MA2B assault rifle

The MA2B Individual Combat Weapon System (ICWS) is a firearm used by the United Nations Space Command that is part of Misriah Armory's MA series, and is described as a cut-down version of UNSC's standard-issue MA5B assault rifle. The rifle sees sparse service among UNSC Special Forces units.

Design details
Like the other models of the MA series, the MA2B is tough and reliable. It features electronic targeting, an ammo supply indicator, and a recoil-reduction system. The MA2B can fire 900 rounds per minute (fifteen rounds per second) and uses .390 caliber ammunition, which is considerably larger than the 7.62mm round used by the MA5 series. The MA2B can utilize "penetrators", special armor-penetrating rounds with copper jackets and depleted uranium cores. It is also compatible with extended magazines.

Service history
The MA2B is an old weapon, dating back to the Insurrection. SPARTAN-IIs used MA2Bs when they were required to carry very little ordnance for a mission. Blue Team used MA2Bs on their first combat mission to capture Colonel Robert Watts of the United Rebel Front. In 2559, Major Eznik Van Houte kept an MA2B as an emergency weapon in the cockpit of the Owl dropship he flew, putting it to use in Blue Team's mission to Reach after a crash landing. He used the weapon with penetrator ammunition, prompting John-117 to note that he was "a man who believed in putting holes in what he hit."

Trivia
In the first three issues of Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp, the MA2B appears as it is depicted on the cover of Issue 4, albeit longer. In the last issue, however, the MA2B closely resembles the MA5K carbine due to its straighter carrying handle and larger barrel. In some panels in Issue 4, John-117's MA2B appears to be much longer than in other panels, making it look almost identical to the BR55HB battle rifle.

List of appearances

 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: Fall of Reach
 * Boot Camp
 * Covenant
 * Halo: Shadows of Reach