MA5 series

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,^[1]^[2] the MA5 series is the oldest rifle platform currently utilized by the UNSC, with more than a dozen models still in use.^[3] While the UNSC Marine Corps and the Navy use the MA5 designation, the Army refers to the weapon as the MA37.

Specifications[edit]

Design details[edit]

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 fragility 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 grenade launcher or an underslung shotgun.^[4]^[5]

Firing mechanism[edit]

The MA5 series rifle is a bullpup rifle and is made of 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 heads-up display or neural interface; if such equipment is not available, pop-up iron sights within the cowling can be used.^[6]

Ammunition[edit]

Main article: 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 rounds, are available for use, however these modifications are available only by Mission Conditional Requisition (MCR).

Development history[edit]

The MA5 entered service with the UNSC Armed Forces in 2395 and has remained the primary service rifle ever since.^[7] In 2437, it was adopted by the UNSC Army.^[2]^[8]^[9]

The MA5 series was preceded in service by the MA3A Individual Combat Weapon System,^[10] which itself was preceded by the MA2B and the MA1.^[2]

Known models[edit]

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.^[2]
MA40 Individual Combat Weapon System - An updated version of the MA37 that increases mechanical reliability and durability in more extreme conditions.^[11]
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.^[2]
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.^[4] It is used by the Marine Corps and the Navy in short-to-mid range combat.^[2]
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.^[12] At some point before 2557, it became the standard-issue fully-automatic rifle of all UNSC branches.^[13]
MA5K Carbine - The MA5K is a carbine variant of the MA5 that is used almost exclusively by Special Forces units. It receives a thirty-round magazine^[2] and is fairly modular, capable of being assembled in various configurations.^[14]

Gallery[edit]

The MA37 assault rifle.
MA40 assault rifle.
The MA5B assault rifle.
The MA5C assault rifle.
The MA5D assault rifle.
An MA5K carbine configuration.
A comparison between the MA5B, the MA5C, and the MA37.
First-person view of an MA5-series ICWS in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. The weapon's ammunition counter and HUD readout are visible.
John-117 wielding an MA5-series rifle in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
John-117 using an MA5-series ICWS in Halo Mythos.
Marines firing their MA5s during the Skirmish on Mona Lisa in The Mona Lisa.
John-117 wielding an MA5D.
A schematic of the MA5D.
A Mark IV-clad Spartan-IV with an MA5 in Halo Infinite.
First-person view of the Evolved MA5 in Halo Infinite.