[History]
The M113 Impaler is a product of the Advanced Heavy Rifle program, which began in 1992. The M113 has never been officially adopted and by all rights remains as the XM113 but it has been employed in limited scenarios in 2006 and again in 2010. The weapon is heavy and highly powerful, firing a large round, a .300 Remington Ultra Magnum with a slightly larger case size to provide more power. The result is the 7.82x80mm round, which is one of the most powerful, non-sniper-only rounds employed by the Empire. The M113 is highly expensive though and it has not been procured in large quantities. It has been rumored to be employed by "Super Soldiers;" although no evidence of this program even exists and this is largely considered to be conspiratory fiction. In order to make this large weapon capable of being fired without injury to the shooter, the weapon includes 16 ounces of mercury ballast in the buttstock acting as a counter-recoil device. The buttstock is padded with a high-strength rubber and it is not adjustable. The initial design cost over $100,000 with subsequent rifles costing over $50,000 each. The weapon is equipped with a 25x40mm grenade launcher.
[Variants]
The M113A1 Impaler is the only version produced.
[Specifications]
- Status: In-Service, Classified [A1]
- Caliber: 7.82x80mm & 25x40mm grenade
- Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
- Fire Mode: Single, Burst (2), Automatic [Rifle]; Single [Grenade]
- Length [Overall]: 40.00 in.
- Length [Barrel]: 24.00 in.
- Weight: 14.15 lb.
- Magazine: 20-round box [Rifle]; 4-round box [Grenade]
- Rate of Fire: 600 rounds per minute [Rifle]; N/A [Grenade]
- Effective Range: 800 meters [Rifle]; 700 meters [Grenade]
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,085 meters per second [Rifle]; 210 meters per second [Grenade]
- Cost: $55,000