Izhmash IZH-34M

     Notes: This is a weapon designed for use in rapid-fire shooting competitions.  It is made to very exacting tolerances and measurements, both to satisfy Olympic shooters and international standards.  The IZH-34M is a single-action pistol very similar in form to the Hammerli pistols of the same type, and large match stock with an adjustable hand rest.  The trigger is completely adjustable (weight, pull, angle, and distance from the back of the trigger guard).  The IZH-34M has a micrometer rear sight.  Like most pistols of its type, it is very heavy, but has the internationally agreed-upon standard magazine of 5 rounds.

     The IZH-35M is basically a larger version of the IZH-34M, firing a larger round.  Most of the features of the IZH-34M are duplicated in the IZH-35M; in addition, the IZH-35M has an automatic firing pin safety, and can take a larger magazine. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

IZH-34M

.22 Short

1.26 kg

5

$125

IZH-35M

.22 Long Rifle

1.4 kg

5, 10

$143

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

IZH-34M

SA

-2

Nil

1

1

Nil

12

IZH-35M

SA

1

Nil

1

1

Nil

12

 

Kalashnikov Kanareyka

     Notes: Perhaps one of the most unique special weapons in current use, the Kanareyka is called a “weapon complex” by the Russians.  The Kanareyka may have been in use since the late 1980s or early 1990s. 

     The Kanareyka consists of two weapons in one; the upper weapon is a heavily-modified silenced AKS-74U called the AKSB-74U.  The AKSB-74U has a barrel even shorter than the standard AKS-74U, and has a large silencer that extends the barrel as well as providing excellent silencing capabilities – one could be around the corner of a building from a shooter firing the AKSB-74U and not be able to easily figure out the origin of the shots (though he will hear them).  The AKSB-74U may fire standard ammunition or subsonic ammunition, on automatic or semiautomatic fire. 

     The lower part of the Kanareyka is the BS-1 silenced grenade launcher.  The BS-1 operates in a manner similar to ammunition such as the SP-4 – by a piston that contains the sound from the launching charge inside the grenade’s shell.  The launching charge is actuated by the firing of a special round that acts as sort of a primer.  This round is based on a drastically cut-down 7.62mm Nagant charge, and also contains the sound of its propellant charge inside a shortened, straight-cased cartridge with a piston inside.  The launching cartridges are contained within the pistol grip of the BS-1.  The launching cartridges are fed by a manually-operated bolt.  (Due to the design of the BS-1, the launching cartridges cannot be fired by themselves and used as a weapon.)

     The BS-1 itself is muzzle-loaded and fires a modification of the round fired by the AGS-17 and AGS-30 grenade launchers.  Both the AKSB-74U and the BS-1 are almost completely flashless; the BS-1 is a bit louder than the AKSB-74U, but not much louder than a .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire round.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

Kanareyka

5.45mm Kalashnikov (+ Grenade)

5.43 kg (3.88 kg for rifle)

20, 30, 40 (+ Grenade)

$1669

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

AKSB-74U (Standard Ammo)

5

2

1-Nil

5/6

2

4

11

AKSB-74U (Subsonic Ammo)

5

2

Nil

5/6

1

2

10

 

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazine

Price

BS-1

30mm Russian BS-1 Low-Velocity

1.55 kg

1 Internal

$575

 

Weapon

ROF

Round

SS

Burst

Range

IFR

BS-1

SS

HEAT

2

Nil

100

390

 

SS

HE

2

Nil

100

390

 

KBP ADS

     Notes: The APS was a reasonably good answer to the need for an underwater rifle at the time of introduction, but above water, it was lacking in range and damaging potential.  The ASM-DT was an intermediate attempt to solve this problem, but meant that the shooter would have to carry two sets of ammunition and magazines, and also made the rifle more complicated in order to allow it to fire standard 5.45mm Kalashnikov ammunition and use its magazines.  In addition, corrosion problems were noted with both rifles.  To this end, KBP designed the ADS, which first appeared in limited test issue to Spetsnaz and other special troops in 2005.  It is designed to address many of the defects and limitations of the APS and ASM-DT, not the least of which is the need for special long, heavy ammunition and its equally huge and special magazine when the weapon is used underwater.  To fix this problem required new ammunition; the result, the 5.45mm PSP round, is of the same dimensions as the standard 5.45mm Kalashnikov round.  This new ammunition is for the most part similar to the standard 5.45mm ammunition, except that it has special ammunition and a special primer, and the bullet is longer (it extends all the way to the rear of the cartridge case, and is basically surrounded by propellant).  Two types of AP variants of the PSP round are also available; the standard ball round is the 7N6, and the two AP rounds are the 7N10 and 7N22.  The use of the APs’s and ASM-DT’s dart ammunition also required an overly-long receiver and special bolt and firing pin assembly; this has been made unnecessary in the ADS.

     The ADS takes the form of a size and weight-saving bullpup rifle, and used the A-91M as a starting point for its design.  It retains the A-91M’s gas operation, rotary bolt locking, and forward ejection through a tube running from the receiver.  However, many parts and features of the ADM were redesigned for use as an underwater rifle, from the gas system (which uses a switch for operation – “air” or “water”).  The barrel is specially sealed to the receiver and is designed to be removed only by an armorer or personnel specially trained in the maintenance of the ADS.  The barrel is 16.34 inches long, and is normally tipped with a special flash suppressor which also functions as a muzzle brake.  This can be removed, and beefier muzzle brakes or silencers and suppressors may be attached instead.  Much of the APS is built using light, non-corroding alloys and polymers, and the steel parts are specially finished and treated to reduce corrosion. The receiver is topped with sort of a carrying handle, and atop this handle is a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  A GP-30 grenade launcher can also be attached under the barrel of the ADS, though when underwater only the VOG-25 (HE) round can be fired from it.  The ADS can also fire standard 5.45mm Kalashnikov ammunition when above water, though in field tests, this in not normally done since it would require the carrying of two types of ammunition, one of the things that KBP was trying to avoid with the ADS.  The ADS feeds from standard AK-74 magazines.  As of 2010, the ADS is still under advanced field testing.  Future plans call for it to replace the APS and ASM-DT, and possibly limited amounts of the AK-74M in Russian special operations use.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The ADS is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

ADS

5.45mm PSP and 5.45mm Kalashnikov

3.3 kg

30, 40, 75D

$543

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

ADS (5.45mm 7N6)

5

3

1-Nil

4

2

4

34

ADS (5.45mm 7N6, Underwater)

5

3

1-Nil

4

1

3

25

ADS (5.45mm 7N10)

5

3

1-2-Nil

4

2

4

34

ADS (5.45mm 7N10, Underwater)

5

3

1-2-Nil

4

1

3

25

ADS (5.45mm 7N22)

5

3

1-1-Nil

4

2

4

34

ADS (5.45mm 7N22, Underwater)

5

3

1-1-Nil

4

1

3

25

ADS (5.45mm Kalashnikov)

5

3

1-Nil

4

2

4

41

 

MP-451

     Notes:  This Russian derringer was designed for undercover police as well as civilian self-defense.  In police use, it was normally carried by female officers wearing tight outfits, due to its small size.  Unlike most derringers, it has both a trigger safety and manual safety. 

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

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

MP-451

.380 ACP

0.35 kg

2 Internal

$93

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

MP-451

SA

1

Nil

0

7

Nil

5

 

Stechkin MSP Groza

     Notes:  This Russian silenced pistol is designed for clandestine work.  It is a small derringer-type weapon, with a tip-up barrel for reloading.  The rounds were designed for this weapon, and use a small charge that powers a small piston inside the case.  This throws the round out of the weapon while containing the sound and flash of the round inside the case.  The firing of this pistol produces almost no noise. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

MSP Groza

7.62mm SP-3

0.53 kg

2 Clip

$136

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

MSP Groza

SA

1

Nil

0

5

Nil

3

 

Stechkin OTs-38

     Notes: The PSS is an excellent and successful silent pistol design, but it does have a weak point from the standpoint of deep black operations – it leaves behind shell casings unless the shooter stops to pick them up, something that is not always possible.  As a result, the OTs-38 silent revolver was designed.  The OTs-38 uses the same ammunition as the PSS – the 7.62mm SP-4, which uses a captive plunger system to silence the noise of firing inside the case.  This silence is further enhanced by the use of a very old and not much used method of revolver operation – the gas-seal method.  The gas-seal method, most often associated with the Nagant series of revolvers, is normally an unnecessary complication for revolvers that does little or nothing to enhance operation.  On the OTs-38, however, it almost totally prevents the escape of firing gasses and sparks and gasses from the primer from being released from the gap between the cylinder and the barrel.  This is done by the mechanism, which moves the cylinder flush with the barrel as the weapon is being fired.  The result is a handgun which is almost as quiet as the PSS; the loudest noise is in fact from the hammer striking the firing pin.

     The cylinder, due to its unusual design, opens a differently than a standard revolver.  The cylinder opens on an arm to the right side, angling out from the side of the revolver.  The cylinder release is at the front of the frame on the left and is pushed forwards to release the cylinder. The revolver is normally reloaded from a special 5-round clip, but rounds can be loaded individually.  Case ejection unloads all cases and the special clip simultaneously as one unit. Operation is double-action, but the action includes a special manual safety which allows the OTs-38 to be carried safely while cocked and locked.  The frame is large; this is not only due to the large cylinder and its unusual mechanism, but due to the inclusion of an integral laser aiming module under the barrel.  The OTs-38 also has iron sights which are of the white-dot type.  The barrel is about 3.75 inches, but due to the special nature of its ammunition, it is intended for short-range work.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

OTs-38

7.62mm SP-4

0.88 kg

5 Cylinder

$668

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

OTs-38

DAR

2

1-Nil

1

4

Nil

4

 

Stechkin S-4M

     Notes:  In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the Russians produced a number of silenced and suppressed weapons for use by their assassins and special operations units.  The S-4M was one of these; it is basically an improved model of the MSP Groza, using a smoother profile with longer barrels, both to accommodate the longer cartridges and to increase accuracy.  Also known as the PZAM, the S-4M’s ammunition is designed to further decrease the noise the weapon makes when fired; though it still produces what in game terms would be Class II noise, referees should use a little more bias towards the shooter when determining whether the sound is heard. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

S-4M

7.62mm PZAM

0.6 kg

2 Clip

$194

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

S-4M

SA

2

1-Nil

0

6

Nil

2

 

TSNIITOCHMASH APS

     Notes: It is not known how long the APS has been in existence; it was revealed shortly after the end of the Cold War, but the Russians have given no details on how long their Naval Spetsnaz swimmers have been carrying them; they may have been in low-level production since the mid-1970s, and designed as early as the early 1970s, based on experience gained from the SPP-1 underwater pistol. It appears to have never been exported, and restricted to use by Naval Spetsnaz.

     The APS is a selective-fire underwater assault rifle based upon the Kalashnikov action.  It fires 120mm-long darts propelled by a sealed gunpowder cartridge that is based on the standard 5.45mm Kalashnikov case.  The construction is rather crude in appearance; the construction is of steel with a special finish which is very effective in resisting corrosion.  The APS fires from an open bolt, but the operating system and the cartridges are completely sealed against water.  A self-adjusting gas valve responds to pressure, allowing the APS to be used underwater as well as on land.  The APS has no handguard; the pistol grip is of plastic, and the stock is a sliding wire-type that is quite similar to that of the M-3 Grease Gun submachinegun.  A striking feature of the APS is its polymer magazines; they are stepped and very large, to handle the 120mm darts, plus their cartridges, plus a rather large and heavy follower spring.

     The lack of range of the APS is rather limited on land (as well as in the water), which is the primary complaint against it.  This problem is primarily due to the fact that the APS uses a smoothbore barrel, and that it cannot fire any sort of standard firearms ammunition. This led Tula, in the late 1990s, to develop a variant of the APS called the ASM-DT.  This version is for the most part an improved version of the APS, using the same operation.  The primary change is the magazines and magazine well; it accepts a modified form of the APS’s magazines, but by sealing part of the magazine well, it can also use AK-74-type magazines for use on land.  The dart used is also different; it is still 120mm long, but is hardened, 5.4mm in diameter, and somewhat faster than the 5.66mm MPS dart.  The barrel has special grooves leading from the chamber forward; when the first on-land shot is fired with standard 5.45mm Kalashnikov ammunition, any remaining water in the barrel and mechanism is forced out.  The 13.64-inch barrel is tipped with an AKS-74U-type muzzle brake.  This makes the ASM-DT a much more effective land assault rifle, though underwater it performs roughly on par with the APS.  The ASM-DT is in very limited production.

     An even newer version of this rifle is the ADS; this weapon first appeared in limited issue to Spetsnaz and other special troops in 2005.  It is designed to address many of the defects and limitations of the APS and ASM-DT, not the least of which is the need for special long, heavy ammunition and its equally huge and special magazine when the weapon is used underwater.  To fix this problem required new ammunition; the result, the 5.45mm PSP round, is of the same dimensions as the standard 5.45mm Kalashnikov round.  This new ammunition is for the most part similar to the standard 5.45mm ammunition, except that it has special ammunition and a special primer, and the bullet is longer (it extends all the way to the rear of the cartridge case, and is basically surrounded by propellant).  Two types of AP variants of the PSP round are also available; the standard ball round is the 7N6, and the two AP rounds are the 7N10 and 7N22.  The use of the APs’s and ASM-DT’s dart ammunition also required an overly-long receiver and special bolt and firing pin assembly; this has been made unnecessary in the ADS, and the ADS thus takes the form of a size and weight-saving bullpup rifle.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Naval personnel and port workers of most of Russia’s enemies felt the sting of the APS at some point during the Twilight War.  US Navy SEALs and similar NATO forces placed a high priority on capturing these weapons and their ammunition intact when confronting Naval Spetsnaz armed with the APS.  SEAL armorers at Coronado quickly managed to reverse-engineer the APS, producing an almost exact copy, which was designated the Mk 37 Mod 0 Underwater Assault Rifle, more commonly known as the “Frogman Stinger.”  The ASM-DT does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: Though the Russians did not intend this, the design for the APS eventually leaked out onto the international market, and by 1999, it was one of the most in-demand special operations weapons around.  Most of the money from those sales did not make it back into Russian hands, however.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

APS

5.66mm MPS Dart

2.4 kg

26

$500

ASM-DT

5.4mm MPS Dart or 5.45mm Kalashnikov

2.46 kg

(Darts) 26; (Bullets) 30, 40, 75 Drum

$533

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

APS

5

2

1-1-Nil

4/6

3

7

13

(Underwater)

5

2

1-1-Nil

4/6

2

4

10

ASM-DT (Land, 5.45mm)

5

2

1-Nil

5/7

2

5

35

(Land, Dart)

5

2

1-1-Nil

5/7

2

5

23

                                           (Underwater, Dart)

5

2

1-1-Nil

5/7

2

4

10

 

TsNIITOCHMASH PSS

     Notes: The PSS was a part of a number of silenced-weapon projects developed under the Russian military program called “Val” (the same program that resulted in weapons such as the AS assault rifle and VSS sniper rifle).  The PSS is a silenced automatic pistol that achieves noise suppression by a novel feature – the secret is in the ammunition and not the pistol itself.  The ammunition, based on a radically cut-down 7.62mm Kalashnikov round, uses a propellant-actuated plunger inside the case, trapping the sound of the propellant inside the case; in addition, the round itself is subsonic.  Therefore, no large and clumsy silencer is necessary.  Though supposedly not as efficient at noise suppression as a standard silenced pistol, it does have the virtue of allowing a more powerful round to be used.  In addition, there is no more than trace residue from powder and gasses after firing. Due to the special ammunition, the rifling twist is much faster than a standard pistol of its caliber would be; in fact, the forward part of the cartridge case is also rifled.

     The PSS is regarded as unusually well-crafted for a Soviet firearm of the period (the PSS is believed to have been introduced in 1983). They were manufactured with no other markings other than a serial number. The PSS is still in use by some Russian antiterrorist units. The barrel is made in two parts; the end of the barrel is fixed to the frame, but the breech portion recoils slightly upon each shot, helping to reduce bolt clatter. The PSS has a slide lock to eliminate bolt clatter if extra quiet is necessary.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

PSS

7.62mm SP-4

0.66 kg

6

$1017

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

PSS

SA

2

1-Nil

1

3

Nil

2

 

TsNIITOCHMACH/Tula SPP-1 Underwater Pistol

     Notes: A companion to the APS assault rifle, the SPP-1 is similar in concept to the Heckler & Koch P-11, being a pistol firing drag-stabilized darts and designed for optimum use underwater.  Soviet Naval Spetsnaz began using the SPP-1 in 1971, though its existence was not generally known in the West until the 1980s. The pistol consists of four smoothbore chambers attached to a firing unit, and breaks open for loading and reloading.  The rounds themselves are long, needle-like cartridges fired by a small waterproof propellant charge; for each pull of the trigger, one is fired, and the barrels fire in a clockwise pattern beginning at the top right (the pistol has one striker, which rotates on each pull of the trigger).  When the SPP-1 is broken open for reloading, the spent propellant cases are automatically ejected.  Though the darts are quite stable underwater, they are quite unstable in air, and tend to begin tumbling rather quickly.

     The SPP-1M is a modified version that began use in 1979.  The SPP-1M is virtually identical for game use, but has an enlarged trigger guard and a safety switch (the SPP-1 has no safety of any kind).

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

SPP-1

4.5mm SPP Dart

0.95 kg

4 Clip

$305

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

SPP-1 (In Air)

SA

2

1-Nil

1

4

Nil

4

SPP-1 (5m Depth)

SA

2

1-Nil

1

2

Nil

9

SPP-1 (20m Depth)

SA

2

Nil

1

2

Nil

6

SPP-1 (40m Depth)

SA

1

Nil

1

2

Nil

3

 

Tula NRS Scouting Knife

     Notes:  The handle of this knife contains a single chamber and short barrel, into which is loaded an SP-3 cartridge.  This firearm is as quiet as the PSS.  The muzzle of the pistol is at the end of the knife handle, and when used the knife is reversed in the hand and fired by pressure on a trigger bar located in the handle.  Reloading is accomplished by removing the firing mechanism and loading the exposed barrel.  Though the flash and crack of the propellant are suppressed, and there is no muzzle flash, there is a small possibly that the hot barrel will burn the shooter when it is fired.  A notch in the crosspiece acts as a sight.  The NRS gas no safety; when the firing mechanism is not cocked, the firing barrel cannot be fired.  The NRS can otherwise be used as a standard knife, though it is poorly balanced for throwing, even with the firing mechanism removed. The knife portion can cut steel bars up to 10mm in diameter, barbed wire, and is insulated to permit the cutting of electrical cables.  It can also be used as a screwdriver.  The knife blade pivots when not in use, with the blade folding behind the firing mechanism; however, it is a folding blade and does not spring out like a switchblade.  A scabbard is also issued for the NRS.  The firing unit includes storage for two more rounds of ammunition.

     The NRS-2 improved version was first issued in 1986; the primary change was a rechambering for the SP-4 cartridge.  The NRS-2 has a cocking lever, a safety, and a release lever that springs the blade open, but the blade design itself is considered out of date by the troops that use the NRS-2.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Possession of this knife was considered quite a prize by US, NATO, Chinese, and South Korean troops. 

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

NRS

7.62mm SP-3

0.62 kg

1 Internal

$498

NRS-2

7.62mm SP-4

0.66 kg

1 Internal

$515

 

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

NRS

SS

2

Nil

1

6

Nil

4

NRS-2

SS

2

1-Nil

2

6

Nil

3