AG-43 Hallstrim
| AG-43 Hallstrim | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Three-round pump action grenade launcher |
| Place of origin | Astronea |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1998-present |
| Used by | Astronean Armed Forces |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1990s |
| Manufacturer | ALA Corporation |
| Unit cost | $1,400 |
| Produced | 1997-present |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 810 mm (32 in) |
| Cartridge | 43mm grenade |
| Action | Pump action |
| Muzzle velocity | 85 m/s (280 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 500 m (550 yd) |
| Feed system | 3 round pump action above-barrel tubular magazine |
| Sights | Folding ladder sight |
| References | |
The AG-43 is a compact, lightweight three round pump-action grenade launcher designed in the 1990s by ALA Corporation for police use. The AG-43 was designed in 1997 in the midst of civil unrest and political turmoil. Riot Police needed an effective device for firing non-lethal munitions to disperse rioters and violent protestors in quick succession. The end product, the AG-43, proved more than capable of dispensing large quantities of tear gas, rubber projectiles and bean bag munitions. Lightweight and easy to operate and reload, the "Hallstrim" (Hailstorm) as it later became known, could fire three rounds quickly and be reloaded in a matter of seconds before being fired again, reducing the downtime of the weapon and upscaling the rate of fire.
The AG-43 is able to be fired in confined areas without risk to the operator due to the rounds' intense yet relatively small blast radius. Originally designed for urban warfare and riot control, the Hallstrim is able to fire HE, Frag, Thermobaric and a variety of non-lethal munitions. While its original purpose was for crowd control, growing counter terrorism doctrine called for the development of lethal munitions. This lead to a line of 43mm HE, thermobaric and fragmentation grenades capable of being fired in close quarters.
The AG-43 has been seen in the hands of Astronean Special Forces on counter-terror operations, and is in police inventories across Astronea. Its simple action allows the weapon to be fired in dusty environments and even after being immersed in water. It has been supplemented in Army use by the AG-6 Gunnan.
Design
The grenade launcher is a pump-action, breechless weapon with a top-mounted magazine. It is reloaded by pushing new rounds into the tubular magazine, which is locked by hooks relative to the fixed face of the receiver. Manual reloading by forearm lengthwise movement ensures reliable operation of the grenade launcher when using various types of ammunition.