Beretta AS-70/84

Notes: This is the squad automatic weapon variant of the AR-70 assault rifle. It has a skeletonized stock for grasping when fired from the prone position for extra stability, a heavier barrel, and a bipod. The weapon can use rifle grenades. Many of the parts of the AR-70 series assault rifles and the AS-70/84 are interchangeable. Other than Italian use, the AS-70/84 has been sold to "unnamed Middle and Far Eastern countries."

Twilight 2000 Notes: A large number of Italian troops were still using this weapon; in addition, it turned up in the hands of Omani, Saudi, UAR, and even Libyan troops.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

AS-70/84

5.56mm NATO

5.3 kg

20, 30, 40

$1370

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

AS-70/84

5

3

1-Nil

6

2

5

46

AS-70/84 (Bipod)

5

3

1-Nil

6

1

2

60

Beretta AS-70/90

Notes: The Italian firm of Pietro Beretta first introduced their AR-70/90 assault rifle in the early 1990s, and at the same time, introduced the squad automatic weapon version of the AR-70/90, known as the AS-70/90. Beretta considers the AR-70/90 assault rifle and its variants and the AS-70/90 as part of a system (basically as variants of each other).

The AS-70/90 and the AR-70/90 use the same basic operation system, but the AS-70/90 fires from the open bolt instead of a closed bolt. The barrel is 18.3 inches long, is heavier than a standard AR-70/90, and is not of the quick-change type. The flash suppressor is different, but still allows for the firing of rifle grenades (though an underbarrel grenade launcher cannot be attached). The AS-70/90 uses a longer and larger light alloy handguard, and attached to this is an adjustable articulated bipod adjustable for height and cant. The same carrying handle as the AR-70/90 is used, and like the AR-70/90, the AS-70/90’s carrying handle is removable, revealing a MIL-STD-1913 rail. The stock is slightly different, being somewhat skeletonized to allow a grip for the gunner’s supporting hand when used from a bipod. The stock of the AS-70/90 also has a hinged plate to support the AS-70/90 on the gunner’s shoulder when firing from the bipod. Feed is exclusively from magazines and drums, though any magazine or drum usable by an M-16 or AR-70/90 may be used, and Beta’s 100-round C-Mag is quite commonly used with the AS-70/90.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

AS-70/90

5.56mm NATO

6.23 kg

20, 30, 40, 100 C-Mag

$1403

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

AS-70/90

5

3

1-Nil

7

2

4

50

AS-70/90 (Bipod)

5

3

1-Nil

7

1

2

65

Breda M-1930

Notes: This is a very unusual light machinegun. It is one of those strange designs the Italians were so good at producing in the 1930s. The strangest part of the Breda 30 is its feed system; it has only one magazine. By that, I mean only one; the magazine was attached permanently to the gun by a hinge; when it needed to be reloaded, the magazine was reloaded with rifle chargers. This means that the magazine is extremely well made, but if anything happens to magazine, the gun has to be partially disassembled and the magazine replaced. This also slows down the rate of fire, as reloading the small magazine from 5-round clips is slow. The barrel is a quick-change barrel, but there is no handle, making an asbestos glove absolutely necessary.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

M-1930

6.5mm Carcano

10.2 kg

20 (Reloaded from 5-Round Clips)

$2206

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

M-1930

5

4

2-3-Nil

8

3

7

47

With Bipod

5

4

2-3-Nil

8

1

3

60