A15 Hammerhead

## Overview

The A15 Hammerhead is a 10mm x 56mm select fire battle rifle, and the current iteration of the standard service rifle of the Iron Horde. It features a modified variation of the tried and true long-stroke gas blowback system that accounts for varying ammunition types, residuals and pressures. It was developed in Y4138 by the Iron Ordinance Department as part of Project Austenite, their ongoing program to increase infantry combat effectiveness. The weapon system is designed to interface with modern helmet-installed targeting and telemetry technology, significantly increasing accuracy-at-range. The adjustable gas system is particularly useful when using enhanced munitions such as tungsten penetrators, uranite rounds, or (more controversially) cinderite rounds. It is a favorite of Coalition soldiers at every experience level due to its extreme reliability and stopping power.

### History

The origin of the A15 can be traced back to the early conflict between the Havanites and the Pax-Viribus Theocracy, particularly during the Battle Of Cossack Pass in Y2489. In Y2482 Engineers at the Havanite arms manufacturer Boerelem in the city of Messiah designed the Dondergeweer Toestel 03 (DGw T3), an experimental rifle that was the first of its kind to successfully leverage an electro-magnetic counter-recoil system, effectively eliminating felt recoil and vastly improving accuracy. The timing of the design was unfortunate however, as the Thulian Ordinance Department had no appetite for such a novel and expensive design. Still, other investors took note and the involved engineer group was taken to continue their development in Lexington at the Braun Institute of Arms and Ballistics. The design was improved upon by engineer Charlemagne Kramer and his team at the Braun testing facility between Y2484-Y2486, perfecting the electromagnetic timing of the design and mitigating eddy currents. Two separate designs were made, one made in 12mm Jaeger, and another experimental design using a uranium composite frame which was eventually scrapped due to its weight.

The 12mm design was presented to the Thulian Ordinance department in Y2847, who was looking to replace the old and outdated B34 Zastron. The initial proposal was accepted, however the TOD asked Braun to produce the design in 10mm x 56mm as they needed a platform that was compatible with their current stock of ammunition and production tooling. Braun obliged, and the first iteration of the design, the A1 Hammerhead, was put into production.

The proposal came in a timely fashion, as in the 4th Tetrast of that year tensions between the Thulian Empire and the Pax-Viribus Theocracy would flare, culminating in the Battle Of Cossack Pass. This relatively short but intense conflict cut in the Empire's favor, in no small part because of their adoption of their new service rifle, which excelled in the mountainous terrain where much of the conflict was fought.

### Features

The Hammerhead family of rifles are highly modular weapon systems, with its stock, barrel shroud, grip and fire control assembly capable of being changed into a variety of configurations. Swapping out parts is relatively easy for the average soldier. a bullet tip can be used to push out small shock-resistant roll pins that hold much of the modules in place. Much of the rifle is made from drop-forged T6 Taaisteel, with mass-cnc milling being required for more precision parts.

### Trigger

The trigger mechanism is a relatively simple striker-fired pattern, however a sub-circuit with a magneto and counterweight system is employed that actuates the magnetic recoil damping mechanism. Once the trigger is pulled, a pulse from the magneto is sent to the capacitors located in the grip of the weapon, activating a strong electromagnet located at the end of the barrel shroud/grip. The charge lasts only a couple nano-seconds, not even long enough for the counterweight to travel the length of the barrel. however the cyclical mass of the weight and the strength of the electrical field is specifically tuned by an onboard telemetry chip to mirror the recoil pattern of the rifle once fired, completely negating felt recoil. The weight is then returned to its original position by a calibrated buffer spring. This mechanism is recharged through the pressures and gasses created during firing, wherein a portion is redirected to a small generator that then charges the system's capacitors, allowing the cycle to begin again.