Editing M7 Caseless Submachine Gun

{{Title|M7/Caseless Submachine Gun}}
{{Era|H2|H3|FS|GOO|UP|HGN}}

{{Weapon
| image=[[Image:BnetH3smg.jpg|300px]]
| name=M7 Submachine Gun
| manufacturer=
| developed=At least before 2531
| model=M7/Caseless Submachine Gun
| type=Fully Automatic Submachine Gun
| cost=cR. 1484
| size=
*Handheld, Single Handed (Dual Wieldable)
*Dimensions:
**Length (extended): 62.7 cm (24.68 in.) 
**Length (retracted): 47.4 cm (18.66 in.) 
**Length (barrel): 15 cm (5.9 in.) 
*Weight: 
**(empty): 1.3 kg (2.86 lbs) 
**(loaded): 2.88 kg (6.36 lbs)
| damage per hit=Very Low
| magazine=60 Rounds
| maxammo=
*240 Rounds or 4 Magazines (Single-Wielded) 
*480 Rounds or 8 Magazines (Dual-Wielded)
| fire=Fully-Automatic
| ammotype=[[M443 5x23mm Caseless FMJ]] (Full Metal Jacket)
| operation=Gas System With Rotating Breech
| rate of fire=*15 rnds/sec (900 rnds/min) (High)
*Muzzle velocity: 427 m/s (1300 f/s)
| accuracy=Moderate to Low
| range=50 meters (155 ft) (Close to medium)
| era=
| counterpart=*Brute: [[Type-25 Carbine]]
*Elite: [[Plasma Rifle]]|
|counterwep=*At Close Range: [[M90 Shotgun|Shotgun]], [[Energy Sword]], 
*At Medium range: [[Battle Rifle]], [[MA5C Assault Rifle]], [[Covenant Carbine]]
| affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
}}
The '''M7/Caseless Submachine Gun'''<ref>http://www.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3smg</ref>, or most commonly known as the '''SMG''', is a [[United Nations Space Command]] infantry and special operations weapon.

There is also another silenced version, the [[M7S Submachine Gun]], which is equipped with a external suppressor to mute gunshots and increase stealth advantages. 

== Introduction ==

The M7/Caseless Submachine Gun is a [[dual wield]]able [[weapon]] seen in [[Halo 2]] and [[Halo 3]]. It is a relatively weak and inaccurate weapon, and is used primarily at close range.

== Summary ==

The M7/Caseless Submachine Gun is a fully automatic, gas-operated, magazine fed, dual wieldable, short range sidearm. The SMG fires 5x23mm Caseless FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) rounds from a 60-round magazine at a velocity of 427 m/sec (1300 ft/sec) with an extremely high rate of fire (15 rnds/sec or 900 rnds/min). This high rate of fire combined with the weapon's relatively low weight leads to tremendous recoil and forces the barrel steadily upward after continuous fire. It also sports a telescoping stock and fore-grip. The SMG lacks range (only being effective up to 50 meters) as well as accuracy so it is strictly a short range weapon.

== Physical Description And Appearance ==

The M7/Caseless Submachine Gun is an automatic UNSC submachine gun that fires 5x23mm Caseless FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) rounds. It fires from a 60-round magazine which is placed horizontally on the left side of the weapon. Due to the odd horizontal placement of the magazine on the weapon, it can be assumed that the magazine utilizes a circular ramp where the magazine meets the breech. This rotates the vertically stacked rounds in the magazine 90 degrees until they align with the horizontal breech. An example of this can be seen in the present day [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90 Fabrique Nationale P90 SMG], as well as the HK G11 experimental assault rifle, which utilized a vertical loading system.

The SMG has a polymer handle, foregrip, and retractable stock, as well as a titanium body, and is gas-operated with a rotating breech. The SMG must be cocked before it can fire the first round. The handle to cock the weapon is located on the right side of the gun and does not move during operation. Once the first round is fired, the gases from previous rounds force the breech to rotate and chamber a new round. Once the magazine is empty, the handle (although not illustrated in-game) can either be pulled back and locked or it can be fully cycled after a fresh magazine has been housed. If it is first pulled back and locked, then it must be pushed forward in order to chamber a new round. The mag release button is located between the red dots on the reciever and needs to be pressed before it can be flicked off. There is no ejection port due to the nature of the rounds fired.

The SMG has a rifled barrel that is 15 cm (5.9 in.) long. The weapon is 47.4 cm (18.66 in.) long with the stock retracted, and has a maximum length of 62.7 cm (24.68 in.) when the stock is fully extended. The stock is also fully adjustable. The Halo 3 SMG is basically the same but has a slightly shorter foregrip and has red dots at the receiver end of the magazine. This weapon does not possess a safety and is dual-wieldable.

==Changes in Halo 3==
[[Image:Halo_3_SMG_view_enlongated.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Halo 3 SMG. The red dots are clearly visible]]
*Red dots at the receiver end of the magazine.
*Slightly shorter foregrip.
*Increased accuracy.
*Increased range.
*Increased rate of fire.
*There is now a delay before the barrel actually starts to climb.
*Slightly more damage.
*The sound of the gun firing is different.

== Advantages ==

The SMG is an excellent suppressive weapon. When firing upon a [[Battle Rifle]] user or a [[Sniper Rifle]] user, the scope will be turned off once the target is hit, reducing their accuracy and giving you the advantage. Also, since it has more ammo than the Assault Rifle (in Halo 3), you will have to reload less often than if you were to use the [[MA5C]]. Like other human firearms, the SMG performs well against unshielded targets, and can kill them rather quickly. The SMG can also form part of the most effective dual-wield combos in the game. In particular, the SMG/Plasma Rifle combo is very effective due to the Plasma Rifle's ability to quickly break shields and the SMG's relatively high damage against unshielded targets. Another effective combo is dual-weilding the SMG with the Plasma Pistol; fire a charged shot to completely deplete the shield of your opponent and then following through with the SMG. Other effective combos include, but are not limited to, dual SMGs and the SMG/Magnum combo  but has a lot more ammunition in it's magazine and a higher rate of fire making it good in a support role where you fire at a group of enemies to make them either take cover before you toss a few grenades after them or to soften them up while a partner hangs back and kills them with a battle rifle or similar. When dual wielded they become an extremely formidable close range weapon. On top of that because they have such a huge magazine, if you get the drop on a group of about 3 you can kill one before they even know you are there, the second before they work out what's going on and the 3rd before he takes down your shield. Any more than that and you might have to think about reloading.

==Disadvantages==
[[Image:Halo3 Spartan-smg-01.jpg|thumb|right|200px| A [[Spartan-II]] in [[CQB]] armor [[Dual wielding]] SMGs.]]
The SMG's primary limiting factor is its poor accuracy, which limits its use to close range. At close ranges it is completely overpowered and outperformed by the [[Shotgun]] and [[Energy Sword]]. Like most other human weapons, the SMG performs relatively poorly against shields, though this weakness is negated by wielding it in conjunction with a plasma rifle or plasma pistol. As stated before, the gun has a recoil which causes the barrel to climb after continuous fire.

In Halo 3 the SMG has been much improved. Simply by itself can be an extremely devastaning weapon in CQB.  This is because of its high ammo capacity and lightning fast melee.  Many players prefer a SMG to an assault rifle because of these traits. while the AR has better range, the SMG is much better in close quarters.

== Against the Covenant ==

Employed against certain members of the [[Covenant]], the SMG can be a useful weapon. When fired in short bursts, it can easily decimate whole squads of [[Grunts]] or [[Drones]]. The SMG is also very useful against [[Jackals]], with the 5 mm round curiously "stunning" the Jackal. It is not as effective against [[Brutes]] or [[Hunters]]. The SMG performs poorly against the [[Elite Personal Energy Shield|shields]] of [[Elites]] (but they do take them out quickly, just not as fast as a plasma weapon like the [[Plasma Rifle]] would). However, once the Elite is unshielded, they can be killed rather quickly. Against Elites, it is recommended to [[dual wielding|dual wield]] the SMG with a plasma weapon due to the latter's superior anti-shield capabilities

== Against the Flood ==

The SMG performs well against all Flood forms (except shielded Elite Combat Forms) due to the Flood's preference to close quarters combat. An SMG is capable of taking out large groups of [[Infection Forms]]. It is also good at shooting off a [[Combat Form]]'s arms to keep them from killing you.

In [[Halo 3]] the SMG rips through the [[flood]] like paper, especially unarmoured forms like the human combat form and the [[infection forms]]. With armoured foes you will have to aim around the armour for it to be effective. It's not so good against the evolved combat forms as they can take a lot of damage from anything (except fire) and you will have to get in close to do much but annoy them - at which range they will slaughter you with their mêlée attack.

== Ammunition ==

The SMG uses a radically different kind of ammunition than the kind found in other [[UNSC]] weapons, called the M443 Caseless round. This ammunition is classified as "caseless," meaning it does not have a metallic casing surround the powder and sealing the bullet, propellant, and primer together. Instead of using this casing, the round uses a combustible adhesive to seal these components together. Because the chemical "casing" is vaporized when fired, there is no need to eject spent brass casings.

This feature is very beneficial. It reduces friction inside the magazine, one of the main causes of jamming in weapons. It also negates the need to expel casings, which also is a major cause of jamming, as mentioned above. This is important, as a user wielding two M7s at once would not want to have hot brass flying in his face from the eject port of the weapon in his left hand. The projectile itself is "jacketed," or coated, in metal (possibly copper or steel) to aid in penetration of the target. Caseless rounds are actually embedded into the block of propellant, reducing their length, allowing more ammunition to be stored in a smaller space.

The SMG's 5x23mm (.197 caliber) rounds, while smaller than most other SMGs, could classify it as a PDW (Personal Defense Weapon), which it has already taken several design cues from (read below).

==Influence==

The M7 appears to take its design from three real-world firearms. The first is the Heckler and Koch G11, a caseless prototype assault rifle developed in the 1980's. The second is the Fabrique Nationale de Herstal P90. The last one is the H&K MP7. The M7 takes its caseless ammunition concept from the G11, and its design from the latter two. As the MP7 and P90 are both personal defense weapons, it can be assumed that the M7 falls under this classification as well. Its slanted front, foregrip, and expandable stock come from the MP7, while its ergonomic grip and the horizontal magazine in a bullpup configuration come from the P90.

==Observations==

Recoil from all but sustained fire is very controllable. Although the M7 submachine-gun is primarily issued to vehicle crews, it is also a favorite of commando teams in its sound suppressed version – the M7S.

==UNSC Remarks==

“The recoil isn’t bad but the M7 itself is relatively light. Not unpleasant to shoot, but a little tricky to control—it’s all about controlling the impulse.”

“It’s actually comparable in weight to the [[M6]] —favorably, in fact. That and not having to worry about the odd casing dropping down your boot makes it a pretty clear choice which one I think is the better system.”

“Yes; I have fired it one-handed with the stock collapsed and the foregrip folded. No; I was not driving at the time—I was shotgun. Did I hit anything? Don’t know—probably never will—no more bogeys afterwards, though.”

“It’s not a deathray but nobody likes getting shot. Not even bravo kilos. And you can fill the air with a lot of lead with an M7."

“I’ve seen a [[Spartan]] use two at once—tearing the shit out of the little ones; sending the big ones down in bloody heaps. But I guess that’s what ya gotta be to pull it off: an action-movie hero or a seven-foot-tall walking tank.”

“The M7 is the wave of the future. Hopefully the Romeo Echo Mike Foxtrots will finally realize the benefits of caseless ammunition.”

== Character Compatibility ==
[[Image:MCwithSMGs.jpg|thumb|Master Chief with Dual SMG's]]
*[[Elites]]
*[[Spartans]]
*[[Marines]]
*[[Brutes]] (have animation but not used)
*[[Jackals]]
*[[Drones]] (have animation but not used)
*[[Flood]] [[Combat Form|Combat Form (Human)]]
*[[Flood]] [[Combat Form|Combat Form (Elite)]]


== Trivia ==

*In Halo 2, this weapon fills a similar niche as the [[MA5B Assault Rifle]] of the original Halo, featuring the same rate of fire and ammo capacity. It even offers very similar power and capabilities when dual wielded. It also has the same aiming reticule as the MA5B. 

*Spare ammunition packs for the M7 SMG in Halo 2 are marked in red.

*It seems to be [[SPARTAN-117]]'s weapon of choice in Halo 2, when dual-wielded, and he is frequently seen dual-wielding SMGs. This image is seen on the cover of [[Halo 2]] and its strategy guide.

* Bungie was not happy on how the [[M6D Pistol]] and the [[MA5B]] behaved in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]]. They complained that the M6D behaved more like a rifle and the [[MA5B]] behaved like an SMG. Thus, in [[Halo 2]], the [[M6C]], [[BR55]], and the [[SMG]] were born. Robert McLees, a weapons designer in Bungie, commented, "Now we have a [[BR55|rifle]] that behaves like a rifle, an [[SMG]] that acts like an SMG, and a [[M6C|pistol]] that acts like a pistol."

*Although the M7 Submachine Gun is primarily issued to vehicle crews, it is also a favorite of commando teams in its sound suppressed version – the M7S.

==Related Links==
{{HaloWikiLink|SMG}}
*[[M7S Submachine Gun]]

== Sources ==
<references/>


{{WepList}}


[[Category:UNSC]]

[[Category:Weapons]]

[[Category:Human Weapons]]

[[Category:Held Weapons]]