E24 Mod Infantry Combat System

Figured I might as well upload this one first, since its my most recent completed work and perhaps among my most glorious. For NationStates. Technical junk below--

E24 Modular Infantry Combat System

[Specifications]
Weight: 2.2kg empty; 2.7kg loaded
Overall Length: 685mm
Barrel length: 460mm
Height: 181mm
Cartridge: 6.8x48mm RSAR
Rifling: 6 grooves, 1:23cm
Action: Balanced gas operation, rotating bolt
Rate of fire: 820 rounds/min cyclic
Muzzle velocity: ~845m/s
Muzzle energy: ~2668j
Effective range: 250 to 850m; roughly 500m average
Feed system: STRAFS compatible (30-round detachable box magazine default)

Production cost: ç920.00 (~$1840.00)
Domestic procurement cost: ç990.00 (~$1980.00)
Export cost: ç1120.00 (~$2240.00)


[Abstract]

The E24 Modular Infantry Combat System is designed with three main concepts in mind: ease of use, reliability, and adaptability. The E24 utilizes numerous unique characteristics to achieve such results, such as its fully ambidextrous interface, small size through bullpup configuration, its light and durable construction, its use of an intermediate round, and its fully modular rail system. The E24's 18.1 inch barrel ensures the accuracy at distance and high muzzle velocity of a standard-layout rifle, with the small size and ease of maneuvering of a bullpup-layout rifle. It's composite-plastic and steel composition make a durable platform, and its simplified construction make the rifle reliable and easy to maintain for the average soldier. The E24's overall design structure make it a well balanced, durable rifle fit for extensive field service.

[History]

The E24 was originally conceived in early 1987, however real effort on developing the concept was not made until mid 1998 as the aging C20 series of rifles were nearing the end of their effective service life and the Cravanian Armed Forces sought something new. Over the course of the C20's service, the Cravanian Armed Forces switched gradually from an armor-based land force to an armored cavalry/motorized infantry concept, and as such required a rifle smaller and more easily transported to give troops mobility when entering and exiting vehicles, among other purposes. A bullpup layout was deemed the best alternative, and the original concepts for the E24, named at the time “Endicott Bullpup Rifle 2a5,” were pulled from the archives to resume work. In 1996, the deal was made official as the Cravanian Armed Forces signed a contract with Endicott Arms, ensuring that Endicott would be given time to develop a rifle and test it before the military would open competition to other vendors.

In 2002, the first working prototype models for the direct predecessor of the E24, at the time still named “Rifle 2a5,” entered testing and trials with the Cravanian military. Elements of 14 SAS and 12 SAS were tasked with field testing the weapon in extensive tests of performance and durability. 14 SAS, based in Greenwich, Arran, was ordered to test the weapon in the frigid Arranic mountains to gauge its performance in winter weather. Meanwhile, 12 SAS, based out of Fallengrove, Meddlesworth, was given two environments to test in. A Squadron was deployed on a four-week long exercise in the wet environment of the Home Islands in spring, while B Squadron was deployed to the Aequatian desert with permission from the Aequatian government to test the weapon in the dry, arid heat. The prototype's performance, however, was less than satisfactory. In all instances, jamming was a constant concern as the prototype was not entirely designed to survive ruggedly, which was a concern to be addressed soon afterwards. Its durability was not the only concern for the rifle, though. The rifle utilized a new prototype round, the 6.2x40mm Experimental Infantry Round, which had severely been overestimated in terms of performance. Ballistic tests in the lab at Endicott showed that the 6.2mm, despite having been designed as an intermediary between the current 6.5mm Aequatian and a 5mm round, was severely underpowered. The rifle also experienced problems with the rifle's overall layout in terms of ergonomics. The rifle was principally designed with right-handed shooters in mind, as the rifle's bullpup layout meant that rounds ejected from the rear would end up likely harming left-handed shooters. A number of the SAS troops were left handed, and were unable to participate in the testing of the prototype. These were all primary concerns for Endicott as they returned to the design board with Rifle 2a5.

Following the tests, Endicott was given an ultimatum: Fix Rifle 2a5, or compete with other rifles for a contract. Immediately, Endicott Arms pooled its resources to redesigning and refining the bullpup concept, and within eight months a second prototype was being constructed. This rifle, named “Bullpup Rifle 2b5,” was similar only in name and in concept; the rifle's design had been completely revamped from previous lessons learned. Endicott, however, now had competition as the CAF had opened the competition to other arms dealers. Endicott had little to worry about on the domestic market; it effectively had a monopoly on assault rifle building besides smaller companies it contracted work out to. The foreign market, however, was where the threat lay in wait. Rifle 2b5 was entered into competition against three other rifles: the G170 “Augusta” from AMI Corporation, the L17 assault rifle from RINO, and the Type 03 from Rao Arms. The L17 and the new 2b5 were perhaps the closest in the competition, as both incorporated several similar features. Following extensive trials and testing, the Cravanian Armed Forces gave preference to the domestic supplier and were genuinely impressed with the improvements made to the rifle in such a short time. Upon acceptance, the 2b5 was officially given an Endicott public designation, E24, and was slated to enter full production in mid 2004. The E24 began a transition to service with the Cravanian military in 2007, and by early 2009 the E24 was fully integrated while a surplus of C20 rifles and old 6.5mm Aequatian rounds were sold off or stored for emergency reserve purposes.

[Design]

The E24 follows a simple concept and doctrine, however does so in a rather complicated and advanced way. The E24's primary design goals, being ease of use, reliability, and adaptability, are best illustrated in its various features and design characteristics. The E24's nature as a modular weapon designed to be usable by the widest demographic possible makes it suitable for widespread use in a military force without modification to accommodate for special needs.

[Technical Overview]

The E24 Modular Infantry Combat System is a bullpup rifle which operates on an air-cooled, gas operated, rotating bolt method of operation. The weapon is composed of mostly light weight yet durable materials to ensure the weapon's survivability and ease of use in the field by troops of all training and skill levels. The E24 boasts the feature of being fully ambidextrous without any modification required. The E24 is, by default, chambered for the 6.8x54mm Royal Small Arms Round developed by the Cravanian Army and Endicott Arms jointly to provide a new generation of ballistic penetration and damage, however upon export the rifle may be rechambered for any round of the buyer's choice within specified size restrictions.

[Construction]

The E24's outer shell is composed of a carbon fiber reinforced composite polymer capable of withstanding intense amounts of pressure and which does not degrade from exposure to moisture, neither brief nor prolonged. The outer shell takes well to polymer-bonding paints, and as such can be quickly recolored or painted with a new base coat or camouflage pattern depending on the environment of use.

The internal components of the E24 are made mostly from metal alloys and compounds, due to the inability of plastic composites to serve in such capacities. The pieces which make up the mechanical parts of the rifle, such as those located in the receiver, are made entirely from Grade 5 titanium (6AL-4V), which is effectively one-half the weight of steel yet has comparable strength and durability. The barrel is composed of the same alloy of titanium, however the bore has been nitrocarburized in a process detailed here. The exterior surface of the barrel is coated in titanium nitride (TiN), which is then glazed with a dark finish to remove its usual luster and give it a dull appearance. The resulting barrel is tough and durable to forces both outside and in, and is remarkably hard. The hard, smooth nature of the bore reduces friction and increases accuracy, muzzle velocity, and barrel life, while also remaining light and durable.

[Modulability]

The E24 utilizes a standard Picatinny-style rail interface system. Side rails and a bottom-mounted rail are applied utilizing screws; the top rail, however, is integral. The rails used utilize the same standardized dimensions for standard RIS rails, with grooves between the rail heads spaced properly to prevent warping of the rails due to heat exposure or other circumstances and rail heads properly sized to accept average attachments.

The standard rails utilized can mount a variety of accessories which use the same mounting system as any western RIS system, including various optics, grenade launchers, laser mounts, and others.

Through a business deal with Simmons Optical Technologies Inc. and the Cravanian government, the E24's Cravanian derivative is specifically designed to work with Simmons' newer sights, particularly the EGS-14/S holographic sight. The Cravanian integral top-rail has six metal contact plates which connect to an internal circuit in the rifle. The circuit runs to the trigger assembly, where the fire selector is used as a switch. The contact plates on the rail connect to contact plates on the underside of the EGS-14/S, completing a current from the sight to the fire selector. When the fire selector is switched from safe to semi-automatic or fully-automatic fire, the second end of the circuit is completed and power is fed to the weapon's sight. In the event of a failure, the sight can be manually turned on or off by a bypass circuit in the sight itself. This system is optional for export orders, and through the deal with Simmons EGS-14/S sights can be directly ordered alongside the E24.

More information on the EGS-14/S and other attachments that can be ordered in conjunction with the E24 at discounted prices are available further below.

[Action]

The E24 uses a proven gas operated, rotating bolt system to cycle the weapon's action. Despite being a proven system, however, the E24 differs from most others in its unique system of ejecting bullets in the forward area of the weapon (detailed further below). Otherwise, the E24 operates just as any other rotating bolt mechanism: the bolt, upon contact with the breech, rotates and locks into place through the use of lugs attached to the breech. The bolt remains locked until the action is cycled, either by the user or by automatic cycling.

The E24's gas system is short stroke in nature, and utilizes a balanced gas piston structure. The first piston functions as the primary piston, and is connected to the bolt assembly via a connecting rod. The reactionary piston, meanwhile, is linked to a balancing weight and moves in the opposite direction of the primary piston. The system eliminates three out of four the impulses of movement which occurs during automatic firing. The first of these impulses is the actual firing and traveling of the bullet. The second impulse occurs when the bolt travels along the receiver to cycle the action. The third impulse occurs when the bolt reaches the rear position. Finally, the fourth impulse occurs when the bolt reaches the forward position. The reactionary piston covers the latter three, while the recoil itself is the only impulse of movement not counteracted, or at least in full. The accuracy of the weapon is drastically increased by the near-nullification of the extra motion.

The E24's gas tube sits on the upper left-hand side of the rifle, while the ejection tube sits on the upper right.

The E24's action is cocked by a forward charging handle, located above the barrel but below the forward eject tube (detailed further below). Again, the E24 is designed with ambidexterity in mind, and as such the handle is mirrored on both sides of the rifle. The charging handle is independent of the bolt, and is only used to manually cock the weapon or cycle/empty the chamber. When firing, the charging handle remains still because of its independence from the bolt. To save internal space down the spine of the weapon, the charging handles are independent of one another as well and travel independently. This also means that, should one of the charging handles be made inoperable through some unforseen circumstance, the other will remain functional.

[Forward Ejection]

In order to achieve full ambidexterity, a forward eject system was devised to allow left-handed and right-handed shooters full mobility. By eliminating the awkward angle at which most bullpups eject spent casings, the E24 can also be used in tactical maneuvers like conventional rifles, such as in peering around corners or other tight spaces. Such mobility grants the E24 an advantage over many comparable weapons in close quarters.

The forward ejection tube runs from the action to the forward eject port at the very front of the rifle. Spent casings are extracted from the chamber in a manner very similar to that of the F2000: a swiveling tray receives the spent casing from the bolt face immediately after disengaging from the extractor. The rocker assembly tilts to lift the casing clear of the feed path while the bolt strips a fresh round from the magazine. The extracted casing is then fed into a tray located in a cavity in the receiver wall, where it then pivots into a chute and out into the ejection tube. When the ejection tube contains more than five spent casings, the casings begin to file out of the tube.

An environmental metal cover plate, weatherproofed with a rubber liner, covers the ejection tube port when not in use. Pulling the trigger causes the cover to automatically drop, allowing spent casings to escape while the tube is covered for the majority of the time and protected from jamming. The ejection port cover can be reset by a switch located forward and above the trigger assembly, in the forearm of the weapon.

[Trigger Assembly]

The E24 utilizes a bullpup layout with the trigger assembly sitting forward of the magazine feed and primary action. Most bullpups have problems with the stiffness of their trigger pull: a minor, yet still present complaint. To minimize this, the E24 goes the same route as the SAR-21 and Tavor in using stiff sliding plates to span the distance between the primary action and trigger assembly. What results is a notably crisper, easier trigger pull than most other bullpup rifles. The difference between the E24's trigger pull and a standard-layout rifle's trigger pull is still noticeable, but much less so than other bullpups.

The E24's safety catch and fire selector is located between the trigger and the trigger guard on the grip of the weapon. This position allows for fully ambidextrous usage along with ease of access in relation to the weapon's trigger. The fire selector has three positions: Safe, Fire, and Auto. Each is clearly marked with the letters S, F, and A respectively, however in F-S-A configuration (safe is in the center, fully automatic to the right, single-fire mode to the left). Each fire mode has a silent, yet noticeable by means of feel, 'click' to determine when a position has been reached.

[Magazine and Feed]

The E24 loads by default from a 30 round box clip at the aft of the rifle, made compliant with recent standards imposed under the Cravanian military's Standard Royal Ammunition Feed System (STRAFS). A release for the magazine is located above and in front of the trigger assembly, allowing for easy access with the trigger finger. The release operates by pressing a locking mechanism in and forward, removing the latch from the magazine and allowing it to drop freely. Controls for the release exist on either side of the rifle for ambidextrous control. The release buttons are connected to the release mechanism at the rear near the magazine by metal rods, and are joined to one another in two areas by a strengthening bar in addition to at the magazine latch. When operating the magazine release, obviously only one side of the release would be used. To counteract the opposite side's locking mechanism on the release switch, both rods traveling from the latch to the release switch have telescoped centers and are spring loaded, allowing one side's rod to give way while the other side's rod is pushed forward by the user to release the magazine. The release switch locking mechanism button has a coarse rubber texture, increasing friction and making use easier for gloved hands.

In cases of export and rechambering, the STRAFS compliant magazine well can be modified for any foreign standard assuming the proper information is provided to the manufacturer.

[Ballistics]

The E24 incorporates six-groove rifling, with 1 turn per 23cm. At 1 turn per 23cm, the E24's round travels at appropriate speed and trajectory to achieve maximum range in proportion to desired stopping power and damage, and also offers for good accuracy to complement the nature of the hardened, friction-reduced barrel. The E24's standard loadout in Cravanian service, the 6.8x48mm Royal Small Arms Round, was designed with a balance in mind: a balance between stopping power and armor penetration. The 115g standard round exits the barrel at approximately 845m/s, offering a considerable amount of energy for the bullet as it travels to the target.

The 6.8mm RSAR is a tungsten-zinc cored bullet. Tungsten, chosen for its superior density in comparison to lead, lends the RSAR better kinetic energy in comparison to most lead-cored bullets. A tungsten-zinc compound was chosen to have better control over the properties of the round: tungsten, a dense metal, is combined with the lighter zinc in powder form to produce cores with controlled densities and mechanical properties. The powder mixtures are simply cold pressed to create the high-density core.

[Export Possibilities and Procedures]

Under the Small Arms Transportation Act of 1965, the international sale of the E24 by Endicott Arms is unrestricted assuming the following conditions are met:

* The purchasing nation is viewed in a positive or, at worst, neutral light by the Cravanian government.
* The purchasing nation utilizes a democratic system of government which rules with the consent of the people, with certain unalienable rights given to all residents, both citizens and non-citizens. These rights include, in the broadest possible terms, the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These categories generally include freedoms of religious practice, speech, assembly on public property, and other freedoms guaranteed in western nations to citizens.
* The purchasing nation possesses a mostly laissez-faire economy, with minimal governmental interference in economic matters.
* If the purchasing agent is a private entity rather than a governmental entity or agency, the above restrictions apply considering the private entity's nation of residence/citizenship; as well as a brief declaration regarding the buyer's place of employment/position and purpose for acquiring the weapon(s). The latter issues take precedence over the former issues.

These above conditions must be clarified in all orders before a sale will be authorized by Endicott Arms.
The export price has been upmarked by approximately ç130.00 (~$260.00). This figure can be reduced pending certain discounts or on a case by case basis depending upon the amount of product purchased.

For export, the following pricing procedures apply:

* A base cost of ç1120.00 (~$2240.00) is charged for each individual unit.
* If the purchaser is opting out of the contact plate system detailed in the above writeup for integration with Simmons sights, ç30.00 (~$60.00) can be subtracted from the above listed base cost.
* 1.5% of the export cost of one unit [ç16.80 (~$33.60)] is subtracted from the total cost for each one hundred [100] units purchased. [e.g. ç50.40 (~$100.80) is subtracted from a total cost of ç336,000.00 (~$672,000.00) for 300 units purchased.]
* A discount of 4.5% off the total cost will be offered to nations possessing Most Favored Nation status, according to recommendation by HM Government.
* Domestic production licenses are only permitted to be sold to a limited list of nations favored by HM Government and can only be administered by a company approved by Endicott Arms. The price of DPL would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

lol how do i wall of text