Indian Army weapons by Demonsofdoubt (good non fiction books to read txt) 📕

The Modern Sub Machine Carbine (MSMC) is the latest combined venture of Armament Research and Development Establishment & Ordnance Factories Board,[2] developed for the Indian Army on a platform of experiences from the INSAS rifle.[3] The gun is very lightweight and compact in comparison with other indigenous produced rifles. It is chambered for the 5.56×30mm MINSAS cartridge.[4]

The MSMC was designed after the Army's disappointment with the progress of a carbine version of the INSAS rifle. A variant called Excalibur was developed, but was deemed unable to fulfill the requirements. The MSMC was designed to rectify the shortcomings of the previous developments. Through various trials and improvements, ARDE came out with a grip-feeding, Uzi-like design which shortened the length of the weapon, making it more suited for CQC purposes. Later its ergonomics were improved, boosting its export potential. The weapon is said to be capable of penetrating bullet-proof jackets.[1] It was created as an off-shoot of the INSAS small arms program.[2]Following design from machine pistols like the Uzi, the MSMC has a pistol grip which allows the user to fire it even with one hand. This allows the insertion of 30-round MSMC magazines on the pistol grip. It has a retractable buttstock and ambidextrous cocking levers on both sides of the MSMC,[5] alongside the fire selectors to suit individuals who prefer to fire the weapon from either the left or right shoulder located above the trigger.[5] It has a picatinny railing on the receiver to allow the installations of weapon sights like reflex and red dot sights with iron sights built into the railing.[5] The weapon fires in a gas operated mode, utilizing rotary bolt locking and a gas piston.

Like the Uzi, the MSMC is made up of stamped sheet metal while having polymer housing.[5] An unusual design to the MSMC is the placement of the bayonet lug, located above the barrel just at the front of the receiver.[5]


INSAS (an abbreviation of Indian Small Arms System) is a family of infantry arms consisting of an assault rifle, a light machine gun and a carbine. It is manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Board at Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli, Small Arms Factory Kanpur and Ishapore Rifle Factory. The Insas Assault Rifle is the standard infantry weapon of the Indian Armed Forces.The INSAS rifle is based on the Kalashnikov AK-47 action with modifications. The basic gas-operated action (long stroke gas system, rotating bolt, and stamped steel receiver) is of the Kalashnikov pattern. The gas system is fitted with a manual gas regulator similar in design to that found on the FN FAL as well as a gas cutoff. The charging handle is positioned on the left side of the forearm; it is similar in position and design to the German HK G3 rifle.

The selector/safety switch is located on the left side of the receiver above the pistol grip, which allows single shots and three-round bursts. The rifle is fitted with a side-folding carrying handle, and either a solid or side-folding metal buttstock. Furniture is made of polymer with the stock using the butt-plate from Lee-Enfield rifles. Standard magazines are made from semi-translucent polymer and contain 20 rounds. Longer 30-round magazines of similar design are available for the INSAS LMG but can also be used in the rifle. The sights consist of a hooded front, mounted on top of the gas block, and a diopter rear, mounted on the receiver cover. The flash suppressor is shaped to accept NATO-standard rifle grenades. It can be fitted with an AKM-style multipurpose knife-bayonet.

The assault rifle version has semi-auto and 3-round burst modes much like the US M16A2. Derived from the INSAS weapon systems, the INSAS Excalibur Mark-I is ergonomically designed with a folding butt and can be fitted with 20 and 30-round magazines. It is also fitted with a Picatinny rail for mounting of opto-electronic devices. The latest variant of the INSAS has semi-automatic, 3 round bursts and full automatic fire modes.

An under-barrel grenade launcher and bayonet have been developed for the INSAS, which are also compatible with the AK-47s used by paramilitary forces.

Vidhwansak (Sanskrit:"The Destroyer")[2] is an Indian multi-caliber anti-materiel rifle (AMR) or large-caliber sniper rifle manufactured by Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli. It can be used in the anti-materiel role for destroying enemy bunkers, lightly armoured vehicles, radar systems, communication equipment, parked aircraft, fuel storage facilities, etc. It is also effective in long range sniping, counter sniping and ordnance disposal roles.[3]
Denel was earlier contracted to supply various weapon systems for the Indian Armed Forces, including Anti-materiel rifles and Self-propelled howitzers. However, following allegations that it had paid kickbacks to secure a deal for anti-materiel rifles, Denel was black-listed by the government.
Then, Ordnance Factory Tiruchirapalli (OFT), in association with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), began developing an indigenous antimateriel rifle capable of similar role , despite heavy visual and techical similarities from the Denel NTW-20 the guns have different calibers except for the 14.5 x 114 mm , ranges and price points. The development of Vidhwansak was completed in November 2005.[5] After all-terrain and all-weather trials, the user trials began in March 2006.[3]

Production began in February 2007. After trials, the Border Security Force ordered 100 Vidhwansaks for use in the border areas.[6] These were supplied by October 2008.[7] The rifle has also been offered to the Indian Army and the National Security Guards.[1][3] However, the Indian Army chose not to bring the Vidhwansak into use as it did not meet the weight requirements.[8]

In any case, the Vidhwansak is comparable to the NTW-20 in terms of caliber, size and performance. The Vidhwansak, which costs Rs 10 lakh (USD 20,000) is much cheaper than comparable foreign alternatives such as the Denel NTW-20 AMR, which costs Rs 23 lakhs (USD 45,000). It also supports multiple calibers and fires 12.7mm, 14.5mm and 20mm rounds compared to dual calibers supported by the NTW-20.Vidhwansak is a manually operated, rotating bolt action rifle. The barrel along with the receiver recoil inside the chassis frame against a damping system. The rifle is fed from a detachable box magazine, that is inserted from the left side. The rifle can be quickly disassembled and carried in two man-portable packs, each weighing about 12 to 15 kg.[3] The rifle has an effective range of 1,800 m (1,300 m for the 20 mm version),[3] while shots can be achieved even up to 2,000 m. The rifle is magazine fed, and reloaded through manual bolt action. A muzzle brake is fitted on the end of the barrel which absorbs an estimated 50%-60% of recoil. This is further supplemented by a buffered slide in the receiver. Vidhwansak is equipped with an 8X magnification, long eye relief telescopic sight with parallax adjustment. A 12X ballistic scope can also be attached.Vidhwansak AMR is one of few firearms to support 3 calibers with quick interchangeability (without completely disassembling and reworking the weapon). The Vidhwansak can be easily converted between the three calibers - 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm and 20 mm, by replacing the barrel, bolt, magazine and scope, which takes about 1 minute in the field, without the need for any specialized tools.

he Ordnance SBML 2-inch mortar, or more commonly just "2-inch mortar", was a British mortar issued to the British Army and the Commonwealth armies that saw use during the Second World War and later.
It had the advantages of being more portable than larger mortars which needed vehicles to be carried around, but gave greater range and firepower than rifle grenades. The 2-inch mortar had been developed during the 1930s after the British Army had inspected weapons of a similar calibre in service with other European countries, including the Spanish 50mm mortar. Although deemed unsuitable for the British Army as it stood, the Spanish mortar did serve as the starting point from which the Armament Research Department could begin development of its own version. In November 1937 ten examples of the new weapon were readied with 1600 rounds each of high-explosive and smoke bombs. The resulting trials confirmed the reliability and dependability of the weapon. The Director of Artillery ordered the weapon to be placed in production in February 1938, only four months after the initial field trials, which meant that by 1939 some 500 of the weapons and their associated ammunition were already established in service as the Mk II with crews trained in the use of the weapon.
Over the duration of the war the 2-inch mortar was developed into no fewer than eight separate marks, from which also stemmed a number of other variations. Some were successful and others less so, such as the Weston version developed in 1944 and found to be less than satisfactory when used on soft ground. This version had the advantage of being fitted with an automatic recocking feature of the firing mechanism, but despite this it was withdrawn from use.
The standard service version of the 2-inch (51 mm) mortar had a barrel length of 21 inches (530 mm) and could fire a high explosive bomb weighing 2.25 lb (1.02 kg) out to a range of 500 yards. With such a short barrel the normal firing method, where the bomb was dropped down the tube and a pin in the base of the barrel struck the detonator in the tail of the bomb, would not work so firing was by a small trigger mechanism at the breech. Originally the 2-inch (51 mm) mortar was fitted with a large collimating sight with elevating and cross-level bubbles, but this was soon dropped as unnecessary in a front-line unit. It was replaced instead with a simple white line painted up the length of the barrel. The firer only had to line this up in the direction of the target and fire a number of bombs for effect. Whilst this method of operation may sound rather haphazard, it worked well and the practice continued long after the war. The mortar evolved in other directions too, with the original large base plate being replaced by a simple curved model, to give it a combat weight of 10.25 lb (4.65 kg). Due to its small size, and for simplicity the