View source for Ngai-Cuong rifle

{{Infobox weapon
| name               = SBH-42<br/>Ngai-Cuong rifle
| image              = Simonow SKS 45 noBG.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = A Ngai-Cuong rifle on display in the Quenminese Army Museum in [[Cam Ðoc]]
| origin             = {{plainlist|
* {{flagicon image|EmpireOfQuenminFlag.jpg|22px}} [[Empire of Quenmin]]
* {{flag|Quenmin}}
}}
| type               = [[Semi-automatic rifle]]
| is_ranged          = yes
| designer           = [[Tạ Công Ngải]] and [[Chow Siu Keung]]
| design_date        = 1940{{snd}}1942
| service            = 1942{{snd}}present
| used_by            = See ''[[#Users|Users]]''
| wars               = See ''[[#Conflicts|Conflicts]]''
| cartridge          = 7.62×39mm NC
| action             = Short stroke gas piston, [[tilting bolt]], self-loading
| rate               = Semi-automatic rate: 35–40 rounds/min
| velocity           = {{convert|735|m/s|0|abbr=on}}
| range              = {{convert|400|m|yd}}
| weight             = {{convert|3.85|kg|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|1020|mm|abbr=on}}, M59/66: {{convert|1120|mm|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = {{convert|520|mm|abbr=on}}, M59/66: {{convert|558.8|mm|abbr=on}}
| feed               = 10-round [[stripper clip]], internal [[box magazine]].
| sights             = Hooded post front sight, tangent notch rear sight graduated from 100 to 1,000 meters.
| variants           = See ''[[#Variants|Variants]]''
| number             = {{plainlist|
* 503,748 (EWII)
* 14,000,000+ (total)
}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| ibox-order        = <!-- Order of languages -->
| title             = Quenminese name<!-- Box title        (Default is the article title) -->
| float             = <!-- left|right|none  (Default float position is right) -->
| collapse          = <!-- yes|no   -->
| pic               = <!-- image -->
| piccap            = <!-- image caption -->
| picsize           = <!-- 200px            (Default is 260px) -->
| pictooltip        = <!-- image tooltip  (use for [[WP:ALT|alt text]]) -->
| headercolor       =  #b0c4de
<!-- Chinese name -->
| name1           = Semi-Automatic Rifle, Model 1942
| lang1             = Standard Quenminese<!-- Additional language1 -->
| lang1_content     = Bán tự động Triệu Cường, mẫu 1942<!-- Vietnamese language (generic) -->
| lang2             = Mactongese
| lang2_content     = 苦艾蕭強半自動,一九四四型號<br/>(Fu<sup>2</sup> Ngaai<sup>6</sup> Siu<sup>2</sup> Koeng<sup>4</sup> Bun<sup>3</sup> zi<sup>6</sup> dung<sup>6</sup>, Jat<sup>1</sup> Gau<sup>2</sup> Sei<sup>3</sup> Sei<sup>3</sup> Jing<sup>4</sup> hou<sup>6</sup> <!-- Cantonese Jyutping -->)<br/>(Fu-Ngai-Siu-Keung Semi-Automatic, Model 1942)
}}
The '''SBH-42''' ({{wpl|Vietnamese language|Quenminese}}: ''Súng trường Bán tự động Hoàng đế, mẫu 1942'', "Semi-Automatic Rifle, model 1942"), also recognized without its number as the '''Ngai-Cuong rifle''' or simply '''Ngai-Cuong''' after its other name, the "Ngải Cường Semi-Automatic, Model 1942" (''Bán tự động Ngải Cường, mẫu 1942''),  is a {{wpl|semi-automatic rifle}} designed by arms manufacturers [[Tạ Công Ngải]] and [[Chow Siu Keung]] in the aforementioned year.

The Ngai-Coung's distinct features include in most variants a permanently attached foldable bayonet and a hinged and fixed box magazine. The rifle has a maximum capacity of 10 rounds, and loaded via stripper clip. Compensating for its accuracy are its ease-of-use, ease of maintenance, reliability, sturdiness, and cost-effective manufacturing.

The [[Imperial Quenminese Army]] sought for a new semi-automatic rifle in 1941 to replace the VCST-36 and the [[VCST-40]]. The reasons stem from the problems encountered by the rifle and its performance against more practical Allied rifles, such as the [[M1 Theimer]]. After approving Ngải and Siu Keung's design, which fixed the issue of vertical shot dispersion and guaranteed ease of maintenance, the Army General Staff ordered its production starting June 1942, and distributed to military officers, elite troops, and other frontline units to supplement the [[Trinh-Hoang 91-13]] and the VCST-36s and 40s. From late summer 1942 until the end of the war, the Ngai-Cuong saw service in the [[Second Europan War]] by Quenminese troops and Lorican resistance, and it proved capable in guerilla warfare during the [[Invasion of Quenmin]]. After the conflict, the rifle was exported and manufactured by various nations, including [[Lorica]]. The Ngai-Cuong became the standard issue rifle of the [[Royal and Imperial Quenminese Armed Forces]] from 1947 to 1960, until its replacement by the [[AR-4 (Concordian rifle)|AR-4]]. Despite rendered obsolete in all armed forces, the rifle remains used among militias, in military training, and in ceremonial activities in various countries.

Since 1987, the Ngai-Cuong remains a popular rifle among hunters, especially in Quenmin, [[Holy Trabian Empire|Trabia]], [[Rubrum and the Peristylium|Rubrum]] and [[Concordia and the Soryu|Concordia]].

==Variants==

===Quenminese Ngai-Cuong===
* M44: Due to the increasing demand of standard issue arms coupled with the deteriorating Quenminese war effort, the Imperial Arsenals were required to drop the foldable bayonet to enable troops to attach their issued bayonets.

===Bethausian Ngai-Cuong===

===Lorican Ngai-Cuong===
* Type 54

==Conflicts==
Within 70 years of its usage, the Ngai-Cuong was used in the following conflicts:
{{div col}}
* [[Second Europan War]]
* [[Taoyuanese Civil War]]
* [[War of Lorican Aggression]]
* [[Circum-Courlès War]]
* [[Aurucolian Splinter War]]
* [[Saguinoso Colpo]]
* [[Punjab War]]
* [[FUA Crisis]]
* [[Chalcedonic War]]
* [[Neocon War]]
{{div col end}}
==Users==

===Current===
* {{flagicon image|Bethausiaflag.png|22px}} [[Bethausia]]: In service for militia and military training
* {{flagicon image|Flag of India.svg|22px}} [[Indiae]]: Used for ceremonial purposes
* {{flagicon image|Communist Lorica.png|22px}} [[Lorica]]: Type 54, used for ceremonial purposes
* {{flag|Quenmin}}: In service for militia, ceremonies, and military training
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Republic of China.svg|22px}} [[Taoyuan]]: In service for militia and military training
* {{flagicon image|Trabia.png|22px}} [[Holy Trabian Empire]]: In service for militia and military training

===Former===
* {{flagicon image|Nishan Sahib.svg|22px}} [[Kingdom of the Punjab]]
* {{flagicon image|EmpireOfQuenminFlag.jpg|22px}} [[Empire of Quenmin]]