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Service Rifle

The Service Rifle is a rifle-based weapons system originally designed in PA 244 for the United Defence Directive as its primary longarm. It's highly configurable into a stubby, carbine, assault rifle, marksman rifle, and heaps of other configurations depending on the user's requirements. The weapon and its numerous official derivatives and models, and copycat designs are a common sight in many gun stores.

Features

Technical Information

This rifle fires a 6.8x39mm bullet composed of copper-jacketed lead or steel, held in a brass case containing an active chemical propellant, and a primer on the base. When struck, the primer releases a spark which ignites the chemical - creating a pressure which pushes the bullet out of its case and through the barrel.

The action works as a conventional, delayed blowback firearm. To load the gun, a magazine containing ammunition must be inserted into the magazine well, and pushed all the way in. The user then pulls a cocking handle at the front of the weapon towards them to cock the gun's hammer for the first shot, and load the first bullet of the magazine into the chamber.

To fire, the user pulls the trigger, which releases the hammer, which strikes back of the firing pin - which hits the primer on the bullet in the gun's chamber. The recoil from the ensuing shot is used to push a series of bolt pieces backwards. The motion of these bolt pieces also pull the spent cartridge out towards the ejection port, then move the next bullet from the magazine into the chamber, while also pushing the hammer backwards for the next shot.

If the weapon is set to Safe, the firing pin is prevented from striking the bullet's primer - by having a bit of metal interpose itself between the bullet and the firing pin. Works simply enough.

Design

Derived from dozens of human designs carried throughout the universe, weapons designers tapped by the Units were called to committee early in the formation of the UDD, and its recruitment of gunsmiths throughout its colonies brought private creators and weapons companies which had settled down amid the Units. With some of the designers hailing from the now Kingdom of Albion, the need to balance the Protocol designer's sensibilities with the hard lessons learned from the Old War distilled into a tough wearing, easy-to-maintain, and simple design.

The Service Rifle utilises a roller-delayed blowback operation. The barrel is fixed lacks a gas piston, making it relatively light compared to other types of operation. As the bolt head is driven rearward, rollers on the sides of the bolt are driven inward against a tapered bolt carrier extension. This forces the bolt carrier rearward at a much greater velocity and delays movement of the bolt head. The primary advantage of roller-delayed blowback is the simplicity of the design compared to gas or recoil operation.

Iterations in the design from the Albion designers lead to the adoption of measures to control the bolt's velocity and bounce when in motion. Among other changes to the bolt's shape and the way gas is directed, a spring-loaded claw is mounted on the bolt carrier - grabbing the bolt head as the bolt carrier group goes into battery.

As a symbol of goodwill, the Units allowed the Albion-born designers to take the Service Rifle's design back home, effectively sharing the knowledge with Albion in reward for their contributions for the project.

Common Configurations

The following variants of Service Rifle are commonly spotted and named around the Aleph Null system. Private owners may also make their own modifications and configurations to a rifle, ranging from minute and practical to over-the-top.

NameTypeOriginDescription
StandardAssault RifleUnityThe straight out of the box model, as described above. Issued to soldiers of the United Defence Directive, with accessories including an optics suite with red dot and high-magnification, and an underbarrel grenade launcher chambered in 36mm.
ShortfinSnubby CarbineUnityAn eleven inch barrel makes this gung-ho variant short and difficult to control, but a straight foregrip fitted just behind the end of the barrel prevents the owner from burning their hand with the muzzle flash.
BandsawSquad Assault WeaponUnityA heavy-barrelled variant with a large, flat drum magazine and a diagonal handgrip mounted to the side, ideal for laying down covering fire. Comes with an integrated bipod and carrying handle.
R44-0 LancetAssault RifleAlbionThe Albion-derived version of the Unity-made Standard. Its main differences are the use of wooden furniture over synthetics, a solid stock with a recoil pad, and full-auto fire being replaced with a three round burst, and a tall front sight and a carry-handle which holds the rear sight.
R44-3 TridentMarksman RifleAlbionWith the Albion hard-on for individual marksmanship from sporting and hunting nobles and hard-bitten trappers alike, a military adaptation was made to follow the R44-0 Lancet's design - with an extended barrel, a heavier 7.62x51mm calibre receiver, a thumbhole-stock, and a powerful optic scope and bipod integrated. Its possible to make accurate shots over two kilometres with the right preparation and know-how. Hand-customised variants of the rifle are a common sight in marksman contests.
VarmintSemi-Auto Pistol-RifleAlbionChambered in a pistol calibre and given a synthetic solid stock, this low-cost gun is ideal for hunting small game, doing pest control, or plinking cabs and bottles. Popular with farmers, they are normally found fitted with a suppressor and a cheap, 2x magnification scope.

Ammo Types

The following ammo types are commonly used in the Service Rifle.

Where do I get one?

Join the United Defence Directive and pass basic training, and they'll give you one, in addition to a Mark 8 Laser Pistol, and a term of duty to defend Traveller and the Unity Protocol!

It is possible to purchase a civilian, semi-auto model on any of Traveller's colonies for UC150000 to UC225000, depending on secondhand status and retailer. Background checks and a wait period may be required depending on local regulations.

The Kingdom of Albion's armoury manufactures a derivative called the R44-0 Lancet, which shares a calibre and receiver with the Service Rifle, but has has some visual and operational differences: For starters, the Full-Auto firing mode is replaced with a three round burst, the design and material of the barrel shroud differs from sleek polymer to traditional wood, a padded solid stock is installed as standard, and the fold-up iron and peep sights are replaced with with a tall front sight and a carry-handle which holds the rear sight.

There is less customisability overall compared to the Unit's equivalent, but soldiers of Albion's military haven't voiced any damning complaints about the gun.