AR Scorpion

AR Scorpion
The AR Scorpion's primary models.
Type	Modular weapon (Assault Rifle/Carbine/SSW).
Place of origin	The Empire of Common Territories
Service history
In service	1981-Present.
Used by	TECT Armed Forces
Production history
Designer	Wolf Armaments.
Designed	1981 (G1), 1995 (G2), 2007-08 (G3), 2014 (G4), 2017 (G5).
Manufacturer	Wolf Armaments.
Unit cost	$1,500 NSD.
Produced	1981-Present.
No. built	N/A.
Variants	Assault Rifle (Standard), Squad Support Weapon, Special OPerations Platform.
Specifications
Weight	3.1 kg. (Standard), 3.6 kg. (SSW), 2.9 kg. (SOPP).
Length	811 mm. stock extended (Standard), 1,063 mm. stock extended (SSW), 751 mm. stock extended (SOPP).
Cartridge	6.45×42mm WA CTA (Standard). 6.48×28 mm WA CTA (Pistol).
Barrels	324 mm. (Standard), 420 mm. (SSW), 270 mm. (SOPP).
Action	Gas-operated, short stroke operation (Piston Actuation).
Rate of fire	700–950 rpm.
Muzzle velocity	845 m/s (Standard/SOPP), 920 m/s (SSW), 755 m/s (Pistol).
Effective firing range	100-800 m.
Maximum firing range	3,600 m+ with optics.
Feed system	20-30 round detachable box magazines, 60 round detachable box magazine, 10-20 round detachable box magazines, 50 and 100 round drum magazines or threaded bag.
Sights	Iron, variable optics.

The Assault Rifle Scorpion or AR Scorpion for short, is a family of assault rifle based designs created and manufactured by Wolf Armaments in TECT. Generation 1 was first delivered to the TECT Armed Forces in 1981, becoming the first modern primary service weapon invented and produced domestically; it replaced the aged M1 Garand and less impressive M14 Rifle. Although technically a battle rifle (which still fired 7.62×51mm NATO), the AR Scorpion eventually evolved into a lighter assault rifle in 1995 (G2). It has since been upgraded over the years with its most recent overhaul released in 2017.

Similar to the Armalight inspired M16 Rifle, Wolf Armaments accepted a bid from the Imperial Government to create a rifle design that could replace the M1 Garand and the moderately incorporated M14 rifle. The M14 was seen as a failure of a design and was disliked universally by soldiers for being too cumbersome and ineffective in the field; Chief Officer Darden Albinson (Chief Officer of the Imperial Army until 1972) described the rifle as a "hair-laden broom stick gunked up with dust" when compared to the "ergonomic and idiot-proof" AK-47. Thus the Ministry of the Armed Forces commissioned numerous companies, including Wolf Armaments, to draft replacement designs that rivaled foreign competition. Wolf Armaments' Armalite inspired AR Scorpion eventually won the bid; its steel, aluminum, and hard plastic materials coupled with newer weapon technology earned it a spot in the TECT Armed Forces.

Generation 5 AR Scorpions are short stroke (gas operated) piston operated rifles with selective fire (semi-auto, three round bursts, or automatic). They are magazine-fed, shoulder-fired, and modular in design for the modern war-fighter. True to its roots, the AR Scorpion is still primarily constructed of high-impact resistant hard plastic, high grade aluminum alloy parts, and steel alloy components; the selection of materials is battlefield proven to be reliable, durable, and long-lasting. The cold hammer-forged barrel provides a stronger barrel for greater safety in case of an obstructed bore or for extended firing sessions - it is chrome lined to increase the lifespan and durability of the barrel, making for a highly accurate and durable barrel. Modifications for an over-the-beach (OTB) capability, such as drainage holes in the bolt carrier and buffer system, are used to enable the AR Scorpion to be fired safely after being submerged in water or in other extremely wet conditions. Rail systems along the top of the rifle and the handguard allow for a wide range of attachments and electronics; some standard parts include a comfortable collapsing stock, an ergonomic pistol grip, and a bore evacuator. Lastly, G5 introduced an improved gas system that included new buffer technology, newer efficient propellant management, and all new piston designs that have reduced the overall recoil and weight of the rifle. AR Scorpion remains a short-stroke piston (rotating bolt) system even though previous plans called for a less complicated gas system; short stroke being that energy is imparted in a short, abrupt push onto a shorter gas piston and the motion of said gas piston is then arrested allowing the bolt carrier assembly to continue through the operating cycle through kinetic energy alone.

The AR Scorpion's last two overhauls also focused on personalization and customization, making each rifle customizable to the operator using it, thus a more lethal and efficient tool. This included the addition of ambidextrous technology, meaning the rifle can be operated by left handed people as well as right handed people. Ejection port quick-assembly allows for operators, using common tools, to set ejection location to left or right side; safety tools (including bore evacuator buttons) are located on both sides of the weapon; and rail systems, as they did in the past, allow operators to mount equipment to their preferred positions. Modularity has always been important for the AR Scorpion. This is why the AR Scorpion rail system is compatible with all Western electronics and attachments, as well as being compatible for most Eastern attachments/electronics users may prefer. Modularity is also why most AR Scorpion parts/equipment, including the barrel and gas system, can be removed and attached using the simplest of hand tools soldiers carry on them every day; thus it would take minutes for an experienced operator to make adjustments or changes to their rifle, even on an active battlefield - something most rifles are incapable of doing.

The AR Scorpion's primary cartridge is the 6.45×42mm WA CTA, which is the standard rifle cartridge used in the TECT Armed Forces; the 6.5mm Grendel is also an optional choice, as is the 6.5×55mm (modified with a plastic tip). The second primary cartridge is the 6.48×28 mm WA CTA, which is used by the AR Scorpion Pistol variant. Rechambered variants include a 5.56×45mm NATO version for NATO ammunition users, an Eastern variant chambered in 5.45×39mm is also available. Standard feed systems include twenty, thirty, and sixty round box magazines (both clear and full plastic), and fifty or one hundred round drum magazines (or threaded bag option).

Variants

Squad Support Weapon

SSW variant of the AR Scorpion.

The Squad Support Weapon (SSW) variant of AR Scorpion is higher velocity model of the rifle designed to serve in both squad automatic rifle and designated marksman roles. SSW's are designed to provide supporting automatic or semiautomatic fire against enemy forces on a squad level, allowing ground forces the use of one weapon system over two or three. Differences between the SSW and other squad based weapon systems is the compatibility with users of the standard model, overall weight reduction compared to heavier, often belt-fed options, and respectable firepower comparable or greater to its rivals. Key differences between the Standard model and the SSW are that the SSW has a revamped gas system (designed for task-heavy automatic fire and/or high powered ammunition) and longer barrel (four hundred and twenty millimeters); said barrel brings with it improved accuracy at longer ranges, higher barrel durability which also makes it last longer, and provides a more stable platform to shoot from while increasing muzzle velocity. The standard cartridge remains the 6.45×42mm WA CTA, same as the standard model, which is also the primary rifle cartridge of the TECT Armed Forces. Feed wise the SSW uses traditional thirty round magazines, but users can opt to use larger sixty round box magazines or fifty/one hundred round drum magazines.

Special OPerations Platform

SOPP Variant of the AR Scorpion

The Special OPerations Platform (SOPP) variant of the AR Scorpion is a lighter, more ergonomic model of the Standard model. Improvements include a newer, similarly durable but shorter barrel with equally new high-performance muzzle device, and a new rail system featuring a shorter length handguard with additional rails and mounting points. SOPP also features an improved-upon short-stroke gas system similar to SSW that allows it maintain higher performance with reduced recoil/weight. Additionally, SOPP rifles are optimized for the use of newer, more sophisticated electronics and optics; this would include laser/holo sights, laser beam and other rangefinders, and new-aged future combat systems that would couple with these devices. SOPP was a variant UESF leadership requested during the G3 overhaul (2008) to outfit its smaller, more tactical units with better suited rifles. Ministry of Justice and other police forces around the Empire also had interest in the model after its release, desiring the lighter platform to outfit their own tactical units with. Standard cartridge is the 6.45×42mm WA CTA while many police forces use the 6.48×28 mm WA CTA version (AR Scorpion Pistol); NATO and Russian sub-variants are also available for purchase.

AR Scorpion-Eastern

The Eastern model of the AR Scorpion is essentially a chamber conversion to the 5.45×39mm cartridge. Designers decided a rechambered variant that fires the predominantly Eastern cartridge would allow Wolf Armaments to draw Eastern militaries as customers, even potentially their nation's markets too. The only changes are the barrel and bolt mechanics to fire the different cartridge.

AR Scorpion-NATO

The NATO model of the AR Scorpion is essentially a chamber conversion to the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. Designers decided a rechambered variant that fires the standard Western cartridge would allow Wolf Armaments to draw Western military customers as well as their nation's markets. The only changes are the barrel and bolt mechanics to fire the different cartridges.

Generation One (G1)

An original model of the AR Scorpion from 1980's.

The AR Scorpion G1 model was first introduced to the TECT Armed Forces in 1981 in order to replace the stockpiled M1 Garand and mostly introduced M14 Rifle. As a service rifle, the G1 was instantly popular with infantry units, primarily due to the extreme dislike of the M14 rifle it replaced. Designers were inspired by the Armalite M16 Rifle, copying many of the esthetic features and even mechanical parts found within the M16; weapon and military historians often refer to the G1 as the "M16 Battle Rifle", a nickname poking fun at the obviously taken "inspiration" while still remaining a battle rifle caliber. ARSG1 was not only the first modern domestically produced service weapon, it was also the first rifle in TECT to feature a lightweight collapsing stock, hard plastic box magazine, and forward rail system. While the military ordered enormous quantities of the rifle, the civilian market also took serious interest in the rifle. The 1989 "Rifle Ban" bill introduced to Congress, which would have made the sale and possession of certain rifles illegal, created a huge demand for rifles like the AR Scorpion; labeled the "1989 Rifle Ban Scare", fear of banning future owners of possessing most rifles drove the public to buy rifles, including AR Scorpion, and associated ammunition. Although the law failed to get any traction, the scare had significantly made an impact on gun sales and indirectly made the AR Scorpion a household name across TECT. From the year 1981 to 1995 (when the G2 model was released), over fifty million rifles were sold to domestic customers (not counting former military rifles sold to the public at any point).

G1 rifles were not without their flaws, however. Compared to the M16 and other weapons of the time, the G1 was notably heavy even though its lightweight plastic and aluminum drastically reduced the old steel and wood rifles it replaced; regardless, the G1 weighed about 4.90 kilograms while loaded, almost an entire kilogram heavier then the M16 at the time. Fully extended the G1 was about eight hundred and twenty-one millimeters long - this was a vast improvement over the longer M16 rifle which was over a thousand millimeters, but it also made the rifle less accurate lose important muzzle velocity. The second largest criticism of the rifle was the designer's choice in ammunition. G1 rifles used the 7.62×51mm NATO at the time. This larger battle rifle cartridge made firing more complicated and limited the amount of ammunition that one could carry because of the magazine requirements. Although it was not a serious issue to some, many military officials would later fight for the use of smaller caliber rounds so that the Scorpion could match other similar weapon systems like the M16 in magazine capacity; G2 would later feature this change as an attempt to lighten the rifle, increase magazine capacity, and allow soldiers to carry more ammunition into battle. Many infantry troops will however claim the standard higher caliber made the G1 comparable to the AK-74, a rifle many infantrymen both feared and respected. Many soldiers and modern enthusiasts still prefer the G1 model for its classic historical esthetic - they are fans of the 'solid' weight and firepower, which made the weapon feel, in their eyes, a truly powerful firearm.

Still popular among civilians, militias, and even some foreign buyers, the G1 is still widely owned and sold by Wolf Armaments through its own suppliers and associated retailers. The modern model (G1A17) features redesigns seen in the modern G4 and G5 models. This includes newer construction material (high-grade aluminum and steel as well as high-impact plastics), a newer handguard and receiver, and brand new parts that're seen in the G4/5 models. These improvements have significantly lowered the weight down to around four kilograms, increased muzzle velocity, accuracy, and durability with a new four hundred and six millimeter barrel and high-performance muzzle device, and largely reduced the once heavy recoil seen on older models. The G1 now comes standard in the 7.58×54mm WA CTA cartridge, but versions for the NATO (7.62×51mm NATO) and Eastern (7.62×39mm) equivalents are widely available for purchase. The Imperial Government continues a special purchasing program for civilians to purchase older G1 models since there are still many within storage sites; the government has often sold or given away these rifles to countries or to organizations as a gesture/means of diplomatic/financial/military support. AR Scorpion G1 was officially retired from service in 2010 after it had been replaced by the G2 and succeed in being totally removed from active service because of the G3 in 2008; the only Imperially owned G1 rifles are old stockpile weapons waiting to be sold or given away, and select numbers from different models kept for historical record keeping purposes (including museums, reenactment units, and record keeping). Citizens and private organizations are the highest recorded owners of the G1 rifle according to a sales survey released in 2016. According to total sales records from 1981 to 2016, the G1 model of the AR Scorpion has sold more then one hundred and fifty million rifles alone.

Simunition Conversion

Conversion kits are available for all models of the AR Scorpion; they include a bolt carrier (partly colored blue to distinguish it), blank-firing adapter for firing blanks, and an upper receiver colored blue to distinguish it for its practice use. The standard kit will also include a laser transmitter for laser combat systems to use; such systems would include individual soldiers carrying small laser receivers scattered over their bodies, which detect when the soldier has been illuminated by a firearm's laser. Each laser transmitter would be set to mimic the effective range and potential damage of the weapon on which it is used. Depending on how complex the laser combat system is, trainers can retrieve immediate results and statistics compiled by the system; such examples include readings that give medics a digital readout to determine which first aid method to practice and probability readouts. Using the conversion kit, the AR Scorpion can seamlessly integrate into these laser combat systems.