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| Iraq-Jordan | |
| Super Shotguns in Iraq | |
| 2005-05-13 | |
May 13, 2005: The U.S. military is testing a 12 gauge automatic shotgun in Iraq. The Auto Assault 12 (AA12) has a rate of fire of 300 rounds per minute and uses either an 8-round box magazine or a 20 round drum magazine. Recoil on the system has been reduced to that of a light rifle, due to a sophisticated recoil system. The low rate of fire makes it possible to easily fire bursts of one, two, or three shots and is capable of using and mixing all types of 12 gauge ammunition, from shot to solid slugs, as well as non-lethal rounds. Allegedly, Iraqi insurgents have little respect for the M4 rifle and the 5.56mm round, but they fear shotguns.
At first glance, packing an armor-piercing charge into a 12 gauge round sounds like overkill, but Iraqi terrorists are becoming increasingly sophisticated in fortifying themselves, vehicles, and fixed positions. Foreign fighters are using Russian-style body armor in their raids. Suicide bombers driving vehicles often wear body armor for protection until they get "on target" and some vehicles have been reportedly hardened with bullet-resistant glass and armor plate. In one incident, terrorists in a basement/crawlspace used a Russian machine gun equipped with armor-piercing rounds to shoot through a concrete floor to attack Marines. The American troops had no effective way of firing back and ultimately had to call for an air strike with a 500 pound smart bomb to eliminate the resistance. A combination of 12 gauge armor-piercing rounds with a shotgun would provide a weapon capable of effectively stopping an up-armored vehicle or larger truck without the extra weight and expense of a dedicated anti-tank weapon. It would also provide an enhanced capability in urban warfare with a convenient and familiar method of employment. More info: Military Police System, out of Piney Flats, Tennessee, has come out with a unique select-fire 12-gauge combat/tactical shotgun called the "Auto Assault 12 Automatic Shotgun", or "AA12 Automatic Shotgun". When fired on full-auto, the Auto Assault 12 Automatic Shotgun employs the "Constant-Recoil" principle, which is a recoil attenuation/mitigation system that was first invented by legendary small arms designer/developer L. James Sullivan for the Ultimax 100 LMG (Light Machine Gun), back in the late 1970's. Constant-Recoil allows a lightweight gun to outhit a heavier gun on full-auto. Since it utilizes "Constant-Recoil", the bolt group of the AA12 Automatic Shotgun never impacts the rear of the receiver, but rather runs out on the long 2-stage recoil/operating spring. This action eliminates the majority of felt-recoil, and thus greatly enhances controllability on full-auto. The result is more hits on target. The Auto Assault 12 (AA-12) Automatic Shotgun is manufactured from "corrosion resistant, high impact, heat-treated stainless steels and high-impact plastics". Supposedly, the Auto Assault 12 shotgun requires no lubrication (unconfirmed/unverified). Rounds are fed from an 8-round box magazine, 20-round drum mag, or 32-round drum mag. That's a lot of 12-gauge firepower in a select-fire, fully controllable package. The Auto Assault 12 (AA12) Automatic Shotgun also features a quick-change barrel system. Barrel lengths are from 13" to 18". | |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #23 It would be nice, though, to get something better than the M-4 and the 5.56mm rifle round as a standard infantry weapon. Say, something like the Grendel, or the 6.8, being shot from an XM-8... |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-05-13 23:29 |
| #22 Shotguns are not banned by the Hague or Geneva accords. The Hague Convention's Article 23(e) of the Annex, states that it shall be unlawful "To employ arms, projectiles or materials calculated to cause unnecessary suffering. This was adopted by the Geneva Treaties. Accordingly, the use of the shotgun depends upon the motive of the shot employed and its effect on a soft target. The use of an unjacketed lead bullet is now considered a violation of the laws of war. The use of shotgun projectiles sufficiently jacketed to prevent expansion or flattening upon penetration of a human body and shot cartridges with chilled shot regular in shape would not constitute violations of the laws of war. More here. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-05-13 19:40 |
| #21 When my son was over there he said this little gadget did a pretty good job, too. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2005-05-13 19:21 |
| #20 nothing sez "you lose" like 1100 tungsten balls turning you into a sieve |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-05-13 19:00 |
| #19 It's hard to see how shotguns would be verboten, given the XM1028 120mm Canister Tank Cartridge for the Abrams tank: "...the XM1028 is, in effect, a 120mm shotgun shell. But it's no ordinary shotgun shell, for sure: a typical OO buckshot round 2 ¾" long contains 9 pellets. But the XM1028 cartridge contains 1,100 tungsten steel balls that are expelled and immediately begin dispersing once they exit the cannon muzzle..." I want one for my birthday. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2005-05-13 18:45 |
| #18 Negative, SDB. See ed's reply above. In fact, I just saw a 12 gauge used as a lockbuster on TV last night. The guy using it was a little sloppy. It took him three rounds to bust the lockset up enough to kick the door in, but it worked, and worked quickly. If I had to fight in a city a 12 gauge would be my first choice. |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2005-05-13 18:01 |
| #17 I thought that shotguns violated the Geneva Convention. (I'm not joking.) |
| Posted by: Steven Den Beste 2005-05-13 17:46 |
| #16 There is a video of this thing floating around some place. It's pretty neat. I really think the development of alternate rounds for the shotguns is the bigger thing. With these even your venreable Mosburg is massivly improved. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-05-13 17:18 |
| #15 Docob - "street sweepers" generally refer to shotguns with a 12 round cylindrical mag. I think they are classified as a Class 3 gun (same as a machine gun) - thanks Bill Clinton. They've been around for a while but without a proper FFL, you can't have one without a little visit from the ATF. Ed is right - in my outfit shotguns were the weapon of choice for corpsmen. We had them cut down to a very short barrel and fashion pistol style grip stocks for them. Short, light and effective. |
| Posted by: Doc8404 2005-05-13 16:10 |
| #14 Back when I ran "The Morrow Project" (a paper & pencil RPG), we liked the Atchison Assault shotgun, called it the "Room Broom". I dont know if this is the next generation, but it certainly sould like a close sibling. |
| Posted by: Trub 2005-05-13 15:17 |
| #13 It was probably more like 20 years ago, now that I think about it. Getting old sucks, but, like they say, it beats the alternative. =) |
| Posted by: docob 2005-05-13 14:39 |
| #12 I remember reading about the development of automatic shotguns at least 10 years ago (maybe even 15). I believe they were referred to as "streetsweepers". Hadn't heard about them since (until just now). Was there a snag in the technology, or just no demand/use for them? |
| Posted by: docob 2005-05-13 14:23 |
| #11 Can I get my 10-gauge double-barrel upgraded? I want to go bear hunting again... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2005-05-13 14:08 |
| #10 Holeeee SH*T! Sounds like something coming out of a Duke Nukem Sequel planning session! Now, where was THIS little baby when Master Chief was slogging through The Flood? |
| Posted by: Ptah 2005-05-13 12:41 |
| #9 baboom baby! |
| Posted by: legolas 2005-05-13 11:24 |
| #8 Redifining the term"handcannon".I don't think so,CP. |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-05-13 11:18 |
| #7 No. During WW1, the Germans tried to get the shotgun banned because American infantry were effectively using them to clear trenches. The War Dept. basically told the Germans to get bent. The US has used shotguns in all conflicts since. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-05-13 11:06 |
| #6 Not that I really care, but doesn't the Geneva Convention prohibit the military use of shotguns? |
| Posted by: Captain Pedantic 2005-05-13 10:53 |
| #5 Piney Flats is only about 20 miles from me. I think I'll make a visit, see if they'll give me a tour. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-05-13 10:16 |
| #4 If it'll shoot 300 rounds a minute, give me a 300 round mag, please. And, aren't we using shotguns as doorbusters? Seems to me I recall reading that. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2005-05-13 10:11 |
| #3 Say "Hello" to my little friend. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-05-13 09:55 |
| #2 OK ... my Christmas list is complete! |
| Posted by: legolas 2005-05-13 09:41 |
| #1 For quail hunting, when your goldie is giving you "that look" that sez you missed again moron. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-05-13 09:32 |