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Description
An Assault Rifle is a selective-fire firearm using a projectile with a muzzle energy in between those of a full-sized rifle and a smaller submachine-gun or a pistol. Assault rifles are categorized in between light machine guns, which are intended more for sustained automatic fire in a support role, and submachine guns, which fire a pistol cartridge rather than a rifle cartridge.
History
Assault Rifles date back to the end of the Second World War. Germany developed the first assault rifle, a weapon called the Sturmgewehr 44, although it was not used to a full extent because of its manufacturing date being so close to the end of the war, the gun was made in 1944, in an effort to provide their infantrymen with a firearm better suited to the mid-ranged engagements of modern warfare. Then came the Russian AK-47, which basically set the definition of assault rifle. By the time of the Halo trilogy, most assault rifles also house an on board electronics suite, showing ammo capacity, a compass and other information without the use of a HUD.
These could refer to the following:
- MA2B Assault Rifle- The stripped-down version of the MA5B Assault Rifle.
- MA3 Assault Rifle- The older variant of the MA5B Assault Rifle.
- MA5 Series
- MA5B Individual Combat Weapon System- The standard UNSC armament in from the early-2500's to 2552. It was phased out shortly after the Battle of Reach and the Battle of Installation 04. (Halo 1)
- MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System- A new MA5 model introduced in late-2552 during the Second Battle of Earth and the Battle of Installation 00. (Halo 3)
- MA5K Carbine- A special version of the MA5B Assault Rifle utilized by the SPARTAN-III's and other Special Operation forces.
It is also posible that the BR55 is an Assault Rifle as it doesn't fire a full rifle cartridge and, in trailers seems capable of fully automatic fire hinting at a selective fire feature that was not included due to gameplay issues. In some ways the Battle Rifle is a better assault rifle than the over grown SMG, the MA5B and its Halo 3 iteration, the MA5C
- BR55 Battle Rifle- Replacing the Assault Rifle in Halo 2, despite not appearing the BR55 is a complimentary weapon to the MA5B in the Canon.
- BR55HB SR Battle Rifle- Replacing the BR55 in Halo 3, it is almost identical to the BR55.