U.S.

Weapons
M4A1
The M4 Carbine is tracing its roots back to the famous M16 Assault Rifle, and is essentially
a shorter and lighter version of the M16A2 Assault Rifle, sharing 80% of its
parts. The M4A1 can be fired semi or full-auto, unlike the M4 which could only fire
semi and 3 round bursts. It fires 5.56 x 45mm NATO ammunition and is a gasoperated,
air-cooled, magazine-fed, selective fire firearm with a telescopic stock. It is
effective to about 150m with a maximum range of about 400m.

M4A1 w/M203
This is a standard M4A1 carbine fitted with a M203 40mm single-shot grenade launcher
attached under the barrel. The trigger is just forward of the rifle magazine, which
functions as a hand grip when firing the M203. A separate sighting system is added to
rifles fitted with the M203, as the rifle’s standard sights are not matched to the
launcher. The M203 is capable of firing 5-7 rounds per minute at an effective distance
of 150m, and maximum range of 400m.

M249
The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) is an air-cooled, fully-automatic-only firearm
which belongs to a sub-family of the Belgian FN Minimi squad automatic weapon.
It fires 5.56 x 45mm NATO ammunition through the top mounted feed tray or M16-
type magazines through the side-mounted port. Linked ammunition is the standard
means of fire, with the ammo being fed from either a loose belt or from a plastic box
(or cloth pouch), containing 200 rounds, clipped under the receiver. The M249 SAW
features a built-in bipod and a quick change barrel that helps prevent overheating
during sustained fire. United States military doctrine states the effective ranges are
600m for a point target, 800m for an area target, 1000m for suppression, and 3600m
as the maximum range.

M110
The M110 SASS (semi-automatic sniper system) is the newest long range precision
sniper rifle system in the US Army arsenal. Developed by Knight’s Armament Company
it replaces the older bolt action, single shot M21 and M24 systems. The M110
uses 3 different types of ammunition, including military standard 7.62 x 51mm caliber
ammunition, M118LR long range open tipped ammunition, and the M993 armor
piercing (AP) ammunition. The greater choices available give the operators more
options and flexibility for different target types. Military requirements specified that
the weapon able to provide accurate fire with ranges up to and exceeding 1000m in
order to increase the survivability of the operators while increasing the kill probability
over previous systems.

M107
The M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle is a semi-automatic .50 BMG sniper rifle adopted by
the U.S. Army in the early 2000s. The M107 is used for traditional sniper tasks, but
is especially useful for long-range, counter-sniper, and anti-materiel roles compared
to more traditional smaller bore sniper rifles. It has a magazine capacity of 10 rounds
and a maximum effective range of 2000m.

M136 AT-4
The M136 AT4 is the US Army’s light, multi-purpose shoulder fired rocket. The M136AT4 is a single shot, disposable recoilless rifle
originally intended for use by Infantry
Forces to defeat light armor. More often it is used to defeat hardened infantry fighting
positions. The recoilless rifle design permits accurate delivery of an 84mm High
Explosive Anti-Armor warhead with negligible recoil. The M136 AT4 is a self-contained
weapon consisting of a free-flight, fin-stabilized, rocket-type cartridge packed
in an expendable, one-piece, fiberglass-wrapped tube. Though the M136 AT4 can be
employed in limited visibility, the firer must be able to see and identify the target and
estimate the range to it. The system’s tactical engagement range is 250m and can
only be fired from the right shoulder.

Demo Charge
The M322 Demolition Kit, Rapid Wall Breach, is a man-portable demolition kit that
rapidly creates a man sized hole in triple brick and reinforced concrete walls. M322
Kit includes: 3.3m Flexible Linear Shaped Charge, 61m shock tube initiation system,
an attachment device to the target, and a carrying bag.
Fragmentation M67
The body of the M-67 hand grenade is a 63.5mm diameter steel sphere designed to
burst into numerous fragments when detonated. The grenade body contains 184g of
high explosive. Each grenade is fitted with a fuse that activates the explosive charge
and is capable of effectively causing casualties within a range of 15m.
Smoke AN M8 HC White Smoke
This grenade is used to produce dense clouds of white smoke for signaling and screening.
40mm HE M406 Rifle Grenade
This round has an olive drab aluminum skirt with a steel projectile attached, gold markings,
and a yellow band. It arms between 14 and 27m, and it produces a ground
burst that causes casualties within a 5m radius.
40mm HEDP M433 Rifle Grenade
High-explosive dual purpose (HEDP) round. This round has an olive drab aluminum
skirt with a steel cup attached, white markings, and a gold band; it penetrates at
least 5cm when fired straight at steel armor. It arms between 14 and 27m and can
cause casualties within a 5m radius.

Javelin Anti-Tank missile system

The Javelin is a manportable, fire-and-forget, antitank missile employed by dismounted
infantry to defeat current and future threat armored combat vehicles. It is the only
AT missile in use with ground troops that does not require tracking of the target after
missile launch. The Javelin’s range of approximately 2500m is more than twice that
of its predecessor, the Dragon, and has secondary capabilities against helicopters
and ground-fighting positions. It is equipped with an infrared imaging (I2R) system
and a fire-and-forget guided missile. The Javelin’s normal engagement mode is topattack
to penetrate the tank’s most vulnerable armor, though it can also fire in
direct-attack mode to engage targets with overhead cover or with greater vertical
vulnerability. Its “soft launch” allows employment from within buildings and enclosed
fighting positions. The soft launch signature limits the gunner’s exposure to the enemy,
thus increasing survivability.
The Javelin consists of a missile in a disposable launch tube and a reusable Command
Launch Unit (CLU). The CLU houses the trigger mechanism, an integrated day/night
sighting device for surveillance and target acquisition, built-in test capabilities, and
associated electronics. The CLU, powered by a disposable battery, provides the capability
for battlefield surveillance, target acquisition, missile launch, and damage
assessment.
The round consists of a disposable launch tube assembly, battery coolant unit (BCU),
and the missile. Missile range is generally considered to be around 2000 to 2500m,
though the missile is capable of hitting targets much farther way than that. The
limiting factor is the CLU’s screen resolution which makes it difficult to discern targets
at ranges greater than 2500m. The missile locks on to the target before launch using
an infrared focal plane array and on-board processing, which also maintains target
track and guides the missile to the target after launch. A full-up system weighs
22.5kg.

M240B MG w/tripod
The M240B is a ground or vehicle mounted, gas-operated, crew-served machinegun.
This 7.62mm machine gun delivers more energy to the target than the smaller caliber
M249 SAW. It is the standard medium weight machinegun of US military forces.
It has an effective range of 1800m for area targets and 800m against point targets.

BRITISH FORCES WEAPONS

The SA80 family
The SA80 is the designation used for a family of assault weapons. The SA80 A2 family
includes the Individual Weapon (IW) or L85A2, and the Light Support Weapon (LSW)
or L86A2. These are the British Army’s standard combat weapons that fire NATO
standard 5.56 x 45mm ammunition. They can be fitted with a number of sights, such
as the SUSAT and a Common Weapon Sight (CWS), which is a third generation
Image Intensification (II) night sight. It is a very accurate weapon and it is interesting
to note that when it was first introduced in the British Army it was so accurate that a
new marksmanship test had to be designed for it.
One distinguishing feature of the rifle is its “bullpup” layout, with a forward-mounted
pistol grip. One advantage of this type of design is that the overall length of the rifle
is reduced without compromising the barrel length. The SA80 has an overall length
shorter than the M4 Carbine, but the barrel length is longer than the M16.

L85A2
This is the standard most common variant of the SA80 family. It weighs 4.98 kg, has
a length of 785mm, a 30-round magazine and an effective range of 400m.

L85A2-new
This is an upgraded version also included in this module. It includes ACOG sights, a new
handguard incorporating Picatinny rails, a hand grip/bipod, and a new vortex style
flash hider.

L85A2 with UGL

The Underslung Grenade Launcher is an AG-36 40 mm grenade launcher in a configuration
similar to the M203 grenade launcher of the US.
The UGL system has low recoil, reduced ammunition weight and the ability to have a
chambered grenade at the ready whilst continuing to fire the SA80.

L86A2 LSW
It has a longer barrel than the L85, as well as a bipod, buttstrap and rear pistol grip. It
also has a different design for the handguard. With a longer barrel it allows for an
increased muzzle velocity and further stabilises the bullet, giving it a greater effective
range. Its role is to provide fire support at a fireteam level but recently the LSW has
shifted to that of a marksman’s weapon within many infantry sections, capable of
providing extremely accurate precision fire at ranges of over 600m.

L22A2
Carbine version of the SA80. It has a 442mm barrel. The forward handguard has been
replaced with a vertical grip. These carbine variants are used in small numbers by
vehicle crews.

L110A1
The British Army uses the Belgian 5.56mm FN Minimi Para in the role of a light machine
gun (LMG). Each fireteam is equipped with one. It provides the section commander
with the capability to impose sustained suppressive fire onto an objective out to
300m and increases the overall firepower available to the section commander.
The Minimi is an air-cooled automatic weapon, capable of fully automatic fire only, that
uses a gas piston operating system with a short-stroke piston.

L7A2 (7.62mm GPMG)

The L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) is a 7.62 x 51mm belt-fed general
purpose machine gun which can be used as a light weapon and in a sustained fire
(SF) role.
In the SF role, mounted on a tripod and fitted with the C2 optical sight, it is fired by a
two-man team who are grouped in a specialist Machine Gun Platoon to provide
battalion-level fire support. In SF mode, the GPMG, with a two-man crew, lays down
200 (sustained rate) rounds-per-minute at ranges up to 1,800 metres.
The GPMG can be carried by foot soldiers and employed as a light machine gun. A foldout
bipod is used to support the GPMG in the light role. Versions of the GPMG aremounted on most Army vehicles as well.

L111A1 Browning (.50 cal HMG)

The powerful L1A1 12.7mm (.50) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) is an updated version of
the Browning M2 ’50-cal’ - recognised as one of the finest heavy machine guns ever
developed.
The HMG provides integral close-range support, e.g. when fitted to a light off-road
vehicle using the Weapons Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) and a variety of sighting
systems. The performance of the HMG has recently been enhanced with a new ‘soft
mount’ (to limit recoil and improve accuracy) and a quick-change barrel (QCB).

HMG range:1500-2000m.
L134A1 (GMG)
The Heckler & Koch 40mm Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) provides unrivalled infantry
suppression combining the best characteristics of the heavy machine guns or light
mortars usually employed in this role. Conventional rifle ammunition provides no
fragmentation effect and is largely not effective enough against advancing armoured
infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks. On the other hand, mortars have the
disadvantage of a relatively low rate of fire. The GMG combines the advantages of
both of these two types of weapons delivering high flexibility and firepower combined
with the fragmentation effect of mortar ammunition. The GMG is usually
mounted on WMIK (weapons mount installation kit) vehicles but can also be usedfrom ground-based tripods

L2A1 (ILAW)
Is an AT4 CS (Confined Space) version with a high penetration warhead used by the
British Army. This version uses a saltwater countermass in the rear of the launcher to
absorb the back blast—the resulting spray captures and dramatically slows down the
pressure wave, allowing troops to fire from enclosed areas.
It gives infantry units a means to destroy or disable armoured vehicles and fortifications.
It is usually not sufficient to defeat a modern main tank though. The launcher
and projectile are manufactured prepacked and issued as a single unit of ammunition,
rather than as a weapon system, with the launcher discarded after a single use.
The AT4 requires little training and is quite simple to use, making it suitable for
general issue. Range: 300m.

LASM
The Light Anti-Structures Missile (LASM) is an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR)
which has been fielded to fill a capability gap until Anti-Structure Munition (ASM)
comes into service. It is an enhanced blast weapon with a larger warhead than the
standard M72 LAW. The single-shot weapon consists of a free-flight unguided rocket
that is housed within a disposable telescopic launcher. The mechanical ‘pop-up’ sight
is integral to the weapon and deploys when the launcher is extended, in preparing it
to fire.
The rocket consists of a warhead, fuse and propulsion unit. Spring-loaded fins deploy
on firing to stabilise the rocket in flight. The rocket uses kinetic energy to penetrate
structures before the warhead is allowed to detonate. Range: up to 500m.
Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon System (LFATGWS)

The British version of the US Javelin is a manportable, fire-and-forget, antitank missile

employed by dismounted infantry to defeat current and future threat armored
combat vehicles. It is the only AT missile in use with ground troops that does not
require tracking of the target after missile launch. The British manufactured version
has a slightly improved thermal capability and an optional tripod.
The Javelin’s range of approximately 2500m is more than twice that of its predecessor,
the Dragon, and has secondary capabilities against helicopters and ground-fighting
positions. It is equipped with an infrared imaging (I2R) system and a fire-and-forget
guided missile. The Javelin’s normal engagement mode is top- attack to penetrate
the tank’s most vulnerable armor, though it can also fire in direct-attack mode to
engage targets with overhead cover or with greater vertical vulnerability. Its “soft
launch” allows employment from within buildings and enclosed fighting positions.
The soft launch signature limits the gunner’s exposure to the en- emy, thus increasing
survivability.
The Javelin consists of a missile in a disposable launch tube and a reusable Command
Launch Unit (CLU). The CLU houses the trigger mechanism, an integrated day/night
sighting device for surveillance and target acquisition, built-in test capabilities, and
associated electronics. The CLU, powered by a disposable battery, provides the
capability for battlefield surveillance, target acquisition, missile launch, and damage
assessment.
The round consists of a disposable launch tube assembly, battery coolant unit (BCU),
and the missile. Missile range is generally considered to be around 2000 to 2500m,
though the missile is capable of hitting targets much farther way than that. The
limiting factor is the CLU’s screen resolution which makes it difficult to discern targets
at ranges greater than 2500m. The missile locks on to the target before launch using
an infrared focal plane array and on-board processing, which also maintains target
track and guides the missile to the target after launch. A full-up system weighs 22.5kg.

Sniper Rifles

L96A1
The L96A1 is an Accuracy International-produced sniper rifle. It is chambered to fire the
7.62x51mm NATO cartridge from a 10-round detachable box magazine. An adjustable
bipod is fitted forward under the barrel. The weapon features a muzzle velocity
of 2,790 feet per second. It was designed to achieve first-round hits at 600 metres
and “harassing fire” out to 1,100 metres.

L115A3
Select units field the Accuracy International L115A3 Long Range Rifle. The L115A3 long
range rifle fires an 8.59mm bullet which is heavier than the 7.62mm round of the L96
and less likely to be deflected over extremely long ranges. It also provides state-ofthe-
art telescopic day and night all-weather sights, increasing a sniper’s effective
range considerably. Compared to most .50 calibre rifles, the AWSM offers considerably
less rifle weight, recoil, muzzle flash, smoke and report. Although the .338 Lapua
Magnum delivers less kinetic energy to the target compared with the .50 BMG, both
cartridges have similar trajectories, resistance to wind drift and penetration, while the
.338 Lapua Magnum unquestionably outperforms the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO, especially
at ranges beyond 800 m. AWSM rifles in .338 Lapua Magnum can also be deployed against unarmoured hard targets, including armoured
glass.

MARINES WEAPONS
M16A4
This is the standard rifle of the Marine Corps and will be for many years into the future.
It is an improved version of the Vietnam era design in terms of reliability and
functionality. It fires the standard 5.56mm x 45mm round accurately up to 300m and
for suppressive fire up to 500m. This gives the M16A4 about double the effective
range of the M4A1. It can fire single rounds or three round bursts.

M32
Multiple Grenade Launcher (MGL)
Traditionally the Rifle Team Leader was armed with a M16 and a 40mm M203 grenade
launcher. Starting in 2006, the Marines began adopting this stand-alone shoulder
fired 40mm grenade launcher as a replacement for the M203. The M32 fires the
“Hellhound” High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) and “Draco” Thremobaric rounds
with a sustainable rate of fire of 18 rounds/minute. The lighter M4 rifle is also carried
in place of the heavier and bulkier M16A4.

M16A4 Rifle
w/M203 Grenade Launcher
Some soldiers are still equipped with the older single shot M203 40mm GrenadeLauncher instead of the M32 MGL because of weight and
bulk issues, though they use
the same exact grenades. M203s are most commonly seen in the LAR Platoon and
as a support weapon for Snipers. The M203 fires the M406 High Explosive (HE) and
M433 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) rounds.

M240G Machine Gun

The standard Medium Machine Gun (MMG) of US ground forces fires the NATO standard
7.62mm round. It is effective against point targets at 800m and can suppress targets
out to about 1800m. Functionally is the same as the US Army’s M240B MMG.

M82A3 Special Application

Scoped Rifle (SASR)
Almost identical to the Army’s M107, the M82A3 is a 10 shot semi-automatic .50 caliber
“anti-material” sniper rifle. The large caliber assures the sniper that a hit will equal a
kill against soft targets. It is also very effective against lightly armored vehicles. It
has a maximum range of about 2000m, though it is more likely to hit targets
consistently under 1500m. The differences between the Army’s M107 are very minor
and not performance related.

M40A3 Sniper
The M40A3 is an improved version of the M40 which has been in service with USMC
snipers since 1966. It is a single shot, bolt action rifle system which fires a special
load 7.62mm round. Combined with a high powered scope, the M40A3 has an
effective range of about 1000m.

M2HB Heavy Machine Gun

The oldest weapon in the US inventory, the M2 (or “Ma Deuce” as it is called by soldiers)
.50 cal HMG can trace its origins back 90 years. It’s primary use is on vehicles as a
means of offering anti-personnel and light anti-armor capabilities. The M2 can tear
into most light and medium armored vehicles, buildings, and many other forms of
light/medium cover without difficulty. While normally mounted on vehicles, the M2
can be mounted on a tripod and fired from ground positions. It is very heavy and
difficult to redeploy, so when used in a ground role it is effectively a static weapon
much of the time. The Marines Heavy Machinegun Platoon uses its M2s in the ground
role when not mounted on Humvees as part of a CAAT Platoon.

Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault

Weapon (SMAW)
The SMAW is a reloadable crew served rocket launcher, similar in concept to the WW2
Bazooka or modern day RPG-7V. It is a light weight launch system which can fire
three different types of 83mm rockets: Mk3 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP),
Mk6 High Explosive Anti-Armor (HEAA), and Mk80 Novel Explosive (NE). The latter
rocket type is a new thermobaric round which increases lethality within confined
spaces. The SMAW is capable of defeating most hardened targets, be it a concrete
bunker or an armored vehicle. It has a maximum effective range of about 500m, but is most effective in the 150-250m range.
Mk19 Grenade Launcher
(Dismounted)
Although generally used mounted on vehicles, the Mk19 can be dismounted and used
on a tripod for static defensive fire. It uses a 40mm M430 HEDP (High Explosive Dual
Purpose) grenade which is much more powerful than the HEDP rounds used by the
M32 and M203 launchers. The extra power gives the Mk19 a fairly long range
(effective out to about 1500m) and excellent lethality. A single round can kill
anything within a 5m radius and wound out to 15m. It is also capable of destroying
light and medium armored vehicles and bunkers, while having a decent chance of
damaging heavier armor’s more vulnerable components. Because of its size and
ammo weight, the dismounted Mk19 should either be left where it starts or relocated
using motorized transport.
BGM-71 Tube-launched, Optically-tracked,

Wire-guided 2 (TOW 2)
The TOW 2 heavy ATGM system is capable of destroying any vehicle, including with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) at a range of about
3500m. Usually the TOW
2 launch system is found on a HMMWV, however like the Mk19 it can be dismounted
and used on a tripod. Unlike the more portable Javelin ATGM system, the TOW 2
requires continuous LOS to the target during the missile’s flight. Because of its size
and ammo weight the dismounted Mk19 should either be left where it starts or
relocated using motorized transport.

M72A3
Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW)
A one shot, disposable 66mm dual purpose anti-tank and anti-personnel shoulder fired
rocket. Originally used in Vietnam, this weapon system was replaced by the heavier
and more capable AT4 (M136). However, as a result of combat experiences in
Afghanistan and Iraq, the Marines determined that Rifle Squads would benefit from
having more firepower for the same amount of weight/bulk. Therefore, the M72 was
dusted off and slightly improved to become the M72A3. It is now in use alongside the
AT4 and can effectively engage targets 150-200m away.
Syrian Weapons
PM Pistol
The Makarov PM (Pistolet Makarova) is a semi-automatic pistol which was designed in
the late 1940s by Russian firearms designer Nikolai Fyodorovich Makarov. For many
years, it was the Soviet Union’s standard military side arm.

AKM
The AKM was introduced in 1959 as a lighter and cheaper version of the AK-47 with an
effective range of between 300m to 400m. It fires the standard Soviet era 7.62 x
39mm round. The AKM was an improvement over the original AK-47 through its use
of steel stampings instead of milled steel, which made it lighter and easier to produce.
It is not a sophisticated weapon, having only crude sights, no bolt hold open
device, and an inconveniently located safety/selector. Despite of these problems it
gained a strong and wide reputation for ruggedness and reliability. Tens of millions
were sold to former Soviet aligned nations, making it one of the most common weapons
on the battlefield today despite its age and obsolescence.

AKMS
This is a standard AKM with a folding stock.

AK-74
The AK-74 is basically an AKM rechambered and rebored to fire a 5.45 x 39mm cartridge.
It offers few innovations over the earlier AKM, though it is lighter, has less
recoil, and a slightly longer effective maximum range (500m). Like its predecessor,
it uses a 30-rd detachable box magazine. Originally the stock and hand grips were
made of wood or reddish brown plastic, but in the 1980s black plastic became the
standard.

AKS-74
Folding-stock version of the AK-74 with a Y-shaped, tubular stock.

AKS-74U
A modified AKS-74 with a much shorter barrel (207mm) and a conical flash suppressor
instead of a muzzle brake. With an overall length of 492mm (with stock folded) and
weight of 2.7kg, it is a very compact and light firearm. Technically the AKS-74U is an
assault rifle due to its cartridge size, however its compactness and intended purpose
make it more akin to a submachinegun. It is primarily used for purposes where space
or weight is at a premium and there is little need to engage targets with accurate fire
beyond a limited range (200m, less than half that of an AKS-74).

AKS-74 w/GP30
Standard AKS-74 rifle fitted with the Under-barrel Grenade Launcher GP-30. The GP-30
Obuvka is a 40mm muzzle-loaded, single-shot, detachable, under-barrel grenade
launcher. It is the successor to the earlier GP-15 and GP-25, though its performance
is roughly similar. The advantages of the GP-30 design are in the areas of weight,
ease of use, and production costs. It can use two types of ammo, both of which are
used by the crew served AGS-17 grenade launcher; the VOG-25 (High Explosive) or
the VOG-25P (Delayed Fuze High Explosive). Only recently has this weapon come
into widespread use within Russia and it is slowly making its way to other nations.
The RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyareva) is a 7.62 x 39mm belt-fed machine gun
designed to fulfill the role of squad automatic weapon. It was made in the 1950s and
1960s, though it is still found in large numbers in second line troops and unconventional
fighters. The RPD can be fired from a prone position with the built-in bipod, or
from the hip with the aid of a sling. It is fed by refillable non-disintegrating links held
in a 100-rd detachable drum magazine. It is a heavy, though robust, weapon with an
effective range of 800m. Its major limitation is the lack of an interchangeable barrel,
which means the weapon has to be allowed to cool when used heavily. The 100-rd
ammo capacity was specifically formulated to limit the possibility of problems and
damage due to over heating by way of notifying the gunner that he needs to give the
weapon a rest.
RPD
The RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyareva) is a 7.62 x 39mm belt-fed machine gun
designed to fulfill the role of squad automatic weapon. It was made in the 1950s and
1960s, though it is still found in large numbers in second line troops and unconventional
fighters. The RPD can be fired from a prone position with the built-in bipod, or
from the hip with the aid of a sling. It is fed by refillable non-disintegrating links held
in a 100-rd detachable drum magazine. It is a heavy, though robust, weapon with an
effective range of 800m. Its major limitation is the lack of an interchangeable barrel,
which means the weapon has to be allowed to cool when used heavily. The 100-rd
ammo capacity was specifically formulated to limit the possibility of problems and
damage due to over heating by way of notifying the gunner that he needs to give the weapon a rest.

RPK
This is a long barreled version of the AK-47 designed for use as a squad automatic
weapon. It fires full-auto only and uses the same 7.62 x 39mm ammunition as the
AKM. Its major drawback is its lack of an interchangeable barrel, which means that
it can not sustain prolonged fire without risking a reduction in accuracy, misfires,
misfeeds, and even damage to the weapon itself. While it is generally considered a
reliable and effective weapon, its drawbacks are significant and therefore the RPK is
a less effective squad automatic weapon than many others found on the battlefield.
It can use 40-rd detachable magazines, but in the case of Syria is most often found
with the 75-rd detachable drum magazine (similar to the RPD).

RPK-74
The RPK-74 is an updated version of the RPK, along with all its limitations, and uses the
same 5.45 x 39mm ammunition as the AK-74. Instead of the prominent muzzle
brake used on the AK-74, the machinegun is longer and has an attached bipod.
Unlike the RPK it only uses 40-rd (standard) or 30-rd detachable magazines, not a
drum magazine.

DShKM
Originally developed during the 1930s for anti-aircraft and anti-armor purposes, the
DShK became a standard fixture on tank turrets during WW2 and for many decades
after with slight improvements (DShKM). It became a popular weapon due to its
large caliber (12.7mm) and multi- purpose functionality, being deployed in the ground
roll on a two wheeled mount. It has a 600 rpm sustained rate of fire and is effective
up to about 2000m. Due to the weight of the weapon and its large caliber ammo
supply the DShKM is effectively a static defensive weapon. It is generally found as
part of lower quality, static Syrian Reserve Infantry Battalions.

SVD
The Dragunov Sniper Rifle (Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova, abbreviated SVD), is a
semiautomatic rifle designed by Evgeniy Fedorovich Dragunov in the Soviet Union
between 1958 and 1963. The SVD was the world’s first purpose-built military precision
marksman’s rifle, and is common (along with several variants) throughout all
former Soviet client states. It chambers a special 7.62 x 54mm rimmed cartridge,
with a muzzle velocity of about 830m per second, which makes it lethal at ranges
above 1000m. However, its effective range is far shorter at around 600m with standard
ammunition. The weapon handles easily for its size and is very durable.

RPG-18
The RPG-18 Mukha (“Fly”) is a light, single shot, short-range disposable multi-purpose
rocket launcher. The RPG-18 fires a 64 mm PG-18 HEAT capable of 6 seconds of flight
after launch (about 200m) before self-destructing. The round can penetrate up to
375 mm of conventional armor, with significantly poorer performance against HEAT
resistant ERA or composite armor (as found on the Abrams). It can also be used
against hardened infantry targets, such as bunkers. The RPG-18 is similar in both
appearance and in functionality to the United States’ LAW rocket, the predecessor to
the M136 AT-4. The RPG-18 is carried with part of the launch tube collapsed making
the weapon much more compact. When preparing to fire, the soldier using the RPG-
18 extends the tube, places it on his shoulder, and uses the iron sights on the top to
aim at the target. Once extended the RPG-18 is armed and can not be reset to a
disarmed state.

Demo Charge
This piece of equipment simulates various types of explosives bundles used to breach
walls and other obstacles. Usually the main explosive component is TNT.
Fragmentation RDG-5

RDG-5 (Ruchnaya Granata Degtyareva) is an egg shaped Blast & Fragmentation hand
grenade that produces around 350 steel fragments. The effective radius is around
15-20m resulting in a 43 square meter kill zone

Smoke RDG-1
A cheap stick type grenade made of cardboard and sometimes a wooden handle. It is
ignited using a method common to a road flare. On one end there is a cap which is
removed and struck against an igniter. The resulting smoke screen lasts for about
60-90 sec and covers an area of roughly 35m.

PK w/tripod
The PK is a gas operated, rotary locked, full-auto only machine gun that is fed from
linked sections of non-disintegrating metallic belts of 7.62 x 54R mm ammunition. A
detachable steel box secured directly under the breech provides 100 rds of ammunition
at the ready. This makes the PK extremely portable and capable of being fired
from the hip as well as prone or on a tripod. It has a rate of fire of 650 rounds per
minute and is effective out to about 1000m. One drawback is a slower barrel changing
procedure compared to some other nations’ general purpose machineguns.

PKM w/tripod
The PKM is little more than a simplified PK design meant to facilitate faster and less
expensive production. The barrel is a bit shorter and the total weight a bit less, but
performance is nearly identical.

NVS
The NVS is a 12.7mm caliber heavy machinegun most comparable to the US M2 .50cal
machinegun. Like the M2 it is normally mounted on armored vehicles for use against
ground or air targets. It is also used on a tripod for defense of fortified positions out
to a maximum effective range of about 2000m. It is fed from non-disintegrating
belts of 50-rds each and has a rate of fire between 700 and 800 rounds per minute.
The heavy caliber ammo allows it to penetrate as much as 20mm armor at 500m.

SPG-9
The SPG-9 is a 73mm caliber recoilless, smooth-bore, breach loaded antitank weapon
that fires both antiarmor and antipersonnel ammunition. It is man portable, though
usually it is transported by truck or APC and remains relatively local thereafter. It can
be carried fully assembled over short distances, however usually it is broken down
and carried in its component pieces due to weight. The SPG-9 has a rate of fire of 6
rounds per minute and can fire either HE against soft targets or HEAT against hard/
armored targets. The HE round has an effective range of about 2500m, though it can
theoretically be used at much greater distances. The HEAT round can achieve 400mm
armor penetration at any range up to about 800m, at which point a hit becomes
doubtful.

AGS-17
The AGS-17 Automatic Grenade Launcher fires 30mm grenades in either full auto or
semi auto modes. Ammo is fed from non-disintegrating steel belts and a rate of fire
of 350 to 400 rounds per minute can be achieved in full auto mode. The weapon is
one of the primary means for defenders to suppress an oncoming attacking infantry
force. Its effective range is about 1200m for area suppression, but only about 800m
for precision targeting. The kill radius of each round is about 6m, which can be
combined to produce a 70 square meter kill zone with a well aimed barrage. The fully
assembled weapon is man portable over short distances, though disassembly is required
for longer distances.

RPG-7V1
When someone thinks of a threat to an armored vehicle, the RPG-7V is usually the one
that comes to mind first. This is the quintessential shoulder shoulder-fired, reloadable
anti-tank rocket launch. Its light weight allows a single person carry it and a few
grenades with little difficulty. However, standard practice is to have an assistant grenadier
who carries additional ammo, protects the gunner, and reloads after firing. There
are many different types of grenades for both anti-armor and anti-personnel purposes.
Although very simple to operate and shoot at short distances, the RPG-7V
quickly becomes increasingly inaccurate as range increases. For example, a mild
11kmh crosswind can reduce first-round hit probability by 50% at ranges beyond
180 meters. Hitting moving targets at anything but point blank range usually comes
down to pure luck. On top of the accuracy problems, many of the rounds commonly
found around the world are duds, either due to poor manufacturing standards of
export rounds or degradation due to age. Inexperienced users are also said to sometimes
forget to arm the round before loading, thereby assuring the round won’t
detonate. Still, with all its negatives the RPG-7V is a serious threat because it only
takes one hit, lucky or otherwise, to cause massive damage to a vehicle or death to
exposed infantrymen.

RPG-29
The RPG-29 is a thoroughly modern 105mm anti-tank grenade launcher. Known as
Vampire, the RPG-29 shares very little in common with the RPG-7V. It is much longer
and therefore can be broken down into two parts in seconds for one soldier can carry
more easily. It is loaded from the rear, fires a much larger grenade, and thanks to
the design is quite accurate. It has almost double the effective range of the RPG-7V,
posing a significant threat to enemy armor out to 500m. With its tandem warhead
grenade it can effectively counter ERA (reactive) armor by detonating the explosive
blocks with its first charge and penetrating the base armor with the second. It can
also penetrate over 1.5m of reinforced concrete and still have enough power remain
ing to cause casualties beyond. The anti-personnel round is the controversial
thermobaric type which kills by using over pressure instead of fragmentation or explosive
effect. The RPG-29 may not be as sophisticated and powerful as the US
Javelin, yet it is extremely lethal to even the heaviest armored vehicles.

AT-3B
The AT-3 Sagger B (NATO designation) is a wire-guided anti-tank missile of the Soviet
Union first produced in the 1960s, then improved in the early 1970s. It was the first
man-portable Soviet anti-tank missile and was produced in huge numbers. The AT-
3B can be fired from a portable fiberglass suitcase launcher or from certain vehicles
(BMP-1, BRDM-2). Setup time for the man portable version is about 5 minutes. Once
fired the missile is guided by line of sight to its target up to 3000m. The gunner
tracks both the missile and the target, adjusting the missile’s direction via a joystick
through wires spooled out from the missile as it travels towards the target. Tracking
both the missile and target simultaneously requires some skill and concentration on
the part of the operator. Hundreds of hours of constant training are needed to achieve
these skills and maintain them. It is simply too expensive to train gunners to this
level of proficiency, so most go into battle to “learn on the job”. Being a generally
slow missile with a big smoke signature means that the gunner might come under
effective fire from the enemy before the missile has reached its target. It also gives
the target warning, which allows it to do evasive maneuvers that make a hit even less
likely. Another major drawback is the inability to track the missile until it is at least
500m from the gunner, which effectively means targets closer than 500m can not be
engaged at all. Which is why estimates of the missile hitting the target range from
2%-25% depending on the situation and gunner skill.

AT-3C
AT-3C Sagger C consists of a slightly improved AT-3B missile (greater penetration) and
a different guidance system, semi-automatic command line of sight (SACLOS). Instead
of having to track both the target and the missile the gunner only has to track
the target. This vastly improves the chance of hitting the target from 2%-25% to
perhaps 90%.

AT-3D
AT-3D Sagger D is a further improvement of the AT-3C system by introducing three new
warheads and a faster missile. The first is a HEAT warhead that offers almost double
the penetration power of the original AT-3. The second is a tandem HEAT warhead
designed to overcome ERA (reactive) defenses. The third new warhead type is
thermobaric for use against soft targets. A fully equipped AT-3D team should be
expected to have a mix of these new missile types.

AT-4A
The AT-4 Spigot is using a semi-automatic command line of sight (SACLOS) system
similar to that found on the AT-3C. The system consists of a launcher and a disposable
tube with one missile. Technically it is man portable, but it is quite heavy and
therefore practically speaking can only be moved a short distance. The gunner lies
prone while firing and must keep the target lined up until missile impact. The AT-4
missile is more powerful than the AT-3 and is able to get up to speed much faster,
thus reducing the dead space for targeting down to 70m from 500m. A target moving
faster than 60km/h (37mph) is unlikely to be hit, which for most circumstances is an
acceptable limitation since few vehicles travel faster than that on the battlefield.
Penetration power, however, is no better than the original AT-3 and its range is shorter,
with a maximum of 2000m.

AT-4C
A slight improvement over the AT-4A is the AT-4C Spigot C. It retains the same tracking
system but boosts the missiles range to 2500m. A new tandem HEAT warhead
increases penetration over the AT-4A by almost 50%.

AT-7
The AT-7 Saxhorn is a significant departure from the AT-3 and AT-4 systems. It uses an
improved AT-4 type targeting system and a small, lightweight launch platform. Additionally,
the missiles themselves are much lighter than earlier ones. This makes
the system much more portable and capable of being fired from the shoulder (though
this is difficult to do). The downside is that the lighter weight of the missile came at
the expense of range with a maximum range of just 1000m. It can be used from
within a moderately enclosed space at any target further away than 40m and traveling
60km/h (37mph) or slower. Penetration is similar to the AT-3B and AT-4A systems,
though it is much faster due to its light weight.

AT-13
The AT-13 Metis-M (confusingly NATO also refers to this at the Saxhorn) is an improved
version of the AT-7 by combining the same launch system with a superior missile. It
is slightly slower than the AT-7, but its tandem HEAT warhead can penetrate nearly
twice the amount of armor and is designed to defeat ERA. There is also a thermobaric
warhead for use against soft targets.

AT-14
The Kornet-E is the most current and capable ATGM threat faced by Western forces. It
is similar in appearance to the AT-7 and AT-13 systems, but only superficially. Unlike
previous systems the AT-14 comes standard with a thermal sight and uses a laser for
guidance. This makes tracking targets much easier and less vulnerable to interference,
though the gunner must still remain stationary until the target is hit. With
these new tools in his hands, a decent gunner is almost assured of hitting whatever
he aims at up to 5000m. And if he hits, the target is probably knocked out. The
tandem HEAT warhead has nearly three times the penetration power of the early AT-
3 systems, AT-4, and AT-5 systems and 50% more punch than the AT-13. It can also
fire a powerful thermobaric missile against soft targets. This is the weapon everytanker, Western or otherwise, fears coming up against.

RPG-16
In the 1960s, the Soviets created a smaller and lighter two piece version of the standard
RPG-7 for use with airborne forces. The primary limitation of the RPG-16 is that it
fires one type of grenade, PG-16 HEAT, which has a very limited kill ability against
heavily armored vehicles or vehicles with ERA. On the plus side, the range is roughly
double that of the RPG-7V (400m effective, 800m max). It is probable that the
Syrians have withdrawn this weapon from service for the most part.

RPG-7D3
To overcome the deficiencies of the RPG-16, the Syrians have likely acquired the more
modern RPG-7D3. Like the RPG-16, this RPG is lighter and can be broken down into
two pieces for easier use by airborne forces. Unlike the RPG-16, the RPG-7D3 can
fire the full range of modern RPG rounds available to the RPG-7V system. This
includes tandem warhead, HEAT, HE, and Thermobaric rounds. Effective range is
about 200m, though closer is definitely better due to accuracy factors. The maximum
range against a stationary target is about 500m.