Misplaced Pages

#500499

42-531: The Beretta AR70/90 is a gas operated assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridge, and is the standard issue service rifle of the Italian Armed Forces . The weapon is also designed to be fitted with a rifle grenade , and has grenade sights. The AR series comes in many variants such as the AR90, with a wire folding stock, for use by paratroopers. In 1963, SIG and Beretta began

84-555: A service firearm or service weapon . Firearms with rifled barrels existed long before the 19th century, but were not widely used until the mid-19th century in conflicts such as the Crimean War and American Civil War . Thus, rifles in the early 19th century were for specialist marksmen only, whilst ordinary infantry were issued less accurate smoothbore muskets which had a higher rate of fire, with bore diameters as high as 19 mm (0.75 inch). Early "service rifles" of

126-484: A heavier barrel , bipod and a belt / drum -fed design. Squad automatic weapons usually fire the same cartridge (though heavier- bullet variants are preferred) as the assault rifles or battle rifles carried by other members of the unit. This reduces logistical requirements by making it only necessary to supply one type of service ammunition to a unit. These weapons are light enough to be carried and operated by one infantryman, unlike medium machine guns (such as

168-577: A joint development of the SIG SG 530 . In 1968, Beretta decided to cease development with SIG, with the latter developer choosing to continue work on the SG 530. Beretta instead pursued development of its own off-shoot of the SG 530, using the information and experience they had gained from the project. The result was the Beretta AR70, which externally resembled its parent weapon, the SG 530, while differing in

210-676: A lighter experimental 4.85mm cartridge, they were forced to redesign the weapon to take the 5.56mm NATO cartridge. The L85 IW ( Individual Weapon ) was the rifle version and was designed to replace the 9mm L2 Sterling SMG and 7.62mm L1A1 SLR Rifle . The L86 LSW ( Light Support Weapon ) was the automatic rifle version and was intended to replace the L4 BREN gun and supplement the FN MAG general-purpose machine gun , replacing it at section level. Teething problems, low quality parts, poor ergonomic design and an inability to be wielded left-handed made

252-492: A new assault rifle design, which would become known as AR70/90. The first working samples were ready in 1985 and the AR-70/90 was submitted to the rifle evaluation trials conducted by Stabilimento Militare di Armamento Leggero di Terni (Light Armament Military Plant of Terni) in the years 1988 and 1989. During the trials, the AR-70/90 competed with a variant of H&K G41 licensed and produced domestically by Franchi and

294-469: A safe, and has a carrying handle not unlike the Vietnam-era M16 , a long, bulky barrel, and a hollow stock. It is usually fitted with an ACOG or a red dot optic. Service rifle If the issued weapon is not a rifle or carbine, but instead a different type of firearm intended to serve in a specialized role such as a combat shotgun , submachine gun , or light machine gun , it is called

336-621: The AS70/90 , was also developed. It could be fed with either ammo-belt or standard 30-round STANAG magazine. However, it was not adopted by Italian Armed Forces, whom had instead adopted the Belgian FN Minimi . As with BM59, the AR70/90 also supplanted the older AR70/223 models in all departments that had adopted it. Both the 70/223 automatic rifles and the 70/90 automatic rifles are also available in semi-automatic only versions for

378-699: The Cold War period, the standard squad automatic weapon in the British Army was the FN Mag -derived L7. The most common squad automatic weapons in use today are derived from two basic patterns: the Kalashnikov-based RPK or the purpose-designed FN Minimi . The People's Liberation Army initially used the Type 56 LMG as the primary light machine gun to replace all of its obsolete WW2 LMGs. After

420-607: The Colt Canada Light Support Weapon ) as their squad automatic weapon. All other branches use the FN Minimi for this role. The Russian support weapon concept was designed around providing one standard cartridge that could be used by the clip-fed rifle ( SKS ), magazine-fed assault rifle ( AK-47 ) and belt-fed light machine gun ( RPD ). The SKS and RPD were dropped as being less effective than hoped. The RPK, with its magazine and parts commonality with

462-699: The M1919 Browning ) that require a crew to operate at full effectiveness; or heavy machine guns (such as the M2 Browning or the DShK ) which fire more powerful cartridges but are also crew-served and typically also require a mounting platform to be operable. One of the first weapons used in this role was the Madsen machine gun . Although limited in today's terms, the Madsen was introduced in an era when

SECTION 10

#1732791978501

504-687: The MG36 was never adopted by the German Army as the differences and benefits to the G36 were seen as marginal, resulting in the order being cancelled. The 5.56mm NATO MG4 is the standard platoon-level support weapon of the German Army, adopted in 2005. The 7.62mm NATO MG5 resembles the MG4 and is the new general-purpose machine gun of the German Army, adopted in 2015. In the 1980s the Italian military considered

546-574: The Mod.378 VB-SR , a modified clone of the Galil SAR developed by Bernardelli . There was also intent to request Colt to submit the M16A2 to be evaluated, but legal troubles involving Renato Gamba and his company (currently Bremec S.r.l) – which was Colt's Italian representative – blocked the evaluation of M16A2. AR70/90 would win the trials and be adopted as Italian Army's standard assault rifle. In 1990

588-611: The Sino-Vietnamese War , the PLA adopted the drum-fed Type 81 LMG for high mobility, which was later replaced by QJB-95 since the adoption of QBZ-95. However, the PLA changed back to belt-fed QJB-201 light machine guns since 2021. West Germany's original plan in the late 1980s was to adopt the new 5.56mm Heckler & Koch G41 assault rifle (a variant of the HK33) to replace the 7.62mm Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle and

630-634: The Springfield Model 1873 was the first single-shot breech-loading rifle adopted by the United States War Department for manufacture and widespread issue to U.S. troops. The development of Poudre B smokeless powder in 1884, introduced with the French Lebel Model 1886 rifle , spelt the end of gunpowder warfare and led to a jump in small arms development. By the beginning of World War I , all of

672-732: The StG 44 , which is capable of controllable fully automatic fire from a 30-round magazine with the newly developed 7.92x33mm Kurz intermediate rifle cartridge. After the war, the StG 44 was of particular interest to the Soviet Union, whose AK-47 was derived heavily from the German design. In the 1960s and 1970s, the United States developed and produced the M16 rifle , cementing the applicability of

714-535: The Vietnam War . Intended originally as an automatic rifle capable of delivering suppressing " walking fire " in the advance, the BAR came to be used in the light machine gun role. During World War II , as the importance of having a source of mobile automatic fire increased, the number of BARs in a unit also increased, until in some units it represented 1 in 4 of the weapons present in a squad. During its long service in

756-462: The assault rifle as an effective and versatile combat weapon for future conflicts. Light support weapon A squad automatic weapon ( SAW ), also known as a section automatic weapon or light support weapon ( LSW ), is a man-portable automatic firearm attached to infantry squads or sections as a source of rapid direct firepower . Weapons fulfilling this role can be light machine guns , or modified selective-fire rifles fitted with

798-867: The 1840s and 1850s, such as the Swiss Infanteriegewehr Modell 1842 , the British Pattern 1853 Enfield , and the American Springfield Model 1840 and Springfield Model 1855 were all muzzleloading muskets. Ordnance rifles were introduced in the 1860s and 1870s, with the French Chassepot Model 1866 , the Swiss Peabody Gewehr Modell 1867 , and the Prussian Mauser Model 1871 . In the United States,

840-485: The 4.7mm Heckler & Koch G11 carbine to replace the 9mm IMI MP2 Uzi and Heckler & Koch MP5 . The end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany in 1990 forced everyone to scramble for a cheap alternative. The G36 family was created from a proof-of-concept prototype rechambered to fire the 5.56mm NATO cartridge. It is composed of an assault rifle (G36), light machine gun (MG36), assault carbine (G36K), and PDW (G36C). Though produced, presented and ordered,

882-566: The AR70/223 still ran on the older 5.56mm M193 cartridge, the platform required changes to accommodate the newly standardized SS109 cartridge. Furthermore, a significant defect in build of AR70/223 had been discovered. The receiver of the AR70/223 model was pressed steel box with bolt guides pressed in. It was found that the receiver would distort and jam the firing bolt, if the weapon was subjected to harsh circumstances. The result of these and other upgrades to AR70/223 platform would eventually spawn

SECTION 20

#1732791978501

924-634: The AR70/90 (Automatic Rifle) model was adopted as a standard automatic rifle; in addition to the basic version with fixed stock, the SC70/90 variants (Special Carbine) with folding stock were adopted, mainly used by Alpine troops, and the SCP70/90 (Special Carbine Paratroopers) rifle for paratroopers with recoil pad foldable and shorter barrel than the SC which allows insertion into the rifle sheath used in parachute jumps. A light support weapon variant, known as

966-515: The AR70/90's predecessor, the BM59 , derived from the U.S. M1 Garand , was chambered in 7.62 mm (.308), another NATO caliber which today is considered suitable mostly for sniper or machine gun use. The Beretta AR70/223 in its current state could not be submitted for the trials. In October 1980, NATO had chosen the Belgian 62 gr SS109 cartridge as the new standard for the 5.56×45mm round. Because

1008-545: The Beretta AR70/90. Beretta began to develop an upgraded version of the Beretta AR70/90 platform, but the product in development would eventually evolve into the Beretta ARX-160 , which would be chosen as AR70/90's successor as standard automatic rifle of Italian Armed Forces. Between 2008 and 2014, there were around 30,000 ARX160 A2s that are chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge that have been supplied to

1050-684: The Italian Army, Italian Navy, Italian Air Force and Italian Special Forces, supplementing the AR70/90. ARX-160 has been since the deployed in several operations conducted by Italian Armed Forces, including missions in Afghanistan. The AR70/90 is manufactured according to 1980s standards, i.e. with limited use of polymer plastic parts and using stainless steel whenever possible (a Beretta staple). It weighs approximately 4 kg (8.82 lb) in standard configuration. It has three firing positions (full auto, three-round burst, and semi-auto ) and

1092-626: The M60. Initially the contenders were built around a new intermediate cartridge, but the problems with approval for a new third American-backed standard NATO cartridge forced its abandonment. The program then selected between the control group weapons: the FN Minimi (XM249) and Heckler & Koch HK 23 (XM262) chambered for the improved 5.56mm SS109 round. The FN Minimi was adopted as the M249 because it could optionally fire from magazines from an integral magazine port rather than requiring an exchange of parts in

1134-758: The Madsen is still in limited use today. The standard machine guns of this era were of the Maxim type. Used by the British, Germans, and the Russians, these weapons were bulky, heavy, tripod-based, and water-cooled, they required a team of four men and, although excellent in the defence, were not suited to manoeuvre warfare. Another pioneering weapon in this role was the Browning automatic rifle (BAR). Introduced late in World War I , it remained in front-line service into

1176-575: The SA80 suite unpopular. The magazine-fed L86 was found to not be as capable of sustained fire as a belt-fed system so it was initially supplemented by the L110A1 FN Minimi and then replaced by it. The L86's role was then changed to that of a designated marksman rifle . In United States usage, the M249 light machine gun is commonly referred to as the squad automatic weapon or SAW. In the 1970s

1218-497: The US military, it was pivotal in the evolution of U.S. fireteam tactics and doctrine that continues to the present day. Modern squad automatic weapons (such as the RPK and L86 ) are modified assault rifles or battle rifles (e.g. FN FAL 50.41 and M14A1 ) that may have increased ammunition capacity and heavier barrels to withstand continued fire and will almost always have a bipod. In

1260-611: The United States began realizing that it might have to fight a conflict in the deserts and mountains of the Middle East or Near East rather than the jungles of Asia or forests of Europe and Eurasia. The Squad Automatic Weapon program was designed to create an intermediate weapon between the M16 rifle and M60 machine gun . It would have to fire tracer ammunition out to a visible range of 800 meters or more, be capable of accurate high-volume sustained fire, and be lighter and more reliable than

1302-502: The base AK-47, was more effective. It replaced the RPD as soon as manufacturing techniques allowed it to be mass-produced. The SA80 program was designed to create a family of light assault weapons that had a commonality of parts, could use the same ammunition and magazines, and would replace the UK military's collection of submachine guns, rifles, and light machine guns. Originally designed around

Beretta AR70/90 - Misplaced Pages Continue

1344-770: The case of some assault rifles, such as the H&;K G36 or Steyr AUG , the SAW is simply the standard rifle with a few parts replaced. However, the Austrian Army, though issuing the Steyr AUG rifle, does not issue the HBAR (heavy barrel) variant. Instead, the 7.62mm caliber MG74, a derivative of WW2-era German MG 42 , is issued. Light machine guns , either belt-fed or magazine-fed, may be used as squad automatic weapons, as may general-purpose machine guns ; for example, during most of

1386-659: The field like the HK23. The Infantry automatic rifle program was launched by the United States Marine Corps in 2005. Its task was to find a replacement for the heavy and cumbersome M249 SAW that was serving as the Squad Automatic weapon in a fireteam at the time. Two of the weapons in the competition were the FN SCAR HAMR and a slightly modified HK416 . The weapon chosen to replace the M249

1428-511: The idea of adopting a heavy-barrelled magazine-fed 5.56mm automatic rifle. It was to accompany the 5.56mm Beretta AR70/90 assault rifle and supplement the 7.62mm MG 42/59 general purpose machine gun. A rethinking of the concept led to their adoption of the belt-fed FN Minimi instead. The Netherlands Marine Corps is the only part of the Dutch military to use the LOAWNLD (an updated version of

1470-718: The internal firing mechanism/locking system. The AR-70 was introduced in 1972. Following the successful testing of the rifle's capabilities, it was adopted by various outfits of Italian military and police. These include COMSUBIN , the San Marco Battalion of the Italian Navy, the NOCS of the State Police and was also issued by Italian Airforce to men of VAM (Vigilanza Aeronautica Militare). Exports to foreign armies include Jordan, Malaysia and others. The rifle

1512-576: The law enforcement and civilian market. Known as the AR-70/90s , it was mostly identical to military variant, with exception of deleted flash hider, bayonet mount and carrying handle. Since January 2018, the latest civilian versions have been marketed by Nuova Jager S.r.l. These are mainly rifles acquired from the reserves of the Carabinieri , which have been modified by the distributor for semi-automatic operation only. These variants still maintain

1554-490: The original .223 Remington caliber, ability to take NATO/STANAG magazines, while barrel length has been reduced to 21mm. In 2008, Italian Armed Forces initiated the layered Soldato Futuro (Future Soldier) program, which sought to modernize the elements of the Armed Forces following the wake of innovations and battlefield experiences in 2000s. One of the program's perimeters was examining a potential replacement/upgrade for

1596-455: The standard infantry rifle was a bolt-action repeater with fixed magazines reloaded with single rounds or chargers ; sustained rapid fire with these weapons could be maintained only for very short periods of time. The Madsen was capable of fully automatic fire; despite having only limited magazine capacity, this was still more than that of the infantry rifle, and it was of the quick change detachable box magazine type. Though over 100 years old,

1638-709: The world's major powers had adopted repeating bolt-action rifles, such as the British Lee–Enfield , the German Gewehr 98 , and the Russian Mosin–Nagant . During the Second World War , the United States adopted the M1 Garand , which was the first widely adopted semi-automatic rifle that was brought into military service in 1936. Despite advancements in rifle technology, the United States

1680-428: Was also developed, with a removable box magazine and a quick-change barrel, but it did not achieve considerable success. Development of Beretta AR70/90 rifle began when in the 1980s when the Italian Government decided that its military and law enforcement agencies needed a new standard service weapon. It was made to be compatible with other NATO weapons by the adoption of standard 5.56 mm STANAG loaders, whereas

1722-409: Was initially designated AR-70 , but was later redesignated as AR-70/223 to distinguish it from the later AR70/90. AR-70/223 was available in three variants. The AR-70/223 standard automatic rifle, SC-70 carbine which was 223 with the same muzzle length but with foldable stock, and a special SCS-70/223 rifle with detachable shortened muzzle and foldable stock). A light support weapon variant of 70/223

Beretta AR70/90 - Misplaced Pages Continue

1764-402: Was the only country to adopt a semi-automatic rifle as their primary service rifle. While other countries did develop semi-automatic rifles later on and used in limited numbers during the war. For comparison, Germany produced 402,000 Gewehr 43 rifles, compared to 14,000,000 of the Karabiner 98k (a shortened variant of the Gewehr 98). However, it was during the war that Germany also produced

#500499