A personal weapon is a weapon that can be carried and employed by a single person, although their use may be restricted to specialist members of attack or defense teams. Some weapons are usually operated by two man teams, an aimer and a loader.

Personal weapons are employed by:

• Bodyguards.
• Civil aviators as wilderness survival gear.
• Hunters.
• Individuals for home defense.
• Infantry dragoon and cavalry in pursuit of objectives of war, both defensive and offensive.
• Military officers, military aviators, and cannoneers for self defense.
• Participants in various martial arts.
• Police and millitary police forces on patrol.
• Military, penal, and private guards.
• Recreationally in various shooting sports against stationary or moving mechanical targets

Reproduction Personal Weapons at the Great Wall of China

Some examples and applications of personal weapons: A bodyguard is a person or group of people who professionally protect someone (known as their principal) from personal assault, kidnapping, assassination, loss of confidential information, or other threats. ... Hunting is, in its most general sense, the pursuit of a target. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... A light dragoon from the American Revolution French dragoon, 1745. ... Soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat are commonly known as cavalry (from French cavalerie). ... Look up war in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of accuracy and speed when shooting various types of guns, including airguns. ... Reproduction Weapons at the Great Wall These are all long handled weapons used to repel attackers from the ground and to defend the upper works. ... Reproduction Weapons at the Great Wall These are all long handled weapons used to repel attackers from the ground and to defend the upper works. ... A section of the Great Wall near Beijing during winter The course of the Great Wall is shown in this map dated from 1805 The Great Wall (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: , literally long city wall) is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built between 5th century...

Antipersonnel weapons

These are intended to be used against other combatants.

Limited lethality weapons

These may be used to subdue an opponent with a lower risk of death when properly used.

• Baton, a police or guard's night stick
• Brass knuckles
• Blackjack
• Electroshock gun
• Millwall brick, an opportunistic weapon created from rolled newspaper

A club, cudgel, truncheon, night stick, or bludgeon is perhaps the simplest of all weapons. ... A club, cudgel, truncheon, night stick, or bludgeon is perhaps the simplest of all weapons. ... Categories: Weapon stubs | M e weapons ... A club, cudgel, truncheon, night stick, or bludgeon is perhaps the simplest of all weapons. ... An electroshock gun, also referred to as a stun gun, is a weapon used for subduing a person by firing something which administers electric shock, disrupting superficial muscle functions. ... A Millwall brick is an improvised weapon made of a manipulated newspaper. ...

Edged Weapons

Knife

Main article: Knife

Used in stealth, because of easy concealment and seemingly endless uses, or as a last resort in combat. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The knife is to be stabbed or sliced at the opponent in close quarters combat and self defense.

Knives are used today in many uses for countless jobs. The military still uses knives in the frontlines if the primary weapon is unavailable, or attached to the end of a gun as a bayonette. A good military knife is often used for opening crates, breaking wires and fences, cutting 550 cord (parachute lines used for hundreds of military tasks), and opening MREs, to name a few.

Dirk

A dirk is longer than the typical knife and is used as a stabbing weapon. The Highland Dirk is a traditional Scottish weapon and in the age of sailing ships British midshipmen (officer candidates) were issued this weapon for personal defence and these are still presented to officer candidates in many navies as a symbol of the completion of their initial training (for example, in the modern Russian navy). Dirk is a Scots word for a long dagger; sometimes a cut-down sword blade mounted on a dagger hilt, rather than a knife blade. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... For the fishes called midshipman, see Midshipman fish In the navies of English-speaking countries, a midshipman is a low-ranking commissioned officer, usually the lowest rank. ... The Russian Navy (Russian: Военно Морской Флот (ВМФ) - Voyenno- Morskoy Flot (VMF) or Military Maritime Fleet) is the naval arm of the Russian armed forces. ...

Sword

The sword is an evolution of the knife. Its name literally means “hurting tool” from the Old German “Swert”. It is one of the most universally recognised ancient weapons and has taken many forms across many different countries. It is used to both slash and stab in much the same way a knife does. Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Look up Sword in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The sword was used in feudal Japan under the name Katana. It was a blade that was short in comparison to the Rapiers of Europe but was no less effective. It was razor sharp and well looked after by its owner as the Samurai viewed the weapon as his soul. The weapon remained in use even as other weapons of the time were neglected. It eventually disappeared after The Satsuma Rebellion. The weapon had a renaissance during World War II where it was used by Japanese soldiers in the Pacific theatre. Diagram showing the parts of a katana Katana (刀) is the word for sword in the Japanese language. ... silver damascened rapier guard, between 1580 and 1600. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. ... Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Axis Powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33...

In its use by Roman forces the sword was relatively short, but effective in combination with a shield, since the soldier could block a downward slash with long sword and then thrust from below and upward into the midsection of an opponent. This technique (in concert with refined troop disposition and manuvering , and errors of the opposition) proved especially effective against the signifcantly outnumbering forces of Queen Boudica in the Battle of Watling Street in the year 60 CE. A shield is a protective device, meant to intercept attacks. ... Statue of Boudica near Westminster Pier, with her two daughters upon a chariot Boudica (also Boudicca, formerly better known as Boadicea) (d. ... Combatants Roman Empire Iceni, Trinovantes, and other British tribes Commanders Gaius Suetonius Paulinus Boudica † Strength About 10,000 to 12,000 Estimated at 200,000 to 400,000 Casualties At least 400 Recorded at over 150,000 The Battle of Watling Street took place in AD 61 between an alliance...

The sword was used differently in more modern Europe. It was a very long, cylindrical, and narrow blade with no edge and was used to stab rather than slash. It is the source of fencing as we know it today. Most middle and upper class men would be trained in fencing with the epée as it was the primary duelling weapon. The epée only differed from foil (in those times) in that anywhere on the body was the target in a duel. It was considered bad etiquette to strike the head, arms or legs in older times but this changed as fencing progressed. In the broadest possible sense, fencing is the art and science of armed combat involving cutting, stabbing, or bludgeoning weapons directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot or thrown (in other words, swords, knives, pikes, bayonets, batons, clubs, and so on). ... For an account of the Steven Spielberg film, see Duel (movie). ... Look up Foil in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... On 11 July 1804, Alexander Hamilton was fatally wounded in a duel with Aaron Burr at Weehauken, New Jersey that had immense political impact in the early United States and is arguably the most famous duel in history. ...

The Scimitar was a curved but short blade used in the Middle East. Its name is derived from the Persian shashimir. The weapon is vaguely similar to the European Sabre in that it is a curved slashing weapon. It is much more curved than its Japanese equivalent the Katana. Scimitar, XVII Century, from India. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Szabla. ...

The sword fell into disuse after Europe discovered gunpowder and related projectile weapons. Duelling and fencing for social purposes continued well after the invention of the handgun. Duelling fell into disuse even before the end of the 20th century and with it the sword ceased to be used in any practical sense.

For more types, see List of swords. This is a list of sword types found through history all around the world. ...

Bludgeoning Weapons

War Hammer

A large hammer on a handle that may be two feet or more in length. See war hammer. A reproduction of a spiked war hammer A war hammer is an archaic weapon of war intended for close combat, the design of which resembles the hammer. ...

Club

A club is an asymmetrical stick of moderate length, swung from the light end, similar to a bat used in games. Easily formed from a tree branch this was probably one of the first weapons. May be relatively light for primary use as a walking stick. Also known by various ethnic names such as knobkerry or shillelagh. A club, cudgel, truncheon, night stick, or bludgeon is perhaps the simplest of all weapons. ... Hercules fights the Lernaean Hydra with a club A club or cudgel is perhaps the simplest of all melee weapons. ... A shillelagh (pronounced sha-lei-lee) is a wooden club or cudgel, typically made from a stout knotty stick with a large knob on the end, that is associated with Ireland in folklore. ...

Mace

A Mace is a club with spiked enhancements. It may be a head mounted on a fixed handle or connected to the handle with a short length of chain. Assorted maces For its symbolical derivative, see ceremonial mace. ...

There are a few more under "Bashing Weapons" on the List of mêlée weapons. . ...

Chopping Weapons

Hatchet

May be thrown or used offensively or defensively at close quarters (obsolete in modern warfare). The indigenous North American version of this is the Tomahawk Native American Afraid of Hawk, holding a tomahawk A tomahawk is a type of axe native to North America, traditionally resembling a hatchet with a straight shaft. ...

Axe

Used commonly in medieval warfare as the primary chopping weapon. It was liked because it could be thin enough to be swung at high speeds, but heavy enough to crush or break an opponents armour or shield. Today they are used to cut down trees and to shape timber for temporary fortifications, but are otherwise obsolete in warfare.

Halberd

A halberd is a combination of the Axes blade and the Spear's length and point. Commonly used in the frontline because it could keep enemies at a safe distance for the back men to launch arrows, yet could still be used in close combat if one sides line broke. It also found use, like the spear, as a weapon for disabling warriors on horseback. Today, halberds are obsolete in combat. Swedish halberds from the 16th century This article is about the weapon. ...

Penetrating Weapons

Spear

Used to hold enemies at a distance or take down riders, similar to the halberd, only also used as a thrown weapon, to deal heavier damage and to be better aimed than an arrow. The easy to make design and convenience of a spear make crude weapons for rebels in 2nd and 3rd world countries. Many similar items exist for work, but the spear is obsolete in militaries today. For more detailed info and a list currently encompassing 121 types, see spears. Hunting spear and knife, from Mesa Verde National Park. ...

Pike

The pike is essentially a very long spear not intended to be thrown; this was used by pikemen to defend archers, infantry, musketeers etc. against horse cavalry by rooting the shank against the ground and positioning it against advancing opponents. More mobile tactics were developed in the 15th century by the Swiss Confederacy (see pike square) (obsolete) A modern recreation of a mid-17th century company of pikemen. ... In Target Archery, the object is to hit targets such as this to score points. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth-bore long gun. ... Soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat are commonly known as cavalry (from French cavalerie). ... The Pike Square was a military tactic developed by the Swiss Confederacy during the 15th century for use by its infantry. ...

Rapier

The Rapier is a light sword-like weapon without an edge, being used with a single handed grip only to parry (deflect the opponent's weapon) and to thrust or to slash with the tip. It is today used only in the sport of fencing. Silver damascened rapier guard, between 1580 and 1600. ... In the broadest possible sense, fencing is the art and science of armed combat involving cutting, stabbing, or bludgeoning weapons directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot or thrown (in other words, swords, knives, pikes, bayonets, batons, clubs, and so on). ...

Bayonet

Attached to a rifle, a bayonet allows the rifle to be used as a short spear for thrusting. It is still issued to soldiers in even the most modern of armies today. The US Marine Corps OKC-3S Bayonet A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife- or dagger-shaped weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon. ...

Bow

This has the advantage of relatively long range and quiet (stealthy) operation. Obsolete as a mass use weapon but still useful in stealthy covert operations. For such operations a complex compound bow may be used that includes special sighting devices. A modern crossbow may be used for the same tasks.

Crossbow

The crossbow may be used where Bow and Arrow are appropriate. It is especially suitable for use by less skilled or weaker weaponers and in confined spaces. This became an effective medium range weapon for use against metal plate personal armour. Also used in massive numbers as an area defense weapon in the protection of fortifications, propelling short arrows called bolts or fléchettes (fr. "little arrows"). In this use it was not aimed at a specific target but sent on a high, arcing path into masses of opponents. The crossbow is obsolete as a mass use weapon but is still used by some hunters, usually during special seasons that prohibit firearms. It is also an effective stealth weapon for special operations, though of limited range. A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles. ... A bullet-resistant vest (body armour or body armor (U.S.)) - is an article of protective clothing that works as a form of armour to minimize injury from projectiles fired from handguns, shotguns and rifles . ... Table of Fortification, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... Hunter and Huntress redirect here. ...

There are a few more under "Pole Weapons" on the List of mêlée weapons. . ...

Handgun

Also known as pistols, handguns are firearms that can be operated with one hand. Their small size makes them convenient for extended carry as well as the primary option for concealed carry. A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ... In the United States, concealed carry is the right to carry a handgun or other weapon in public in a concealed manner. ...

Over time these weapons have gone from single shot muzzle loaders, to revolvers, to the modern automatic pistol. rEVOLVEr (2004) is the fourth studio album release by Swedish thrash metal band The Haunted. ... A Semi-automatic (also known as Self-loading) pistol is a type of handheld firearm, a kind of pistol. ...

Handguns are used today for personal defense and as a primary firearm in today's armies and police forces. In the military, they are typically used by officers and guard captains for short range self defense in combat, rather than as an attack weapon. The seven shot Colt .45 Automatic (model 1911, 11.43mm) is exempliary of this type, although modern types tend to carry a greater quantity (more than a dozen) of lighter 9 mm rounds. Even when automatics were preferred for general military use during the 1960s U.S. Navy pilots were equipped with more reliable .38 cal. revolvers for self-defense, loaded with tracer rounds for distress signaling. The M1911 is a single-action, semiautomatic handgun chambered for the . ... ball and hollowpoint 9mm Luger rounds are popular handgun ammunition. ... .357 Magnum cartridges, containing bullets A bullet is a solid projectile propelled by a firearm and is normally made from metal (usually lead). ...

Long Guns

Musket (obsolete)

The musket fires a round lead ball from a smooth bore and is loaded from the discharge end (and is so called a muzzle loader). Owing to the relatively loose fit of the ball (as compared to a rifle), a relatively high rate of fire of about three rounds per minute is possible with training and practice. Muskets are most effectively applied by a group of soldiers forming a row three deep. The front of row is the firing group, who move to the back row upon firing and then reload while moving forward. All firing and movements are controlled by a platoon leader, typically a junior officer. The weapon was especially suitable for use by relatively unskilled soldiers, but effective employment required substantial military discipline as the musketeers are usually exposed to enemy fire from similarly equipped opponents and from cannon fire. Muskets and bayonets aboard the frigate Grand Turk. ... A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the bullet is loaded from the muzzle of the gun. ... A small cannon on a carriage, Bucharest. ...

Early Rifle (obsolete)

Unlike the musket, the rifle has a grooved barrel to spin the bullet with gyroscopic forces. The spinning increases the accuracy and range, because a cylindrical bullet creates less air resistance and has greater range. A gyroscope For other uses, see Gyroscope (disambiguation). ...

Muskets, smooth bore pistols and early rifles are classified by the ignition mechanism (called the lock) used to fire the weapon. These include matchlock, flintlock and wheelock types. Until the development of the Minié ball the rifle had longer reloading time than the musket. This was because the rifling made it more difficult to ram a bullet down the barrel. The Minié Ball was slightly smaller than the barrel and had a divot in the end of the bullet. The fact that it was sub-caliber made it easy to ram the Minié Ball down the barrel, but the gases produced by the gunpowder would expand it to full size once it was fired. This development rendered the rifle superior over the musket in all ways. The pre Minié Ball weapon was less effective in field maneuvers, but possessed a long and accurate range. When used by a skilled operator a rifle was be highly effective in defense where a long field of fire has been cleared and the weapon is used for selected fire, rather than as a volley of simultaneous fire. Unlike the Musket it was also suitable as a sniping weapon by attackers against a fixed defense and for use after a stealthy approach. A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ... The Matchlock was the first firearm to have a trigger mechanism for firing. ... Two flintlock pistols Flintlock is the general term for any firearm based on the flintlock mechanism. ... Wheelock may refer to: Wheelock Inc. ... 1855 minie ball design from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia The Minié ball (or minie ball) is a type of muzzle-loading rifle ordnance named after its main co-developer, Claude-Étienne Minié. It came to prominence in the Crimean War and American Civil War. ... Soldiers from Arkansas Army National Guard practice marksmanship at their new sniper range near Baghdad, Iraq on February 15, 2005. ...

Breech Loader

The successor to the muzzle loader was the breech loading rifle. Instead of loading from the muzzle, the breech loader loaded from opening the breech some way. Breech loaders had a much higher rate of fire and can be reloaded from a prone position, greatly increasing the survivability of troops. This ability was particularly advantageous in defense where the troops may be lightly protected by low revetments and shallow trenches. A breech-loading weapon, usually a gun or cannon, is one where the bullet or shell is inserted or loaded into the gun at the rear of the barrel or breech; the opposite of muzzle-loading. ...

Carbine

A rifle that has been shortened (in comparison to the original variant) and been made lighter. These were originally made for use on horseback. Currently, carbines used for close quarters combat, where their smaller size is an advantage.

Rifle

Modern rifles are almost always breech loading, although some muzzle loaders exist for hunting in special seasons. They are usually semi automatic, fully automatic, bolt action, lever action, or single shot. Fully automatic rifles are called battle rifles. Rifles are used for everything from target shooting to warfare. A rifle is any long gun which has a rifled barrel. ... A US soldier drops a shell into the muzzle of an M224 60-mm mortar. ... A semi-automatic firearm automatically loads a round into the chamber after the weapon is fired, but still requires a trigger pull for each round that is fired. ... M2 machine gun An automatic firearm is a firearm that will continue to load and fire rounds of ammunition as long as the trigger (or equivalent) is activated or until it runs out of ammunition. ... A bolt-action firearm is one that is manually operated (i. ... A lever-action is a type of firearm which uses a lever located around the trigger guard area (often including the trigger guard itself) to load fresh cartridges into the chamber of the barrel when the lever is cranked. The most famous of such lever-action firearms are the Martini... Single shot pistols have existed since the early years of firearms. ... The FN FAL battle rifle The term battle rifle can have different meanings. ...

Sniper rifle

Sniper Rifles are weapons designed for precision firing at an enemy to allow either a more precise impact point on the enemy or to fire from a longer range than usual. Sniper rifles usually have telescopic sighting devices and fire a more powerful cartridge that has a flatter trajectory and more power than the intermediate cartridges typically employed by assault rifles. Examples of sniper rifles are the M24, M40, and the Dragunov SVD. Sniper rifles are typically employed by specialist operators selected for their competency. They are often trained in and stealth and intelligence gathering operations and employed as a one or two-person unit. A sniper team will consist of a two snipers with one operating the sniper rifle in the role of shooter and the other assisting with a spotting telescope as a spotter to assist in set-up, determining the opportune time to fire, and assessing the results of the shot. Team employment was seen in the 2005 movie production Jarhead, based on a US Marine sniper's autobiography. See also sniper. The M24 SWS (Sniper Weapon System) is the military and police version of the Remington 700 rifle, M24 being the model name assigned by the United States Army after adoption as their standard sniper rifle in 1988. ... This article is about the M40 rifle. ... The Dragunov (Драгунов) is a Russian sniper rifle, more formally known as the Snaiperskaya Vintovka Dragunova (Снайперская винтовка Драгуно&#1074... Jarhead is a 2005 film based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swoffords 2003 Gulf War memoir Jarhead: A Marines Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford. ... Soldiers from Arkansas Army National Guard practice marksmanship at their new sniper range near Baghdad, Iraq on February 15, 2005. ...

Fully Automatic Weapons

Full automatic fire allows multiple rounds to be fired with a single trigger pull. Ammunition may be stored in long clips or drums for lighter weapons or on "belts" of linked cartriges.

Submachine Gun

A submachine gun is a weapon designed to fire a pistol cartridge in automatic mode and is employed in close quarters battle. They were the first fully automatic hand-held weapons. Nowadays they are used in close quarters when an assault rifle would be too bulky or may have too much penetration. Some popular submachine guns are the WW2 Thompson submachine gun, the HK MP5 and the IMI Uzi. The MP5, a famous submachine gun, sees widespread use amongst those that can afford it. ... A lance corporal of the East Surrey Regiment, British Army equipped with a Thompson M1928 submachine gun (drum magazine), 25 November 1940 The Thompson, also known as the Tommy Gun, was a family of American submachine guns that became infamous during the Prohibition era. ... The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a family of closed bolt submachine guns developed by German weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch (HK) in the 1960s. ... The Uzi is a compact, boxy, light-weight submachine gun. ...

Assault rifle

The assault rifle was born in World War II when the Germans developed the Stg44, revolutionizing the battlefield. The main characteristic of the assault rifle is the usage of an intermediate cartridge, smaller and less powerful than those used in the battle rifle but with greater speed and power than those used in pistols and submachine guns. Depending on the model, an assault rifle's effective range can go from 300 m to 500 m. The assault rifle is now the standard weapon used by infantry for most of the planet. A selective fire function will allow single shots to be fired, and modern doctrine encourages the provision of an automatic fire mode of short bursts of three rounds, both to increase kill probablility compared to a single shot while conserving ammunition compared to full automatic mode. The AK-47 is the worlds most common assault rifle. ... Sturmgewehr 44 Nationality Germany Type Assault rifle Inventor Gustloff Date of design 1943 Service duration July 1944 - May 1945 Cartridge 7. ... The FN FAL battle rifle The term battle rifle can have different meanings. ... A pistol is a usually small, projectile weapon, normally fired with one hand. ... The MP5, a famous submachine gun, sees widespread use amongst those that can afford it. ...

The main characteristics of assault rifles compared to battle rifles are: less recoil, less weight, less power, less range, bigger magazine capacity, higher rate of fire.

Compared to submachine guns, they have more recoil, are heavier, have more power, and more range.

The two best known assault rifles in history are the Russian AK-47 designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and the American Colt M16, originally designed by Eugene Stoner. Both have hundreds of rifles based on them, either copies or extreme variants. Avtomat Kalashnikova model 1947 g. ... Mikhail Kalashnikov, circa 2000 Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov (Михаи́л Тимофе́евич Кала́шников, born November 10, 1919) is a famous Russian gun designer. ... M16 (more formally United States Rifle, Caliber 5. ... Mikhail Kalashnikov (holding an M16A2) and Eugene Stoner, designer of M16 (holding an AK-47) Eugene Morrison Stoner (November 22, 1922 – April 24, 1997) is the man most associated with the design of the AR-15, which was adopted by the military as the M16. ...

Light Machine Gun

An example of the light machine gun (LMG) would be the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) used by the U.S. army. Light machine guns use a rifle round, either a full power or intermediate round, and are operated using a bipod or a light tripod mount. They are usually belt fed or have a larger than normal magazine. This allows LMGs to have more firepower than assault rifles. A light machine gun (LMG) is used to provide covering fire to friendly troops. The M249 SAW, one of the most popular 5. ... The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (M249 SAW) is the United States military designation for a sub-family of the Minimi squad automatic weapon, or Mini-mitrailleuse, for mini-machine gun. Both are 5. ... A belt feeding into an M249 machine gun, from an Army training manual A belt feeding into a M1919A4 from a wooden ammo box A belt is an ammunition feeding device for a firearm. ...

Shotgun

Shotguns are useful only at short range, so they are used in close quarters combat or in home defense situations. Shotguns are also used commonly to hunt birds. The main advantages of shotguns are their ease of use and high lethality at close range. Their disadvantages are a short range and limited magazine capacity. Most shotguns are of break action, pump action or are semi-automatic. The most common antipersonnel shotgun shell is buckshot, which is a number of metal balls, usually lead, that diverge on firing. The balls are called shot. There is also birdshot which is the same concept with smaller shot. They can also be used with a large "slug" round effectively giving the user a high caliber, high impact round, useful for hunting deer in brushy areas that could cause the deflection of lighter rifle bullets. A number of special rounds have been developed for the shotgun including flechette rounds which consist of tightly packed metal darts, incendiary rounds, less-than-lethal cartridges that use rubber balls or flexible bags of shot, and anti-material rounds. Remington pump-action shotgun held by a Florida Highway Patrol cadet shotgun, see: Shotgun (disambiguation). ... Military Usage Close Quarters Combat, or CQC, is used to describe an up-close military hand-to-hand fighting system, also known as combatives. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into shotgun. ... A pump-action rifle or shotgun is one in which the handgrip can be pumped back and forth in order to eject and chamber a round of ammunition. ... A shotgun shell is a self-contained cartridge loaded with shot or a slug designed to be fired from a shotgun. ... A shotgun shell is a self-contained cartridge loaded with shot or a slug designed to be fired from a shotgun. ... The word flechette is French and means dart (literally, little arrow). It is a projectile having the form of a small metal dart, usually steel, with a sharp-pointed tip and a tail with several vanes to stabilize it during flight. ...

Grenade Launcher

A grenade launcher is a device that launches a rifle grenade. Modern rifle grenades resemble small artillery shells or very large pistol cartages. These grenades are typically launched from an accessory for a rifle, in the form of a launcher mounted under the rifle's barrel, as in the case of the M203 grenade launcher. There are also stand-alone models, such as the M79 and modifications for the M203 and AG36. The western countries usually use 40mm grenades, while 30mm grenades are more common in the east and especially the former Soviet Bloc. Older rifle grenades look more like hand grenades with stabilizing fins. They are launched from a device that is mounted on the muzzle of a rifle. With older rifle grenades, a blank round (a cartridge without a bullet) is used to generate the propelling gas to launch a grenade. Modern rifle grenades have the advantage that they can be used at the same time as the rifle and have a greater range. There are even fully automatic grenade launchers, like the Mk 19, which resemble belt-fed machine guns. A grenade launcher is weapon that fires or launches a grenade to longer distances than a soldier could throw by hand. ... A rifle grenade is a form of grenade that utilizes a rifle as a launch mechanism to increase the effective range of the grenade. ... A shell is a projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, is not solid but contains an explosive or other filling. ... M203 generally refers to the United States Army designation for a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 assault rifle or the M4 Carbine. ... Caliber: 40 mm grenade Action: Single shot, breech loaded Mass: 3 kg (6. ... The AG36 is a single shot 40 mm x 46 mm grenade launcher for the G36 assault rifle, designed by the German weapons manufacturing company Heckler & Koch. ... The 40mm grenade is the calibre used by the US military for their M79, Colt XM148 and M203 grenade launchers. ... During the Cold War, the Eastern Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) comprised the following Central and Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Albania (until the early 1960s, see below), the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia. ... Mk19 40mm grenade launcher MK-19 40mm grenade launcher during MIL-EX 2003 The MK19 (also known as MK-19, M19, Mark 19, or Mk 19) is a belt-fed grenade machine gun capable of firing five grenades per second. ...

Hand Grenade

Hand grenades are small explosive devices that are thrown. A soldier will typically have several of these. Hand grenades usually have a time delay fuse of several seconds. Some types of grenade have impact fuses, usually anti-tank grenades. Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ...

Fragmentation type

An explosive charge is contained within a rigid shell scored so that it breaks into small fragments propelled at high speed. This increases the effective radius of the weapon. The standard U.S. military M67 grenade has a kill radius of 5 meters, a wounding radius of 15 meters and danger radius up to 150 meters. Two US Marines take cover during M67 grenade training during Exercise Eagle Foal in 2004 The M67 grenade is a fragmentation hand grenade used by the US armed forces. ...

Concussion type

Concussion grenades have an explosive charge that is intended to shock with a pressure wave, potentially with lethal effect. The lack of fragments limit the effective range and offers greater safety to the person employing this weapon. Concussion grenades are used in situations where the operator has limited cover from fragments. For the alcoholic beverage sold in New Orleans, see hand grenade (drink). ...

Anti-tank type

Anti-tank grenades use the shaped charge principle to penetrate a tank’s armor. They usually have impact fuses, but some types, like the No 74 sticky bomb, do not. A shaped charge only works if it hits head on; so most anti-tank grenades have some sort of fins or streamers to insure a successful impact. Due to the thickness of modern tank armor, anti-tank grenades are mostly obsolete. For the alcoholic beverage sold in New Orleans, see hand grenade (drink). ... Sectioned HEAT round with the inner shaped charge visible A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosives energy. ... No 74 ST Grenade Type Hand grenade Nationality United Kingdom Era World War II Platform Individual Target Vehicle/Tank History Date of design 1940 Production period Service duration Operators United Kingdom War service World War 2 Specifications Type High Explosive Filling nitroglycerine Detonation Timed. ...

Flash type

A grenade with a low probability of lethality, this makes a loud report with moderate concussive force and a bright flash and does not throw shrapnel. It is intended to shock, temporarily blind, deafen, and disorient persons in a confined space so that they may be overcome and restrained. Typically used by SWAT teams in police units and in commando operations attempting a live capture for subsequent interrogation. Members of the 60th Security Police Squadrons Base Swat Team, Travis Air Force Base, wearing black uniforms stand with M-9 pistols ready behind concealing foliage. ... In military science, the term commando can refer to an individual, a military unit or a raiding style of military operation. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Anti-materiel weapons

Anti-materiel rifle

An anti-materiel rifle is a very large caliber weapon used primarily to destroy lightly armored or unarmored targets, or unexploded ordnance. They are similar to sniper rifles. Common calibers used are .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun), 14.5mm, and 20mm. An example is the M82 Barret. An anti-materiel rifle is a rifle that is designed for use against military equipment (Matériel) rather than against other combatants (anti-personnel). Generally speaking, they are large-caliber rifles chambered for a powerful cartridge. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Anti-material shotgun shell

A shotgun shell may contain various loads of the same gross mass, from fine shot to large shot to solid slug. One loading is devised to destroy equipment, particularly electronics and computers, and is composed of a solid cylindrical and hard mass divided into four to eight solid segments, with sharp edges and corners. These are effective in penetrating and destroying delicate electronic equipment. They are also shotgun shells that are filled with a metal powder for breeching doors. The powder stays together as a mass to destroy the latch, but dissipates upon impact so nothing on the other side of the door is hurt. A shotgun shell is a self-contained cartridge loaded with shot or a slug designed to be fired from a shotgun. ...

Flamethrower

The flamethrower propels a burning stream of flammable fluid. Primarily used against occupied fortifications. There many types of flamethrower, from backpack sized units, to ones that are mounted in place of a tank's main gun. Backpack flamethrowers have a very limited fuel supply, sufficient for only seconds of fire, and very short range. However, they are devastating both physically and psychologically. // Riverboat of the U.S. Brownwater Navy deploying an ignited napalm mixture from riverboat mounted flamethrower in Vietnam A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long, controllable stream of fire. ...

Improvised weapons

• Booby trap. This is typically left by retreating forces to cause death or injury to advancing forces or to re-occupying civilians. A typical employment would be to place a grenade, with the pin removed, under an object expected to be displaced by the new occupier, or within a can and attached to a trip wire. Many types of booby trap exist, ranging from the simple and small to the massive and complex.
• Improvised explosive device (IED). Any weapon modified or created in a field expedient manner so as to explode, causing damage to personnel or materiel, By definition, a IED is a device that has been altered to detonate when it should not. A typical device may be constructed using an artillery round, some type of detonating mechanism, and a wired or radio operated triggering device such as a cellphone or garage door control. These are employed against road traffic and triggered by a nearby observer. During the Vietnam War anti-tank mines would be constructed by villagers supporting the Viet Cong using explosive compounds removed from unexploded aerial bombs. IED's are used by insurgents in Iraq quite frequently.
• Molotov cocktail. A thrown device, this uses flammable fluid in a breakable container and an ignition source. The ignition source may be an actual contact fuse or something as simple as a flaming rag that will ignite the mixture when the bottle breaks.

This article is about an antipersonnel trap designed for use against humans. ... Munitions rigged for an IED discovered by Iraqi police in Baghdad, November 2005. ... Cellular redirects here. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... A Viet Cong soldier, heavily guarded, awaits interrogation following capture in the attacks on Saigon during the festive Tet holiday period of 1968. ... Molotov cocktail is the generic name for a variety of crude incendiary weapons. ...

Anti-aircraft weapons

Anti-aircraft weapons exist in all types. The only ones that can be classified as personal weapons are shoulder launched missiles, also called MANPADS. These use either infrared guidance or ride laser beams. MANPADS have short range, but are a very serious threat to low-flying attack aircraft or attack helicopters. Modern examples of shoulder launched missiles are the FIM-92 Stinger, SA-16 and the British Javelin. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... An SA-7 in use Russian Manportable SAM System SA-18/GROUSE MANPADS (Human-Portable Air-Defence System) are shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter than microwave radiation. ... Beam-riding guidance leads a missile to its target by means of radar or a laser beam. ... A ground attack aircraft is an aircraft that is designed to operate very close to the ground, supporting infantry and tanks directly in battle. ... A Russian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter. ... Type MANPADS Nationality United States Era Cold War/modern Launch platform Man portable Target aircraft History Builder Raytheon Missile Systems Date of design 1967 Production period Service duration 1981-present Operators Britain, Germany, Israel, Iran, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Switzerland, United States Variants Number built Approx. ... 9K38 Igla The 9K38 Igla (Russian 9К38 Игла́ - needle) is a Russian/Soviet man-portable infra-red homing surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. ... A triple Javelin missile launcher Javelin is a British man-portable surface-to-air missile, used by the British Army and Canadian Army. ...

Anti-structure weapons

Satchel Charges

Large explosives intended to be placed or thrown at short range against structures or to destroy materiel useful to the enemy.

Antitank Weapons

Recoilless Rifle

A recoilless rifle fires a large shell that resembles an artillery shell. Instead of having a closed breech like a conventional gun, it is open on both ends. This allows the recoil gases to escape and balance the recoil. This has the disadvantage of creating a dangerous backblast. This concept is also applied to shoulder launched rockets and missiles. While recoilless rifles were invented in World War II, one variant, the Carl Gustav rifle, is still in use today. M67 recoilless rifle. ... A shell is a projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, is not solid but contains an explosive or other filling. ... The Carl Gustav is the common name for the 84mm recoilless rifle anti-tank weapon from the Sweden. ...

Shoulder Fired Rocket

The shoulder fired rocket was designed as an anti-tank weapon, but nowadays it is often used as a general purpose weapon. They launch unguided rockets. Unlike disposable launchers, they can be reloaded. In addition to ground vehicles, shoulder fired rockets have been used effectively against infantry and even helicopters. The original shoulder fired rocket was the American Bazooka. Both it and its German counterpart, the Panzerschreck were developed during the Second World War. The most common type today is the RPG-7 The bazooka weapon was one of the initial anti-tank weapons based on the High Explosive Anti-tank (HEAT) shell to enter service, used by the United States Armed Forces in World War II and the Korean War. ... The Panzerschreck (German: tank terrorizer) was the popular name for the Raketenpanzerbüchse (rocket tank rifle, abbreviated to RPzB) an 88 mm calibre reusable anti-tank rocket launcher developed by the Germans in World War II. Another popular nick-name was Ofenrohr (stove pipe). It was given to infantry to... A guerrilla fighter in Iraq ready to fire an RPG loaded with an OG-7V fragmentation warhead. ...

Shoulder-Fired Disposable Rocket

Shoulder-fired disposable rockets designed to be fired from a one-use tube. These are distinct from missiles in that they are not guided. The first weapon of this type was the Panzerfaust, made in Germany during World War II. They are either for anti-tank or anti material use. Modern examples include the LAW, the RPG-18 and the AT4. 4 Panzerfausts in the original casing, displayed in Helsinki Military Museum Panzerfaust. ... The M72 LAW in extended position ready to be fired. ... The RPG-18 is a short-range, light anti-tank unguided rocket launcher. ... AT4 Type anti-tank Nationality Sweden Era Cold War, modern Launch platform Individual, Vehicle Target Vehicle, Fortification History Builder Saab Bofors Dynamics Date of design Production period Service duration Operators Sweden, France, USA Variants Pansarskott M/86, M136 AT4 Number built Specifications Type Diameter 84 mm Wing span Length 1016...

Shoulder-Fired Disposable Tube Missile

A shoulder-fired missile is a guided missile that is fired from a one-use tube. Usually the guidance system is retained and another missile tube is attached, but this is not always the case. There are a number of guidance systems for missiles of this type. Often these missiles have a “cold launch” system where the initial propellant of the rocket is with a gas charge. This allows the weapon to be used in close quarters where the backblast of a normal launcher would be dangerous. Shoulder-launched weapons avoid the problem of recoil by directing all exhaust out the rear of the launch tube A shoulder-launched missile weapon is a weapon that fires a projectile at a target, yet is small enough to be carried by one man, and fired while held on one... A guided bomb strikes an underground facility Missile guidance technologies of missile systems use a variety of methods to guide a missile to its intended target. ...

Anti-tank rifle (Obsolete)

An anti-tank rifle is a large rifle designed to penetrate tanks, used in World War I and World War II. This may be mounted on a light wheeled carriage for increased mobility in the field. In World War II, they were only useful against lightly armored vehicles. An anti-tank rifle is a rifle designed to penetrate the armour of vehicles, particularly tanks. ...

Oddity

PIAT

The "Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank" (PIAT) was used by the United Kingdom from 1943 to 1950. Instead of using a rocket to launch the warhead, the PIAT’s shell was launched by a large spring and then propelled by a charge. PIAT in Canadian War Museum The PIAT, for Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank, was one of the earlier anti-tank weapons based on a HEAT shell. ...

See also

• List of firearms
• List of mêlée weapons
• List of martial arts weapons

Located below is an extended list of small arms, ranging from pistols to machine guns and even to large handheld devices such as grenade launchers and anti-tank rifles. ... . ... This is a partial list of martial arts weapons. ...

External links

• Scottish weapons