Diemaco C-7 LSW

Notes: This is basically the Canadian version of the Colt Model 715 (M-16A2 LMG). The usual Diemaco (now called Colt Canada) improvements have been applied to the weapon, including a heavy hydraulic recoil buffer (reducing the cyclic rate of automatic fire to a more manageable 625 rpm), heavy hammer-forged 20-inch barrel tipped with a standard C-7 assault rifle flash suppressor, and structural strengthening by the use of stronger materials. One of the biggest improvements is the ability of the barrel to dissipate heat, eliminating the need for a quick-change barrel system. The C-7 LSW may be fed by any M-16-compatible magazine, from the old-style steel magazines to modern 100-round C-Mags and 90-round MWG drums. The C-7 LSW also uses a large, square cross-section forward handguard which has two short lengths of MIL-STD-1913 rails on either side of the handguard just under the front sight post and a forward handgrip at about the center of the handguard. Further forward is a mount which can take a variety of bipods. Sights almost identical to standard C-7 sights are used, but they are calibrated for longer ranges. It can use the same family of accessories, optics, and night vision sights as the base C-7 assault rifle. A variant of the C-7 LSW, the C-7A1 LSW, replaces the carrying handle with a flattop receiver topped with a MIL-STD-1913 rail.

Only limited use of the C-7 LSW is made by the Canadian military, and even lesser numbers of the C-7A1 LSW are in use. The Dutch Marines use much larger numbers of the C-7 LSW, but they use the C-7A1 LSW configuration.

Twilight 2000 Story: This weapon was taken into Canadian service to supplement the Minimi; in addition, the Norwegians are also using it, and there is limited use by US Marines in Alaska and Norway. The Dutch still got their C-7A1 LSWs in the Twilight 2000 timeline, but otherwise, the C-7A1 LSW is rather rare.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

C-7 LSW

5.56mm NATO

5.81 kg

20, 30

$1471

C-7A1 LSW

5.56mm NATO

6.01 kg

20, 30

$1479

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

C-7 LSW (Both)

5

3

1-Nil

7

2

4

59

(With Bipod)

5

3

1-Nil

7

1

2

77