At the beginning the war, Nowapan was in the midst of a great rearmament program aimed at replacing what were generally World War I era designs. This generally had the benefit of having designs in hand and in production rather than on the drawing boards or in the prototype phase. Coupled with the benefits though, were the negatives of having multiple weapon types in service with the associated complexities of supply and training. The capture of the Western Arsenal temporarily hurt the rearmament but its capacity was quickly assumed by cooperative industries.

Weapons and cartidges are shown below by the names they are best known by in the West. The earliest designs were often known by metric designations, then later by Vigesimal, only the metric are shown but the table below has conversion data.

• Standard Cartidges
• Rifles
• Pistols
• Submachine Guns
• Machine Guns
• Shotguns
• Mortars
• Grenades
• Anti-Tank Weapons

1908 Rifle, Imperial Arsenal, later National Arsenal: 1908-1939.

7.7x 64mm. BA, 7rounds in magazine, iron sights.

This Mauser designed rifle was built under licence in Nowapan for many years. The 1908 rifle was the standard weapon of the army throughout the WW I, Pacific War, and Revolutionary periods. It was being replaced in the Nowan army at the time the war broke out. All armored divisions had been re-equipped as had most of the specialized units of the Strategic Reserves and the majority of Motorized Infantry Divisions. Rifle and reserve units were not re-equipped in many cases until 1944. Many of those arms found yet another life in the hands of the Civil Defense Force and the National Liberation Army. Most were sold to the public in the late 1940's.

1930 Sniper's Rifle, National Arsenal: 1930-1957.

7.7 x 64 mm, BA, 7 rounds in magazine, telescopic sight.

The standard light sniper's rifle throughout the war and for years to follow. The basic action was continuously upgraded and fitted with improved barrels, optics, stock designs, and adjustable triggers.

1939 Rifle, Western Arsenal: 1939-1950.

7x 49mm, SA, 10rnds in detachable magazine, iron sights.

A lightweight, semi-auto rifle designed to replace the 1908 Rifle. It was an immediate success. The new cartridge offered lower recoil, sufficient killing power, was cheaper to produce and its smaller size allowed a soldier to carry more rounds. When the war began in Nowapan, this was the standard rifle with Armored Divisions, special troops of the Strategic Reserve, and most Motorized Infantry. All frontline troops had been re-equipped with it by the end of 1944. Once it had been replaced as a frontline weapon, it was still issued to NLA forces and to the Rear Services.

1944 Assault Rifle, National Arsenal: 1944-1964.

7x 49mm, Auto or SA, 20 or 30 rnds in detachable magazine, iron sights.

Along with the German Sturmgewehr 44, this was one of the earliest true Assault rifles. More powerful than its German counterpart, it was easily handled by the larger Nowan soldier. It could be fired either full-auto or semi-auto with the touch of a button on the action. It was first issued to Commando troops and then to Armored Divisions. It never fully replaced the 1939 Rifle during the war nor for sometime afterwards.

1940 Sniper's Rifle, Western Arsenal: 1940-55.

8.5x 73mm, BA, 4 rounds in magazine, telescopic sights.

Intended as an elite, long range sniper's rifle. It was issued in limited numbers throughout the war. Kills in excess of 1000m were not uncommon and it was especially popular with Mountain troops. A handful are still in service today.

1916 pistol, Imperial, later National, Arsenal, 1916-1934.

9.3x 25mm, 9 rounds, SA,

Officially, this gun had been withdrawn from service but some officers kept their personal weapons throughout the war.

1937 Pistol, Military Institute Arsenal: 1937-present.

10x 32mm, 10 rounds, SA.

Since 1937, this has been the standard issue sidearm of the Nowan Armed Forces. It is still the most powerful, flattest shooting handgun in military service, anywhere. It was issued to tank crews as well as to officers and many other personnel.

1940 Pistol, Western Arsenal, 1940-1955.

9.3x25mm, 7 rounds,

This gun was developed as emergency light sidearm for airmen. Its flat profile made it ideal for cramped cockpits and gun turrets. This small size also led to it being issued to Commando units, often with silencers.

1928 Submachine Gun, National Arsenal, 1928-1940.

9.3x 25mm, 30 rounds magazine.

This light SMG which had a relatively low 400rpm rate of fire, was in the process of being phased out when the war began. It remained in service with the NLA throughout the war as they valued its lightweight and reliability.

1941 Submachine Gun, National Arsenal: 1941-1965.

10x 32mm, 30 rounds in detachable box magazine, iron sights.

The standard SMG from 1941, it was rushed into production on an emergency basis and it had been issued to all appropriate front line troops except the Rifle Divisions by the time the war began. The most powerful and flattest shooting SMG of the war, it was extremely popular. It is still used in its modified, 1970 Submachine Gun form, by Strategic Reserve Urban Combat Teams, the NLA, Nowan police, and quasi- military units.

1924 Light Machinegun, National Arsenal 1924-1939.

7.7x 64mm, bipod mount, magazine fed.

Built to modified German designs, this light machine gun was the first standard machine gun of the post-revolutionary Nowan army. By the beginning of the war, it was only in use with reserve units, some of whom fought with it until 1944.

1940, Machinegun, Western and National Arsenals, 1940-1964.

7.7x 64mm, belt fed, bipod mount (light), tripod mount (heavy).

The standard infantry machine gun during World War II. It was deployed both as a light machine gun with integral bipod, and as a heavy machine gun mounted on a tripod. A few are still found in reserve units today.

1943, Machinegun, Western Arsenal 1943-6, 1951-1955.

12 ga, belt fed.

This weapon was an emergency development to deal with Japanese 'banzai' attacks. It was essentially a much modified 13mm MG, altered to fire the straight sided shotgun shell and fitted with a shorter, smoothbore barrel.

1917 Shotgun, Imperial, later National Arsenal: 1917-1939.

12ga., pump-action, 8 rounds in tubular magazine.

Inspired by reports of the fighting in the trenches of WW I, this weapon saw its first Nowan use in urban environments, putting down civil insurrections before the Revolution. Many were still in use in 1942 and it was popular with NLA units until the end of the war. It had been replaced by the 1942 Shotgun in frontline units by the end of 1944.

1942 Shotgun, Western Arsenal: 1942-1960.

12ga, SA, 8, later 10 rounds in detachable box magazine, iron sights.

The Nowan fondness for combat shotguns led to this weapon. It was very popular for combat in close quarters and when the Japanese instituted the practice of 'Banzai' charges, the scattergun's unique properties came into its own. A grenade round was manufactured for it as well.

55mm 1932 Mortar.

Muzzleloading, gravity fed, baseplate, HE shell 1 kg.

In 1942, this was still the standard light mortar at the platoon level, it was being phased out. It had been decided that its shell (which weighed about 1 kg) was simply to light and ineffective. It was used by NLA units throughout the war who found its combination of lightweight and compact size ideal for guerilla warfare.

8cm 1933 Mortar.

Muzzleloading, gravity fed, baseplate, HE shell 1 kg.

Envisioned as the standard company level mortar. Although it was effective, the decision to develop what became the 75mm 1940 Mortar led to the decision to design a larger company weapon too. It remained the standard weapon for Rifle divisions through 1943 and some units were still armed with it in 1944.

75mm 1940 Mortar.

Muzzleloading, gravity fed, spade baseplate, HE shell 3 kg.

Replacement for the 55mm mortar, it was designed with lightweight as a key concern. This was the standard platoon mortar in armored divisions at the beginning of the war and quickly replaced the remaining 55mm units. This was a good example of the Nowans using their greater physical size and strength to field a more powerful weapon than their Homo sapiens counterparts. Smoke, HE, shrapnel, and shaped charge shells were issued. It has remained in use, with modifications, to this day.

10cm 1940 Mortar.

Muzzleloading, gravity fed, baseplate, HE shell 8kg.

As noted above, this was designed as the new company level medium mortar. It did not fully replace the 8cm 1933 Mortar until mid-1944. Smoke, HE, shrapnel, and shaped charge shells were issued. It has remained in use, with modifications, to this day.

1917 Hand Grenade

10 tnq.gh.rh. (198gm) HE/Fragmentation

A stick grenade, it was no longer frontline issue by the beginning of the war. Some garrison and Rear Services units still had them although it is likely that all had been replaced by 1944.

1918 Rifle Grenade

Designed to be used with the 1908 7.7mm Rifle. Issued in HE/Fragmentation and in HEAT forms.

1938 Hand Grenade

10 tnq.gh.rh. (198gm) HE/Fragmentation.

This ovoid/cylindrical grenade was the standard hand grenade from 1938-1975. It was also produced in incendiary form although these were not commonly issued.

1939 Smoke Hand Grenade

This was issued in various colors depending upon its use as a marker or as a concealing device. Generally only issued in small quantities to officers and non- comms. In 1961, this same body served as the basis of a tear-gas grenade and it is rumored that that nerve-gas filled grenades have also been developed.

1940 Rifle Grenade

Used with the 1939 7mm Rifle and the 1944 7mm Assault Rifle. It was issued in in HE/Fragmentation and in HEAT forms.

1941 Anti-Tank Hand Grenade

2 tnq.x.rh (.78 kg) HEAT

This stick grenade was the standard Nowan anti-tank grenade of the war. It was not a standard issue item for most units, being issued only in unusual circumstances. Penetration was up 13cm of armor.

1943 Shotgun Grenade

This is a small HE/Fragmentation grenade that is fully enclosed in a 12 ga. shotgun shell. Its limited power restricted its use but it proved effective fired into enclosed areas.

1929 AT Rifle, Western Arsenal: 1929-1938.

13mm, solid shot, BA, singleshot.

Although capable of penetrating the armor of light Japanese tanks, this weapon was heavy and unwieldy and generally obsolete by the beginning of the war. Fortunately, these shortcomings were recognized early leading to its replacement by the 40mm ATR.

40mm AT Rocket Launcher. Yunk'ush�tt'i Aeronautics Institute and the Western Arsenal: 1941-1956.

Warhead (shaped charge) diameter, 12cm; tube diameter, 40mm; range, 250m, penetration, 15cm armor.

One of many rocket propelled ATWs of the war. This relied upon a launch tube with a bell shaped rear, the rest being largely cylindrical aside from the pistol grips, sights, and shoulder rest. The large, conical warhead of the rocket protruded from the front of the tube. The rocket's engine burned in two stages, first an igniter which propelled it clear of the tube, then a sustainer which ignited some 3m from the launcher. Folding fins deployed as the base of the rocket cleared the tube to stabilize the missile. This weapon was quite capable of defeating all Japanese armored vehicles. Continuously improved, the data above describe the state of affairs circa late 1943/early 1944. The 40mm ATR remained in use until the late 1950's and a modified version is still in use today.

Revised August 29, 2001

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