SAR-40: Difference between revisions
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| type = Assault rifle | | type = Assault rifle | ||
| origin = {{flag|Urcea}} | | origin = {{flag|Urcea}} | ||
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The '''SAR-40''', officially designated the '''Standard Assault Rifle, Mk. 1, Model 1940''' is a stamped steel selective-fire {{wp|assault rifle}} developed in [[Urcea]] by Francis Fino. It was the first {{wp|assault rifle}} to enter full use in the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]]. It employed a {{wp|.223 Remington|.223 cartridge}}, the first {{wp|intermediate cartridge}} in Urcean service. The SAR-40 and its later iterations were used by Urcean forces for nearly five decades and were exported globally for use in many countries aligned with [[Urcea]] during the [[Occidental Cold War]] and [[The Deluge]], and the weapon remains in use in some [[NSTA]] countries. Several civilian semi-automatic versions have also been produced by a wide number of manufacturers, and it remains a popular sporting rifle in [[Urcea]] as of the 2020s. | The '''SAR-40''', officially designated the '''Standard Assault Rifle, Mk. 1, Model 1940''' is a stamped steel selective-fire {{wp|assault rifle}} developed in [[Urcea]] by Francis Fino. It was the first {{wp|assault rifle}} to enter full use in the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]]. It employed a {{wp|.223 Remington|.223 cartridge}}, the first {{wp|intermediate cartridge}} in Urcean service. The SAR-40 and its later iterations were used by Urcean forces for nearly five decades and were exported globally for use in many countries aligned with [[Urcea]] during the [[Occidental Cold War]] and [[The Deluge]], and the weapon remains in use in some [[NSTA]] countries. Several civilian semi-automatic versions have also been produced by a wide number of manufacturers, and it remains a popular sporting rifle in [[Urcea]] as of the 2020s. | ||
The decision to adopt a smaller caliber rifle was a highly controversial one at the time and drew significant domestic and allied criticism. Urcea's allies, especially Burgundie, opted to retain the standard use battle rifle with various new weapons throughout the 1940s. Units of the Royal and Imperial Army took to the rifle immediately, praising its firepower and reliability. The rifle was heavily used by the Royal and Imperial Army in the last eight years of the Great War. The SAR-40 and several modified versions of it would remain the standard issue infantry rifle in [[Urcea]] until [[1999]] and was phased out through [[2004]], and it still remains in use in some nations in [[Crona]]. The rifle returned to use in the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] during the [[Final War of the Deluge]] for [[Royal Army Volunteers (Urcea)|Royal Army Volunteer]] units, especially those serving in reserve, as camp guards, and in other auxiliary roles. | The decision to adopt a smaller caliber rifle was a highly controversial one at the time and drew significant domestic and allied criticism. Urcea's allies, especially Burgundie, opted to retain the standard use battle rifle with various new weapons throughout the 1940s. Units of the Royal and Imperial Army took to the rifle immediately, praising its firepower and reliability. The rifle was heavily used by the Royal and Imperial Army in the last eight years of the Great War. The SAR-40 and several modified versions of it would remain the standard issue infantry rifle in [[Urcea]] until [[1999]] and was phased out through [[2004]], and it still remains in use in some nations in [[Crona]]. It was replaced by the [[SAR-99]]. The rifle returned to use in the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] during the [[Final War of the Deluge]] for [[Royal Army Volunteers (Urcea)|Royal Army Volunteer]] units, especially those serving in reserve, as camp guards, and in other auxiliary roles. | ||
==Nomenclature== | ==Nomenclature== |
Revision as of 15:15, 28 November 2022
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SAR-40 | |
---|---|
![]() 1950s era SAR-40 | |
Type | Assault rifle |
Place of origin | |
Service history | |
In service | 1940-2004 |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | Second Great War Operation Kipling |
Production history | |
Designer | Francis Fino |
Designed | 1939 |
Manufacturer | Fino Family Arms |
Produced | 1940 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 8.05 pounds |
Length | 36.2 inches |
Barrel length | Barrel length 15.4 inches |
Cartridge | .223 |
Action | Roller-delayed blowback |
Rate of fire | 520 RPM |
Muzzle velocity | 610 m/s (2,000 ft/s) |
Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazine |
Sights | Iron sights |
The SAR-40, officially designated the Standard Assault Rifle, Mk. 1, Model 1940 is a stamped steel selective-fire assault rifle developed in Urcea by Francis Fino. It was the first assault rifle to enter full use in the Royal and Imperial Army. It employed a .223 cartridge, the first intermediate cartridge in Urcean service. The SAR-40 and its later iterations were used by Urcean forces for nearly five decades and were exported globally for use in many countries aligned with Urcea during the Occidental Cold War and The Deluge, and the weapon remains in use in some NSTA countries. Several civilian semi-automatic versions have also been produced by a wide number of manufacturers, and it remains a popular sporting rifle in Urcea as of the 2020s.
The decision to adopt a smaller caliber rifle was a highly controversial one at the time and drew significant domestic and allied criticism. Urcea's allies, especially Burgundie, opted to retain the standard use battle rifle with various new weapons throughout the 1940s. Units of the Royal and Imperial Army took to the rifle immediately, praising its firepower and reliability. The rifle was heavily used by the Royal and Imperial Army in the last eight years of the Great War. The SAR-40 and several modified versions of it would remain the standard issue infantry rifle in Urcea until 1999 and was phased out through 2004, and it still remains in use in some nations in Crona. It was replaced by the SAR-99. The rifle returned to use in the Royal and Imperial Army during the Final War of the Deluge for Royal Army Volunteer units, especially those serving in reserve, as camp guards, and in other auxiliary roles.
Nomenclature
Upon its introduction, the SAR-40 was initially introduced as the "Standard Rifle Mk. 11" (SR-11), following rifle conventions established in the 1874. However, it was later redesignated as "Standard Assault Rifle, Mk. 1" (SAR-1), which created cataloging issues within the Royal and Imperial Army due to the similarity with the 1870s era SR-1. Accordingly, in 1943 it was given its permanent designation, "Standard Assault Rifle, Mk. 1, Model 1940" (SAR-40), which established a new convention for assault rifles going forward, using their year number rather than sequential number.
History
Background
The beginning of the Second Great War exposed a significant lack of firepower in the Royal and Imperial Army, as Urcean and allied soldiers primarily using SR-9C bolt action rifles were commonly outgunned by Caphirian supplied soldiers of the Deric Republic using semi-automatic rifles. While the Royal and Imperial Army managed to win victories due to its often superior numbers, its soldiers were clearly not equipped for the inevitable battles in Urlazio and Sarpedon. Field testimonies and studies conducted by the Army also indicated that its rifles - commonly sighted out to 2000 meters - were designed for engagements at ranges that were not actually taking place. Most engagements were at relatively close range, where heavier, longer bolt action rifles and carbines performed especially poorly. The Army began to adopt Lansing-Mitchell rifles in 1936, the third year of the war, but although it was semi-automatic it still used far larger rounds than necessary.
In late 1936, the Royal and Imperial Army began theorizing and development of a number of intermediate cartridges, lighter cartridges with enough stopping power to be practical for the type of combat seen during the War. In addition to a new infantry rifle, the Army sought to streamline its logistics by replacing the submachine guns currently in use with a similar weapon using the intermediate cartridges. A series of contests began in 1938 and 1939, but few viable options emerged.
Fino Development
Design work on the SAR-40 began in 1938, as arms designer Francis Fino's own service early in the Second Great War imparted valuable lessons regarding infantry firepower in closer quarters than military designers had initially intended. After several prototypes, Fino eventually arrived on a fully functional model in early 1939. That year, the PR1FD (Prototype Rifle 1, Fino Design) was presented for official military trials. The PR1FD was originally separated into a semi-automatic version and a fully automatic version (intended to serve as a submachine gun) which were otherwise indistinguishable; these weapons were originally going to be adopted as the SR-39 and SMP-39. The Royal and Imperial Army officially selected the PR1FD and ordered tens of thousands of semi-automatic and automatic versions, but production issues lead to the creation of a single select-fire version in September 1939. This version excelled in all live fire tests and was well liked in limited field tests; it was subsequently adopted as the SAR-40.
Service
In 1940, the fixed-stock version with selective fire was introduced into active service with selected units of the Royal and Imperial Army, becoming the standard infantry rifle. The rifle served as the standard issue service weapon from then until 1987, when it was replaced by the SAR-99. The SAR-40 was appreciated by military historians and soldiers alike, who praised the innovative nature, relative ease of use, and firepower the weapon afforded the Urcean infantry of the late Second Great War and Occidental Cold War. The weapon saw a second term of service as a weapon, being reactivated in 2023 for support troops, allied militias, military police and other auxiliary units during the Final War of the Deluge. Though decommissioned again in 2025, it remains in service with many nations aligned with Urcea.
Design
Variants
SAR-40 (Base)
The first production model of the SAR-40, commonly known as the "base" model, was in production and service through 1948.
SAR-4001
SAR-4002
SAR-4003
The 4003 variant, introduced in 1974, made a number of cosmetic changes to the rifle. All wood parts were replaced with aluminum. The iron sights were changed from notch-and-post open sights to aperture sights.
SAR-4004
The 4004 variant, introduced in 1982, replaced the earlier aluminum parts with new composite material parts, reducing the weight of the rifle significantly.
Usage
Users
Conflicts
Impact and legacy
As the first widely adopted assault rifle, the SAR-40 left a profound legacy on the development of firearms. Due to the amount of units manufactured and distributed globally during the Occidental Cold War, the weapon became an enduring symbol of the Cold War era as well as a symbol of armed support for organicism.