MA5B assault rifle: Difference between revisions

{{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

|image=[[File:HW-MA5-ICWS-AssaultRifle.png|300px]]

|manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]{{Ref/Reuse|CEAL}}

|series=[[MA5 series|MA5 ICWS series]]<ref name="CEAL">''[[Library (Anniversary feature)|Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Library]]'', [[Library (feature)#Assault Rifle|Assault Rifle entry]]</ref>

|type=Bullpup Assault Rifle<ref name="SilentStorm4">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', Chapter 4</ref>

|length=

|ammotype=[[7.62x51mm]]<ref name="HCE">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', Gameplay</ref>

|feed=60-round detachable box magazine{{Ref/Reuse|HCE}}

|operation=Gas-operated<ref name="CEM">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Manual#Human Weapons|Halo: Combat Evolved Manual, Page 17, "MA5B Assault Rifle"]]''</ref>

|rate=15 rounds per second automatic,<ref name="TFoRPrologue">[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], Prologue</ref> semi-automatic,<ref name="SilentStorm27">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', Chapter 27</ref> 3-round burst<ref name="SilentStorm24">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', Chapter 24</ref>

|range=~500m<ref name="Oblivion19">''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'', Chapter 19</ref>{{Ref/Note|This is indicated in an exchange between [[Linda-058]] and Captain Dkani of the ''UNSC Wheatley''. When Linda tells him to have his men open fire at "50 paces", he responds by saying that the MA5B's range is almost ten times that. In reply, Linda tells him that if they open fire at 500m (the product of 50x10), being inexperienced shooters, they will waste their ammunition. This indicates that in the context of this exchange, "paces" is being used to refer to meters, as opposed to the term's real world designations as a non-standard measurement unit (~0.75m in the US).}}

The '''MA5B assault rifle''', or simply '''MA5B''', is a standard-issue automatic rifle utilized widely by the [[UNSC]], particularly the [[Marine Corps]].{{Ref/Reuse|ENC318}} It is part of [[Misriah Armory|Misriah Armory's]] [[MA5 series|MA5 Individual Combat Weapon System (ICWS) series]].{{Ref/Reuse|CEAL}}

One significant aspect of the MA5B's design is its capacity for modification. Its barrel can be adapted for use with suppressors to combat the conspicuous report of the weapon's firing, making it especially suitable for stealth fighting;<ref name="SoR2">''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]], Chapter 2''</ref> [[SPARTAN-IIs]] made use of this attribute during the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]].<ref name="TFoR20">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', Chapter 20</ref> Early in the [[Covenant War]], SPARTAN-IIs also frequently employed MA5Bs with underslung [[M301 40mm Grenade Launcher|M301 40mm launchers]] to fire HE grenades, notably during [[Operation: SILENT STORM]]<ref name="SilentStorm8">''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', Chapter 8</ref> and the [[Skirmish over Netherop|salvage operation on Netherop]].<ref name="Oblivion13">''[[Halo: Oblivion]]'', Chapter 13</ref>

[[File:Assault-rifle.png|thumb|right|A schematic view of the MA5B.]]

The most characteristic part of the MA5B's architecture is the accentuated shroud situated atop the barrel, which houses the weapon's integrated computer and display. While most [[MA5 series|MA5 ICWS rifles]] feature this to some extent, it is most prominent on the MA5B. The magazine which feeds the rifle is inserted behind the thumbhole pistol grip in a bullpup configuration, another trait typical of the ICWS series. The charging handle is an inconspicuous rounded-off protrusion on the left of the weapon's body, and the ejection port is situated on the right. The weapon's horizontal foregrip plays host to a forward-facing [[flashlight]], bearing a prominent green button on both flanks. The barrel of the MA5B lacks any form of muzzle device (unless fitted with a suppressor).{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR20}} The finish of the weapon is a dull grey, with a darker grey color for the foregrip, pistol grip and stock.<ref>''[[Halo Wars]]'', [http://images/f/f7/AR.jpg UNSC Assault Rifle cinematic model]</ref> As the cowling appears to mount no optical device or ironsight, the only evident means by which the weapon is aimed is via [[Heads-up display|HUD-based targeting reticle]], such as that of [[MJOLNIR Mark V]],<ref name="CEMHUD">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Manual|Halo: Combat Evolved Manual, Page 14, "Targeting Reticle"]]''</ref> or by eyesight alone.<ref name="MWMonsters">''[[Halo Wars]]'' [[Escape (Halo Wars level)|Escape (Halo Wars level)|Campaign level "Escape", "Monsters" cutscene]]</ref>

[[File:HW Sergeant Forge with MA5B.png|thumb|right|[[John Forge|Sergeant John Forge]], armed with an MA5B during the [[Battle of the Etran Harborage]].]]

The capabilities of the MA5B are seemingly deemed to be sufficient by soldiers of the [[UNSC]], with [[John-117]] regarding the weapon as "powerful."<ref name="TheFlood1">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', Chapter 1</ref> While the rifle is very capable of harming foes wearing physical body armor, and even light vehicles,<ref name="TheFlood2">''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', Chapter 2</ref> [[Energy shielding|personal energy shielding]] represents a significant detriment to its stopping power, as a great deal of concentrated fire from multiple MA5Bs - or an extended period of continuous automatic fire from a single rifle - is needed to overwhelm such systems.{{Ref/Reuse|TheFlood1}} When shredder ammunition is utilized, the weapon appears to be highly effective against infantry targets such as [[Covenant]] [[Grunt|grunt soldiers]],{{Ref/Reuse|TFoRPrologue}} and also capable of obliterating construction materials such as marble tile and wood.<ref name="ReferenceA">''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', Chapter 22</ref> When firing hollow-point ammunition, the weapon is highly effective against unprotected personnel, but is less likely to penetrate hard surfaces, a favorable trait when fighting on a [[starship]] and intending not to cause undue damage to items such as equipment cabinets, hulls, or viewports.{{Ref/Reuse|SilentStorm24}}  

The MA5B's range has been indicated to be approximately 500m in the hands of a competent shooter,{{Ref/Reuse|Oblivion19}} considered "decent" by [[John-117]],{{Ref/Reuse|SoR2}} but its strength was later noted by him to lie primarily in the realm of close-quarters combat.<ref name="SoR14">''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]], Chapter 14''</ref> The weapon is compact enough to serve as a pilot's emergency weapon, being short enough to fit in a cockpit scabbard.{{Ref/Reuse|SoR2}}

One positive attribute of the weapon is the high capacity of the 60-round magazines with which it is typically used, an attribute that was comforting to [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC marines]] wielding it in battle.<ref name="ENC318">[[Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe|Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe (2011 edition)]], Page 318</ref> So well-liked was this attribute that even in light of reliability issues brought on by spring wear, the switch toward 32-round magazines with the later [[MA5C assault rifle]] was met with frustration by the marines of [[E2-BAG/1/7]].<ref>''[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BAGAssaultRifle Bungie.net: MA5C Assault Rifle]''</ref>

When firing this weapon, it has been noted that short, controlled bursts are more accurate than continuous automatic fire. While the cyclic automatic rate of fire is high,{{Ref/Reuse|TFoRPrologue}} actual rate of fire in combat is dictated by the user's own proficiency at aiming, firing and reloading.{{Ref/Reuse|CEM}} When the weapon is altered to mount a silencer, the report of its firing can be reduced to what can be reasonably described as a "cough."{{Ref/Reuse|ReferenceA}}

[[File:Johnson-BQ.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sergeant Avery Johnson]] fires an MA5B during his escape from the compromised [[Flood Containment Facility]] on [[Alpha Halo]].]]

The MA5B was in service to some extent during the [[Insurrection]], being considered a standard weapon in September of [[2525]],<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', Chapter 9</ref> and played a significant role in the [[Covenant War]] that followed. MA5Bs were employed by various [[SPARTAN-IIs]] during [[Operation: SILENT STORM]] and the ensuing [[Skirmish over Netherop|Netherop engagement]] in [[2526]].{{Ref/Reuse|SilentStorm8}}{{Ref/Reuse|Oblivion13}} In [[2531]], the [[UNSC Marine Corps|marine]] compliment of the ''[[UNSC Spirit of Fire]]'' made use of the MA5B on [[Harvest campaign|Harvest]], [[Battle of Arcadia|Arcadia]] and [[Battle of the Etran Harborage|Etran Harborage]],<ref>''[[Halo Wars]]'', Gameplay</ref> while members of [[Blue Team]] deployed with it on their mission to the [[Construction Platform 966A|decommissioned Platform 966A]] the same year,<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', Chapter 3</ref> and again during the [[Battle of Jericho VII]] in [[2535]].{{Ref/Reuse|TFoRPrologue}} The MA5B saw particularly heavy use in [[2552]]. On [[The Battle of Reach|Reach]], it was wielded by [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] sent to engage [[John-117]] during the live-fire test of [[MJOLNIR Mark V]] and [[Cortana]],<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', Chapter 27</ref> and by the Spartans of [[Red Team#Fall of Reach splinter arrangement|Red Team]] during the defense of [[Orbital Defense Generator]]s.<ref name="ReferenceB">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', Chapter 2</ref> John-117 and the marine compliment of the ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn]]'' utilized the MA5B throughout the [[Battle of Alpha Halo|Battle of Halo Alpha]],{{Ref/Reuse|HCE}} and in the ensuing [[skirmish over Threshold]].{{Ref/Reuse|ReferenceB}} [[Spartan]] personnel during the [[Onyx conflict]] also made use of the MA5B.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', Chapter 18</ref> The MA5B remained in service as of 2559, notably being used by First Lieutenant Maks Chapov as his pilot's emergency weapon in the cockpit of an [[Owl]] dropship.{{Ref/Reuse|SoR2}}