Editing MA5 series

{{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
The '''MA5 series''', collectively known as the '''MA5 Individual Combat Weapon System''', is a series of air-cooled, gas-operated assault rifles produced by [[Misriah Armory]]. Part of the larger [[MA Series]], the MA5 is the workhorse of the [[United Nations Space Command]]. Having been in service for more than fifty years,<ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 16''</ref><ref name="Waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/assault-rifle/7b27101b-fec7-41d9-9fe3-c4dcc04f01b1 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Assault Rifle''] (defunct, backup on [https://web.archive.org/web/20111004174237/http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/assault-rifle/7b27101b-fec7-41d9-9fe3-c4dcc04f01b1 Archive.org])</ref> the MA5 series is the oldest rifle platform currently utilized by the UNSC, with more than a dozen models still in use.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-locke-load '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Locke & Load'']</ref> While the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] and the [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] use the MA5 designation, the [[UNSC Army|Army]] refers to the weapon as the '''MA37'''.

== Specifications ==
=== Design details ===
The MA5 series is a family of air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed weapons designed for automatic fire. They typically feature an attached electronics suite that provides information on rounds remaining in the magazine and a compass heading, as well as fulfilling several other "housekeeping" functions. These rifles are rugged and sturdy, and perform exceptionally well in a variety of environments, especially given the perceived delicacy of the attached electronics suite. MA5-series weapons generally come configured with a standard-issue flashlight mounted beneath the barrel, but can be fit with an [[M301 Grenade Launcher|grenade launcher]] or an [[underslung shotgun]].<ref name="McLees">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BAGAssaultRifle '''Bungie.net''': ''MA5C Assault Rifle'']</ref><ref>'''Halo: Silent Storm''', ''Chapter 25''</ref>

=== Firing mechanism ===
The MA5 series rifle is a bullpup rifle and is made of [[Titanium-A armor|Titanium-A alloy]].{{Citation needed}} The rifle is gas-operated and fires from a closed bolt. The charging handle used to chamber the round is situated on the left side of the rifle and moves during operation. Once the first round is fired, the gases from that round and those to follow impinge upon a gas piston, which pushes back the bolt carrier, rotating the bolt inside which unlocks it and extracts the spent brass from the chamber and ejects it. As the bolt carrier group is propelled forward, it chambers another round. This cycle continues until the magazine is empty. Once the magazine is empty, the charging handle must both be pulled back and locked or must be fully cycled after a fresh magazine is inserted to chamber the next round. The magazine itself is located at the butt of the rifle and the magazine release button is located above the magazine well and has an arrow pointing down toward the housing.

The electronics suite is integrated along the top rail guard of the weapon. The MA5 is designed for the toughest of situations, able to be subjected to elements that would otherwise cause a weapon to malfunction, or render a weapon inoperable. The electronics suite contains an LED ammunition counter that displays the number of rounds remaining in the inserted magazine, as well as displaying a magnetic compass. The suite can also project a targeting reticule on the user's [[HUD|heads-up display]] or [[neural interface]]; if such equipment is not available, pop-up iron sights within the cowling can be used.<ref name="contactharvest">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 136-138''</ref>

=== Ammunition ===
{{Main|M118 Full Metal Jacket Armor-Piercing|l1=M118 7.62×51mm FMJ-AP}}
The MA5 series rifle uses the M118 7.62×51mm Full Metal Jacket, Armor Piercing rounds. These rounds are designed to pierce body armor so the rounds are reasonably large, and are surrounded by a molded jacket of metal, which enhances its armor-piercing capabilities. More exotic ammunition types, like [[shredder round]]s, are available for use, however these modifications are available only by Mission Conditional Requisition (MCR).

== Development history ==
The MA5 entered service with the UNSC Armed Forces in [[2395]] and has remained the primary service rifle ever since.<ref name="HOSFM">'''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''', ''page 188''</ref> In [[2437]], it was adopted by the [[UNSC Army]].<ref name="Waypoint"/><ref name="katprofile">[http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/01/27/feature-Noble-Team-Profile-3.aspx '''GameInformer''': ''Noble Team Profile #3'']</ref><ref name="MA37">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=ordnance&cid=24580 '''Bungie.net''': ''MA37 ICWS'']</ref>

The MA5 series was preceded in service by the [[MA3A assault rifle|MA3A Individual Combat Weapon System]],<ref name="HFS">'''Halo: First Strike'''</ref> which itself was preceded by the [[MA2B assault rifle|MA2B]] and the [[MA1 assault rifle|MA1]].<ref name="Waypoint"/>

== Known models ==
*[[MA37 assault rifle|MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System]] - The MA37, the [[UNSC Army]]'s designation of the MA5, was introduced in 2437 and is still favored heavily by the Army despite newer iterations of the series due to its ruggedness and simplicity. The MA37 has a more skeletal cowling than other MA5 variants.<ref name="Waypoint"/>
*[[MA5B assault rifle|MA5B Individual Combat Weapon System]] - Much less accurate in comparison to the MA5C and MA5D, it is often relegated to use in short-range combat. The MA5B receives a sixty-round magazine.<ref name="Waypoint"/>
*[[MA5C assault rifle|MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System]] - An improvement upon the MA5B, featuring a heavier barrel with a one-in-seven twist, a stronger magazine spring mechanism, a lower-profile electronics housing, and a sturdier, more ergonomically designed trigger guard. It receives a shortened thirty-two round magazine; the reduced magazine capacity in relation to the MA5B is part of an effort to prevent wearing of the magazine spring.<ref name="McLees"/> It is used by the Marine Corps and the Navy in short-to-mid range combat.<ref name="Waypoint"/>
*[[MA5D assault rifle|MA5D Individual Combat Weapon System]] - The MA5D receives a thirty-two round magazine like the MA5C, and also an increased capacity thirty-six round magazine.<ref name="GI 522012">[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/05/02/the-arsenal-of-halo-4.aspx '''Game Informer:''' ''The Arsenal of Halo 4'']</ref> At some point before 2557, it became the standard-issue fully-automatic rifle of all UNSC branches.<ref name="Halo 4">'''Halo 4''' ''In-game description''</ref>
*[[MA5K carbine|MA5K Carbine]] - The MA5K is a carbine variant of the MA5 that used almost exclusively by [[UNSC Special Forces|Special Forces]] units. It receives a thirty-round magazine<ref name="Waypoint"/> and is fairly modular, capable of being assembled in various configurations.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''' cover art</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HaloReach_-_MA37.png|The MA37 assault rifle.
File:HW-MA5-ICWS-AssaultRifle.png|The MA5B assault rifle.
File:H3-MA5C-ICWS-AR-Right.png|The MA5C assault rifle.
File:H4-MA5D-AssaultRifle.png|The MA5D assault rifle.
File:H4-MA5D-Schematic.jpg|A schematic of the MA5D.
File:Alternate MA5K.jpg|An MA5K carbine configuration.
File:Assault Rifle Comparisons.jpg|A comparison between the MA5B, the MA5C, and the MA37.
File:HCEA-MA5B-AR-FirstPerson.png|[[John-117]] with an MA5B at the ready. The weapon's ammunition counter and HUD readout are visible.
File:Halo4-MasterChief-John117.png|John-117 wielding an MA5D.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[i love bees]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[Breaking Quarantine]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Starry Night]]''
*''[[Believe]]'' 
**''[[Diorama]]'' {{C|Diorama only}} 
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[The Life]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
**''[[Sadie's Story]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
**''[[Odd One Out]]'' {{C|Non-canonical appearance}}
**''[[Prototype]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
**''[[The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Pariah]]''
**''[[Dirt]]''
**''[[Blunt Instruments]]''
**''[[The Mona Lisa]]''
**''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Human Weakness]]''
**''[[The Return]]'' {{C|Motion comic only}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
**''[[Birth of a Spartan]]''
**''[[Patrol]]''
**''[[Deliver Hope]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[The Commissioning]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Scanned]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
**''[[All Hail]]'' {{C|Statue only}}
**''[[The Cost]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Lone Wolf]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
{{col-end}}

== Sources ==
<references/>

{{UNSC rifles}}
[[Category:Assault rifles]]