Lena-Elfield rifle
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| Lena-Elfield | |
|---|---|
_-_AM.032056.jpg) Short, Magazine, Lena-Elfield Mk. III No 1 | |
| Type | Bolt-action rifle |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1895–present |
| Used by |  United Kingdom |
| Wars | First Europan War Second Europan War War of Lorican Aggression Post-War of Lorican Aggression Crisis Second Lucis Civil War Imperial Crisis |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Emma-Rose Lena, Royal Ordnance Elfield |
| Produced |
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| No. built | 20,000,000 |
| Variants | See Lena-Elfield Marks |
| Specifications | |
| Weight |
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| Length |
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The Lena-Elfield is a series of bolt-action rifles made in Great Lucis in the 1890s. It became the first rifle to be adopted by a major military force that was also the first to be designed by a female engineer and scientist. Designed and undergoing several revisions by Lucian-Erebonian engineer Emma-Rose Lena, it was the primary battle rifle of the Lucis Army during the half of the 20th Century until it was replaced from frontline service in 1957.
As early as the 1880s, Lena had began the task of creating the first true bolt-action rifle to be adopted for the use in the Lucis Army. Lena's rifle was first created in 1888 as the Lena-Manjensen rifle. However, the latter proved to have many disadvantages such that it was only fed with 7-rounds, making the user to load 2 cartridges individually after loading the 5-round charging clips. Once more, the Manjensen rifling, while it was considered innovative, wore out after smokeless powder cartridges were introduced, thus the need for redesigning the rifle. The Lena-Elfield featured a 10-round box magazine that was to be loaded with 2 charging clips of 5-rounds and used the .303 Lucis cartridge. The Lena-Elfield was issued to the Lucis Army, as well as the Commonwealth countries during the First and Second Europan War. It was also adopted by foreign countries such as the Erebonian Empire, Alteria, Joyonghea, and Bethausia. While it was replaced in 1957 by the E1A1 SLR, the Lena-Elfield remained in service until the 1990s. However, it remains in use by certain special forces formations as a sniper rifle, particularly Task Force 141, who valued the lightweight and lethality of the Elfield in combat.
The rifle is also famous for its "Mad minute" exercise, which allows a well-trained shooter to shoot 20-30 rounds in under a minute. Because of this, it was given the nickname of Schweinstall or Pigstick by Imperial forces, who thought that they were being shot back by Machine guns.
Development
Combat Service
The Lena-Elfield was first conceived in 1895 as a replacement for the Morland-Harry Rifle and the Lena-Manjensen rifle. Its improvements from the latter included a double-stack magazine which increased its capacity from 7 to 10 rounds. In 1907, the Lena-Elfield was modified to facilitate the loading of rounds with the use of chargers, making it easier to reload the rifle instead of inserting the cartridge one by one. In addition, it also made production cheaper, as soldiers were only issued with 1 magazine and it was only to be removed for cleaning.
First seeing service during the First Europan War, the Lena-Elfield was considered as the fastest military bolt-action rifle of the day. Several EWI accounts tell of Lucian troops repelling Imperial attackers who subsequently reported that they had encountered machine guns, when in fact it was simply a group of well-trained riflemen armed with SMLE Mk. III rifles. The Elfield was considered by many to be the best battle rifle of the early 20th century in part with its vast service across the Commonwealth (except for Concordia) and its reputation for having a deadly accuracy.
In Zemuria, many Erebonian troops found their Krag-Mauserheim M98 inferior to their Western counterparts, who were at that time under the service of the Lucis Crown. As a result, many Erebonian generals approached Western Erebonian commanders to share their stockpiles of Lena-Elfield rifles. Many soldiers dropped their rifles and tended to have a preference for using the Lena-Elfield. As the UK could not produce enough Elfields, the Rubrumian government agreed to produce SMLE Mk. IIIs for the Imperial Army of Erebonia. Following Western Erebonia's independence, the stockpiles of Lena-Elfields left in the Leeves Garrison Fort and in the Port of Orbis were used to arm the Erebonian Army. Although the Lena-Elfield wouldn't be adopted as Erebonia's standard issue until 1935, when the army sold-off their Krag-Mauserheim rifles or kept them in storage for militia use. The Lena-Elfield became a symbol of Erebonia's struggle and honor being that it was heavily loved by many soldiers and commanders. As a result, the Lena-Elfield still remains in service to the present day with certain units such as the Railway Military Police, the Royal Erebonian Arctic Regiment.
The Lena-Elfield was once again the primary rifle of choice for Great Lucis and the rest of the Commonwealth during EWII. Although the Lena-Elfield was replaced later on by the M1 Theimer within the Royal Gallian Armed Forces, the Lena-Elfield continued to see service with Gallian troops as a sniper rifle and with the XIII Gallian Corps under Brigadier Friedrich O'Connelly. The SMLE Mk. III variant continued service with the ZANAC forces as its primary service rifle. Following the Zanarkian landings at Joyonghea, the Joyonghean Sovereign Army discontinued its use of its existing rifles that included the Gimcheok Model 1905, M98 Dubois Rifle, and captured Trinh-Hoang 91-13 with the SMLE Mk. III. Not only did this move made it easier for the Joyonghean forces to rearm and rebuild its army, but this also reflected Joyonghea's total cooperation with the Allies. In the field, the SMLE enabled the Joyongheans to obtain the upper hand against their Quenminese adversaries with a prolonged sustainable rifle fire.
However, the Lena-Elfield was not without its faults. The problems were mostly with the cartridges. Certain reports in the field found that the rimmed .303 cartridges made it difficult for the rifle to be loaded using chargers. In addition, rimjams were a common problem unless the soldier pressed down to realign the rims properly. The solution was to load the cartridges one by one, but this took a long time. The second solution was loading the cartridges into chargers by means of a staggered load with one rim resting on another. The final solution came in the redesigning of the .303 Lucis cartridges by the Royal Erebonian Arsenals. The Erebonian Army introduced the rimless .303 Lucis rounds which were commonly nicknamed as the .303 Erebonian. The modification made it easier to reload the rifle and cycle the new round without the soldier having to worry about rimjams. This creation also resulted with the post-war cartridge known as the 7.62x51 RG.
Following EWII, the Lena-Elfield remained in use for the first half of the War of Lorican Aggression until it was superseded by the RG LAG and E1A1 SLR. Although, sniper variants still remains in frontline service with certain armies.
As a cadet's rifle
Throughout the Lucis Commonwealth, the Lena-Elfield is the most widely used rifle for cadets (except in Concordia). Its ease of use and maintenance was found by many cadets to be a rifle that they were easily familiar with. It was also relatively light and was used in rifle drilling practices more frequently.
In Erebonia, the Lena-Elfield is the favourite of many students at Thors Military Academy. In 1994, Thors Academy Chancellor Kiriya Kitagawa introduced rifle drilling as part of the curriculum. Rather than arming the cadets with semi-automatic rifles, Kitagawa saw the need for the students to learn how to operate a bolt-action rifle. An experimental study was carried in that same year, where 5 students were to study the Lena-Elfield's functions and be familiar with its operation against 5 students who only carried semi-automatic rifles. The results generated a favourable result such that students who were issued with the Elfield were more proficient in weapons handling than those who were issued with semi-automatic rifles.
Kiriya, who was a well-known Elfield specialist and mad minute driller, wanted the students to have a choice of participating at the academy's Mad Minute Program to further enhance their skills with the Elfield. The programme culminated later on in an event during the Thors Academy School Festival, which was dubbed as the Mad Minute Challenge. Participants were given a minute to shoot as many well-aimed shots as possible. Currently, the record-holder for the most shots fired was Cadet Waldemar Fegelein, who was able to put 40 shots in 2007. The record remains unbeaten.
Marks
Short Magazine Lena-Elfield Mk. III No. 1
The best-known Lene–Elfield rifle, the SMLE Mk. III, was introduced on 26 January 1907, along with a Pattern 1907 bayonet and featured a simplified rear sight arrangement and a fixed, rather than a bolt-head-mounted sliding, charger guide. The design of the handguards and the magazine were also improved and the chamber was adapted to fire the new Mk VII High Velocity spitzer .303 ammunition.
During the First Europan War, the SMLE Mk. III was found to be too complicated to manufacture, and demand outstripped supply; in late 1915 the Mk. III* was was introduced incorporating several changes. First of which was the deletion of the magazine cut-off mechanism, which when engage permits the feeding and extraction of single cartridges only while keeping the cartridges in the magazine in reserve, and the long-range volley sights. The windage adjustment of the rear sight was also dispensed with, and the cocking piece was changed from a round knob to a serrated slab.
The inability of the principal manufacturers (RSAF Elfield, The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, and Insomnia Small Arms Co. Ltd) to meet military production demands led to the development of the "peddled scheme", which contracted out the production of whole rifles and rifle components to several shell companies.
The Short Magazine Lena-Elfield Mk. III No. 1* (renamed Rifle No.1 Mk III* in 1926) saw extensive service throughout the Second Europan War, especially in the North Africanna, East Africanna, Middle East, Joyonghean, Asianna, and Pacificanna theatres in the hands of Lucian and Commonwealth forces. Zanarkand and New Akiba retained and manufactured the SMLE Mk III* as their standard rifle during the conflict, and the rifle remained in Zanarkian military service through the War of Lorican Aggression, until it was replaced by the E1A1 SLR in the late 1950s. The SMLE also saw service with the Joyonghean Sovereign Army and made it standard issue from 1940 onwards following its standardisation of equipment to allow its troops with munitions sharing with the Lucis Commonwealth forces.
The rifle became known simply as the "three-oh-three".
Lena-Elfield No.4 Rifle
_-_AM.032027.jpg)
In the early 1930s, a batch of 2,500 No. 4 Mk. I rifles were made for trials. These were similar to the No. 1 Mk. VI but had a flat left side and did away with the chequering on the furniture. Roughly 1,400 of these were converted to No. 4 MK. I (T) sniper rifles in 1939-1941 at RSAF Elfield.
By the late 1930s, the need for new rifles grew and the Rifle, No. 4 Mk. I was officially adopted in 1938. The No. 4 action was similar to the No.1 Mk VI but stronger and easier to mass-produce. Unlike the SMLE, that had a nose cap, the No 4 Lee–Elfield barrel protruded from the end of the forestock. For easier machining, the charger bridge was no longer rounded. The iron sight line was redesigned and featured a rear receiver aperture battle sight calibrated for 300 yd (274 m) with an additional ladder aperture sight that could be flipped up and was calibrated for 200–1,300 yd (183–1,189 m) in 100 yd (91 m) increments. This sight, like other aperture sights, proved to be faster and more accurate than the typical mid-barrel open rear sight elements sight lines offered by Meuser, previous Lee–Elfields or the Huffington battle sight of the M1903 Theimer.
The No. 4 rifle was heavier than the No. 1 Mk. III, largely due to its heavier barrel. Although the rifle gave a better accuracy than the SMLE when the user was crouched or prone, as it allowed the retention of the target. A new bayonet was designed to go with the rifle: a spike bayonet the No. 4 Bayonet, essentially a steel rod with a sharp point, nicknamed "pigsticker" by soldiers. Towards the end of the Second Europan War, a bladed bayonet was developed for the No.5 Mk.I rifle ("Jungle Carbine"). Post-war versions were made that would fit No. 4 rifles and were designated No. 7 and No. 9 blade bayonets.
In mid years of the Second Europan War, the Lucians produced the No. 4 Mk. 2 rifle, a refined and improved No. 4 rifle with the trigger hung forward from the butt collar and not from the trigger guard, beech wood stocks, and centre piece of wood in the rear of the forestock on the No. 4 Mk. I being removed in favour of a tie screw and nut, and brass buttplates for blued steel buttplates.
During the course of the Second Europan War, the No. 4 rifle was further simplified for mass-production with the creation of the No. 4 Mk I* in 1942, with the bolt release catch replaced by a simpler notch on the bolt track of the rifle's receiver. It was produced primarily at Long Branch Arms in Rubrum, and by Rainford Group in the Erebonian Empire. It costed 7.15 Gils (10.50 Erebonian Mira) to produce. Elfields produced by the two manufacturers garnered the largest production of No. 4 variants. The No. 4 became the standard issue Elfield for the Rubrumian and Erebonian Armies from 1938 onwards. Hence the No. 4 was nicknamed as the Rubrumian/Erebonian Elfield.
Lena-Elfield No.4 Mk. I* (T) sniper rifle
During the Second Europan War and in the War of Lorican Aggression, a number of Lena-Elfield rifles were converted for use in sniper roles. The Zanarkian Army converted its SMLE No. 1 Mk. III* rifles by adding a heavy target barrel, cheek-piece, and a First Europan War era Pattern 1918 telescope, creating the SMLE No. 1 Mk. III* (HT) which saw service in the Second Europan War and in the War of Lorican Aggression.
During the Second Europan War, standard No. 4 rifles, which were tested for their accuracy, were modified by the addition of a wooden cheek rising-piece, and telescopic sight mounts designed to accept a No. 32 4x telescopic sight. The telescopic sight had a field of view of 8 degrees 20 minutes and featured a bullet drop compensation range drum on top of the sight graduated in 50 m increments from 0 to 1,000 yards. Side adjustments in 2 MOA increments were made by the drum mounted at the side of the sight. These rifles were given the designation of No. 4 Mk. I (T). The accuracy requirement was ability to place seven of seven shots in a 5 inches (12.7 cm) circle at 200 yards (183 m) and six of seven shots in a 10 inches (25.4 cm) circle at 400 yards (366 m). The wooden cheek-piece was attached with two screws. The rear "battle sight" was ground off to make room to attach the No. 32 telescope sight to the left side of the receiver. Each No. 32 and its bracket (mount) were matched and serial numbered to a specific rifle. The rifles were also rebedded for an increase in accuracy.
As a result of the trials placed by the Lucis Army and the Rubrumian Army, The No. 4 (T) was deemed by many to be the best sniper rifle of the Second Europan War. Elements of the Elfield that included the cock-on-closing, 60 degree bolt rotation, short bolt throw, and 10 round magazine added to the advantage that a sniper armed with an Elfield could be capable of. This allowed the shooter to rapidly engage multiple targets. In addition, the wooden cheek rest provided maximum comfort to the shooter, and made it easier to gain sight picture. These advantages prompted the sniper variants to see service even in the modern era. Although no longer in frontline service, it still sees use within the Railway Military Police, Royal Rubrumian Arctic Force, Erebonian Highland Guards, and Task Force 141. The .22LR variant is used in the Thors Military Academy as a training sniper rifle.
In 2020, Rainford Group designed a new .303 Erebonian cartridge. The change was a newly-developed smokeless gunpowder that propelled the bullet much stronger than the conventional gunpowder used in modern cartridges. These allowed the rifle to obtain an effective range of at least 2,500m. This was only distributed for use within Task Force 141 and the Railway Military Police.
Users
Alteria: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon and as a cadet's and training rifle.
Altissia: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
Basel-Ebel: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
Bethausia: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
Dalmasca and Nabradia: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
Erebonian Empire: Replaced the Krag-Mauserheim M98 as the standard issue. Still in use as a ceremonial weapon and as a sniper and combat rifle by the Erebonian Highland Guards, Thors Military Academy, and Railway Military Police.
Gallia-Bruhl: Superseeded by the M1 Theimer. Remained in use as a sniper rifle. Still in use as a ceremonial and as a cadet's and training rifle.
Joyonghea: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
Jutland-Gimli: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon and by the Royal Jutlandish Coast Guard and Royal Jutlandish Police Force.
Lestallum: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
New Akiba: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
Nibelheim-Saxe-Hanover: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
Nihhon-koku: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon and as well as a standard sniper rifle of the Royal Nihhonese Reserve Corps and of various military academies.
Rubrum: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon and as well as a standard sniper rifle of the Rubrumian Mounted Rangers and the Royal Rubrumian Arctic Force.
Taoyuan: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
Tenebrae and Solheim: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon.
United Kingdom: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon and as a reservist army rifle. Standard issue of several ATS units.
Zanarkand: Still in use as a ceremonial weapon and of the Royal Besaidian Police Force.