MA37 assault rifle

The MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System, formally known as the Individual Combat Weapon System, Caliber 7.62 mm, MA37, is the standard-issue service rifle of the UNSC Army. It is produced by Misriah Armory and is known as the MA5 by the Naval services.

Overview

Main article: MA5 Series

The MA37 assault rifle is an air-cooled, gas-operated, rotating bolt action, magazine-fed, fully automatic bullpup designed rifle that fires 7.62×51mm ammunition and was first introduced in the year 2437. It comes standard with a rail mounted ammunition indicator and magnetic compass for orientation unlike other MA5 series rifles, which have these features built in.

The MA37 features a grip with a notch for the finger, similar to A2 pistol grip on a 20th/21st century AR-15. The barrel features a flash hider on the end which appears to be designed to direct gas (which produces flash and noise) upward, rather than forward, which would help to reduce felt recoil and muzzle climb. The rifle features a cheek riser on the receiver. The MA37 also features an ambidextrous magazine release and an ambidextrous selector switch. The MA37 also features vents on the rifle's chassis near the barrel assembly, which facilitate air cooling of the barrel as the weapon fires.

Copies of the weapon were mass-produced at the Misriah Armory Rajtom Facility on Reach.

Gameplay

See our gameplay information related to MA37 assault rifle on its gameplay page.

Differences from MA5C ICWS in Halo 3

• Major cosmetic differences such as a more skeletal and detailed body, shorter overall length, ammunition counter appearing as an attachment rather than an integrated part of the weapon.
• Maximum ammunition capacity decreased from 352 to 288 rounds.
• Slower rate of fire and decreased damage per round: takes 19 shots to kill a fully shielded Spartan instead of 16.
• Larger reticule. Short, controlled bursts are much more accurate than sustained fire.
• Shots have hitscan properties; shots fired would hit instantly.
• Reload, melee animations, and firing sound have been changed to make it feel more like the MA5B from Halo: Combat Evolved.

Trivia

• If the player participated in the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, which was obtainable with a copy of Halo 3: ODST, a unique nameplate emblem of an MA37 is obtainable for use on Xbox LIVE in multiplayer.
• The binary code 01000100011000010111011001100101 is displayed at the bottom left of the MA37's ammunition counter. This represents "Dave," in reference to Dave Candland, UI designer for Halo: Reach.
• Although only the MA37's fully automatic setting is used in-game, the fire mode selector is modeled in the semi-automatic position.
• In the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary announcement trailer, the MA5B assault rifle uses the MA37's model as a placeholder model. In the final game the weapon uses the MA5C's model from Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST.

Gallery

Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

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  Concept art of the MA37 and its electronics suite.

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  Concept art development of the weapon.

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  Concept art for the weapon.

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  A turnaround reference of the MA37.

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  Blueprint of the MA37 in Halo: Reach.

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  First-person view of the MA37 in a very early build of Halo: Reach.

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  First-person view of the weapon in a later, but still non-final version of Reach.

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  The MA37 from first-person perspective in the final version.

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  The MA37's reload in Halo: Reach.

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  Closeup view of the text printed on the side of the MA37.

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  An Army trooper firing his MA37.

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  The MA5B assault rifle in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary originally used the MA37's model as a placeholder.

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  Two UNSC Servicemen wielding MA37s in one of Halo: Spartan Assault's mission briefings.

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  An ODST using an MA37 during the Battle of Mombasa in Halo: Spartan Strike.

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  Blitz card of a UNSC Marine firing his MA37 in Halo Wars 2.

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  UNSC personnel brandishing MA37s during the Battle of Alpha Corvi II in Halo: Collateral Damage.

List of appearances

• Halo: Reach (First appearance)
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Halo: Spartan Strike
• Halo: Last Light
• Halo: Ground Command
• Halo Mythos
• Halo Wars 2
• Halo: Envoy
• Halo: Collateral Damage
• Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual