AUTORIFLE (NOT A THEORY)
Overview/ Purpose:
In the offense: Delivering supporting fires, suppressive fire against area targets during an assault. To perform all the tasks of a standard rifleman while having a weapon capable of delivering higher volumes of fire. The purpose of the auto rifle is to be the base of fire for the rifle squad or group. The auto rifle provides intermittent volumes of fire to suppress area targets.
In the defense: To deliver protective fires, cover sectors of fire, and cover avenues of approach.
The Autorifle's purpose in the past has been to eliminate crew served weapons, leveraging it’s mobility and higher fire power to exploit a crew served weapon’s lack of mobility.
The auto rifle does not fulfill the same purpose as a belt fed medium or heavy machine gun. Belt fed machine guns according to doctrine, are often crew served and heavier in weight. They have low mobility, but lots of fire power. In contrast, the auto rifle is highly mobile but provides higher volumes of fire than a standard rifle. The auto rifleman is able to perform all the tasks of a standard rifleman because he is still just a rifleman.
Civilian groups often have the added consideration of funding and logistical problems, since the autorifle is similar to the AR15 pattern rifle, this helps to ease logistical problems.
Note: In the civilian community auto rifles are sometimes referred to as “Area Denial Weapons”, no weapon can truly “deny” an area. A rifle can only deny an area temporarily, and only as long as you are shooting at that specific area. The only true way to deny an area is through the use of active patrolling and defensive positions. Even a mine field can not truly deny an area unless your forces are also actively monitoring it. There is no magic weapon that prevents you from having to work to keep the enemy at bay. In all honesty, “area denial weapons” is a term often used by fat/weak people who choose weapons, load outs and strategies that fit their lack of discipline and fortitude, hoping they can avoid physical activity and hardship even further.
Capabilities/Limitations
Capability
Mobility-the auto rifle is lighter in weight and has less bulk than the M249 SAW or similar system and allows for greater mobility. The auto rifle based on the M-16 pattern of rifles and has the same manual of arms as a standard M16.
Accuracy-The autorifle is capable of providing highly accurate suppressive fire. It will also maintain accuracy better during higher volumes of fire than a standard M-16 rifle. It is also capable of precision fires similar to a designated marksman as a secondary role, however it does not match the full capability of a designated marksman rifle. The M249 SAW often has 8 MOA accuracy or worse, where as most autorifles are about 2 MOA.
Logistics- Easier to support logistically due to common parts and magazines. Less strain on the unit when parts break or magazines get lost or worn out. Team members can carry 1 type of magazine and ammo common to all members of the group, where as with other systems, members would have to carry ammo specific to a separate system (such as linked 5.56 for the M249).
Anonymity- Targets are always prioritized, the most casualty producing weapons are generally eliminated first. For example, a man carrying a belt fed machine gun will be eliminated before the riflemen in that unit, because he has the most casualty producing weapon. The autorifle is close in appearance to the standard rifleman’s weapon, if not identical, and is less likely to be specifically targeted.
Limitations
Autorifles can not sustain high rates of fire for as long as belt fed machine guns can. However, it is not intended to fulfill the role of a belt fed machine gun.
Autorifles have reduced barrier penetration versus belt fed machine guns. This is caliber dependent.