On May 31, 2018, SIG SAUER announced that the City of Chicago Police Department added the P320 to the department’s official authorized duty pistol list. The department is the second largest in the US with over 13,000 sworn officers.

Tom Jankiewicz, SIG SAUER’s Executive Vice President, Law Enforcement Sales, stated, “We are pleased that the SIG SAUER P320 has been added to the Chicago Police Department’s official authorized duty pistol listing. The modular design of the P320 gives their full complement of officers the capability to easily change grip size and convert the sizing of their P320 from full-size to sub-compact, based on the officers’ needs and preferences. This customization feature of the P320 makes it an excellent option for a large department like the Chicago PD to meet the diversity of needs amongst officers.”

The P320 is a modular, striker-fired pistol available in full-size, carry, compact and subcompact sizing. The serialized trigger group makes the P320 adaptable to multiple caliber, size and grip options. The P320 is available in 9mm, .357SIG, 40S&W and .45ACP, with a choice of contrast or SIGLITE Night Sights. The intuitive 3-point takedown requires no trigger pull for disassembly, and safety features include a striker safety, disconnect safety and optional manual safety.

The official authorized P320 pistols are: P320 Nitron Full-Size, P320 Nitron Carry, P320 Nitron Compact and the P320 Nitron Subcompact.

The financial terms were not disclosed.

Poulin Earns Over $2.4M in May

Thousands of bidders participated from across the globe in a 3-day auction held May 7–9 by Poulin Antiques and Auctions (Fairfield, ME), resulting in over $2.4 million in sales. The auction house is rated one of the top five firearms auction houses in North America. The auction offered an extensive selection of firearms to a large in-house crowd, telephone bidders, internet platform bidders and absentee bidders.

The 3-day event comprised several collections including the personal collection of the late Joseph “J.R.” LaRue (1940-2017). LaRue was the Chief Firearms Consultant, advisor and catalogue writer at James D. Julia, Inc., for many years. He also owned Carter Mountain Consulting Agency in TN, providing appraisals for the firearms community across the country.

There was a wide variety of weapons to choose from. The first six lots were comprised of Angelo Bee-engraved firearms including a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket Pistol; a Colt Python; a Browning trombone slide action rifle; a Winchester Model 21 two-gauge set; and two Browning Superposed shotguns. These firearms set the auction’s pace when all six sold, totaling over $81,000. Lever actions held their own in this sale with an exceptional Ballard No. 6-1/2 Rigby factory engraved single-shot which rang in at $18,212.

Quality handgun selections invited strong auction participation and healthy bid prices. With many fine examples to choose from, the auction had something for every collector.

Trijicon® Licenses OASYS Thermal Imaging and Aiming Tech

On June 6, 2018, Trijicon announced it will license BAE Systems’ OASYS thermal imaging and aiming technology. This new licensing agreement will enhance Trijicon’s expanding product portfolio for commercial, military and law enforcement customers around the world.

With this technology license, Trijicon will be positioned to provide the OASYS line of compact, high-performance thermal imaging and aiming monoculars, weapon sights and binoculars. To accelerate Trijicon’s business position, BAE Systems will also sell its current OASYS inventory to Trijicon. Going forward, Trijicon and BAE Systems will continue to collaborate to help maintain product quality, transfer manufacturing and operations knowledge and develop a potential product roadmap.

“We look forward to building on the OASYS portfolio, working closely with BAE Systems to maintain quality and performance, and making the products accessible to a larger customer base,” said Trijicon President, Stephen Bindon.

The OASYS electro optic product line uses uncooled thermal technology to deliver innovative imaging and aiming products that provide infrared thermal detection of targets to deliver heightened situational awareness to operators.

Sig Sauer Electro-Optics Donates to HAVA

The Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) was presented a $40,000 check from SIG SAUER Electro-Optics at the 2018 NRA Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX.

Andy York, President, SIG SAUER Electro-Optics said, “At SIG SAUER Electro-Optics we wanted to do something above and beyond the current SIG SAUER commitment to help bolster the program and show our profound support for those that have defended our freedoms.”

HAVA was created and organized in 2007 by a committee of shooting sports industry executives to help the healing and re-integration of disabled veterans and injured active military back into normal American life through participation in outdoor events.

HAVA sponsors guided hunts, shooting events and outdoor activities across the country, hosting hundreds of veterans annually.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, also known as drones) are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) which includes the UAV, a ground-based controller and a communication system between the two. The revolutionary impact of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) on the future battlefield has been anticipated for quite some time. The US has led the world in the use of RPAS for both reconnaissance and strikes against high value targets.

Ukraine Conflict

In the Ukraine conflict, UAVs have been used on both sides in significant numbers. UAVs can have a dramatic impact that is quite different from anything experienced in the unilateral American use. The first use of drones in this conflict was observed in May 2014, when the Russian “separatists” began using small fixed-wing tactical UAVs. From mid-July through the end of the Russian summer offensive in early September, Russia flooded the area with at least five types of drones, each operating at different heights. One example: In September 2014, an overflying drone identified a Ukrainian position. Within 15 minutes of the initial over-flight, the position was destroyed with “GRAD” BM-21 MLRS. The drone returned shortly after to do an immediate bomb-damage assessment. Later the same year, another similar strike occurred when a position was hit by “GRAD” fragments. There were two UAVs over the position—a quadcopter at 800ft and a small fixed-wing drone at about 2,500ft. Technological advances have made the battlefield more dynamic than ever, which means weapon systems must quickly adapt to counter threats.

At the DSEI 2017 exhibition in London, Nammo displayed the remains of the drone that was shot down and Nammo’s 40mm programmable ammunition in its various forms. (Aud Håland)

ISIL Ramped up Fight with Weaponized Drones

Since mid-2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS) had held Mosul until recently. In addition to using drones for reconnaissance in Iraq, ISIL had been sending them out with bombs attached. Lacking effective countermeasures against what were potentially flying IEDs, the coalition forces were forced to flee from the simple and cheap commercial drones, causing widespread disruption. The drones, possibly quadcopters, reportedly dropped at least 10 explosives during an hour of fighting. ISIS isn’t the first to use this tactic in Syria: A video, released on social media on August 2016 by a Hezbollah-affiliated media outlet, appeared to show the unmanned aerial vehicle dropping cluster bombs on three Syrian rebel positions, in support of the Syrian regime in the countryside surrounding Aleppo.

The purpose of this article is to present 40mm programmable ammunitions’ capability against small drones fired by an Automatic Grenade Launcher on a KONGSBERG PROTECTOR remote weapon station and to provide some other examples of counter-drone solutions.

The Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS). (KONGSBERG)

Nammo

Before Nammo developed its programmable ammunition technology, conventional 40mm ammunition rounds had not changed for over 40 years. In 2002, Nammo initiated a technology program to explore programmable ammunition to introduce more capability to the round. Nammo’s 30mm, 40mm, 120mm and M72 programmable ammunition has been developed over the last 15 years to be tactically flexible, highly accurate, reliable and cost-effective.

This weapon ammunition includes:

• M72—Demonstrated multiple times since 2011, both remotely and man-fired, projecting programmable ammunition. Development is ongoing at Nammo Talley, exploring the re-use of electronics and a Fuze setter.
• 30x173mm RF—Demonstrated since 2015, with a development focus on optimizing Fuze programming and fragmentation.
• 120mm Programmable Fuze—Complete with super-quick impact function with a programmable delayed impact.
• 40x53mm high velocity programmable ammunition for automatic grenade launchers (AGLs).

These serve to increase troops’ capabilities to defeat enemies in covered and concealed positions with pinpoint accuracy. The programmable ammunition is proven to be effective against concealed targets and unmanned aerial vehicles as well as light armored and technical vehicles. The whole range is quickly adaptable to counter threats. The Nammo range of air burst products can be easily integrated into existing weapon platforms and fire-control systems. A wireless communication system allows for precise detonation, ahead, over, on or within a concealed target, even around a corner. The system architecture is quite basic. In addition to the innovative programmable ammunition, it consists of a programming unit and an antenna that is mounted on either the weapon or the vehicle. The distance to the target is entered into the programming unit either manually or based on input from an automated range finder. Then, in contrast to competing systems, instead of programming the ammunition before it is fired, or inside the barrel, it receives its instructions just as the shell leaves the gun. This eliminates the need for upgrades to the barrel. A standard antenna transmits the distance to the ammunition as a signal. Data received activates a detonation countdown. The impact point is decided, and the airburst detonates to its precise target. The airburst family can be used with a range of systems, from shoulder-launched weapons to tanks.

Russian fixed wing tactical drone. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)

An Automatic Grenade Launcher Knocks out a Drone

The Norwegian Army wanted to evaluate how quickly, easily and cheaply a counter-UAV system could be implemented to take out a tactical drone thanks to the Airburst capability of Nammo’s programmable ammunition. In October 2017, KONGSBERG developed a demonstrator with low costs using the KONGSBERG PROTECTOR RWS (Remote Weapon Station) mounted with the HK GMG (Grenade Machine Gun) for a test firing and proof of concept. The HK GMG is a combat-proven, belt-fed AGL that fires high-impulse 40mm grenades in a variety of applications. The firing rate is 350 rounds per minute. In this case Nammo’s Airburst ammunition and the SQUIRE ground surveillance radar by the Thales Group were used. Officially no data are published, but it has been reported that the test shooting and the detection took place up to 1,000m; the weapon has a range up to 1,500m—even in flat direct fire. Nammo’s programmable 40mm ammunition is as mentioned earlier developed to achieve more precise targeting in defilade or to neutralize enemy forces that are avoiding direct fire by protection rather than being a dedicated anti-drone ammunition system. It is instead an upgrade to an existing weapon system, allowing it to be effective against a wide range of threats. The ability to take down drones is therefore mainly a side effect and a demonstration of the flexibility of the technology, rather than a key design requirement. Another advantage of the 40mm programmable ammo is its ability to explode in a highly controlled way to avoid damaging surroundings or continuing on its path to hit civilian targets. This is especially important in dense urban environments or in situations where the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is carrying explosives that need disabling or detonating at a safe height.

KONGSBERG CROWS II here mounted on a HUMVEE. (KONGSBERG)

The KONGSBERG PROTECTOR RWS

KONGSBERG is the world’s leading provider of Remote Weapon Stations. The PROTECTOR Family of Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) is a system suitable for any mission whether on land or at sea, and on mobile or static platforms for remote operation payloads ranging from small caliber weapons to medium caliber automatic cannons. The system is modular, and all of the different variants of the PROTECTOR RWS share the same baseline technology. Three quarters of all the weapons stations KONGSBERG has produced are on American vehicles and have been in use in the US Army in one form or another since 2001(M151 PROTECTOR, M153 PROTECTOR, CROWS).

In August 2007, KONGSBERG was awarded the prestigious contract of CROWS II Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station by the US Army. CROWS is a joint acquisition program for weapon stations for the US Army vehicle programs. In August 2012 KONGSBERG was awarded the follow-on CROWS contract, enabling KONGSBERG to continue the well-established cooperation with the US Army. PROTECTOR’s capabilities allow soldiers to operate out of harm’s way from a protected position using stabilized precision optics and lasers to observe, detect and engage targets with increased accuracy and reduce collateral damage.

A feature of the PROTECTOR’s aim and fire function is the Detached Line of Sight. It enables the gunner to keep his sights on target, independent of the ballistic solution for the weapon and ammunition in use. The CROWS is compatible with four major crew weapon systems. It is designed to mount on a variety of vehicle platforms and supports M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun, M240B Machine Gun, M249 Squad and the 40x53mm Mark 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher Weapon. As already described, the 40x53mm high-velocity grenades use programmable and laser-measured data transmitted into the grenade, which then program the grenade to airburst at that particular altitude. The burst maximizes the effectiveness of the explosions around a drone. This technology would have been very difficult to fit in a 40x46mm low-velocity grenade typically fired from hand-held grenade launchers due to the size and the lack of range with most of these designs (max effective 400m). However, with an automatic grenade launcher, the max effective range is pushed out to 1,500m (Mk 19 AGL), and the 40x53mm has more space to fit the explosive charge as well as the timing mechanism. PROTECTOR is a mature and proven product based on millions of hours of operational experience in combat zones with an unprecedented operational readiness of 99%. The PROTECTOR is in full-scale production and is qualified for global operations combined with a close cooperation with Defense Forces worldwide. KONGSBERG has delivered nearly 20,000 remote-controlled weapons stations to 19 nations. As of March 2018, the user list includes Qatar.

DG MKII, the Australian company DroneShield’s DroneGun tactical drone jammer. The jammer works by sending a strong signal on the same frequency band as the drone uses to communicate with the controller and GPS satellite. The gun’s weight is 4.5kg. Handheld jammers, especially in the shape of rifles, have become popular directional jammers, with the ability to affect targets at a range for a given amount of portable jammer power. (DroneShield LLC)

Other Counter Drone Solutions

To counter a UAV System it must first be detected, for example by use of operational radars, infrared cameras and direction finders. Based on an extensive threat library and real-time analysis of control signals, a jammer then interrupts the link between drone and pilot and/or its navigation. The defeat solutions that have been available include kinetic/hard kill (bullets, nets, lasers, etc.) and non-kinetic/soft kill (jammers that disrupt GPS and common ISM bands reception, cyber/hacking, etc.). The demand for anti-drone weapons is expanding. The rapidly emerging DroneGun MKII market is a clear reflection of that. Australian media reported in February 2018 that a drone breaching an aerial exclusion zone around the Commonwealth Games’ venues was neutralized using DroneShield LLC’s DroneGun MKII, and the drone operator was apprehended. The incident was revealed as police and defence showed off some of their might ahead of the Commonwealth Games event including an RAAF FA-18 Hornet flyover of the Broadwater Parklands. Oleg Vornik, DroneShield’s CEO commented, “Much of the use of our products is not publicly known. Security and military agencies rarely comment on deployments and specific incidents. We are proud to have secured the skies for the public at the Games, as is evident from this incident which became public.” Queensland Police Service utilized multiple units of DroneShield’s DroneGun MKII for aerial protection. DroneGun MKII (both MKII and Tactical versions) is a directional rifle-shaped jammer. The advantages of a jammer vs. kinetic (like grenades) are that there’s no collateral damage, no ammunition, no charge time, drone can be retained for forensic investigation, drone can be forced to fly to start point to identify pilot, no need to aim (30-degree beam), and a jammer can be effective against swarms.

What’s the best way to shoot down a drone? For many in the defense industry, the solution to flying robots may be a compact laser weapon placed on vehicles to protect the soldiers on the ground from attacks. Raytheon, for example, has integrated its multi-spectral targeting system with a high-energy laser into an unprotected, all-wheel drive, off-road MRZR vehicle from Polaris. The US Army tested the system in the Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment together with other weapons in counter UAS use. The laser was able to destroy 12 flying UAS of classes I and II: Class I is a small UAV, such as an RQ-11 Raven UAV (platoon-level asset); a Class II UAV would have supported the Infantry and Mounted Combat System Company Commanders with reconnaissance, security/early warning, target and designation. Anti-drone operations are extremely complex and place high demands on rules of engagement, sensors and targeting procedures. Nammo’s ammunition does not alone resolve this issue, but it offers ground forces something they so far have been lacking, which is a cost-effective weapon that could be used even in urban areas.

In February 2018, a drone breaching an aerial exclusion zone around the Commonwealth Games’ venues was neutralized using a DroneGun; the drone operator was apprehended. Sr. Sgt. John Hildebrand holds a DroneGun. (DroneShield LLC- AAP Image/Tim Marsden)

Programmable Ammunition for AGLs

[For a description of AGLs, see previous article titled, “The Infantry Soldiers’ Grenade Launchers” in SADJ, Vol. 10, No. 3.]

With the introduction of the 40x53mm MK285 Programmable Pre-fragmented High Explosive (PPHE), Nammo became the first company to qualify High Explosive—Radio Frequency (PPHE-RF), further improving adaptability by incorporating a wireless communication solution to program the ammunition. The (NM 264) 40x53mm High Explosive Dual Purpose—Radio Frequency (HEDP-RF) has also been developed with wireless programming and allows for different target scenarios due to its HEDP and/or RF functions. Demonstrations also have proven this round to be very effective against UAVs.

(PPHE), Nammo became the first company to qualify High Explosive—Radio Frequency (PPHE-RF), further improving adaptability by incorporating a wireless communication solution to program the ammunition. The (NM 264) 40x53mm High Explosive Dual Purpose—Radio Frequency (HEDP-RF) has also been developed with wireless programming and allows for different target scenarios due to its HEDP and/or RF functions. Demonstrations also have proven this round to be very effective against UAVs.

Conclusion

Unmanned systems and technologies are making a big game change throughout the world. The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for military, commercial, civilian and scientific applications is growing rapidly, along with detection and anti-drone systems.

Nammo’s 30mm and 40mm airburst technology can now be tactically used to take out discovered drones within weapon range with an accurate response and with minimal risk of collateral damage.

Faithful readers of this column are well aware of the ongoing efforts to modernize and streamline the current procedures for the export of small arms from the United States. Recent media reports attribute the recent proposed changes to the Trump presidency, but in reality, export control reform has been underway since 2009, at the request of President Obama. Undertaken with the goal of strengthening national security and increasing the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing, the reform effort has focused on current threats while adapting to changing economic and technological landscapes. The reform effort has taken two noteworthy avenues: ITAR category revisions and EAR/ITAR definition harmonization. Back in 2016, this column predicted that “[t]rue export reform will not occur for most readers until USML Categories I, II and III are completed; however, at this juncture it seems unlikely that massive changes will be made to these categories.” This author could not have been more wrong.

Transfer of Jurisdiction

The U.S. State Department currently controls jurisdiction over most small arms and ammunition, with the exception of shotguns and shotgun ammunition, which are governed by the U.S. Commerce Department. Under the May 15 proposed regulatory change, all semiautomatic firearms would transfer from State to Commerce. Small arms that were once in USML Category I will be moved to Commerce ECCN categories 0A501 and 0A502. Firearms that fire caseless ammunition, fully automatic firearms, sound suppressors, magazines with a capacity exceeding 50 rounds and firearms that are specially designed to integrate fire control, automatic tracking or automatic firing will remain within USML Category I and under State jurisdiction.

Exports of previously State-regulated firearms should become easier under Commerce, albeit, probably slower. The U.S. State Department currently processed export license applications rather quickly, with Commerce taking quite a bit longer. Nevertheless, there is no fee to file an export license under the Commerce Department. Which leads us to…

ITAR Registration Fees

ITAR registration fees have been a major sticking point to firearm manufacturers. Prior to 2012, the annual registration fee was $1,750. In 2012, the registration fee was redesigned on a sliding scale, with $2,250 as the base fee, $2,750 for companies that export 10 times or less per year and $2,750 plus $250 per export over 10 transactions per year. Application of the fee was routinely applied to firearm manufacturers but was also extended to manufacturers of firearm parts and accessories. Enforcement efforts were exhaustive, with reports of the U.S. State Department contacting major distributors and asking for ITAR registration for each firearm parts supplier. For many small businesses that conducted little or no international business, the registration scheme was burdensome and excessive. Several very small businesses discontinued business rather than pay the ITAR registration fee.

With the transfer of jurisdiction from the U.S. State Department to the U.S. Commerce Department, many current registrants may not be required to register under ITAR, unless they currently manufacture suppressors, magazines that exceed 50-round capacity, caseless ammunition and the weapons that fire caseless ammunition, or fully automatic weapons.

Rifle Scopes

Jurisdiction of rifle scopes depends upon whether the optic is “manufactured to military specifications.” Under the proposed regulations, all optics would transfer to the Commerce Department unless they incorporate night vision or infra-red capabilities that are defined under USML Category XII. All optics would be classified under ECCN 0A987 under the proposed regulations.

Performance of Defense Services

Defense services are currently regulated under the ITAR. Teaching a class on anything more advanced than basic use and maintenance of a rifle is deemed a licensable event under the ITAR. With the transfer of jurisdiction of semiautomatic firearms to Commerce, training that would have required a license under the old rules will not require a license if the new rules are adopted.

Export of Technical Data

Frequent readers of this column will recall the argument between 1st Amendment rights to free speech versus the U.S. State Department’s determination on what constitutes “export activity.” Recently, legal action was taken against Defense Distributed for posting plans online on how to use a 3D printer to manufacture a handgun. Under the ITAR, this was a deemed export, and the U.S. State Department sent a cease and desist letter to Defense Distributed in an attempt to prevent further “deemed exports.”
The BIS notice of proposed rulemaking states: “Part 734 makes clear that publication of technology on the Internet is not an export of that technology to the rest of the world; rather it is a release of that technology from export controls.” Should jurisdiction transfer from State to Commerce, the actions undertaken by Defense Distributed would not be illegal.

The government has historically had difficulty in striking an appropriate balance between national security and national competitiveness via export control. The new proposed regulations are just that–proposed. There is no timeline on when the new rules will take effect, and the final rules could be different from what has been proposed. Both the State and Commerce Departments will be taking comments (for, or against) the proposed regulatory changes through June 30. Interested parties may submit comments on the proposed regulations by emailing DDTCPublicComments@state.gov with the subject line, “ITAR Amendment–Categories I, II and III.” Comments received after June 30, 2018, will be considered, if feasible, but consideration cannot be assured. Comments received are subject to public disclosure, so those wishing to submit anonymous comments may do so by submitting their comments via www.regulations.gov and leaving the fields that would identify the commenter blank and including no identifying information in the comment itself.

…

Mr. Wong is a Washington-licensed attorney. He regularly provides legal counsel to the firearm and defense industry via his law firm, The Firearms Law Group. Mr. Wong also manages Hurricane Butterfly, an import/export company that assists firearm manufacturers, resellers and collectors from around the world wade through the regulatory quagmire of U.S. import/export regulations.

He may be found online at FirearmsLawGroup.com.

The preceding article is not intended as legal advice and should not be taken as legal advice. If the reader has specific legal questions, seek competent legal counsel.

This is a very large and thorough book on the history of the AK-47 and all its facets. It is the best resource currently available. There are 1,086 pages of information and a large number of high quality detailed photographs of various weapons and military photographs. This is the second edition of the AK-47 The Grim Reaper.

The first edition was published in 2008 and takes the reader through the development of the assault rifle, manufacturers in Russia, detailed looks at the 1st-3rd generation AK-47 rifles, AKM update, AK-74 family of weapons, AK-100 series, other Kalashnikov designs, Warsaw Pact countries manufacturing AK-type rifles, AK-derivatives, AK comes to America, made in USA AK-47 rifles, magazine and ammunition variations. The second edition greatly enhances the reader’s knowledge by the addition of many detailed photographs of various models, additional information and updated information of the current status of this family of weapons.

AK-47 The Grim Reaper (Second Edition)

The book begins with Chapter 1 on the development of the modern day assault rifle with discussion of the U.S. Army Weapons Command Research & Engineering Directorate Small Arms System Laboratory testing on the AK-47 rifle from experience in Vietnam. It also parallels the development of the AK-47 with parallel to U.S. small arms development and ammunition development. Included are detailed historical descriptions of the German Sturmgewehr and its 7.92x33mm intermediate round and its influence on Kalashnikov’s design as well as the introduction to Kalashnikov’s story of his development of the rifle and its trail to the hands of the Soviet soldier.

Chapter 2 gives an introduction to the numerous Russian weapons factories spread out over the vast lands of the former Soviet Union. The arsenal marks are shown and how to identify the weapon with the factory that produced it. The second edition adds photographs of current manufacturing of the rifle.

Chapter 3 begins the analysis of the developmental history of the AK-47. There are thorough descriptions and photographs of the first, second and third generation rifles. The second edition offers more detailed photographs of the first and second generation rifles to help the reader understand how they were built and what the exact differences are. Attention is given to every detail and every change. This includes both fixed and underfolding stock variations of all three generations of the rifle.

Chapter 4 introduces the AKM and its derivatives. All changes are documented on the 3rd generation machined receivers’ transformation into the lower weight (2.5 pounds less) stamped AKM rifle. Many detailed photographs and drawings clearly define the changes that make up the AKM.

Chapter 5 documents the development and history of the small caliber 5.45x39mm cartridge and the new AK-74 which would eventually replace the AK-47/AKM family of weapons in the Soviet Army. The AK-74 has gone through many incremental changes and continues to this very day. Through this chapter the reader will see the advancements in Soviet/Russian manufacturing capabilities.

Chapter 6 takes the reader through the latest developments in the AK-series of rifles, the AK-100 Series. Designed for export use, the rifle goes through an update in furniture as well as the introduction of rifles that will fire the NATO 5.56x45mm cartridge. Additional gas systems, stocks and barrels are introduced. The end of this chapter also introduces and describes in detail the AN-94 rifle, the rifle that was supposed to replace the AK-74.

Chapter 7 shows other Kalashnikov developed weapons including the Bizon submachine gun, RPK, RPKS, RPK-74, RPKS-74, PK, PKM and SVD.

Chapter 8 documents the Warsaw Pact countries that the Soviet Union set up manufacturing facilities in their country to produce the array of Kalashnikov weapons. Russia states now that many of the rifles produced are illegal clones that were not licensed by Russia for the use of their technical data. The proliferation of sales throughout all these former Warsaw Pact countries have hurt Russian companies from selling the rifle that originated with them. This chapter details description of all of the countries the Soviet Union licensed manufacturing rights to the AK-47 family of weapons and their variations. There are significant numbers of new photographs added to this chapter from the first edition.

Chapter 9 discusses production of AK-type rifles outside of the former Warsaw Pact countries–one of the largest being China. China has many different variations of the AK-type rifle and sold them abroad in large numbers. Egypt is another large producer. Greatly expanded information about AK-production in Iraq including many new photographs not found in the first edition. Also included are North Korea, Pakistan-Khyber Pass-Afghanistan, Yugoslavia/Serbia and Croatia.

Chapter 10 goes into Kalashnikov design derivatives which are rifles that closely copy or borrow a significant number of features from the design. These countries include Czechoslovakia, Finland Valmet rifles, Israeli Galil and South African R-4 series.

Chapter 11 takes the reader through the AK introduction to the American market with the history of the imported sporting rifles into the U.S. starting with the Finish Valmet and Egyptian Maadi versions. Additionally, for all the “Wolverines!” fans out there, the second edition gives the historical details of the rifles that were used in the movie “Red Dawn.” The introduction of Chinese rifles to the U.S. market was vast and in different variations, which are all documented and photographed in the book. Descriptions and photographs follow with Hungarian and Yugoslavian sporting versions of the AK rifle.

The first Soviet (Type 1) 7.62x39mm AK rifle receivers were made from stamped sheet metal. This example is dated 1951. Apparently, there were problems encountered as the stamped receiver was replaced by a Type 2 milled receiver. Note: the nomenclatures Type 1, 2 and 3 are used in the West to identify the different AK models; they are not Soviet designations.

Chapter 12 marks the dark days of the Assault Weapon Ban. This marked the 1989 importation ban and all the legalities of assembling post ban rifles with pre-ban configuration parts. Also included is the discussion of all the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, The 1994 Assault Weapon Ban and its sunset in 2004. Descriptions and photographs of the numerous imported AK-type rifles are contained in this chapter.

Chapter 13 chronicles AK’s that are made in the USA. Many are American made receivers built up with foreign parts kits. Many American companies are listed who either manufacture or modify different variations of the rifles mixing in American made parts.

Chapter 14 delves into the magazine variations of all generations and all caliber AK-type rifles with detailed photos and descriptions of the magazines made in numerous countries.

Chapter 15 gives detailed descriptions of ammunition. This will include identification of ammunition types as well as the arsenals in which they were manufactured. This covers both 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm.

Chapter 16 gives a collectors description of accouterments including bayonets, grenade launchers, rifle grenades, sound suppressors, night vision, scopes, carrying cases, cleaning kits, blank firing adapters, magazine pouches and slings.

This book is a must have for any student of the AK-family of weapons. This book also would be well put to use by law enforcement and crime laboratory reference libraries where identification of these rifles and accessories are needed. There has never been a more thorough study of the AK-series ever put in print. For those who already have the first edition, it is well worth upgrading to the second. There is significantly enough material added to make it worthwhile. The photographs are of the highest quality and no stone is left unturned.

This book may be purchased directly from Chipotle Publishing for $69.95 plus shipping at www.smallarmsreview.com, on Amazon.com or at your local bookseller.

AK-47 The Grim Reaper
(Second Edition)
BY FRANK IANNAMICO
1,086 PAGES
$69.95 USD
ISBN: 978-0-9823918-5-3
CHIPOTLE PUBLISHING
www.smallarmsreview.com

“We come now to the rifle grenade. Rifle grenades are similar to hand grenades except that they are ‘thrown’ by your rifle instead of your hand and arm. They are designed to be fired from your rifle by using a special device called a launcher which is attached to the muzzle of your rifle. A special blank cartridge is used in your rifle to shoot the grenade at your target. Again you are reminded that there are several types of rifle grenades just as there are several types of hand grenades. Your choice of a rifle grenade depends on what you want it to do.”
—US Army Field Manual 23-30 Hand and Rifle Grenades, April 1949

While some primitive, musket-launched explosive munitions reportedly appeared on battlefields way back in the 1600s, their widespread use didn’t take off–literally–until most of the world was at war from 1914 to 1918. Battle-tested in trench warfare, necessarily improved and made in many specialized varieties, the rifle grenade secured its place then and now in the arsenal of indispensable infantry weapons.

Bridging the very wide distance gap between hand bombs and light mortars, individual soldiers used their muzzle-launched munitions in high angle fire to clear trenches or shoot signal flares, fire directly to blast buildings and bunkers and even gas their enemies.

Cups, Rods and Spigots

The earliest practical types were cups and rods, the first being heavy, ungainly muzzle-mounted and muzzle-loading, mini-cannon barrels propelling munitions by force of powerful blank loads or–quite cleverly–standard ball projectiles passing through a tunnel in the grenade. Most soldiers on both ends are said to have hated them.

Rods came next, around 1907, and are usually credited to Martin Hale. Dispensing with the bothersome steel cup, they perched the grenade atop a long, ungainly, bothersome steel rod that was slipped down the rifle’s barrel.

Obviously, standard bulleted cartridges would be disastrous, so powerful special blanks were needed. Soldiers really hated these too, as did thrifty Ordnance officials faced with untold numbers of rifle barrels that were badly damaged by the rapid exit of rattling rods.

So launching cups came back into style–if not favored–by the French, British, Germans, Johnny-come-lately American Doughboys and other combatant nations.

In the years following what was overly optimistically dubbed, “The War to End All Wars,” spigot-type launchers were developed by the US Army. A vast improvement in many ways over the cup cannon, relatively light, finned, hollow-tail grenades were slipped over a light and handy steel spigot tube clamped in one way or another to the muzzles of various rifles.

While back to having to carry both standard and blank ammo, soldiers who didn’t load the wrong cartridges in the heat of battle were rewarded by highly efficient munitions that flew fast and far.

27 years later, by the end of World War II, rifle grenades in use by all major and most minor military forces had reached high levels of sophistication and effectiveness. Oddly, the usually innovative Germans stuck with old-fashioned, inefficient cups, as did the Japanese, British and Russians.

Along the way, all of the American infantry soldier’s handy hand grenade types were fitted with tailbooms or special adapters for finned flight, including anti-personnel, smoke, incendiary, irritant gas and anti-armor.

Grenades, Accessories, Sequence of Operations and Mechanical Training
(An excerpt from US War Department Basic Field Manual 23-30, Hand and Rifle Grenades, February 1944)

Grenades. With the aid of a launcher, rifle grenades may be fired from US Rifles, caliber.30, M1, Ma903, M903A1, M903A3 and M1917; and from the US Carbine, caliber.30, M1, M1A1 and M1A3.

Types. Rifle grenades are divided into four general classes:

Practice (training) grenades containing no explosives as follows:
Practice anti-tank rifle grenade M11A1.
Practice anti-tank rifle grenade M11A2.

High explosive or fragmentation grenades containing an explosive charge, as follows:
Anti-tank rifle grenade M9A1.
Impact fragmentation rifle grenade M17 (formerly the T2).
Fragmentation hand grenade Mk II (used with Grenade-projection adapter M1).

Pyrotechnic signals equipped with the fin assembly to be fired from the launchers, as follows:
Ground signal, white star; parachute, M17A1; cluster M18A1.
Ground signal, green star; parachute, M19A1; cluster M20A1.
Ground signal, amber star; parachute, M21A1; cluster M22A1.
Ground signal, red star; parachute, M51A1; cluster M52A1.

Smoke rifle grenade (White Phosphorous) T5.

Accessories. Special cartridges listed below are used for discharging all rifle grenades, both for anti-tank and anti-personnel use. Neither ordinary blank ammunition nor service ammunition will be used.

Rifle grenade cartridge, caliber.30, M3.
Carbine grenade cartridge, caliber.30, M6.
Auxiliary grenade cartridge, M7. This cartridge designed to give additional range when used in firing grenades from rifles and carbines.
Grenade launcher sight T59.

“Cold War” Developments

To great relief of Brit Tommies, Frenchies and others, cups were canned, and tubes triumphed as NATO armies grimly armed to counter Communist nations, intent on world domination. Sound familiar?

While AT grenades using shaped-charge warheads for armor-cutting had proliferated, the lethality of anti-tank rifle grenades increased exponentially with introduction of the ENERGA in 1948.

US M31 HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) Rifle Grenade

While disastrous experience against increasingly thick armor on German tanks in WWII set in motion US development of the Super Bazooka with its 3.5-inch diameter warhead, no such luck in rifle grenades. So when GIs went head-to-head with North Korea’s Soviet-supplied T34 tanks in 1950, the puny HEAT was all but useless.

In hasty desperation, the American solution was to field the M28 HEAT rifle grenade, a version of the formidable European ENERGA, capable of easily blowing through the T34/?85’s thick frontal armor. This was quickly followed by the improved M31, a beefy 1.56 pounder with even greater penetration.

Produced in enormous quantities by Mecar of Belgium, the ENERGA and variants were widely used by NATO signatories and other nations.

M31 HEAT Tech Specs
Length: 16.9 in.
Weight: 25 oz.
Warhead: 66mm (2.6 in.) diameter, 8.9oz RDX/TNT Composition B-shaped charge
Fuze: Piezoelectric
Penetration: 8in steel armor, 19in concrete

Notes: Launched with powerful grenade blanks to nearly 200m, its 22mm-diameter tailboom is compatible with all US rifle grenade launchers and right off the barrel of most every NATO standard rifle.

Mecar’s HEAT-RFL-75 Super ENERGA is a rocket-boosted, bunker-busting and tank terror with an effective range of 150m against moving targets out to a maximum range in excess of 500m. Its shaped charge warhead of 328g of PETN punches through 275mm (10.8in) of armor plate and 600mm (23.6in) of reinforced concrete. Caution: DON’T FIRE IT FROM THE SHOULDER!

Bloopers Be Damned!

While it looked for a while that stand-alone and underbarrel grenade launchers like America’s M79 and M203 “Bloop Tubes” and Russian GP-25 Kostyor would render the venerable rifle grenade obsolete, that doesn’t seem to be entirely the case so far.

Indeed, the French in particular seem fond of rifle grenades, necessarily small and light so as to allow launching from the small and light FAMAS bullpup. Online videos gleefully document pain and punishment from firing even midget munitions like the 14-ounce APAV 40.

Merde!

Today, tailboom grenades proliferate worldwide in a dazzling array of types including Mecar’s handy TELGREN, a family of flyers that collapse like a telescope for compact carrying, then expand with a quick pull for launching–complete with a clever spring-deployed plastic ladder sight.

Other Developments

Cups are making a comeback, most notably for launching riot control and other “less lethal” munitions. Conflict Armament Research reports on interesting hybrids recently encountered in use by Islamic State forces that feature finned grenade IEDs fired from a Kalashnikov-mounted cup.

When all is said and done, rifle-launched munitions are too damn versatile and effective to yield entirely to bulky bloop tubes. “No pain, no gain.”

Rifle Grenade References

This necessarily brief photo feature is intended as a way to stimulate an appetite for more research on the world’s fascinating array of rifle-launched munitions. As such, we offer some for starters:

SAR Archives

www.smallarmsreview.com/archive/reference.index.cfm
Rifle Grenade Overview Online

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle_grenade
Grenades (and just about all other explosive ordnance)
ordata.info

Videos

www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rifle+grenades
Best Overall for Vintage Grenade Collectors
inert-ord.net

Books

US Infantry Weapons of the First World War, Bruce Canfield

Jane’s Infantry Weapons, Various Editors, Multiple Editions

Reproduction and Inert Rifle Grenades

www.serviceofsupply.com/product/grenade-rifle-rubber-reproduction/
Various online sellers found on ebay, Gunbroker and others

One for fun

NcStar AR-15 Golf Ball Grenade Launcher
Sportsmandguide.com

The Rod Grenade of WWI gets an ultramodern twist in the SIMON Breach Grenade from Rafael of Israel. Its standoff detonating rod is out front and the tailboom slips over the rifle’s flash suppressor. Known as the M100 Grenade Rifle Entry Munition in US service, it explodes at a set distance to blast open heavy doors and shuttered windows. A bullet trap inside allows launching with conventional ball cartridges. Seen here, an Israeli paratrooper slips a SIMON onto his M4 carbine in a live fire training exercise in 2012. (IDF PHOTO VIA WIKIMEDIA)

The British Army’s heavy steel cup “discharger” of WWI soldiered on some 20 years later as seen in this 1942 photo of a Home Guard reservist demonstrating tank-busting technique. Protruding from the cup clamped to the muzzle of his SMLE No. 1 MkIII is a No. 68 AT grenade, its rather small, shaped charge warhead only able to penetrate a maximum of 2 inches of armor flat-on. Ferocious recoil from the powerful Ballistite blank load kicking a heavy projectile necessitates placement of the rifle butt on the ground. (IWM PHOTO VIA WIKIMEDIA)

The US Army took the lead after the Great War in dumping cup launchers in favor of the “spigot,” a steel tube of standard outside diameter fitted to the full range of rifles and carbines. It was far more efficient in simplicity, weight reduction and adaptability to all types of rifle grenades that needed only a 22mm inside diameter tailboom for compatibility. This 1951 photo from the Korean War shows a 7th Infantry Division soldier with an M8 launcher clamped to the muzzle of what is most likely an M2 Carbine. Sticking out of the right breast pocket of his field jacket are the tails of what are probably signal grenades, lighter and less prone to destroying the little carbine from launch recoil. (US SIGNAL CORPS PHOTO VIA WIKIMEDIA)

When calling in standard tube-launched mortar fire isn’t fast enough for dealing with nearby Germans, put a 60mm mortar round onto a Grenade Projection Adapter and “bombs away” with your M1 Rifle. This clever improvisation by GIs in WWII further expanded available standard options including anti-tank, anti-personnel, signal and smoke types. (US SIGNAL CORPS/NATIONAL ARCHIVES/AUTHOR’S COLLECTION)

This excellent lineup provided by Inert-Ord.net shows some representative types of US rifle grenades from WWII and on, as well as adapters for firing most all of the the full range of hand grenades. Standing from left to right is the M1 Grenade Projection Adapter, the M1A1 GPA with MKII Fragmentation Hand Grenade, the M2A1 Chemical Grenade Projection Adapter, the M29 Anti-tank Grenade, the M9A1 Anti-tank Grenade, its M11A3 practice version, the M17 Fragmentation Grenade, and the M11 Anti-tank Grenade. Lying down in front is a round-nosed M22 Smoke Grenade (Yellow) and a M19A1 Green Star Parachute Signal. (INERT-ORD.NET)

The Japanese Self-Defense Force is among many modern military forces that still find merit in rifle-launched munitions. This JSDF soldier is preparing to fire a Type 06 rifle grenade from his Howa Type 89 rifle at the 2014 Firepower in Fuji demonstration. (JSDF VIA WIKIMEDIA)

This interesting selection of weaponry used by USAF Air Police in Vietnam for the tough job of defending air bases from attack by fanatical VC and NVA sappers includes both rifle grenades and the hastily fielded XM 148 40mm grenade launcher, mounted underneath an M16 rifle. Lined up on sandbags from left to right is an extremely rare at the time 30-round M16 magazine, 5.56mm blank and ball cartridges, 40mm grenade, bayonet, yellow smoke streamer grenade, 60mm mortar round, frag grenade in projection adapter and a practice version of the M28 HEAT grenade. (USAF/NATIONAL ARCHIVES/AUTHOR’S COLLECTION)

A cutaway drawing of the US M31 HEAT Rifle Grenade reveals the secrets of most every modern one of the type. When the piezoelectric crystal in its nose crushes on impact, an electric charge is sent to the fuze/booster, setting off the shaped charge to blast a superheated jet through as much as 8 inches of armor plate. (US ARMY VIA WIKIMEDIA)

Cup type launchers still find favor for flinging specialized munitions from a variety of shoulder arms as evidenced by a Mossberg shotgun in a training session for “less lethal” applications. Lance Cpl. Grey J. Thurman, a military police officer of the 47th Marine Wing Support Group, 4th platoon, gives instructions to a Moroccan soldier during peace support operations training during African Lion 2012. (USMC STAFF SERGEANT NICHOLAS CLOWARD)