Rifleman Archive
Thread: PETITION t21 sniper version
Insidius wrote:
Oh, so you're telling me that the m16 wasn't used as a sniper rifle in the Vietnam war?
My history books and the vets I've spoken to must be wrong then.
And when my point was that it could be done, and just that, it doesn't matter if it's ineffective in your opinion.
The fact is, it's a fantasy weapon, and the point is moot anyway.
Message Edited by Insidius on 04-05-2005 12:02 AM
That's pretty much what I'm telling you. Putting a scope on a rifle doesn't make it a sniper rifle. And that is exactly what they did in the examples you are citing. Sniper weapons are highly specialized pieces of equipment. Just because something looks like one doesn't mean it is. They put a scope on the old M1 carbine at one time (M3 Carbine). Was that suddenly a sniper rifle because of that? During WWII the Germans put scopes on just about everything they had at one time, including the StG44 (first assult rifle). There is a reason it didn't catch on.
During Vietnam the US had to restart their sniper program. They had pretty much shut it down between conflicts. This also meant that they had a lack of adequate sniping weapons. They tried a number of ways to fill in the gap, including scoping M16s. Some even ordered regular hunting rifles from the US and had them shipped over. The official Army sniper rifle of that time was the M21. Which is an accurized M14. They put on a better barrel, glass bedded the stock, used match ammo, and of course added the scope (Redfield 3-9X). The Marines I believe went with a modified Remington 700 model.
Carlos Hathcock put a scope a .50 machine gun in Vietnam and got a kill from over a mile. Did that make it a sniper rifle? I can put a outboard motor on my car, that doesn't mean it's going to work if I drive into the water. Weapons are designed to be effective in certain circumstances, slapping a scope on them doesn't radically change that.
Simple fact is that automatic weapons make bad sniper weapons. The only reason the MG34 and the M2HB were used was because it was possible to fire them in semi-auto. The recoil while in automatic makes any shot other than the first unaimed in general. Secondly the rate of fire of on automatic weapons burns out the barrel. Which is why machine guns developed quick change barrels. The barrel will get so hot it will actually warp and the rifling inside will disappear. Which makes the high precision required for sniping impossible.
Granted that is an issue with modern weapons and since energy weapons don't have rifling less of an issue. But you still have the recoil. Also with the T21 you have the backpack. You can use clips instead of course, but you only havea couple shots. The backpack is bulky enough that a sniper wouldn't want to care it and it would definately make hiding a much more difficult proposition.
Besides those factors we have its size. The sheer bulk of the weapon makes it harder for the sniper to hide and also harder to maneuver. Also makes it harder to carry around. In this regard it is like the Barett .50 that is in use now. It is used by it isn't common issue. It's used from fixed positions, usually defensive in nature or by special forces in special circumstances. As sniper teams are either one or two people and they try to travel light, this isn't overly useful to them.
Also the range on the T21 is only 300m with the tripod (less without). Well short of sniping ranges. Yes it'sa fantasy weapon. But we have official information on it. Which indicates it is unsuitable for the sniping role. Here is the info on the T21.
BlasTech T-21 Light Repeating Blaster
Larger and more powerful than the typical blaster rifle, the BlasTech T-21 Light Repeating Blaster is the largest weapon that can be carried and used by one soldier. Primarily used in large-scale military actions, it provides support for Imperial army and stormtrooper squads as well as cover for artillery gunners. Because it is a portable weapon, it became popular among Rebel factions and is still used by some New Republic units.
At 1.5 meters in length, the T-21 is perfect for soldiers who need to set up a weapon quickly and with minimal fuss. Along with a belt-mounted tripod and a backpack generator (weighing 20 kilograms), the T-21 can be set and ready to go within 30 seconds. Although it can be wielded by a single soldier two-handed, use of the tripod improves its accuracy out to its maximum range of 300 meters.
The T-21 is capable of being powered by a power pack, but it only contains enough energy for 25 shots. However, use of the backpack generator provides near unlimited ammunition, but its firing rate is limited to one shot per second due to the generator's low cooling capacity.
The power behind the T-21's blaster bolts is amazing, being known to penetrate infantry armor, personal forcefields and even armor plating of light combat vehicles.
Message Edited by KundoJet on 04-06-2005 03:09 PM