H&K Mk. 23 Mod 0 SOCOM

One of the more famous Special Ops sidearms, the SOCOM uses .45 ACP, in a 12 round magazine. It was designed specifically for the United States Navy Special Operations Command, or SOCOM. (Hence the name) Although larger and heavier than the Berreta M9, it can be equipped with a laser sight and a highly effective suppressor. It is also waterproof, one of the main selling points for this pistol for the Navy. Once submerged, the suppressor is also more effective at reducing the noise generated from firing.

H&K AG-36

The AG-36 itself is the grenade launcher, attached to a G-36 assault rifle. It uses standard 40mm rifle grenades, like the US M203. The main difference is that, instead of the barrel sliding forward, it actually twists to the left. This makes it slightly easier to reload.

As with all grenade launchers, it can be armed with HE, frag, WP, smoke, flash and teargas rounds.

The G-36 rifle itself comes in several versions- the MG-36 with a longer barrel and a 100 round C-Mag, the C carbine version (seen in the picture), and the K 'Kurz' or short varient, essentially an oversized SMG. All use 5.56x45mm ammunition.

H&K MG-3

An updated version of the MG-42, the MG-3 uses NATO 7.62x51mm rounds. It can still maintain the massive 1200 rounds a minute, with an improved and strengthened barrel multiplying the number of rounds able to be fired before a barrel change. (The original MG-42s could withstand 200 rounds before the barrel was completely useless)

H&K MSG90

The military version of the famous PSG-1, the Miltary Sharpshooter Gun uses the same 7.62mm ammo, and most of the same componants. Using slightly different manufacturing techniques, and lighter and simpler components, it is on the whole cheaper, lighter and quieter. I have heard both sniper rifles in action, and the MSG90 is distinctly more silent. However, it is still just as accurate and powerful, although easier to carry and fire.

H&K MP7

This is Heckler and Kochs answer to FNs P90 PDW. A much smaller weapon, it is just as fast firing, and its small 4.7mm round can easily penetrate body-armour. Designed specifically as a replacement to pistol sidearms, the MP7 is not too much larger than a .50AE Desert Eagle, and can carry 20 rounds in its magazine, or 50 in an extended one. It can be used as a medium-range single shot 'sniper' weapon, but it is more likely to be used as a CQC full-auto weapon.

FN Minimi

One of the more successful in the short line of light support weapons, the Minimi is in use in Europe, as well as Australia as the F-89 and America as the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon). It uses 5.56mm ammunition, either through a belt or magazine. It has a feed (hidden under the belt) that can accept M-16, M-4 or Steyr magazines.

It is capable of firing over 1000 rounds a minute, with the barrel able to be exchanged in a few seconds. Lighter than the HK-21 and M-60, the smaller ammunition allows the gunner to carry more ammo slightly more easily. Other newer versions, such as the US Para and SPW, are even lighter, yet still maintain the high fire-rate, and, unlike the 'too-light' M1918 BAR, it is still heavy enough to absorb the recoil generated.

FN MAG-58

Originally an improved version of the squad machinegun, the M-60, the MAG was quickly converted as a co-axil and pintle mounted machinegun for various tanks, including the Leapord, Centurian and Abrams. Although more expensive than the M-60, while having a slower fire-rate and the same 7.62mm ammo, the MAG-58 is much more versatile and reliable- during a number of tests, the MAG out performed the M-60 several times over.

Although the infantry version saw use in seveal countries, including Australia, the newer and lighter Minimi proved to be a more capable SAW weapon. As a result, FN made the later M240 pintle machinegun their primary version. It soon became the preffered medium machinegun for armies across the world.

FN P90

Seen in Counter-Strike, Stargate, FarCry and an episode of CSI-Miami, the P90 created the concept of the Personal Defence Weapon. (An eariler version of a PDW does exist, it is essentially a modified MP5K) Relativly large for an SMG, it is very fast firing, and the bullpup design makes it vey accurate. It uses the FN's 5.7mm round, which can pierce through kevlar and ceramic armour with ease. The unique design, with the magazine ontop, allows it to be compact, and makes it truly ambidextrious, since the design requires the cases to eject downwards. The magazine holds 50 rounds of ammo, while the weapon can fire at 900 rounds a minute. The only real problem is that the magazine is slightly fragile- if dropped or knocked while half loaded, the magazine twist-feed can jam easily.

FN F2000

The F2000 is better known as the SC-20K MAWS (Modular Assault Weapon System), made famous by the Splinter Cell series. In real life, the F2000 is modular to some extent- the foregrip can quickly be exchanged for a combat shotgun, a grenade launcher, a non-lethal launcher (used to fire tear-gas and 'knock-out' rounds, which are similar to Fishers Airfoil Rounds) as well as lasers and tac-lights. The rounds are ejected down and to the left, allowing it to be used left handed, unlike most bullpup weapons (Firing a FA MAS left handed results in hot cases being pumped into your neck) It can also be fitted with a computer system in place of the scope.

Steyr IWS-2000

One of the latest anti-material rifles (AMR) to be developed, the IWS-2000 is designed to punch through armour plating, truck engine blocks and brick walls with ease. It is a bullpup semi-auto rifle, similar to the Barrett M82A3, but it has a slightly shorter barrler, and uses a larger round- the 15.2mm APFSDUDS, or Armour Piercing, Fin Stabilised, Depleted Uranium, Discarding Sabot. What that means is the the large 15.2mm round houses a smaller DU tipped 'dart'. When it is fired, the sabot falls apart, while the dart continues to the target. This makes it a smaller version of an Abrams 120mm APFSDS shell, although it cannot punch through as much armour. Still, it has more pentrating ability than the smaller .50 calibre round.

The rounds pictured here are a 15.2mm Discarding Sabot, above a 7.62x51mm rifle round.

Steyr/MetalStorm F-88 AICW

Similar in theory as the US OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon), the AICW (Advanced Individual Combat Weapon) uses a mix of Austrian Steyr and Australian MetalStorm technology (the OICW uses H&K tech, with the G36K and a 20mm grenade launcher, designed from the CAWS shotgun) The 'kenetic' or rifle section is a standard 5.56mm F-88 Austeyr assault rifle, which is the Australian licence built version of the Steyr AUG. The explosive section is a 40mm grenade 'railgun', designed by MetalStorm. MS have build a large number of weapons and other devices (including for firefighting and agraculture) that use electro-magnetic railgun technology. The barrel of the grenade launcher is also the magazine, holding 3 40mm grenades. When they are fired, a small charge gets the round moving, also destroying a barrier between the rounds (this clears the way for the next grenade). The barrel then uses magnets to accelerate the grenade, causing it to have a higher velocity on leaving the barrel than if it had been fired from a standard grenade launcher. The next round can then be fired instantly.

The AICW was originally to have a smaller 20mm grenade launcher, with 5 rounds in the barrel, as well as a computer system. The grenades themselves would also have an 'airburst' function, exploding past the enemy, allowing for kills even with the enemy hiding behind a barricade.

Daewoo USAS-12

The USAS-12 is a fully-automatic shotgun, based on the M-16. It uses standard 12-Gauge shells, either slug or 00-buckshot, loaded into either 10 round magazines or 20 round drums. Larger and much heavier than the M-16, its added bulk allows it to absorb a large amount of the recoil, making it controlable in full-auto fire.

As with most combat shotguns, it is designed for CQC, or close quarters combat, and door-breaching. A quick burst of 12-Gauge slugs can quickly reduce most barriers to splinters. The only real problem is that 'collateral damage' was not considered when this weapon was designed, which can be serious with its 650 rounds per minute fire rate.

Barrett M-82

The rifle was used first in the Gulf War, and showed how effective large calibre sniper systems could be. Using the large 12.7x99mm BMG round, it was considered by NATO as 'too damaging', resulting in the creation of the AMR class. The Barrett is commonly used for light anti-armour combat (mainly APCs), vehicle immobilisation, and EOD (Explosive Ordernance Detail), destroying live but unexploded munitions from range. The size of the round creates a massive amount of recoil, migitated somewhat by the massive muzzle-break, but it also allows the weapon to hit a target, dead accurate, from over a mile away. There was one rumour that, in Afghanistan, a sniper got a clean headshot from 2000 metres using an M-82A2.

Croatian RT-20

Easily one of the largest and most bizare looking sniper weapons, the RT-20 is one of only two infantry weapons that use the 20x110mm Hispano round, which was first used in German machine-cannons in WW2. The round comes in two types- explosive, or explosive armour-piercing. The size of the weapon and the ammunition suggests it will see use primarily for anti-armour and barricade destruction.

The interesting feature of this weapon is the barrel that aims backwards, above the firing chamber. Borrowed from recoiless-rifle designs, the idea is for slightly less than half of the gases to be directed out of the rear-facing barrel, negating most of the recoil. This makes it dangerous for anyone behind the sniper, but it works extremely well.

The rounds pictured here are the 12.7mm Browning MachineGun round above, used by several Barrett weapons and the AW-50, and the 20mm Hispano below, as used by the RT-20. The .50 cal round is roughly 1.8 times the size of a 7.62mm NATO, and a bit over twice the size of a 5.56mm round.

AT-4 anti-tank weapon

The AT-4 is the US military's replacement to the M-72A2 LAWS, which was a single-shot 76mm rocket launcher. The newer system is technically a recoiless rifle, since there is no propellent system attached to the actual warheads. The 84mm round used has a large shaped-charge warhead on the front, enough to punch a hole in a MBT. Unlike the LAWS, the AT-4 can be reloaded in the field, making it more effective in long-term operations.

The US Marines do not use the AT-4, instead they use the SMAW-D. It is a multi-role rocket launcher, heavier than an AT-4, but more effective at destroying tanks, helicopters and obstacles.

Accuracy Internation Arctic Warfare Magnum

AI produce some of the most powerful bolt-action rifles in the world. The two most well-known are the large 12.7mm BMG AW-50, used by both the British and Australian armies, and the L-96 Arctic Warfare Magnum. Using either the Magnum 8mm or .338 Lapua round, it is unable to engage targets as far away as the .50 AMRs, but the rounds are less noisy, and travel faster.

AN-94 Abakan

The newest of the Russian assault rifles, it has a look similar to the Kalashnikova rifles. It uses the same 5.45mm round as the AK-74, the Russian version of the American .223/5.56mm round. It is slightly lighter and more durable, although more expensive to produce.

The best feature of this rifle is similar to the German G-11 caseless assault rifle- when in burst fire, it fires 2 rounds at 1800rpm. As a result, the recoil from the first shot doesn't overly affect the second rounds accuracy. In full auto, only the first 2 rounds are fired at that high rate, while the rest are fired at 550 rpm.

M2 Bradley IFV

The Bradley is one of the most versatile armoured vehicles in the US Army. Originally designed as an APC for mechanized infantry units, it has evolved in a scout, light combat and anti-air unit.

There are 3 main varients, each with a 25mm Bushmaster chain-gun, and a co-axil M240 machinegun. The M2A2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle is used as an APC, with space for 6 soldiers. It is armed with a dual-tube TOW system, which can kill light armour easily.

The M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle is essentially the same, except the passanger space now houses additional reloads for the Bushmaster and the TOWs. It is a scout, operating ahead of the main column of Abrams tanks.

Finally, the M6 Linebacker replaces the TOWs for a quadruple FIM-92 Stinger rack. Along with the Bushmaster, it can engage low flying aircraft easily. Against choppers and Su-25 Frogfoots, it can engage and win. However, it is next to useless against high-speed threats, such as the MiG-27.

M1 Abrams

The MBT of choice for the United States 1st Armoured Cav. Although 20 years old, it is one of the most advanced tanks in existance. It is also one of the best known and respected, since 2000 of them, along with a similar number of Bradleys, engaged the Iraqi Armoured divisions near Kuwait. Thousands of T-72s and BMPs were destroyed, with only 2 Bradleys and no Abrams lost (although 9 were decommisioned due to battle damage, mainly from landmines)

The original M1 was armed with a 105mm rifled gun, along with two M240s (one co-axil, one on the loaders cupola) and a M2 'Ma Duece' machinegun on the commanders cupola. The improved A1 varient replaced the main gun with a 120mm smoothbore, which was bought from the Germans in exchange for the gas-turbine engine, which is used in all Abrams. The A1 also used a new kind of shell, with a disintegrating 'casing', making reloading faster and easier. The newest version, the M1A2, is little different from the A1. The major changes are with the computer systems, including advanced search and tracking systems, and a wireless command network known as IVIS. It also has a boosted gas-turbine engine, and extra armour plating, making it just as fast as the original M1, but with 10 tons more armour and computer systems.

M270 MLRS

Easily one of the deadliest artillery pieces, the M270 looks a steel box with tracks. Armed with 12 long range rockets, the MLRS can deploy, fire, reload and be on the move again in a short space of time. The rockets have a range of 32 kilometres, and carry over 600 small cluster bomblets. Although useless against tanks (unless they hit an outer fueldrum on a Russian T- tank), they can destroy trucks, command vehicles, supply dumps and anybody caught in the open over a wide area.

The launcher unit itself is divided into 2 sections, with 6 rockets each. Reloading consists of removing the section, and inserting a new fully-armed one. Although it requires a reload track, it only takes a few minutes for the M270 to be ready to ripple off another salvo.

LAV-25 Light Attack Vehicle

The LAV is the primary recon and light transport for the US Marines. It is fast, well armoured, and is capable of 'swimming'. Armed with a 25mm Bushmaster, it can engage enemy light armour and support vehicles with ease. Newer versions, including the Australian Army ASLAV, also come equipped with TOW or Milan AT missiles.

Other varients include an Air Defence version, armed with several Stinger missiles, an Assault Gun with a large bore cannon, Anti-tank with TOW racks in place of the turret, and the C2 Command vehicle, with advanced comm equipment.

B-1B Lancer 'Bone'

The original B-1A was designed as a beefed-up FB-111. Using the same variable geometry technology (or 'swing-wing') technology, it was able to carry a much heavier payload, a longer operating range, and could still exceed Mach 2. Compared with the B-52, it had a shorter range and only a slightly smaller payload, but was able to penetrate enemy air defences more easily and safely.

The new improved Block B is a complete redesign, using various 'low observation' or stealth techniques in its construction. Though not a true stealth bomber, it has a radar cross-section (RCS) of a small fighter. Its speed has been reduced to Mach 1.6, but it is still extremely agile for its size, and its payload and range have both been increased. However, inter-continental flights still require inflight refueling.

B-2 Spirit 'Beak'

The famous stealth bomber is the most stealthy, secretive, fuel-efficient and expensive aircraft ever made. Only a few are in service, and only 20 are expected to be built all-up. Its extremely low RCS, roughly the size of a seagull, is not because of its outside shape- the flying wing design plus the graceful curves have little effect on radar returns, but they mean the B-2 can fly long distances on a small amount of fuel, and can also climb very quickly. The stealth secret is quite simple- the outside 'skin' is made of radar-transparant material, while the inside consists of copper-mesh, embedded in aluminium arrayed in jagged layers. Radar is either absorbed and transferred to heat in the copper, or reflected at odd angles due to the slanted metal.

Although able to avoid radar easily, the B-2 has some problems, aside from its cost- it has a relatively small payload, able to carry a total of 16 500lb JDAMs as compared with 24 in the B-1B. It is also easily sighted from the ground, though operations at night make that near impossible. Its speed is also restrictive, though it can go past Mach 1 if neccessary, however, it is nowhere near as manouvarable as the B-1.

F/A-22 Raptor 'Lightning'

The Raptor was originally called the Lightning-II, after Lockheeds first long-range fighter, the P-38 Lightning. Using advanced turbojet engines, able to 'supercruise' faster than sound without afterburners, designed with a low-observational and high-speed fusilage, and armed with a highly advanced computer and weapon system, it is easily the most deadly fighter in the world.

Although it can carry almost any weapon in the USAAF arsenal, including B-63 nukes and JSSOW cruise missiles, its operational design has only 5 weapon systems- the M63 20mm gattling cannon, the AIM-9X Sidewinder, one each in sidebays, the AIM-120R AMRAAM, of which 6 can be carried internally or 2 along with 2 of one of the air-to-mud munitions- the JDAM for precision bombing, and the AGM-65 Maverick for tank-busting. All are carried internally, and several others can be carried on wing hardpoints, although they greatly increase the aircrafts RCS.

A-10 Thunderbolt

A truly unique combat aircraft, the famous Warthog is designed along the same lines as the Russian Il-2 and Su-25, and the US OV-10 Bronco. As opposed to high-speed missile launching fighters such as the F-16CJ or F-15E, the A-10 flies only slightly faster than a helicopter gunship, but carries extremely heavy firepower and can orbit for several hours, supporting ground forces by taking out groups of enemy tanks.

Although it is normally armed with AGM-65 Mavericks, Rockeye clusterbombs and LAU-68 rockets, its main weapon is the massive GAU-8 30mm Avenger cannon, which can fire at over 4000 rounds per minute and tear a main battle tank in half. The Mavericks are reserved for anti-aircraft units, specifically the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, which are engaged at max range, while Rockeyes and rockets are used against larger formations of enemy units, such as supply convoys. It can also be armed with Sidewinder missiles for air-to-air combat, mainly against choppers, but it is also extremely deadly in a dogfight, since it can fly slower and turn faster than any other fixed-wing combat aircraft.