Diemaco C-7
Notes: The C-7
started life as a license-produced version of the M-16A2; but the engineers at
Diemaco (now called Colt Canada) tinkered with the base design, correcting many
of the shortcomings of the M-16A2, such as sensitivity to dirt, and the problem
that often occurs with case ejection on the M-16A2.
They also managed to lighten it somewhat by using more modern materials
that are also tougher, and the barrel is cold-forged to give it added strength
and durability. The result is
basically a product-improved M-16A2, and the Canadians began to issue it to
their troops in 1984. In the late
1980s, the Danish and Dutch issued it to their troops, and it is rumored that
the special operations units of several other European countries are also using
the C-8A1 and C-8A2 versions of this rifle. Colt USA has also quietly
incorporated most of the improvements into their production M-16-series rifles.
The basic C-7 is
in fact a product-improved version of the basic M-16A2 and depending on the
customer, may be had with a 3-round burst setting or a full-automatic fire
setting. The C-7A2 is basically the
Canadian equivalent of the M-16A3/A4, being a C-7 with the top of the receiver
redesigned. In place of the
carrying handle/rear sight combination, the C-7A1 has a raised rear sight and a
MIL-STD-1913 rail to allow the mounting of a large variety of optics.
The rear sight is removed and stored in the stock if some sort of optical
or night sight is mounted. As an
option, the MIL-STD-1913 rail may be removed and replaced with a Weaver or RARDE
rail if older optics are going to be used.
The C-7A1 is normally issued with a light optical sight made by Elcan;
this is included in the cost listed below.
Like the M-16A2, they have barrels which are 20 inches long.
The C-7A2 is the
mid-life upgrade for the C-7 and C-7A1; it features a telescoping stock like
that of the C-8. This stock also
has a butt pad which acts as a shock absorber and an anti-slip device.
The buffer was modified by replacing one of the steel weights in the
buffer mass tube with a tungsten weight; this slight additional mass prevents
light strikes on the bolt carrier group which might otherwise cause a misfire.
The cyclic rate is somewhat reduced (but has no practical effect in game
terms) to increase reliability, controllability, and wear and tear.
The C-7A2 has an ambidextrous magazine catch, ambidextrous charging
handle release, and ambidextrous selector lever.
The C-7CT
(Custom Tactical) is meant for designated marksmen and other such “non-sniper”
sharpshooters. The C-7CT is
basically similar to other members of the C-7 series, but has numerous special
features to suit its role. The
barrel is heavy and target-quality (though still 20 inches in length),
free-floated, cold hammer-forged, and equipped with a muzzle with threads
allowing the C-7CT to use anything from target crowns to silencers.
Atop the receiver is a MIL-STD-1913 rail, and atop the gas block is
another small rail, allowing the C-7CT to use any sort of optics.
The round aluminum handguards have a sling swivel as well as a light
adjustable bipod mounted beneath the front of the handguard.
The stock includes a handgrip on the bottom and also has a space to
insert counterweights as necessary.
The pistol grip is ergonomic with a hand stop/weight at the bottom.
The trigger mechanism is replaced with a two-stage trigger that has no
capability for automatic or burst fire.
Twilight 2000
Notes: In the Twilight 2000 world, supplies of the C-7 have probably been
supplemented with older stocks of standard M-16A2 s and M-16A1s (both from
Canada and the US), particularly among those troops called late in the Twilight
War. This would be even truer among
Dutch soldiers. Danish soldiers were supplied with the C-7 primarily for
interoperability reasons while working in Bosnia and Kosovo, and would most
likely never have been issued the C-7 in the Twilight 2000 world.
This version of the C-7 would still appear, but would be lesser in
number. Again, Danish troops would
probably never have been issued the C-7A1.
First appearing in 2003, the C-7A2 would not appear in the Twilight 2000
timeline.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
C-7 |
5.56mm NATO |
3.3 kg |
20, 30 |
$609 |
C-7A1 |
5.56mm NATO |
3.9 kg |
20, 30 |
$759 |
C-7A2 |
5.56mm NATO |
4.1 kg |
20, 30 |
$787 |
C-7CT |
5.56mm NATO |
4.3 kg |
20, 30 |
$1316 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
C-7 |
5 (3) |
3 |
1-Nil |
6 |
2 |
6 (4) |
56 |
C-7A1 |
5 (3) |
3 |
1-Nil |
6 |
2 |
6 (3) |
56 |
C-7A2 |
5 (3) |
3 |
1-Nil |
5/6 |
2 |
6 (3) |
56 |
C-7CT |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
6 |
2 |
Nil |
59 |
With Bipod |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
6 |
1 |
Nil |
77 |
Diemaco C-8
Notes: This is
the same thing to the C-7 that the M-4 Carbine is to the M-16A2: a shorter
version of the C-7, with a collapsible stock and shorter 14.2-inch barrel and
appropriate handguards. The
Danish also bought a quantity of the C-8 and C-8A1.
The Dutch Marines and Special Forces also use the C-8, but they use the
C-8A1 version (which they call the M-96 Karbine).
The Dutch have actually been using the C-8A1 for some time, but the
Canadian military has not adopted it until recently. The British SAS is also
known to make some use of the C-8A1; theirs are typically fitted with a Heckler
& Koch AG-36 grenade launcher under the barrel.
Like the C-7 series, most versions can be had with 3-round burst settings
or full-automatic settings.
In the C-8A1,
the carrying handle is replaced with a MIL-STD-1913 rail, and the standard sight
is the same Elcan sight used by the C-7A1.
The barrel used is heavier than that of the C-7 and C-7A1, but is still
cold-forged. The C-8A2 is
essentially a C-8A1, but it has an even heavier barrel to allow sustained
automatic fire, and short 4-position MIL-STD-1913 rails are added to the
handguard. Though a version of the
C-8A2 is available with a 3-round burst setting, the Canadians use only the
full-automatic version. It is
unknown whether any other countries are using the C-8A2.
The C-8FTHB is a development of the C-8A2; it differs from the C-8A2
primarily in having an extra-heavy bull barrel and standard handguards.
The C-8CT is
sort of a “marksman’s carbine,” equipped with a 15.75-inch extra-heavy barrel
tipped by a target crown. The
handguards are replaced with aluminum tube-type handguards that allow the barrel
to float. The C-8CT does have a
MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the receiver, but the rail is about twice as long as that
of the other C-8 versions. The pistol grip is ergonomic with a hand stop/weight
at the bottom. The modified sliding
stock includes a space for counterweights, a recoil pad on the butt, and has
generally heavier construction that is more adjustable in length; this stock is
also adjustable for swivel, cant and height in addition to length.
The C-8CT is equipped with a two-stage trigger mechanism.
The C-8CT has a lightweight, adjustable bipod under the front of the
handguard.
The C-8CQB
(Close Quarters Battle) is designed for special operations forces and police
SRT-type units for use in urban combat and house-to-house-type fighting.
The barrel is abbreviated to 10 inches, and the muzzle is equipped with a
Vortex muzzle brake to reduce recoil and muzzle flash.
This muzzle brake may also be easily removed and replaced by either a
silencer or suppressor if necessary.
The weapon does have a MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the receiver, but the
standard Elcan sight is replaced by an EO
The SFW (Special
Forces Weapon) was designed at the behest of the British MoD for use by its
special operations forces. British
SOF units have long been dissatisfied by the L-85 series, including the L-85A2;
they used the US-made M-16 series as well as the M-4 series, and later the C-7
and C-8 series, but were looking for a weapon more tailored for their special
needs. They also didn’t want to buy
from any company that had been in bankruptcy within the past ten years, as Colt
had been. The C-8SFW is basically a
highly modified and tailored version of the C-8A1, with a 16.1-inch heavy barrel
instead of the 14.5-inch heavy barrel of the C-8 series; this increases accuracy
at long ranges without unduly increasing the length and bulk of the weapon.
The forward sections of the handguards are equipped with MIL-STD-1913
rails (actually a KAC RAS system) which allow the use of a wide variety of
accessories such as handgrips, flashlights, laser aiming modules, bipods, etc.
The top of the receiver also has a MIL-STD-1913 rail for the mounting of
optics; standard is the same Elcan sight used on the C-8A1 and C-7A1.
Provision has also been made for the mounting of the HK AG-36 grenade
launcher or the HK-79 grenade launcher.
The iron sights were redesigned to give them more strength and stability.
The C-8SFW is equipped with a sliding stock.
The C-8SFW is capable of using virtually types of 5.56mm NATO ammunition,
including armor-piercing types, heavy bullets, rubber bullets, etc.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The C-8 would still be in use, but in lesser numbers.
The Danish would not have been issued the C-8A1, but the Canadians would
have been, in even smaller number than the basic C-8.
The C-8CQB is a very rare weapon virtually exclusive to Canadian special
operations units. The C-8A2,
C-8FTHB, C-8CT and C-8SFW do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
C-8 |
5.56mm NATO |
2.67 kg |
20, 30 |
$568 |
C-8A1 |
5.56mm NATO |
2.77 kg |
20, 30 |
$718 |
C-8A2 |
5.56mm NATO |
2.77 kg |
20, 30 |
$728 |
C-8FTHB |
5.56mm NATO |
2.8 kg |
20, 30 |
$722 |
C-8CT |
5.56mm NATO |
4.2 kg |
20, 30 |
$1197 |
C-8CQB |
5.56mm NATO |
2.63 kg |
20, 30 |
$653 |
C-8SFW |
5.56mm NATO |
3.35 kg |
20, 30 |
$745 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
C-8 |
5
(3) |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
3 |
7 |
34 |
C-8A1 |
5
(3) |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
3 |
7
(4) |
34 |
C-8A2 |
5
(3) |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
3 |
7
(4) |
34 |
C-8FTHB |
5
(3) |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/5 |
3 |
7
(4) |
35 |
C-8CT |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/6 |
2 |
Nil |
41 |
With Bipod |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/6 |
1 |
Nil |
54 |
C-8CQB |
5 |
2 |
1-Nil |
3/4 |
2 |
5 |
19 |
C-8SFW |
5 |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/6 |
2 |
6 |
41 |
Para-Ordnance TTR
Notes: The TTR
(Tactical Target Rifle) is an AR variant that uses a unique variant of the
Stoner direct gas impingement system.
Called DIGS (Delayed-Impingement Gas System), it uses a lengthened gas
block that slows the cycle time of the operation, keeping the rifle cleaner
longer without the use of a piston. (I’m skeptical.)
This is combined with the Manifold Injector System (MIS) which channels
gasses through the bolt carrier and vents them out of the ejection port, which
helps to keep the bolt carrier group itself cleaner.
The TTR has a shortened carrier along with a recoil spring above the
barrel, which means that the traditional buffer tube assembly is not necessary
and that the TTR can have a traditional side-folding stock.
The stock also slides, with five positions available. The lack of the
normal buffer tube assembly also means that the TTR is somewhat quieter than a
traditional AR, particularly in the shooter’s ear; it also gives the TTR even
more of a straight-line recoil, cutting barrel climb and making the aim of
follow-up shots quicker (unfortunately, not measurable in
Twilight 2000 v2.2 terms). The
16.5-inch barrel is tipped by a Para-designed flash suppressor which is slightly
longer than a standard AR flash suppressor, and has longer slots.
The upper receiver is topped with a MIL-STD-1913 rail which joins the
upper rail of the handguards, and the sides and bottom of the handguards have
shorter rails which are about one-third the length of the handguards and
positioned at the front of them.
Removable AR-type rear iron sights are included, though the rear sight is a bit
more finely-adjustable than a standard AR sight. The front sight is a hooded
post which is also removable and folds down.
The handguards themselves are made of aluminum instead of polymer.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
TTR |
5.56mm NATO |
3.36 kg |
10, 20, 30 |
$589 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
TTR |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
4/6 |
2 |
Nil |
42 |