused by malnutrition.

During the Cold War, it was considered a priority to make keeping troops in supply easier. Though field factories and refineries could keep troops supplied with ammunition, and hybrid engines drastically reduced fuel consumption, food was still an overwhelming problem. In order to supplement the nutrition of soldiers, dietary supplement pills have been developed and introduced into the MCI packs used by Allied soldiers.

When the war broke out, these simply consisted of a group of pills designed to ensure soldiers had proper vitamin intake. In 1967, a simple "caloric supplement" pill, essentially the raw fuel for the body, was introduced. Using it, a soldier could cut his rations in half, though this was unpopular at first because the user would still feel hungry, in the short term at least; appetite suppressors were introduced into the pills soon after to combat this. Following this came other pills to provide such things such as vitamins, nutrients and so on.

In the last stages of the war, this technology had developed to the point of completely replacing regular rations; paratroopers, astronauts, and special forces personnel often eat nothing more than a dozen small pills a day, though they still must carry their own water; troops in intense combat operations are often expected to do the same, although MCIs are still standard among soldiers not partaking in combat operations.

Though the physical effects and convenience of these pills make them perfect for field work, the psychological effects can be a bit unsettling; not eating for a length of time, even when nutritional needs are met, seems to take a toll on soldiers, though research indicates the effect may simply be psychosomatic.

Ammunition

Tracers

Tracer fire

Allied soldiers performing a shooting exercise with standard tracer ammunition

During the Second World War, the Allies used several different colours of tracer. The British used straight magnesium to produce white tracers, the Americans and French used sodium sulfate for yellow tracers, and the Germans used copper additives for a bright blue effect. Due to influence from Russia, the Polish used barium salts that produced a green effect, like the Soviet tracers, and continued to do so from factories pulled back into German and France. Additionally, several arms factories contracted during the war used strontium nitrate, for red tracers, and potassium sulfate, for purple. As all these nations manufactured ammunition for various standardized weapons and then distributed fairly randomly, the brilliant rainbow-coloured response to Soviet aggression became characteristic of Allied warfighting. Towards the end of the war, standardization was finally pushed through for use of strontium nitrate (due to showing up best in starlight scopes), though the Allies were still chewing through stocks of multicoloured tracers until the last days of the war.

Nowadays, the Allies manufacture and distribute red tracers to all their forces and allies, from rifle ammunition to anti-air cannons to night-fighting identifiers for tank rounds. They are typically used in one-in-five fashion, with four regular rounds followed by a tracer. However, helicopter door gunners and commandos have a reputation for loading straight belts of tracers, for assisting with walking fire or to give the impression of higher volumes of fire.

7.62x51mm AN

7

Following the Second World War, the newly formed Allied Nations argued over several issues. Among them was the adoptation of a standard cartridge, to be used for future rifle designs. Various ammunition types had all proven effective in some niche or another, but now that the war was over it became apparent to the Allies that if they did not standardize ammunition, the massive logistical headaches and supply problems that had occurred during the war would happen again in a future war. Therefore, it was paramount that the Allies choose a standardized cartridge. This would have several advantages, including the simplification of logistics, and would allow for the interchangability of ammunition. Of course, each nation advanced its own favoured cartridge, and there were heated arguments over what calibre would be best. The Germans wanted their own 7.92mm, the British were trialling a .280 cartridge for use with the FAIL series of rifles and the Americans were insistent on the .30 or an equally powerful round. In the end, the Allies decided on the 7.62x51mm, used in the highly popular FN FAIL, was eventually selected. While heavy, it boasts high penetration and effectiveness at long range. Once the round was selected, it was designated the 7.62x51mm AN (Allied Nations).

5.56x45mm AN

5

A second round that resulted from the standardization of Allied ammunition was the 5.56x45mm AN. The 5.56x45mm would never have entered service if not for the stubborn refusal by the Americans to accept the British .280, which offered a higher rate of fire and lower weight than the 7.62mm. A study had shown that a short burst of rounds would be be more damaging than a fully automatic burst, irrespective of the size of the rounds. The US hid this study from the British, fearing it would give them a case for the smaller .280 round. Later, other studies conducted had shown that an 8 man unit using smaller rounds would outgun an eleven man unit using the 7.62x51mm. New studies prompted the Americans to develop a new 5.56x45mm round. When it was introduced, the British were naturally furious, as the Americans had developed a round even smaller than the .280 that they had so stubbornly refused. Never the less, the round was accepted into service, and quickly proved its effectiveness.

12.7x41mm ANP (Automatic Nightingale Pistol)

The Nightningale was developed after the 9mm Beretta 59 proved too small and awkward for Assault Armour wearing Peacekeepers to use with fluidity. After much consideration, the Peacekeepers decided to develop the new pistol, the Nightingale, using a short 12.7mm round. It would not be inaccurate to say that the Nightingale was designed around this round. From the beginning, the new round was designed to be the most powerful pistol cartridge in existence. The result was a powerful semi rimmed cartridge that could easily cut through the thick greatcoats of Soviet Conscripts and breastplates of Imperial Warriors.

The 12.7mm ANP's muzzle energy provides the same impact of a 12 gauge slug. As expected from such performance, the recoil is massive, which is why the Nightingale was intentionally designed with a heavy barrel; this is in order to moderate the tendency of the muzzle to rise and the entire pistol to move off a Peacekeeper's aimpoint when the cartridge is fired.

Never the less, the new pistol performed to the design goals of ease of use with Peacekeeper Assault Armour, and it has become a success in the Peacekeeper Divisions. Several manufacturers make commercial variants of the short 12.7mm, along with revolvers designed to be used with them. It is primarily marketed as a handgun hunting catridge, and one manufacturer has dubbed their revolver as "A Hunting Handgun For Any Game Animal Walking".

12.7x99mm AN

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.50 AN rounds of different sorts, 5.55mm AN rounds in the foreground as well as an 12.7mm ANP round

Developed during the First World War, the .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) round was a scaled up version of the .30-06 Springfield, originally intended for use with the M2 Browning heavy machine gun. The .50 BMG proved effective against tanks and aircraft of the time, but the effectiveness of the .50 BMG against tanks decreased as they progressed past their WW1 iterations. Though no longer used against heavy armour, it remains more than capable against thinner skinned vehicles and infantry.

When the M2 Browning was still in development, there was some debate about copying the German 13.2mm TuF round, itself designed as an anti tank round for use with German anti tank rifles. Ultimately, the 13.2mm was ruled out, as its performance was found to be inferior to the .50 BMG. However, the Soviet 12.7x108mm and 14.5x114mm both had superior penetration when compared to the .50 BMG.

Given that, the .50 BMG does not disappoint. It is capable of perforating up to 22mm of hardened steel armour from over 90 metres away, and can penetrate 19mm of armour at a range of 500 metres. AP and API rounds excel at destroying thin skinned vehicles, light bunkers, and structures.

AlliedLogo
AlliedLogo
Allied Nations Peacekeeping Divisions

Italics designate Paradox-Exclusive units and structures.

Infantry Attack DogPeacekeeperJavelin SoldierHeavy DefenderEngineerSpyRiflemanRiot AgentRocketeerTanyaPathfinderRocket Pathfinder
Vehicles MCVProspectorRiptide ACVMultigunner IFVArmoured Response VehiclePavlov Handler TankGuardian TankIcarus Mobile AAAHorizon Artillery TankMirage TankAthena CannonAssault StrikerStewart TankValkyrie Self-Propelled Gun
Experimental Vehicles Particle ExpellerFusion TorchtankBarkhausen ProjectorPlanck CompressorRosen Bridging TankPion Isospin ArrayHiggs MASS TankAres Mobile Solar CannonBohr Wavefunction Adjuster
Aircraft Apollo FighterVindicatorCardinal Transport CopterNightingale CarryallCryocopterLongbow LiberatorCentury Bomber
Heavy Aircraft Pulsar Drone MissileMesofortress GunshipAchilles Superiority FighterHeisenberg Assault CopterQuasar DroneFalcon Command Helicopter
Watercraft DolphinHydrofoilSwan Amphibious PlaneAssault LanderAssault DestroyerSubhunter FrigateAlert IcebreakerAircraft Carrier
Structures Construction YardPower PlantBoot CampOre RefineryArmour FacilityAirbaseStrategic Air CommandSeaportDefence BureauAeronautics ComplexExperimental WorkshopCommand HubChronosphereProton Collider
Defences BarricadeSecurity GateReductMultigunner TurretSpectrum TowerGAP TowerSingularity TowerCryo TowerGrand Collider
Protocols Allied Protocols
Surveillance Sweep/Air Recon SweepChemical MortarsSurgical StrikeAirborne AttackBlitzkrieg!Cryo SatDisinformationGPS LockTime BombChrono SwapWire-Guided Missile StrikeMicrowave BurstGOOP StrikeClockstopShrink VortexChrono Rift
Lore Units Cryo LegionnaireFuture Tank X-1Harbinger GunshipPacifier FAVGrand Cannon
Technologies Spectrum TechnologyCryotechnologyGravametricsChronotechnologyTheoretical TechnologyAutoFix "Zakmes" DroneAllied Small Arms and Equipment
Detailed Information Allied Battle TanksAllied Motor PoolAllied Air ForceAllied NavyAllied Cryo Prison KeepersAllied CharactersAllied Supranational BodiesMembers of the Allied NationsAllied Military-Industrial ComplexMilitary Organisation of the Allied NationsThe World of TomorrowAnalysis of the Allied Nations Peacekeeper Divisions
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