Improvised Weapons

[Green Monkey]

Hi readers,

Interesting link below to an article in Wired about the weapons used in Syria. Relevant to T2K is the ISIS repurposing of Iraqi industrial facilities for production of mortar shells and IEDs (119.5mm Mortar shells are manufactured for use in tubes made from standardised oil industry steel pipes). I can see this type of thing being very common in T2K but haven't seem so much of it in the real world (thankfully).

https://www.wired.com/story/terror-industrial-complex-isis-munitions-supply-chain/

I hope you find it as interesting as I did.

Regards,

Nick

[swaghauler]

Thanks. That was an interesting read. It is amazing how weapons and ammo "travel" in the third world. Insurgents will trade weapons and ammo for other things the way we spend money here. The standing rumours about the weapons in Somalia were that Al Queda in Yemen traded AKs and RPGs to the Somalis for drugs and UN Aid (mostly foodstuffs but some building materials too). That is why there were so many weapons available in the Bakara Market.
A barter system to make any TW2K GM envious.

[cawest]

This is another area, they also have home made rockets and mortars

http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/modern/syria/t-72_mahmia

[ArmySGT.]

http://spioenkop.blogspot.com/search/label/Syria

[Raellus]

I'd never heard of a "Carlo Gun" before. Saw it mentioned in a hyperlink in a War Zone story on the war in Gaza. It's a crude automatic weapon based on the venerable 9mm Carl Gustav M/45 (aka "Swedish K") SMG. From the article,

'In addition to taking on various outward appearances, the guns can also be adapted to suit whatever kind of ammunition is available. “‘Carlo’ submachine guns are most commonly chambered for the ubiquitous 9 x 19mm handgun cartridge... however, there have also been examples of versions that work with “other calibers, including .22 LR, .32 ACP, 9 x 18 mm, and 5.56 x 45 mm.”'

https://www.timesofisrael.com/say-hello-to-carlo-the-cheap-lethal-go-to-gun-for-terrorists/

This looks like something that a basic machine shop could crank out pretty easily in the later phases of the Twilight War. Apparently, all it takes to produce the Carlo is a drill press, some welding equipment, and a blueprint. From the article,

'Most of the current Carlos are based on designs from “American publications, which were readily available via mail order services, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s.”'

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[castlebravo92]

snipped redundant part

But, all that being said, a decent machine shop with a lathe would be able to rifle barrels no problem. IMHO, it would be easier to turn out new production rifles like the AR-15 out of workshops using melted aluminum cans (for the upper and lower receivers at least) than it would be to produce new production brass, primer compound, and smokeless powder.

[Tegyrius]

'Most of the current Carlos are based on designs from “American publications, which were readily available via mail order services, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s.”'

Paladin Press: the gift that keeps on giving.

- C.

[Claidheamh]

Paladin Press: the gift that keeps on giving.

...carefully avoiding photographing certain bookshelves at home...

[.45cultist]

snipped redundant part

But, all that being said, a decent machine shop with a lathe would be able to rifle barrels no problem. IMHO, it would be easier to turn out new production rifles like the AR-15 out of workshops using melted aluminum cans (for the upper and lower receivers at least) than it would be to produce new production brass, primer compound, and smokeless powder.

AR15's/M16's use Aircraft aluminum, and there are lots of inoperable planes around.

[Ckosacranoid]

Some pumpkins....
some air tanks....
some PVC pipes....
some way to make air under pressure....

[castlebravo92]

AR15's/M16's use Aircraft aluminum, and there are lots of inoperable planes around.

Totally true, but really, for the lowers at least, even cola can aluminum would be fine. There's people out there running 3d printed plastic lowers. May not be able to hold up to the same round count as forged 7075-T6 aluminum can, but it will still work.

Not a machinist, but it looks to me like the the hardest part of machining the AR15/M16 would be the bolt carrier group.

[cawest]

not really an improvised weapon but odd enough to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwQ1NfWzSn8

[Raellus]

Have the Soviets use one of these to lob 73mm HE rounds at your PC's fortified Polish village.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/07/05/the-russians-are-yanking-the-guns-off-of-old-bmp-fighting-vehicles-and-turning-them-into-inaccurate-artillery/

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[Mahatatain]

Very interesting read.

[ChalkLine]

Have the Soviets use one of these to lob 73mm HE rounds at your PC's fortified Polish village.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/07/05/the-russians-are-yanking-the-guns-off-of-old-bmp-fighting-vehicles-and-turning-them-into-inaccurate-artillery/

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I see David Axe is at it again, conflating irregulars with the Russian army (wrong uniforms which are evident at a glance). How he still gets print space is beyond me.

That'd be a great weapon for bunkers. One of the perennial problems tankers had with AT guns is that they're so small in a relative way they are invisible until they open fire. Players with their 'I only get on encounter per period' mindset can be surprised by things such as this.