APA M2 (Underwater Assault Riffle)
| APA M2 | |
|---|---|
 APA M2 underwater rifle with 5.66-mm cartridge | |
| Type | Underwater Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Qazhshava |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1975-pressent |
| Used by | Qazhshava |
| Wars | Qash civil war |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Vladimir Kolkamnev Владимир Колкамнев |
| Designed | 1970s |
| Manufacturer | Ognestrelni |
| Produced | 1975–present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.0 kg empty 3.9 kg loaded |
| Length | 840 mm with stock extended 620 mm with stock retracted |
| Barrel length | 300 mm |
| Width | 65 mm |
| Cartridge | 5.66×39mm MPS with 5.66×120mm steel darts and tracer MPST |
| Caliber | 5.66mm |
| Action | Gas actuated |
| Rate of fire | 600 rounds per minute (in air) |
| Muzzle velocity | 340–360 meter per second (in air) |
| Effective firing range | 30 m at depth 5 m (98 ft at depth 16 ft) 20 m at depth 20 m (66 ft at depth 66 ft) 11 m at depth 40 m (36 ft at depth 131 ft) |
| Maximum firing range | 100 m in the air |
| Feed system | 26-round detachable Magazine |
The APA M2 underwater assault rifle (APA M2 stands for Awtomatichen Podvoden Aftomat Modew 2 (Аўтоматичен Подводен Афтомат модеў 2) or "Automatic Underwater Assault-Rifle Model 2") is an underwater firearm designed by Qazhshava in the early 1970s. It was adopted in 1975. Made by the Ognestrelni in Central Qazhshava.
Under water, ordinary bullets are inaccurate and have a very short range. The APA fires a 120 mm (4.75 in) long 5.66 mm calibre steel bolt specially designed for this weapon. Its magazine holds 26 rounds. The APA's barrel is not rifled; the fired projectile is kept in line by hydrodynamic effects; as a result, the APS is somewhat inaccurate when fired out of water.
The APS has a longer range and more penetrating power than spearguns. This is useful in such situations such as shooting an opposing diver through a reinforced dry suit, a protective helmet (whether air-holding or not), thick tough parts of breathing sets and their harnesses, and the plastic casings and transparent covers of some small underwater vehicles.
The APA M2 is more powerful than a pistol, but is bulkier and takes longer to aim, particularly swinging its long barrel and large flat magazine sideways through water.
