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MA5B assault rifle

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

Revision as of 22:42, May 30, 2020 by Grim Looters (talk | contribs) (Overhaul, phase 1. More to come.)
MA5B assault rifle
A render of the MA5B assault rifle cinematic model made for Halo Wars.
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Misriah Armory[1]

Model series:

MA5 ICWS series[1]

Type:

Assault rifle,[2] bullpup[3]

Specifications

Ammunition type:

7.62x51mm[4]

Feed system:

60-round detachable box magazine[4]

Operation:

Gas-operated [2]

Rate of fire:

15 rounds per second automatic,[5] semi-automatic,[6] 3-round burst[7]

Effective range:

500m[8]

Service history

In service:

Insurrection, Human-Covenant War

 

The MA5B assault rifle, or simply MA5B or MA5, is a standard-issue automatic rifle utilized widely by the UNSC, particularly the UNSC Marine Corps.[2][9][10] It is part of Misriah Armory's MA5 Individual Combat Weapon System (ICWS) series.[1]

Overview

Design

The MA5B is a gas-operated automatic rifle chambered in the widespread 7.62x51mm cartridge, most often used with standard M118 FMJ-AP ammunition,[4] though also employed with shredder[5] and hollow-point rounds.[7] MA5Bs typically feed from 60-round detachable box magazines,[4] which are marked with red paint when loaded with hollow-point rounds.[7] The weapon's automatic rate of fire is 15 rounds per second,[5] but it can be limited to semi-automatic[6] or 3-round burst via a fire selector to conserve ammunition and alter firing pattern.[7] Its range, in the hands of a competent shooter, has been indicated to be 500m by Spartan Linda-058.[8]

One significant aspect of the MA5B's design is its capacity for modification. During the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV, Spartans made use of MA5Bs that had been altered in order to mount silencers, combating the conspicuous audible report of the weapon's firing.[11] Early in the Covenant War, Spartans also frequently employed MA5Bs with underslung M301 40mm launchers to fire HE grenades, notably during Operation: SILENT STORM and the salavage operation on Netherop.[12]

Gameplay

Advantage

The MA5B in both offensive and suppressive situations remains one of the UNSC's most reliable weapon. When fired in short bursts, or even single shots, there is a significant increase in accuracy, and the rifle's armor penetrating ability makes it key for handling even the toughest of infantry, having the ability to kill an Elite in about 45 rounds in close quarters. The MA5B rifle is effective at killing light armored infantry at close-to-medium range, and the high rate of fire combined with the high ammunition capacity allows its user to spray the whole area with suppressing fire. The MA5B also gives the user an ammo count on its digital readout, as well a compass pointing toward the arbitrary magnetic "north" position. In the hands of someone who can control their trigger finger, the MA5B becomes a deadly weapon in CQB situations.

Disadvantages

The MA5B is not without disadvantages, its main disadvantage being its horrible accuracy when fired at a range of more than forty meters. At that range, enemy infantry may be hit by a few bullets, or not be hit by any bullets at all. The MA5B Assault Rifle performs poorly against energy shields unless firing on full automatic at close range without giving a shielded infantry time to cover. In comparison to modern assault rifles it can be more related to an oversized sub-machine gun, as it is underpowered and lacks the ability to select a fire mode. The MA5B is also not the ideal weapon to use against Flood Combat forms, as Combat forms dropped by one are likely to rise again soon afterwards if not damaged with another weapon prior. A way to counter this is to kill the Combat form and with the remainder of the clip, fire at the body.

Trivia

Main-Legendary.png See our gameplay information related to MA5B assault rifle on its gameplay page.
Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

References

  • The MA5B was heavily inspired by the MA–75B assault rifle from the Marathon series.
  • Robert McLees at Bungie has compared the basic design of the MA5B to that of the Fabrique-Nationale FN F2000. According to The Art of Halo, McLees did not know of the F2000 until after the game was even finished; "I don't know when the images of the FN F2000 appeared, but I didn't see them until three or four months after the game shipped, and I thought 'Oh great. Now everyone's going to think I swiped the design from Fabrique National.' It was surreal to see how close the Halo assault rifle was to its real-life counterpart... and it was all totally by accident."

Miscellaneous

  • There is a second melee animation for the MA5B, in which the user holds the weapon vertically and clubs anyone in front of them with the back end of the weapon. This animation is used in a few Halo Custom Edition maps, but was taken out of the official game. This animation is similar, if not identical, to the melee animation used for the M90 CAWS.
  • In Halo: Combat Evolved and Anniversary, the gas giant Threshold is considered arbitrary north by the MA5B's compass.
  • In the early version of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the MA5B used the MA37 as a placeholder render, before using the MA5C for the final game.

Gallery

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Library, Assault Rifle entry
  2. ^ a b c Halo: Combat Evolved Manual, Page 17
  3. ^ Halo: Oblivion, Chapter 4
  4. ^ a b c d Halo: Combat Evolved, Gameplay
  5. ^ a b c Halo: The Fall of Reach, Prologue
  6. ^ a b Halo: Silent Storm, Chapter 27
  7. ^ a b c d Halo: Silent Storm, Chapter 24
  8. ^ a b Halo: Oblivion, Chapter 19
  9. ^ Halowars.com, Marines
  10. ^ Halo Wars, Cutscene "Intro" (YouTube link)
  11. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, Chapter 20
  12. ^ Halo: Oblivion, Chapter 13

v • d • e
 
List of rifles and carbines used by humanity
MA series MA1 • MA2B • MA3A • MA40 (Longshot)
MA5 series variants MA37 • MA5B • MA5C • MA5D
Other assault rifles HMG-38 Monitor Rifle • VK78 Commando (Impact)
CM 300 • M6J/C • MA5K
BR55 series XBR55 • BR55 • BR55HB
BR75 series BR75 • BR75 Breacher
BR85 series BR85 • BR85HB • BR85N
Other BR series rifles BRXX Lightfire
Other battle rifles "Maestro"
M295 • M392 • M395 (M395B)
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