Canon

MA5C assault rifle

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MA5C assault rifle
A UNSC marine firing her MA5C, with expended casings visible.
H3-MA5C-ICWS-AR-Left.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Misriah Armory[1]

Model series:

MA5 series[1]

Type:

Bullpup assault rifle

Cost:

1686.00 cR[2]

Specifications

Length:

  • (o/a): 88 centimetres (34.6 in)[2][Note 1]
  • (barrel): 61 centimetres (24 in)[2]

Weight:

  • (empty): 3.8 kilograms (8.4 lb)[2]
  • (loaded): 4.1 kilograms (9.0 lb)[2]

Ammunition type:

7.62×51mm Full Metal Jacket[2][1]

Feed system:

32 round box magazine[2]

Operation:

Short-stroke, gas-operated, rotating-bolt

Rate of fire:

Muzzle velocity:

905 m/s (2970 ft/s)[2]

Effective range:

300 metres[2]

Service history

In service:

Human-Covenant War
Post-Covenant War conflicts

 
The only thing I can think of that would make the MA5C any sweeter would be an under-slung shotty or a forty mike mike.

The MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System, abbreviated MA5C ICWS and commonly known as the MA5C assault rifle, is a standard-issue service rifle for the UNSC Marine Corps and the Navy. Produced by Misriah Armory as part of its MA5 Series, the MA5C is an improvement on the MA5B Individual Combat Weapon System.[2]

Overview[edit]

The MA5C assault rifle is an air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, fully-automatic bullpup rifle that fires 32 rounds of 7.62×51mm ammunition. It possesses a built-in ammunition indicator and compass for orientation.[2] However, it features no in-built optical magnification.[1]

The MA5C rifle has received technical, as well as physical improvements over the MA5B assault rifle that include: a heavier barrel with a 1 in 7 twist; a redesigned cowling to house the electronics suite that reduces weight and increases portability of weapon; and a redesigned handguard which is sturdier and provides a more positive grip. The magazine capacity has been reduced to 32 rounds from the original 60 in the MA5B, and the rifle's range and accuracy has been substantially improved over its predecessor, making it a more formidable assault rifle.[2] While widespread in usage, the weapon lacks the component modularity and upgrades of its successor models.[1]

A downside to the MA5C was the lack of a secondary weapon system,[2] however by December 2553 the weapon was able to use a M301 grenade launcher.[3]

Usage[edit]

The MA5C has been in service with the UNSC as early as 2526.[4] The MA5C became one of the most prominent rifles used by the UNSC during the closing days of the Human-Covenant War, and was heavily used by Marine forces during the Battle for Earth and the Ark Conflict.[5][1] By 2557, the MA5C had been largely replaced by the MA5D assault rifle,[6] although it continued to see usage by reserve units scattered abroad.[1]

In-game information[edit]

The MA5C assault rifle is featured as a player-useable weapon in Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST, replacing the MA5B assault rifle from Halo: Combat Evolved.

For game-specific information, see the following pages.

Non-canon and dubious canon appearances[edit]

MA5C prop
The MA5C.

Silver Timeline[edit]

HTV-SilverTeam logo.png
This article contains information about the Silver Timeline, and is not a part of the established Halo canon.
Main article: Silver Timeline

MA5C assault rifles were used by Silver Team and other UNSC personnel in battles against the Covenant.[7] John-117's MA5C was stylized with a "117" on the side of the barrel.[8]

During the Battle of Madrigal, John-117 used an MA5C against attacking Sangheili forces before ultimately discarding the weapon in favor of a more effective machine gun turret. Rather than opting to retrieve his gun, John left the assault rifle abandoned in the base when he left,[9] likely because there was only one bullet left in it.[8]

During the Battle of Eridanus II, John was given an assault rifle by a Marine as he had yet to replace the one that he had discarded on Madrigal. While driving a Warthog, John placed the weapon on the passenger's seat and left it there when he left the vehicle to help Kai-125.[10]

After returning to her father's outpost, Kwan Ha discovered John's discarded assault rifle half-hidden under a truck. Kwan used the gun to detonate the Sky Pipe, killing Vinsher Grath and all of his forces. Kwan subsequently kept the weapon for herself.[8]

Trivia[edit]

References[edit]

  • On the butt of the MA5C, a small Marathon symbol can be found. It is also found on the left side of the weapon just below the charging handle.

Miscellaneous[edit]

  • The green button on the MA5C is a power on/off switch for the weapon's flashlight, which is never used in game by playable characters.
  • The remastered MA5B in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary uses the MA5C's model.[11]
  • In Fable II, the MA5C can be obtained in the Knothole Island expansion pack. It is called "Hal's Rifle".
  • In the Helldivers 2 x Halo: ODST crossover, the MA5C is one of four weapons included for use alongside the M90A shotgun, M7S SMG, and M6C/SOCOM pistol.
  • The 1/7 barrel twist rate is not optimal for the ammunition the MA5C uses; this would generally cause the projectile to become very unstable (and thus, more inaccurate) as it travels through the air. 7.62×51mm rounds are usually fired through barrels with a 1/10, 1/11, or 1/12 twist.

Mistakes[edit]

Gallery[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ In the Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), the MA5C's length is contradictingly listed on page 163 as 38.9 inches (98.8 cm).

Sources[edit]