M7 Service RIfle
The M7 Service Rifle is a Propellant-Combustion (PropCom) operated, selectively cooled, selectively fired, computer assisted rifle chambered for 6.5x36mm Cased FMJ ammunition. The M7 Service Rifle was the primary infantry weapon of the TASA Marine Corps, serving in this role for most of the organization's history.
History
The Transnational Aerospace Security Alliance (TASA) commissioned the development of a new service weapon shortly after its founding. Before the M7 was adopted, TASA forces used a number of WW3 and early post war designs from their respective countries. The M7 and its variants were introduced to gave TASA the ability to field a standardized combat rifle across all of their forces, taking advantage of postwar technological advances that hadn't seen widespread adoption. Another requirement of the development was the ability of the weapon to be effectively used in low and microgravity conditions, as well as in vacuum, as TASA expected to fight on both Earth and in space. After a series of trials, the final candidate for the M7 design was chosen from among several competing arms manufacturers. The first production model was introduced to the TASA Marine Corps in 2187, seeing its first major combat action on Mars as a part of Operation Plymouth three years later. The rifle performed exceptionally in the harsh conditions of Mars, with minimal misfires or failures compared to earlier post-war designs. Though the Native Martian combatants would have been defeated in any case, a less reliable standard weapon could have led to more Marine deaths. The M7 and its variants served in almost all of the major TASA conflicts of the 23rd Century, from the beaches and jungles of the Pacific War to the vast array of terrestrial and orbital battlefields during the System Wide War. It was during the SWW that the M7 rifle saw its most notable design changes as TASA introduced the M7A2 variant, fielding design improvements based on input from TASA combat veterans. Though the A2 variant looked cosmetically similar, it featured some reliability improvements for its computer module and feed system that only came to light during the long tours of duty seen in the System Wide War. Additionally, liquid and radiative cooling systems were improved for sustained fire in a vacuum. By the middle of the 23rd century, many TASA member nations and even a few third party nations had also adopted the M7 as their standard rifle. Even without needing the advanced features for vacuum and microgravity combat, the weapon's reliability and combat effectiveness made it an attractive acquisition, as was the ability to share resources with their TASA allies. During the War of the Americas, TASA began phasing the M7 out for the M10 Individual Service Carbine. By 2271, the M7 had been phased out from TASA service except for as a ceremonial rifle in honor guard usage. Though TASA decided to drop the M7 from service, its usage in other circles expanded. Using surplus rifles, the United North American States could finally afford to equip all of their forces with M7 variants by 2284. North America's National Guard units, which previously used hand-me-down weapons from the UNAS Army, narrowed the gap in equipment and technology with their active army counterparts. Eventually, however, the UNAS Army began to adopt the M10 rifle favored by the TASA Marine Corps, seeing widespread adoption by 2300. In the years that followed, the UNAS National Guard also sought to replace and phase out the M7, at that point a century old. During the Campaign Against New Dawn, TASA chose the M7 and its variants as the weapon to equip indigenous allied forces on Mars and Luna. This made it easier for TASA to equip and support these factions, while simultaneously depriving adversaries the revenue from their exports like the ubiquitous and versatile Type-27 Open Source Rifle developed by the Pacific Asia Coalition.Features
The M7 series rifle fundamentally makes use of the same basic configuration employed by most non-bullpup assault rifles since the late 20th Century. Its greatest departure from earlier weapons is the thick stock which houses a simple computer that enhances the rifle's capabilities and allows linking with a worn interface or attached accessories like sensors and optics. The computer also manages the electronic firing pin, and can be programmed for a variety of firing modes and trigger sensitivities, to include semi-automatic, fully automatic, burst fire, and echo-fire. In the event of a malfunction the computer can also be manually overridden to engage a simple percussive firing pin. The stock also features an advanced recoil compensation system that absorbs some energy from each shot (particularly useful in microgravity to reduce the impulse imparted on the shooter). Unfortunately these stock-mounted systems mean the weapon cannot be outfitted with a collapsible stock, much like a bullpup rifle with an action in the stock. Like most firearms, the M7 can function effectively in a vacuum. Atmospheric oxygen is not needed for combustion to occur. Heat, however, becomes a problem after sustained fire. In atmosphere, convective air cooling is the most effective method, so the M7 has a series of air chambers around the barrel and action. When firing in vacuum, or during extremely long engagements in atmosphere, the M7 can be injected with a variety of liquid coolants ranging from water to liquid helium or nitrogen. The injection port is located behind the trigger, with the ability to mount an injection bottle under the weapon's stock. Even without liquid cooling, the weapon makes use of conductive metals and radiative surfaces to passively cool the barrel after light or moderate use. The M7 series fires 6.5mm cased cartridges, found to have the most favorable ballistic profile in most conditions. It offered a compromise between high-recoil 7.62mm rifle cartridges and low mass 5.56mm intermediate cartridges. Caseless ammunition was considered in early trials, but the ejected casing turned out to be too important for heat transfer in a vacuum.Variants
Variants of the M7 Rifle include, but are not limited to:- M7A1 Service Rifle - Original base design
- M7A2 Service Rifle - SWW era upgraded design
- M7A3 Ceremonial Service Rifle
- M7G1 Grenadier Service Rifle - M7A1 with 30mm Grenade Launcher
- M7G2 Grenadier Service Rifle - M7A2 with 30mm Grenade Launcher
- M7B Breacher Rifle - M7A1 with underbarrel shotgun
- M7C Close Quarters Carbine - Short barreled M7 for close quarters engagements and crew PDWs
- M7CS Special Operations Carbine - A suppressed M7C tailored to Special Operations use. The primary weapon of TASA Joint Special Operations Command
- M7D1 Designated Marksman Rifle - Long ranged marksman variant of the M7A1
- M7D2 Designated Marksman Rifle - Post SWW Improved M7D1
- M7F Automatic Support Rifle - An M7 derivative intended as a lightweight automatic support weapon for use at the fireteam level
- M7L Light Service Rifle - A stripped down version of the M7A2 without water cooling or computer assistance, intended for export and civilian use
Item type
Weapon, Ranged
Weight
3.1 kg (M7A2, unloaded)
Dimensions
Length: 0.997 m (M7A2)
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