[mpipes]

I thought I would share my notes on German and UK assault rifles. I use a modified version of the V2.2 timeline.

G-11
Twilight 2000 Notes: Production of the G-11 began very rapidly in late 1990, and just as quickly slowed and stopped in early 1991. The ammo problems were pronounced and though HK continued to work the ammo issue, the gun was withdrawn from general issue. By 1992, Heckler & Koch was concentrating on the G-41 and the then-upcoming G-36. Despite some 5,000 examples of the G-11 being produced by 2000, most of them had been withdrawn as pre-war stocks of ammunition were largely expended and new stocks were almost impossible to make using the production methods available by 2000. However, one source for ammo was able to keep a trickle of ammo going, basically testing batches, but not enough to support extensive combat use. About 1,000 of the G-11 were produced for various trials and testing and another 4,000 of the G-11K2. Most of those were issued to German special operation forces and some airborne units. Almost all were recalled in 1993, but a handful were found in limited use during the war. The ammo was improved somewhat since 1991, but the weapon was still not considered reliable and few used it as a primary weapon.

Merc 2000 Notes: This is a popular weapon for special ops forces operating in harsh climates, as by 2000 the ammo problem had been solved. If you encounter a force armed with the G-11, they are probably clandestine forces of a large national government or of someone who has a lot of money to spend on exotic weapons and ammunition.

G-36
Twilight 2000 Notes: When it became obvious that the G-11 was too expensive and complicated to produce, and that ammunition availability and reliability would become a major stumbling block, the G-41 was brought into full production instead and the plans for the G-36 accelerated greatly. General issue of the G-36 began in the fall of 1995, with just over 250,000 issued before the November 1997 nuclear exchanges, and several hundred more were salvaged from the destroyed H&K factories. Though examples of the G-36K were built at the same time as the standard G-36, many more were made by German special operations armorers using plans furnished by Heckler & Koch. Several hundred G-36s were produced to the G-36E standard and about 3,500 G-36Cs were produced.

Merc 2000 Notes: As German peacekeepers became a more common sight in the world, their G-36 rifles also became a more common sight.

G-41
Twilight 2000 Notes: The Heckler & Koch G-41 was rushed into production in 1990 for issue to the newly unified German Army when the G-11 became too expensive to produce along with ammo problems, and the G-36 was not yet developed. It was realized that the G-41 would serve as a stopgap measure to modernize and standardize the German military’s assault rifles to meet modern standards (including STANAG magazines and optical sight mounts) until a new rifle (the G-36) was fully developed. With the outbreak of the Twilight War, the G-41 saw continued production and service and proved to be an effective and reliable weapon, with most German troops initially going to war carrying G-41s. With the advent of the G-36 design, the days of the G-41 seemed to be short-lived. Only the use of nuclear weapons forestalled its replacement by the newer design. The G-41K, though not uncommon, is also not that common either. It was popular in the hands of rear-area troops as well as special ops types. The G-41 was also issued to territorial and militia troops and were found exclusively in several Jaeger units raised in 1997. These also were the main NATO assault rifle in Free Polish Legion units formed in 1997.

Merc 2000 Notes: The only large-scale customers of the G-41 seem to be the military forces of El Salvador and Belize. This was not enough to keep the productions lines for the G-41 open, though spare parts are still being manufactured. As with the G-41, the only large-scale customers of the G-41K seem to be El Salvador and Belize. Their smaller-statured troops seemed to prefer this shorter version.

HK-33
Twilight 2000 Notes: With the outbreak of war, production of the HK-33A2 and GR-3Es were ramped up and many rifles were issued to the former East German military units still using AK types instead of the G-41, though the AK weapons were never completely replaced. The HK-33A2SG and HK-33A2SG1 were also procured in significant numbers along with GR-3 series weapons. Quantities of license-built HK-33A2s and GR-3 series weapons were also procured from Thailand and Malaysia, and even Mexico, by the Germans until replaced by the G-41 and G-36. By mid-1997, the HK-33s had been mostly replaced by G-36s or G-41s in front line combat units. This weapon also often formed the core of military-type rifles issued to most Western European militia units. In addition, it was difficult to find a community in the US or Central America where at least one person did not have either an HK-33 or HK-93. Older HK-93s were seemingly easy to convert to fully automatic fire. The HK-53 MICV was, in the Twilight 2000 timeline, the standard-issue firing port weapon for the Marder. As with the US M-231, many HK-53s were yanked out of wrecked Marders and put into ground service, often modified to accept a sliding wire stock. In addition, the HK-53 was issued to many other units, from cooks to special operations troops. Many HK-53s were also converted to HK-33A2, HK-33KA1, and HK-33KA2 standards.

Merc 2000 Notes: The HK-33 and its variants could turn up in the strangest places, such as the bodyguard element for the Zairian president, and the guards for diamond mines in South Africa. It is even rumored that a tribe of Rhade in the highlands of Vietnam are primarily armed with the HK-33, though how the HK-33s got there is unknown. Germany, Thailand, and Malaysia still produce the HK-33 series along with a US producer. The GR-2A3, GR-3EA2, and GR-3KA2 are also fairly popular with mercenaries. The HK-32 series was also put in production, and the Macau Police and Egyptian special forces are known to have purchased these weapons from Malaysia. The Secret Service is also known to have purchased GR-3EA2s.

MPiK/MPiKS/MPiKM/MPiKMS
Twilight 2000 Notes: Widely dispersed, these weapons are fairly common in Africa. The MPiKM and MPiKMS had been almost entirely replaced by MPiK-74N and MPiKS-74N as primary issue to most DDR troops before unification. However, these were still the primary rifle found with many security and support troops in the eastern half of Germany when the Twilight war began. It became a favorite of civilian militia.

Thousands of parts kits were exported to the US and assembled for civilian sales until mid-1996 when remaining stocks went to new production of full automatic, military weapons.

Merc 2000 Notes: The MPiKM, MPiKMS, and MPiKMS-72 can be found virtually everywhere, since the Germans sold them all on the international market. Although production ceased in 1990 with reunification, the Germans quietly restarted production and export in 1998, mostly to Africa, Central and Southeast Asia. Very popular with mercenary units and in front line service in many Third World militaries, especially in Africa.

MPiAK-74N/MPAiKS-74N/MPiAK-74NK
Twilight 2000 Notes: Most German troops went to war with the G-41 and G-36 rifles, but the MPiAK-74N series was never completely replaced in the former East German reserve and territorial units. Even before the Twilight war began, large numbers of MPiAK-74Ns and MPiAKS-74Ns were converted to 5.56mm-NATO and had mostly replaced 5.45mm variants. A very few MPiAK-74NKs were likewise converted. This involved replacing the bolt, barrel, and rear sight and making some adjustments to the gas system. Afterwards, as G-36s and more G-41s became available, these rifles primarily went to militia units.

After the November 1997 nuclear strikes, efforts to orderly and completely replace the MPiAK-74N series essentially ceased. The MPiAKS-74NK remained assigned to many former East German tank and APC crews, as well as drivers, though quantities of HK-53s or GR-2s (usually with 40-round magazines) replaced and supplemented these MPiAKS-74NKs over time. The MPiAK-74N series weapons were issued to militia units as well. The MPiKS-74Ns also found its way into use by various NATO special ops and even French special ops in Kuwait. Many of the converted MPiAK-74N/N rifles ended up issued to British combat troops in Europe and the Middle East as they abandoned use of the L-85A1.

Merc 2000 Notes: The MPiAK-74Ns and MPAiKS-74Ns were for the most part withdrawn from German service. However, large quantities of MPiAK-74Ns, MPAiKS-74Ns, and MPiAKS-74NKs were sold on the international arms market, including to Turkey and several African nations. Quite common in Africa and Asia, where well over 500,000 were sold by the East German and reunified German governments.

StG-940
Twilight 2000 Notes: These guns were put back in production in 1994 and were issued as a family of common weapons to company sized units. Primarily issued to German Seabattalion and Royal Dutch marines, and new German Jaeger companies of light territorial infantry regiments formed after 1997. These were sometimes issued en masse to new militia companies in 1997 – 1999.

Merc 2000 Notes: These were placed in production in 1993 and saw wide spread sales to those few countries in Africa that could afford to replace their 7.62mm AKs with newer variants in 5.56mm. A 120 round drum becomes available for the LMG-944 in 1995.

G-3
Twilight 2000 Notes: By 2000, many withdrawn G-3 had been reissued to army units as well as militia. Many G-3 were also upgraded to G-3SG/1s with new match grade barrels and issued as a DMR to German army, Seebataillon, and reserve troops as well as militia. Many mountain troops held on to their G-3s and somehow, no one quite knows how, obtained enough Hensoldt 4×24 optical scopes and claw mounts to mount on all their G-3s. These mountain troops equipped with scoped G-3s extracted a terrible toll on Russian and other Pact troop.

In the Americas, semiauto G-3 variants were very popular in the US, and G-3s were the primary issue weapon to Mexican units. They were sometimes found being used by British troops.

Merc 2000 Notes: Extremely popular with those wanting a rifle with more punch than the 5.56mm NATO.

Enfield L-85
Twilight 2000 Notes: In the Twilight 2000 timeline, the L-85 series is considered a very expensive failure. Although problems had been noted for years, the Ministry of Defense before 1996 simply refused to acknowledge the problems. But as war loomed, NATO revoked approval to use the rifle for ammunition certification; a major embarrassment. This forced the MOD to finally admit the gun was not reliable and at least try and address the many shortcomings. The impetus came too late.

Most of the A1 variant have been ditched by 2000 by British troops in favor of both allied and enemy weapons as well as L1A1s that are more reliable and don’t fall apart. As the Germans faced defeat in November 1996, the British were still scrambling to procure acceptable replacement rifles, having settled on ordering off-the-shelf Sabre A3 rifles and Diemaco C7 and C-8 series rifles procured as replacement. With a profound shortage of weapons, the only real choice was to pull a great many L1A1s out of storage for issue, but substantial numbers of AK-74Ns (MPiAK-74Ns and MPAiKS-74Ns) were obtained from the Germans by the BOAR and issued. As the war began, British troops carried a variety of weapons, which gave unit armorers fits as they were forced to deal with profoundly different weapons.

Although the upgraded L-85A2 started becoming available in early 1997 on an emergency basis, only a relatively few were completed and issued. Except for limited numbers in the hands of British paratroopers and the Royal Marines, the L-85A2 is mostly unknown in the Twilight 2000 world. Very small numbers of the L-85 Carbine were produced, mostly in the 290mm barrel version, but they have most of the same problems as the L-85A1 and are disfavored. The L-98A2 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline. Most L-98A1’s have been converted into L-85A1’s or to semiautomatic fire, and issued to home-defense troops. Many discarded L-85A1s are in use by home-defense troops. Bottom line; there are more AK-74Ns converted to 5.56mmN in service with the British Army than L-85s, with large numbers of Sabre A3 rifles and Diemaco C7 and C-8 series rifles procured as replacement. There are also a great many L1A1s in use.

One of the senior officials seen as most responsible for the debacle, Lord Michael Kent, was discovered murdered in his house in London in October 1997 with evidence suggesting a Royal Marine committed the crime. Among other things, an L-85 magazine was found next to the body. However, the murder investigation effectively permanently ended when TDM occurred.

Merc 2000 Notes: British special operations prefer the M-16 series and its variants to the L-85A1; other than that, most British troops are still using the L-85A1 or A2. It is almost unknown anywhere else in the world, except with the Gurkhas and Jamaican armed forces. There are about equal numbers of both versions of the L-85 Carbine; numbers of both versions are small. The short-barreled versions have the same problems as the L-85A1, while longer-barreled versions are based on the L-85A2. The upgrade to A2 standard progresses relatively slowly.

L-1A1
Twilight 2000 Notes: Like many such weapons, L-1A1s were again issued in Britain when supplies of other weapons became scarce. Towards the end of the war, it was also turned into a substitute sniper weapon, after being modified with Picatinny Rails and bipods.

Merc 2000 Notes: Due to the widespread issue in the world, mercenary organizations liked the L-1A1. In addition, they often turned up in the hands of rebel forces in various countries.


On a personal note, I own a L-1A1 built from a surplus UK parts kit. The stock is marked with two "X" kill marks. I've been told troopers in 3 PARA often marked their kills that way. Anyone here know if that is true?