Zastava M-21

     Notes: The M-21 is an M-90 that has been upgraded to 21st century standards.  The M-90 was not accepted for financial reasons; the Serbs made room in the budget for the M-21, under heavy pressure from the Serbian Army.  The M-21 is, as is the M-90, based on the Kalashnikov, but fires 5.56mm NATO ammunition.  The M-21 is fitted with a reflex optical sight of low power, and backup red-dot iron sights.  It can mount the BG-15 grenade launcher, or a copy of the BG-15 that fires 40mm NATO Low-Velocity ammunition.  Most parts are of light alloy or plastic composite.  There are currently six operational versions of the M-21.

     The base of the line, the M-21, is designated a submachinegun by the Serbian Army; most places in the world, however, would describe is as a short-barreled assault rifle due to its caliber.  The barrel is 12.8 inches. Like all versions of the M-21, the stock is on a thick strut that widens to an open triangle at the butt; it folds to the right.  The butt is fitted with a textured rubber cover to grip the shoulder.  The M-21BS is the same weapon, but with MIL-STD-1913 rails above the receiver, atop the handguards, and below the handguards.  It is a little heavier than the M-21.

     The M-21S is a carbine version of the M-21, with a 14.76-inch barrel.  The barrel is of chrome-moly steel.  It is designed to have an underbarrel grenade launcher easily installed.  The M-21SBS is the same carbine with the MIL-STD-1913 rail of the M-21BS.

     The M-21A is the full-sized assault rifle version, with an 18.11-inch barrel and a recoil pad on the stock, as it is meant to be fielded in greater numbers with an underbarrel grenade launcher attached.  As with the other versions, the M-21A has a version with MIL-STD-1913 rails – the M-21ABS.

     The “Soldier of the Future” version of the M-21 debuted at the Defence Systems Asia 2008 show is a standard M-21 with a MIL-STD-1913 rail above the receiver and four more on the handguards, along with several night vision and aiming devices.  I unfortunately do not have any hard information on this version, though it is probably an M-21ABS variant.

     Twilight 2000/Merc 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

M-21

5.56mm NATO

3.91 kg

30

$884

M-21BS

5.56mm NATO

4 kg

30

$893

M-21S

5.56mm NATO

4.07 kg

30

$905

M-21SBS

5.56mm NATO

4.2 kg

30

$915

M-21A

5.56mm NATO

4.15 kg

30

$1091

M-21ABS

5.56mm NATO

4.3 kg

30

$1102

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

M-21

3/5

3

1-Nil

4/5

2

3/5

28

M-21S

3/5

3

1-Nil

4/5

2

3/5

36

M-21A

3/5

3

1-Nil

5/6

2

3/5

48

 

Zastava M-59/66A1

     Notes: This is Yugoslavia’s version of the Russian SKS carbine (which the Yugoslavians called the M-59).  Key differences between the M-59/66A1 and the SKS are the permanently-attached rifle-grenade launching attachment on the muzzle, and flip up sights to use when launching those rifle grenades.  A folding bayonet is attached under the barrel; unlike Russian or Chinese SKSs, the bayonet of the M-59/66A1 is an actual blade rather than a cruciform spike.  The M-59/66A1 has been out of production for a little over a decade, but is still a quite common weapon among Yugoslavian troops and those of the former Yugoslavian republics.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

M-59/66A1

7.62mm Kalashnikov

4.1 kg

10 Clip

$881

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

M-59/66A1

SA

4

2-3-Nil

7

4

Nil

74

 

Zastava M-70B1/M-70AB2/M-77B2

     Notes: These are Yugoslavian versions of the AKM (M-70B1) and AKMS (M-70AB2).  The significant differences, other than the manufacturing methods employed, are the permanent rifle grenade launching attachment on the muzzle and flip up sights for use when rifle grenades are being launched.  The receivers are also based on the stronger RPK rather than being standard AKM receivers, and they incorporate features to make disassembly and reassembly easier than a standard AKM. The stocks have a recoil pad, unlike an AKM, and have a longer length of pull, as the average Yugoslavian soldier is taller than his Russian counterpart.  The M-72 has a bolt hold-open feature, unlike the AKM, but it works only with proprietary Yugoslavian magazines. The M-77B1 is almost the same as the M-70B1, but is chambered for 7.62mm NATO ammunition.  The M-77B1 also has a closed-prong-type flash suppressor, and a removable rifle grenade-launching attachment and sights are included in the cost (the sight normally stays on the rifle, even when the grenade launcher attachment is not mounted, and it folds down when not in use.  The barrel is longer than the 16.3-inch barrel of the M-70 at 21.06 inches. The M-77B1 was built primarily for export; there were some small sales in Africa (and there are rumors of its use by Iraq), but most were sold as semiautomatic variants, without the grenade launcher, to civilians in Western Europe and Central America.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Hungry for weapons of any sort, the Yugoslavians kept most M-77B1s for themselves.  In Croatia and Slovenia, production was actually stepped up after 1998.

     Merc 2000 Notes: The Yugoslavians were in need of cash so badly that they sold these weapons (and most others they made) all over the world in a rather indiscriminate manner.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

M-70B1

7.62mm Kalashnikov

3.7 kg

30

$876

M-70AB2

7.62mm Kalashnikov

3.5 kg

30

$906

M-77B1

7.62mm NATO

4.49 kg

20

$1106

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

M-70B1

5

4

2-Nil

6

3

8

46

M-70AB2

5

4

2-Nil

4/6

3

8

46

M-77B1

5

4

2-3-Nil

8

3

8

67

 

Zastava M-80/80A/90/90A

     Notes: These are versions of the M-70B1 and M-70AB2 in 5.56mm NATO. They were built solely for the export market and were never issued to Yugoslavian troops or those of the former Yugoslavian republics.  It had moderate success on the export and civilian market; it is even rumored that there were some sales to countries like Iraq, Yemen, and Somalia.  They are very reliable weapons, even when not fed with quality ammunition.  

     The M-90 and M-90A are modernized versions of the M-80 and M-80A.  They have a more modern look and are built of better materials to closer tolerances.  They are more reliable than their predecessors, but otherwise very similar.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These weapons were sold on the international market until about 1994, when remaining quantities and production were diverted to Yugoslavian use. 

     Merc 2000 Notes: As the Merc 2000 Notes for the M-70B1 and M-70AB2.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

M-80

5.56mm NATO

3.6 kg

30

$577

M-80A

5.56mm NATO

3.5 kg

30

$607

M-90

5.56mm NATO

4 kg

30

$587

M-90A

5.56mm NATO

3.9 kg

30

$607

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

M-80

5

3

1-Nil

6

2

6

48

M-80A

5

3

1-Nil

5/6

2

6

48

M-90

5

3

1-Nil

6

2

6

48

M-90A

5

3

1-Nil

5/6

2

6

48

 

Zastava M-85

     Notes: This is a short assault rifle version of the M-80A.  It resembles the Russian AKS-74U, but fires 5.56mm NATO ammunition.  It was designed with vehicle crews, special operations, and internal security troops in mind.  There appear to be no official sales on record, but rumors abound of unofficial sales to various countries.

     The M-92 is the same short assault rifle, chambered for 7.62mm.  Like the M-85, it has a folding stock, a conical flash suppressor/muzzle booster, and a 10-inch barrel.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These weapons were put into limited production in 1995.  None of them were sold outside of Yugoslavia or former Yugoslavia until at least 2001, and most of them went to Romania, Turkey, and Greece.

     Merc 2000 Notes: Like other Yugoslavian weapons, these were sold far and wide on the international market for badly-needed cash.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

M-85

5.56mm NATO

3.2 kg

10, 20, 30

$548

M-92

7.62mm Kalashnikov

3.57 kg

20, 30, 40, 75D

$766

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

M-85

5

3

1-Nil

3/5

2

6

27

M-92

3

3

2-Nil

4/5

2

6

22