User:Oriflamme/Sandbox
| Pattern 1950 rifle | |
|---|---|
| File:Farquhar-Hill rifle.jpg Pattern 1922 rifle, using the same operating mechanism | |
| Type | Automatic rifle |
| Place of origin |  Itayana Sante Reze (technical assistance) |
| Service history | |
| In service | Itayana Solar Autocracy (1950 - 2005) Amayana Makgato Federation (c.1960 - 2013) |
| Used by | Amayana National Army Makgato Defence Force Thundering Elephant Army Agysimba Liberation Army |
| Wars | Kasai War Ninvite War M'Biruna Civil War Central Karana War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | c.1948-1950 |
| Manufacturer | Various arsenals |
| Produced | 1950-present |
| No. built | approx. 5,000,000 (all models) |
| Variants | Various configurations |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7.0kg |
| Length | 1300 mm |
The Pattern 1950 Rifle is an automatic rifle designed in the Lower Karana governorates of Itayana. Based on the early Pattern 1922 Rifle, it used the same operating mechanism, adapted to make the rifle fully automatic. Despite the initial production difficulties, the rifle quickly supplanted most of the older rifles across Itayana, becoming one of the iconic symbols of the Karanite involvement in the Ninvite War.
Development
The direct predecessor of the Pattern 1950 is the Pattern 1922 Rifle, first acquired via Sante Reze in 1921. By that time it was by far the most advanced weapon of the governors in the Two Basins. The weapon was known to be distributed to the elite units of 6th, 8th, 5th, 7th, 16th, 18th, and 19th Governorates. Those units from the former two polities were directed to the frontlines of the Agala War when the Imperial Charnean Army entered the Itayana region. The rifle performed well in prepared both in ambushes in highlands and in the open battles, slowing down the foray of ICA mechanized vanguards to the point when their command chose to withdraw and focus on the Zarma rebellion within the Agala. The aftermath of the war, described as a "rude awakening to their [governorates] weaknesses", forced the governorates all across the Two Basins to place efforts in militarization, industrialization and modernization, beginning the Unifying Revival. Within the 6th Governorate said effort included the development of new series of weapons, including a battle rifle.
Most of the information about the development of the Pattern 1950 Rifle comes from scattered excerpts of various memoirs, a few archived papers in the Yanbango Central Library, and several prototypes found in the SMT Arsenal Museum. It is known that around 1947-1948, a team of twelve mechanics and gunsmiths from the SMT Arsenal was approached by their governor to create a series of weapons to standardize equipment of the armies of the right bank of Lower Karana. Part of that series was a selective-fire battle rifle to be the unified weapon of all ground troops. Although more or less experienced in maintenance of various pieces of equipment, developing a new rifle proved to be a challenge for the SMT team. The designers adopted the Pattern 1922 system of buffered gas operation, but initially could neither meet the requirement for selective fire, nor make it fit for mass production. With the assistance of a Rezese weapons manufacturer, SRZ, the issues were solved by 1950 and the rifle was adopted immediately.
Apart from the SRZ and the SMT Arsenal, production orders were also placed to the Kanokari Arsenal of the 5th Governoate and the LDN arsenal of the 18th Governorate, allowing the design to spread across the Lower Karana and Imo. 29th Governorate captured several rifles in the Kasai War and adopted the design as well by 1960.
Operation
Variants
- 1948 prototype rifle: the initial semi-automatic prototype of the rifle. Artisanal production, failed to meet the selective-fire requirement. 12 are known to survive to this day.
- 1949 prototype rifle: the second, automatic prototype of the rifle. Reportedly suffered from balancing issues and failed to meet selective fire requirement. 11 are known to survive to this day.
- Pattern 1950 Rifle: the first production version of the rifle, featuring a bayonet placement and a standard bipod.
- Pattern 1955 Rifle: the second production version of the rifle, featuring a place for a PU scope. Although a standard version, few scopes were available for the rifles until 1985, mostly issued to sharpshooters in reconnaissance units or the best riflemen of the battalion. Main infantry rifle of the Thundering Elephant Army.
- Pattern 1985 Rifle: the third production version of the rifle. Capable of mounting an underbarrel grenade launcher instead of the bipod and adapted for both the PU and the PSO-1 scopes. Small numbers participated in the late stages of the Ninvite War.
Users
- Itayana Solar Autocracy
- Amayana Makgato Federation
Republic of Charnea ─ reportedly used by some of the ICA troops during the Ninvite War- Agysimba