Infantry Weaponry | Characteristic and weaponry of units Wargame: AB Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Infantry has, in general, main (firing) weapon and additional weapon (e.g. anti-panzer). It can also carry team weapon, like a machine gun (like RPK-74).

Type of the main weapon using by the particular troop affects the way it deals with different battlefield conditions. So:

• troop may be equipped in long range and accurate weapon while not moving (like FN FAL, G3). Such type of troop is the most efficient if it fires from the stationary position. Its drawback is a fact that it's weak while moving and for short distance. The latter happens when two troops are fighting over the same city sector. For this guide, call this type of troop the machine guns. Most of NATO troops (about 2/3) is equipped in machine guns.
• some troops have weapon which can be called an assault (let call it rifles, e.g. M16, AK 74, SG-542, VZ-56) with medium range (lesser than machine guns) and rather good accuracy both moving and not moving. Troop equipped in rifles is good at short distance and nailing power, but 7, 62 mm bullets are better than 5, 56 mm (on the contrary when it's about accuracy)
• submachine guns (like MAT-49, Sterling, CAR 15, AKSU) have the lowest range but not the worst accuracy while moving and huge accuracy at short distance. Troop with this weapon is very effective for in-city fights, but won't stand a chance on the open space. They are equipped by landing and special troops, recon and some reserve teams.
• rifles made during or just after the Second World War are perfectly accurate for long distance but the worst while it comes to firing while moving (distance doesn't matter) and at short distance.

Additional infantry weapon may be used against machines (anti-tank, anti-air weapons) or enemy infantry. Anti-tank weapon is, in majority, rocket and recoilless launchers. You can divide them as following:

• not-guided missile launchers (anti-tank grenade launchers, like M72 LAW, RPG- 7), able to affect targets for short and medium distance. Specialized anti-tank teams have much higher fire rate from normal, or even elite infantry.
• guided missile launchers (like Milan F1, Fagot) - they have high accuracy and long range (except for strong PPK Eryx with a range up to 875 meters)

Anti-tank sections have also air-to-earth launchers. They have, in general, lesser range and power than the anti-air missiles mounted on vehicles, but they are not guided by radar.

Some troops have additional, anti-infantry weapon. For example, polish sappers armed with thermobaric launchers (modern equivalents of flamethrowers used during the Second World War). A missile fired from the launcher spreads a cloud of flammable substance at hit (which starts burning at once). Thermobaric weapon is perfect for destroying reinforced positions of infantry - its usage frightens enemies what decreases their defensive abilities.